This month I joined the Daring Bakers and will be in from next month, ever since I sent the email I was wondering if I could do justice. I have baked a little, like cake muffins and cookies but never used yeast. I am an amateur baker but love to learn more that's why I decided to join them. So I decided to play with yeast before I start and maybe then I am more confident.

So I went to the store to buy all that I needed for bread and when I went to get the yeast there were 2 kinds of yeast instant yeast and dry active yeast, did not know which would be used to make a bread so bought both. I bought Robin Hoods Best for Bread Flour. I was looking for an easy bread recipe when I landed up in Robin Hoods website and decided to follow their Basic White Bread Recipe, I was using their flour any ways.

It took me one week to get the courage to start and this Sunday was the day, the yeast came out and the flour too. I followed the recipe religiously and at the end was very proud of my bread.



The recipe was for 2 loaves, so I made a loaf with one half and shaped the other into buns which were not that round but tasted great. I am now so excited and already plan to make different kinds of bread, with herbs onions.

The recipe is great though, over here it took 2 and half hours for the dough to rise and even the second rise was the same. It was tea time when the buns finally came out of the oven and we enjoyed the fresh hot buns with a cup of Chai/ Tea.

This is a healthy pancake to which any kind of vegetables can be added. My mom loves to cook and has been collecting recipes all her life and I have all her books and magzine cuttings now. This recipe is now one of our household favourites.



Beetroot, Carrot and Potato Pancakes

Ingredients
2 cups grated beetroot
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated potato
1 egg or 2 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tbsp wheat flour
salt to taste
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp mixed italian herbs (optional)
2 green chillies (optional)
1 tsp garlic crushed (optional)
oil

Method

1. Mix all the vegetables in a large bowl.
   
2. Add salt, pepper, herbs, green chillie and garlic.
   
3. Beat the egg or yougurt, mix the 2 flours in it and add it to the vegetable mixture.
   
4. Mix everything together to form the batter.
   
5. Heat 1 tsp of oil to a non stick pan on medium heat.
   
6. Add a ladleful of batter in the pan and form discs like for pancakes.
   
   



7. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes, till its golden brown.
   
8. Turn the pancake and cook for another 3 minutes.
   
9. Remove from the pan once done.
   
10. Repeat the same for rest ofthe batter.
    
11. Serve them with tomato ketchup, chutney or plain yogurt.
    

Watermelon Banana Smoothie



Ingedients
1/4 cup chopped and deseeded watermelon.
1 banana
1 cup milk
2 tsp honey
3 ice cubes

Method
Add the above ingredients to a blender and blend till smooth.