Red Velvet Cake

Serves: 8-10

All purpose flour/Cake flour - 2 1/2 cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
Shortening/Unsalted Butter - 1/2 cup
Granulated white sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Eggs - 2 large
Pure vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Buttermilk - 1 cup
Liquid red food coloring - 4 tbsp
White distilled vinegar - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1 tsp

1.Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your electric mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
5. First, whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. Then with the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions beginning and ending with the flour.
6. In a small cup, combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter. DON'T BEAT OR STIR NOW.
7. Working quickly divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. 

8. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.

9. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

10. Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour, preferably overnight. (This is done to make the filling and frosting the cakes easier.)

Onion-Tomato Curry

Serves: 4

Onion - 1 , sliced
Tomatoes - 4, cut into cubes
Coconut - 1/4 cup, grated
Garlic - 2 cloves
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Sambhar powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves - 4-5 strands
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

1. Grind to a smooth paste the coconut, 1/2 of the onion, garlic, ginger, coriander leaves, sambhar powder and turmeric with 1/2 cup of water.
2. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds crackle, add the rest of the onion and cook while stirring until the onions turn brown.
3. Then add the paste and cook until the paste starts to leave oil in the sides of the pan - about 8-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the pan.
4. Then add the chopped tomatoes, salt and cook until the tomatoes are cooked and the ingredients blend.

Serve immediately as a side dish with rice.

Classic Macaroni Salad

Serves: 10

Elbow Macaroni - 4 cups

Mayonnaise - 1 cup

Distilled white vinegar - 1/4 cup

White Sugar - 2/3 cup

Yellow mustard - 2 1/2 tbsp

Salt - 1 1/2 tsp

Ground black pepper - 1/2 tsp

Onion - 1 large, chopped

Celery - 2 stalks, chopped
Green bell pepper - 1, seeded and chopped

Carrot - 1/4 cup, grated, optional

Pimento peppers - 2 tbsp, optional

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, carrot, pimentos and macaroni. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.

Rice Flour Breads

Akki Roti

Makes: About 8 Rotis

Rice Flour - 2 cups
Onion - 1 small, finely chopped
Green Chillies - 2
Carrot - 1/2 cup, grated, optional
Coriander leaves - 6-8 strands, finely chopped
Dill leaves - 1/4 cup, finely chopped, optional
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - as required

1. Boil 1 cup of water. Boiling water makes smooth dough to pat and soft rotis to eat.
2. In the meanwhile use a spoon to mix all ingredients other than oil. Add the boiling water and keep it closed for about 10 minutes. The steam from the hot water makes the dough moist.
3. When the dough is cool enough to handle, make a smooth dough. The dough should be of medium softness.
4. Take a sheet or wax paper, smear it generously with oil. Take a handful of dough, make a ball, and pat evenly on the sheet to make a thin layer.
5. Heat a griddle to around 350 F and transfer the roti onto the griddle either by picking from the hand and placing on the griddle if you can, or just turn over the roti onto the griddle and gently remove the wax paper, so that the roti is transferred from the wax paper onto the griddle.
6. Leave if on for about a min and then change sides and heat another 30 secs or until it is done.
Repeat steps 4 to 6 with the rest of the dough.

Serve hot with chutney of your choice.

Chhole

Serves: 4

White Chickpeas - 1 cup
Oil - 3 tbsp
Onion - 2 small, finely chopped
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Chhole powder - 1 tbsp
Tomato - 1, finely chopped
Green chillies - 3, slit
Ginger - 1/2 inch, greated
Chaat powder - 1/2 tsp
Kasuri Methi - 1/2 tsp

1. Soak the chickpeas for about 8-10 hours, preferably overnight.
2. Cook the chickpeas with about 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker and set aside.
3. Heat the oil and fry the onions until they are golden brown. Add the coriander powder, red chilli powder, chhole powder and fry on low flame for about 3 minutes.
4. Add the tomato, green chillies and ginger and mix well. Cook until the tomatoes soften, then add the boiled chickpeas.
5. For added flavour, add the Chaat powder and Kasuri Methi. Mix well and remove from heat. Serve immediately.