Bajra Cranberry Biscuit (Millet Cranberry Biscuit)

Bajra Cranberry Biscuit

How often do you end up wondering how on earth you are going to make your child eat healthy food? Or for that matter, how often have you been guilty of snacking of high sugar or high fat food? Recently, I have been concerned about my son’s food intake as he barely seems to be eating. Or this reason, I have been thinking hard to find ways of increasing his nutrition in every bite he takes.  I have always found finger foods or snacks an easy way to pack with nutrients because it fits with their ‘busy schedule’ of nonstop playing. At this day and age, we seem to have a need to sneak in good ingredients rather than taking them consciously, knowing exactly what it is. My ancestors used to include so many different grains, millets, vegetables etc. and lived quite healthy. Sometimes when I add some ‘healthy’ ingredients in some dishes I do get a funny look from my husband, although he eventually eats them and appreciates but he still gives me that look. Anyway, long story short, I found a great way to include millets – biscuit. If it is added in increased quantity, it is not particularly tasty, so it was better to combine with wheat flour. I added dried fruits to lend some sugar and more taste in every bite. The millet flour has no gluten so it tends not to come together really so I decided to make my own egg substitute – cornflour paste. You could not tell it had millets and trust me the satisfaction of knowing you are having a rather healthy snack is immense.

½ cup bajra flour

½ cup wholewheat flour

¾ cup all purpose four

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

½ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup dried cranberry

¼ cup black currants, soaked in water for five minutes or so

1/3 cup butter/margarine

1-2 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon cornflour mixed in 2 tablespoon water

Combine the butter/margarine and sugar together

Add the cornflour water mixture and whisk

Add the flours with baking powder, cranberries and currants and mix to make a dough. You may need to add a spoon or two of milk to make the dough

Divide the dough and make discs about 3mm thick and cut to desired shapes (cutting them in attractive shapes makes them even more appealing)

Bake at 180degC for 13-15 minutes, until edges brown and you smell the wonderful biscuit

Transfer to cooling rack and store in air tight container