Eggless Banana Chocolate Muffins

Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 25-30 mins
Servings: yields 10 muffins

Banana Chocolate Muffins

 Ingredients: 
Dry Ingredients:

• Wheat Flour / Atta - 1.5 cups
• Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Salt - a pinch

Wet Ingredients:

• Ripe Banana - 3 nos (I used the long yellow variety)
• Brown sugar-  1/3 cup
• Olive Oil - 1/2 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
• Cocoa powder  - 1-2 tbsp (adjust as per liking)
• Milk, Warmed - 1/4 cup

Other Ingredients:

• Chocolate Chips - 2-3 tbsp (I used semi sweet mini morsels)
• Wheat flour - 1-2 tsp 
• Sweetened coconut flakes - 1-2 tbsp (Optional)
  

 Method: 

1. Pre heat oven to 350 F
2. In a wide bowl, add the wheat flour, Baking soda, Baking powder and a pinch of salt, mix well
   
3. In a blender, take the ripe bananas, Sugar, Olive oil, vanilla extract, cocoa powder and milk; blend until it forms smooth puree
   
4. In a small bowl, add the chocolate chips and 1-2 tsp of wheat flour; mix well so the chips gets coated with flour
5. Add the blended puree into the flour mix, mix gently until combined
   
6. Fold in the chocolate chips
   
7. Grease the muffin tins or use paper liners
8. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups; fill only 3/4th of the cup
   
9. If using coconut flakes, we can sprinkle it over the muffins
   
10. Bake them in the pre heated oven for around 25-30 mins or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean 
    
11. Remove from the oven and after 5 mins, take out from the pan and allow to cool in cooling rack
    
12. Serve warm!
    
13. These muffins can also be refrigerated for 2-4 days and while serving, just microwave it for few secs

Home made Granola

Category: Breakfast / Baking
Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 25-35 mins
Yields: Around 5 cups 

Home made Granola

Homemade Granola is always better than the store bought sugar loaded ones. When we make at home, we can use our favourite add in combinations and flavours, also will have a control on the amount of sugar going in it. 

Crunchy and Yummy!

We can avoid the sugar and just use the maple syrup alone. Since Honey shouldn't be heated, I am not using honey in the granola.

Home made granola can be had as a breakfast, snack, topping for the overnight oats, Oatmeal, muffins,etc.,

 Ingredients:

• Oats (Rolled / Old-fashioned) - 3 cups
• Dry fruits & Nuts, chopped - 1 1/2 cups
• Brown Sugar - 2 Tbsp
• Maple Syrup - 1/4 cup
• Salt - a pinch
• Coconut Oil /  any cooking oil - 3 Tbsp
• Vanilla extract - 3-4 drops
• Almond extract - 1-2 drop (Optional)
• Coconut flakes - 1/4 cup  (Optional)

Note: 

• 1/2 - 3/4 tsp of ground Cinnamon can be used instead of Vanilla / Almond extracts
• Dry fruits and nuts are as per our liking and any combination can be used

Granola ready to be baked

• We can use almonds, walnuts, pecans, dry dates, dry figs, raisins, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, etc.,

Method:

1. Preheat Oven to 320 F. Take 3 cups of old fashioned oats in a bowl, Instant oats cannot be used here
   
2. Chop the nuts and dates into small pieces, raisins can be added as a whole
   
3. In a small bowl add Oil, Vanilla extract, almond extract(if using), salt and mix well
   
4. In a wide bowl add the oats, chopped dry fruits & nuts, brown sugar and mix well
   
5. Add the oil mixture into the oats and mix gently
6. Add maple syrup 1 Tbsp at a time and mix gently till it gets coated evenly
   
7. Grease the baking pan and transfer the granola mix into the baking pan
   
   
   
8. Bake for around 15-20 mins in the pre heated oven (320 F)till the oats started to turn golden brown. After 10 mins of baking, mix gently every 5 mins for even baking
   
9. After 15-20 mins, add in the coconut flakes, mix gently
   
   
10. Continue baking for another 5-10 mins
    
11. Once its done, take out of the oven and allow to cool
    
12. Upon cooling, the oats become crispy
13. Store it in air tight container
    
14. Enjoy as a snack or breakfast or as a toppings in oatmeal, muffins,etc.,