Nutty Hawaiian Mango Bread

These are one of the three yummy dishes that we tried in Hawaii and I always wanted to perfect these.  I already perfected  the Macadamia nuts Ice cream and Macadamia nuts pan cakes which I loved over there (recipes on this blog).
Generally I am not a big fan of Macadamia nuts due to high fat content which you can taste in each bite of plane nut.   This bread is usually made in Hawaii with Macadamia nut, but I wanted to replace these with almonds, pistachio and cashew. 

However if you would like to try with  Macadamia nut..go for it.  This bread came out very close to what we had tasted in Hawaii, except that bread also had coconut in it too but again I am not big fan of coconut either, but if you like it you can add it.  (may be half a cup sweetened shredded coconut, you may have to cut down on the sugar then a bit)

You can use any fruit to make this bread, I used my banana bread recipe for the base recipe.  You can make peach bread, cranberry bread, papaya bread, apple bread, using the same recipe.
Mangoes are it their peak season now and 
I just loved the Mango bread, so here it is.

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of AP flour
• 1 cup coconut brown sugar (you can use regular light or dark brown sugar)
• 1/2 cup of cane sugar (you can use granulated sugar)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Mango essence (optional, available in Indian grocery stores)
• 2 large mangoes peeled and chopped in to small pieces
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 chopped dates 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

• 1/2 cup almonds 
• 1 cup chopped roasted pistachios (I used salted but you can use raw unsalted) 
• 1/2 cup chopped cashews 
• 1/4 cup of half cashews for garnish
• Cooking oil spray and you will need two loaf pan, I usually use my Silicone loaf pans.

Method: 

• In a bowl mix  first six dry ingredients. Set aside.
• In separate bowl beat eggs, oil, vanilla and mango essence.
• Peel and chop mango and add lemon juice to it.
• In the we ingredients stir in dry ingredients  from first bowl.

• Fold in Mangoes, dates and all the nuts except cashew half that you have for garnish. Batter will be thick and sticky.
• Spray the two loaf pan generously with cooking oil spray.
• Spoon batter in two these grease loaf pans.
• Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 60 min or until the tooth pick inserted in middle comes out clean,

• Cool the bread loafs in pans before removing them from pans.
• Transfer them on to cooling racks.  
• I usually invert the pans so loaves come out with down side up.
• Then when completely cool I invert them them slice the loaves in to desired thickness slices.

• You can store them in air tight container safely for 2 days at room temp and up to one week in fridge. 
• These freeze well too. 

Enjoy !!

Recipe and photographs by Surekha.

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Crispy Seasoned Counrty Fries made in Air Fryer

I am so blessed to have so many good friends and family members, who have always inspired me to try new recipes and  continue posting on my  blog,  except I just lost my biggest fan....my mom..  yes....I just lost her last month...she used to look forward to my new recipes on my blog and would open my FB page and go over my newly posted recipes.... Yes I lost my biggest inspiration. I miss her so very much...
While I was feeling down, especially on Mother's day which fell exactly one month after her demise.... One of my good friend were talking about air fryers and she inspired me to look in to getting one...which  at first I was not too keen on getting, when I looked at the traditional ones available in the market.  Then she told me to look in to Cuisinart Air fryer with Toaster oven..I looked at it and was contemplating on whether to buy it or not.  My husband went on line and ordered it and on the night of Mother's day and we picked it up.
I did not feel like opening or trying anything...again this good friend of mine kept on poking me to try it.. so  I thought let me make the easiest thing which does not require too much mess of batter or anything...The Fries..and my husband loves French fries.. so it is only fair that I make these for him using this new gadget.
So I followed my recipe for the country seasoned fries that I usually make,  but minus all the oil for frying... I must admit they came out pretty good and without any guilt of eating.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium size potatoes
• 2 Table spoon of Olive oil or any vegetable oil
• 1 tables spoon of corn starch
• 1/4 cup of taco seasoning
• 1 teaspoon of sriracha seasoning (optional)
• 3/4 -1 teaspoon of salt or to taste (taco seasoning and Sriracha seasoning has salt so don't put too much salt
  

Method:

• Wash the potatoes.
• Cut them in to desired thickness of fries with skin (you can peel the skin off if you like)
• Transfer them in a glass bowl.
• Add corn starch, oil, taco seasoning, siracha seasoning, and salt.
• Toss the fries so everyone of them is covered with seasoning

• Microwave these cut seasoned fries, covered on high power for 6 min in the glass bowl.
• Line the Air fryer basket with parchment paper.
• Spread the seasoned fries on it in single layer.
• Place the basket on baking/drip tray and position these on position "2" described in the manual. This is the higher rack.

• Set the temp at 400 F.
• Air fry the fries for total of 8 min.
• After 5 min, slide the tray out and turn the fries over if needed.  
• Slide the tray back and bake for additional 3 min or until desired crispiness.
• Serve them hot with Ketchup or Chili sauce or with any of your favorite condiment.

I highly recommend this air fryer vs all the air fryers on the market, which only serve as air fryer, this one is build in to toaster oven and convection oven.
It has a rectangular flat basket vs all the other one has round small one.
It has an oven light so you can see your item cooking to desired crispiness and don't get burnt.
The power to oven turns off when you open the oven door and comes back on when you close the oven door.

And no Cuisinart did not pay me to post this recipe or their praises about this toaster oven with fryer.

Enjoy !!

Special Thanks to Nita G. for the inspiration to get me back to posting on my blog again.

Recipe and Photographs by Surekha.

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