Anniversary Cake. Chocolate, of course!

Made this cake for our Anniversary early this month. There is something very inherently sexy about Chocolate cakes, don’t you think?. This was no exception. Seemed like just the right thing to bake for the anniversary.

Simple, rich and very satisfying ! This is a mix of many recipes. I think what did the trick was the use of Lindt chocolate and Almond meal. The latter added a beautiful texture, the former, richness and personality :).

 

 

Ingredients:

• 200g Lindt dark chocolate
• 200g butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 -4 eggs (use 3 if they are extra large ones)
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup almond meal
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk

For the icing

• 200g dark chocolate – Lindt or Nestle, chopped
• 1/2 cup thickened cream

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and line base of a round cake pan.

2. Place chocolate in heat proof bowl and microwave, uncovered, on 50% heat/medium for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every minute, until it melts and is smooth. Set aside to cool for about 6 minutes.

3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time.  Add melted chocolate, combine well. Sift flour and cocoa together. Fold half the flour mixture into butter mixture, little at a time. Add half the milk. Stir gently to combine. Repeat with remaining flour mixture and milk. Spoon into pan and level the surface of the mixture. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

4. Chocolate icing: Combine chocolate bits and cream in a  microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered,  for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon, until almost melted. Stir until smooth. Set aside for 15 minutes .

5. Spread over cake only after the cake has completely cooled down.

6. Decorate with fresh fruits or chocolate shavings.

 

Surprise spouse :)!

Pui chorchori >> Ma’s favourite

I found just a few stems of Pui or Malabar Spinach in the Indian store. Its rather difficult to get it here in Sydney. Any Sydneysiders reading this, who know where I can get Pui in abundance, please do let me know! :-)

 

So Pui as its referred to in Bengali and Poi in Oriya, is a family favourite.  Sharmila’s recipes on Pui are awesome, if you haven’t already read them. Pui at home is made with lots of veggies in ‘chorchori’  (mix vegetable) style. I think chorchori, especially with Pui must be had on Sunday afternoon for lunch with lots of hot steamed rice accompanied by a chicken, mutton  or fish curry, followed by an afternoon siesta! No Sunday lunch is complete with out the quintessential siesta :)

 

 

You’ll need:

 

• 11/2 tablespoons mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp of Paanch Phoron ( a pinch of each- Nigella, fenugreek, cumin, fennel, radhuni/celery seeds)
• 3 slit green Chillies
• 1 inch fresh Ginger- grated
• 3-4 stems of Malabar spinach/ Pui – roughly chopped with the stem
• 1/4 diced pumpkin
• 6-7 cauliflower florets (you can also add french beans and other vegetables of your choice. Just don’t miss out on pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup Peas
• 1 diced Potato
• 1-2 Carrots – chopped length wise
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
• Paste of 2 tablespoons of Poppy (poppy) and 1 tsp mustard seeds (soak for 2 hours and grind to a thick paste)

 

Method:

 

Heat oil in a wok/kadhai. Add panchphoron and let it splutter for a few seconds. Add slit green chillies and grated ginger and sauté for 4-5 seconds.  Add the diced pumpkin first of all the vegetables and sauté it for 2 minutes.  Add cauliflower and let it soften a little. Add the rest of the vegetables and mix well. Cover the wok and on medium flame let it cook for 3-4 minutes. Uncover and add the dry masalas- chilli powder, turmeric, salt, sugar). Mix well and its now it’s time to add the Malabar spinach/Pui. Mix well and leave it covered for a few more minutes. Don’t over cook it. Remember Pui is made best on low to medium flame. That’s what ma says!

Once the Pui softens, and all the other veggies are cooked, add the poppy-mustard seed paste to it and mix well. Cook for a further 2 minutes. Turn off heat and let it stand covered for sometime. Transfer to bowl. Serve hot with rice and ghee.

 

 

Until next time!

Very Berry, Strawberry >> Strawberry Mousse!

I wanted to make chocolate mousse. But my Pink rascal, erm…princess, insisted on a ‘pink’ mousse. Ok, your highness, here you go.
The man at home tried it first and said the flavour of Strawberries were over powering and the mousse was not subtle. But my guests loved it :). Just because he managed a one week challenge and I humoured him on my ‘exclusive’ blog, he thinks he can critique anything I make. Who are you, dude? Anthony Bourdain?





Well, I did use extra strawberries.  So, if you want your mousse to taste subtle, then just add a little less. :-)

You’ll need:

• 400 gms strawberries, pulped
• a little more than1/2 cup, icing/castor sugar
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon gelatin
• 1 cup thickened cream
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. 
   Combine water and gelatin in a  small bowl over a larger bowl of  boiling water. Do not dissolve it over direct heat. Wait until it completely dissolves. Allow to cool to room temperature.
   
