Kya Aapke Cake Mein Iron Hai ?

                               How to Power up your kids with Iron

Aamen, my nephew loves cakes is an understatement. Aamen lives to eat cake every day. Some times I wonder and many times I am sure that he is the reincarnation of Marie Antoinette. Most of the dabbas ( Food Boxes ) in our home are choc-a-bloc with different types of cakes. Choco-Chip Cake in the morning with glassful of Complan-milk, Butter-Scotch Cake with Methi Theplas / Idlis in the school-tiffin , Cup-Cakes with coffee / Upma / Poha in the evening, Walnut brownies/ truffle pastries in between, is Aamen's Cakelicious eatinerary ( i.e. itinerary ) on any given day.

You must be wondering , so much of Junk ?. What kind of parents stuff their kids with Maida, maida and more maida through Cakes?. Yes, we understand your concern as well as our duties and responsibilities as parents and at the same time we want our bachcha to be happy. Feeding our children Nutrition through their favorite food is the Key-Mantra. 

Cake can be healthy too if Maida is substituted with Wheat flour ( rich in Vitamins and high fiber ), Sugar is substituted with Jaggery ( full of Iron, Vitamins, Minerals ), and key ingredients such as, Rajgira / Amaranth ( Iron, Calcium, Protein ), Nuts : Almonds ( Proteins, Vitamins ), Cashews ( Iron, Vitamins, Minerals ),dry fruits : Raisins ( Iron, Protein, Vitamins ), Homemade Ghee ( full of Vitamins , lowers LDL Cholesterol levels ), Milk etc. 

That day, we decided to give a Power packed , Iron full surprise to Aamen by baking a novel Nutty- Nutritious , Iron-rich cake, using Almonds, Cashews, Jaggery, Raisins, Amaranth as the main ingredients. 

You won't believe me , If I told you that Aamen's eyes twinkled Big Star and his hair spiked on it's own  ( OK the later is just a JOKE ) when he saw and tasted the Nutty-Nutritious Cake .
                            
                               

Power Packed, Iron full, Nutritious Cake 

Preparation Time : 30 Minutes

Ingredients :

1.    1/2 cup powdered Almonds
2.    1/2 cup powdered Cashews 
3.    1/2 cup Raisins
4.    1/2 cup Rajgira ( Amaranth )
5.    1 cup powdered Jaggery
6.    1 Tsp Baking Powder
7.    1/2 cup Cocoa powder
8.    1 cup Wheat flour
9.    1 cup Ghee ( clarified butter )
10.  1 cup Milk



                                       

1. Mix well and Sieve together Wheat flour , Cocoa powder and Baking powder.
2. Beat Ghee & Powdered Jaggery until light & creamy. Add Milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in sieved Wheat Flour , Cocoa powder into the above mixture. 
3. Add the powdered nuts ( Cashews,  Almonds ) Rajgira and Raisins . Mix well. 
4. Grease & dust the baking bowl with maida. Preheat oven to 180^o C. Pour  the mixture in to the bowl. cover it with foil. 
5. Bake 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool in tin for 5 mins. Decorate colorfully. 

www.livogen.in is an initiative by MERCK to spread the awareness about anaemia, increase detection rates and treatment. This website has information on what is iron deficiency anaemia, what are the symptoms, remedies, precautions to prevent anaemia etc. This website also has interesting iron rich recipes that you can savour!

Dear Friends , Check Livogen (The number 1 Iron Supplement) is running an iron rich recipe making contest for all .If you have a unique Iron rich recipe, participate in the #livogenironchef contest and stand a chance to get featured in Femina, the leading women’s magazine, as a Celeb Chef. Top 3 will also win vouchers worth Rs. 20,000 and the next 7 will win vouchers worth Rs. 5,000. For more information check out  Iron Chef contest