GIVEAWAY : FROM ME TO YOU - 1

Hello everyone! Are you thinking whether you read it right? You did! I am planning on some giveaway (s) on my blog. A giveaway of things made/baked/cooked or even bought by me. Every month someday, I will announce what I am planning to giveaway to my readers who have been so supportive & encouraging all throughout . It could be anything.It could be big. It could be small. It will depend on what my Gemini brain feels like in the end but let me assure you, it will be good :-)

This month,I am going to bake some cookies for you...a dozen of my favourite Wholewheat Fruit & Nut Cookies. I have been thinking about this for months together now. So did Jobin. Finally, today, I am letting you all into it :) So what are you waiting for? You guys definately deserve something for all the drooling that you have done here (that's what I am told!).This month it's open only for US residents.But if you have someone in US who would love to get some cookies in their mail, I can do that! (Thanks Nisha, for that comment!)
For all my wonderful readers in India, your time will come very soon! Real soon :-)

You have plenty of time...all the time you need till the 1st of July to comment. On the 1st of July, I'll pick a winner and the cookies will be baked fresh for you by me :-) I can't wait for that day! There's lots and lots of good stuff in that cookie so go on...make sure you atleast make an attempt to grab your share!

Also, have no worries of me vanishing into thin air (remember my speech?), I'll be around :-)

WHOLEWHEAT FRUIT & NUT COOKIES

Ilove cookies and I'm just looking for an excuse to bake a batch of 'em.The Food Blogger Bake Sale gave me a reason to bake to my heart's content and I took these cookies along with my Indian Curried  Puffs & Lamingtons. I saw this recipe on Swapna's wonderful blog and I knew I would be making it as soon as possible since she called it 'healthy' cookies!
I cannot tell you how good these cookies are, you will absolutely love it as they are tasty,chewy (in a good way) and butter-less! I made 4 batches in less than a week's time and they disappeared as soon as they were baked and hopefully they don't make an appearance on my waist! ;-)

The bake sale was so much fun! I got to meet many talented food bloggers that I haven't met before at other events and the highlight was meeting Amanda of I Am Baker. She is so wonderful and talented! Kate is a great organiser and she chose the perfect venue which was Kitchen in the Market. (It'sAmanda & Stephanie in the picture above, Kate in the picture below)

Now back to the cookies...the original recipe calls for a portion of flax seeds which makes it healthy but I didn't have any of it, so I substituted it with oatmeal and also used cashews & raisins ! These cookies are so so good,go bake a batch of 'em and fall in love with it!

WHOLEWHEAT FRUIT & NUT COOKIES
Recipe source: Eat Good 4 Life

Ingredients:
3/4 c wholewheat flour (I used Ashirvad Atta)
3/4 c oatmeal (I used Quaker oats)
1 c dry fruits (I used cashewnuts & raisins)
1/2 c chocolate chips
1tsp baking soda
1 egg
2/3 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c canola/vegetable oil
1 tsp Vanilla


Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350F/180C and line your cookie sheet with baking parchemnt.
Whisk together eggs,sugar,oil and vanilla in another bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix it in with a rubber spatula.
Drop level tablespoons of dough onto the cookie sheet and bake for 12-14 mins.
Cool on the tin for 2 mins and then on the wire rack till cooled completely.
Store in an airtight tin.

Verdict: Absolutely delicious! Jobin is not a cookie person but he said these cookies were 'Incredible'! I am addicted to it and I am sure this cookie is going to be a regular in our home,whenever the cookie craving hits me! It's so simple to make! I guess I'm starting to fall for wholewheat products,they are a lot more healthier than refined flour.

EGGLESS WHOLEWHEAT ALMOND COOKIES

This cookie has been baked over and over in my kitchen for the last 4 months. It's gone places along with me for the last 4 months.It's first trip was to California and now to our friends houses in Minneapolis.It's such an easy recipe with beautiful crunchy results! I remember posting a picture of it on Facebook, but never got to posting it here. Time and month's flew by and when it was time for me to select a 'Cookie' for 'A Sweet Punch' bake for February, I chose these simple Indian cookies.

Are you longing to get a taste of your local bakery cookies? Are you longing to have a bite of 'those' crunchy cookies your mom made when you got back from school? Or simply want to have something with a nutty crunch in it? Then these cookies can do wonders for you! I tried them simply for a change and not for wanting any of those things I mentioned above but I got all those things I mentioned above when I ate them :)

When we went to California, I met a blogger friend of mine.Magpie of Magpie's Recipes. I gave her a packet of these cookies and she loved it. Infact she has been asking me for this recipe ever since and I've never shared it with her! How mean?! ;-) The truth is,I've had plans of posting it on my blog but it never happened until today. I hope she gets to see this now :)

EGGLESS WHOLEWHEAT ALMOND COOKIES
Recipe source: Manjula's Kitchen

Ingredients:
1 c Wholewheat flour
1/2 c granulated sugar (If you are living in India, please use powdered sugar.Take about less than 1/2 cup regular sugar and powder it.)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp green cardamom powder
1/4 c chopped/slivered almonds
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
About 2 tbsp milk or as needed (you may not need this at all)

Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 360F and position the rack in the centre.

In a bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.
Add the soft butter to the dry ingredients and mix with your fingertips.
If can form a soft dough, avoid adding the milk, if not add milk and form a soft dough.
Divide the dough into 24.Form them into smooth balls.
Flatten them slightly and place them on an ungreased cookie/baking tray.
Bake for 18 mins or until they are lightly golden brown in colour.
Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely, by then the cookies will firm up.
Store in airtight containers.

Verdict: If I make the same cookies over and over again and then bring it to a group of food bloggers to try, then this recipe has to be excellent! :) Try it for yourself and see!!

If you would like to bake with us, please send an e-mail to asweetpunch AT gmail DOT com

Announcement: A big thanks to all who participated in the Kerala Kitchen last month. We have created a new home for the event, so the round up will be posted there. This month,along with the event, we are bringing you a challenge, to make my 12-layered Chatti Pathiri :)

If you are interested in becoming a member or would like to submit your entry, please send it to magpiemails AT gmail DOT com.

We look forward to hearing from you, real soon!