2. 
   Pulp the strawberries and add sugar to it. Mix well until combined. Add lemon juice and the cooled Gelatin to this. (Don’t let the gelatin cool too much, then it sets and hardens.)
   
3. 
   Using a beater, beat the egg whites till soft peaks are formed. In a separate bowl repeat the process with the thickened cream.
   
4. 
   Slowly add the egg whites into the strawberry mixture. Fold.
   
5. 
   Add the whipped cream to this. Fold again.
   
6. 
   Spoon into little ramekins or bowls of your choice and refrigerate for at least 4-5 hours.
   
7. 
   Before serving top with mint and strawberries.
   

If you have a different method of making Strawberry Mousse, do share!
So long, then!

The 7 day cooking challenge >> Take a bow, sweetheart!

The man offered to cook for 7 nights for us. Didn’t know if this was a trick offer or a genuine one. But gave him a chance nevertheless. I had nothing to lose. He decided to call it-  ‘I can cook too – 7 day cooking challenge’. LOL. That’s what I did. But, soon I had to gulp those LOLs down, for he indeed kept at it and made some of the most authentic dishes, effortlessly.

Though he did ask every 2 seconds- ah what are ‘cardamoms’ and ‘is this what a bay leaf looks like?’. But I won’t deduct points for that. I think he was just being sure and erm, inquisitive. :-)

I’m really ashamed that I ate up most of the dinners without taking pictures. Really sorry. But hey, you know what? I think its the perfect excuse for him to go on another challenge, when I’ll be ready with a charged camera!!

Sharing a few here with you all.

 

1. Spanish Paella : Brown rice, chicken stock, veggies, chic peas and tomatoes! Oooh la la!

Turned out just right!

 

The man in action!

2.Posto- Potatoes and cauliflower is a paste of poppy seeds!

A  Bengali delicacy and my favourite Bengali vegetarian dish!

 

 

3. Spicy Prawn Curry – Prawn, potatoes, tomatoes in a spicy gravy.

Best had with piping hot steamed rice.

 

 

4. And now for the winner – Moroccan Chicken with fried rice!

(I want to kick myself for not clicking this picture with my camera. But We were getting late and had to eat the mutton like right then! So my iphone it was.)

5. Bengali style Mangsho – Mutton Curry with potatoes.

He really deserved a standing ovation for this one :D

For the recipe was rather tedious. But he managed just fine!

 

So, what do you think? As for me, I’m going back to campaigning for more!

My little girl makes ‘Fairy Bread’

So, she’s been behaving. Watching television when I want her to and turning it off accordingly. She comes back from school with ‘stickers’ on her hands for all the ‘help’ she has offered at school. And then, she’s been smothering me with kisses. Means just one thing. It’s time for a treat. So I asked her what she wanted and she said, she’d like to make “Fairy Bread’ . “It’s yummy mum, and I learnt how to make it in school”.

 

We set to make it today for breakfast. It was a bright sunny, happy morning. As instructed I laid whatever she wanted, on the table.

1. Bread cut into triangles.

2. Sprinkles (pink ones please, mumma)

3. Butter (I want it soft, mum)

4. Plates

5. Knife for the butter

6. M n M’s (to be had after breakfast as dessert, please, mumma?)

 

My 4 year old takes on from here!

So, mumma’s friends, this is how we make it. Look carefully, please.

 

1. First spread butter on the triangles. Like this.

 

 

2. Then sprinkle the pretty pink sprinkles ALL over the bread. Okay?

It can be messy. So wear an apron like I did.

3. Then look at it in amazement! And say ooooooooooooooo!

4. Take a bite. Enjoy!

 

Should I? Shouldn’t I?

   

Who cares!

I hope you enjoyed making Fairy Bread with me, Mumma’s friends!

A Casserole and some images

Made a veggie bake and a Chicken Casserole over the last two weeks. Whatever else I made is not worth mentioning here.  I’ll just blame Sydney’s wet and dreary winter. Leaving you with a few images. The recipes are the usual nothing striking and different. Though for the casserole I used curry powder and sour cream. It was quite a hit!

 

 

 

 

 

I really hope I buck up and come back with more :)

Not-in-a-mood >> Fish Stir Fry

I was in no mood to cook. Decided whatever needs to be done, will have to be in half an hour. So this was the result. What do you think?

Coat 250 -500  gms fish with salt and turmeric. 

Pour 2 tablespoons oil and add the fish when oil is hot. Let it brown on both sides. Push aside the fish pieces and in the centre where some oil remains (add a little if its too less), add 1 spoon of coriander powder, 1/2 tsp of chilly powder, 1 tsp garlic crushed, 1-2 tablespoon tomato ketchup, 1/4 tsp soya sauce, 2-3 slit green chillies. Mix the mixture and coat the fish pieces with it. garnish with coriander.

Serve as a side with rice.

Haven't been cooking much. Will be back soonish :-)!