Vegetable Stew

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: AKSHU

Vegetable stew is a simple and easy to make side dish for Appams,chappatis and dosas.Being a keralite dish,it gives a real flavourful treat for all vegetarians.Cocunut milk used in this curry adds in the richness and make it creamy to 

taste.With all vegetables into it,this curry stands as a tri colored healthy and delicious to eat in our Independence day celebration.

Preparation & Cooking Time: 15 mins + 10mins. 

Servings: 3-4 persons

INGREDIENTS:

Potato (chopped) 1 cup (2 med. Size)

Carrot (chopped) ½ cup(1 small size)

Green peas (frozen) ½ cup

Curry leaves Hand full

Onion (sliced) 1 big

Green/Red chilli (slit) 4 nos small size

Ginger (sliced) 2 inch stick

Cocunut Milk 1 cup

Second Cocunut Milk 1 ½ cup 

Corrainder Leaves 1 tbsp chopped

Vinegar/Lemon juice 1 tbsp 

Cashew nuts 1 tbsp

Cocunut Oil and Ghee 2 tbsps and 1 tbsp

Pepper powder ½ tbsp

Garam Masala powder 1 tbsp

Salt To taste

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

To get ready with veggies ;

- Wash clean and cut the Potato & carrot into small cubes.Onion into thin slices.

- Cut the Ginger and redchillies into 1 inch thin stripes.

1. Take a wide bottomed pan and heat 2 tbsps of oil. Add sliced Onion,ginger,redchillies and curry leaves into it.Saute it for 3minutes until colour changes to golden brown.
2. Now add the pepper and garam masala powder into it and roast it well on a medium flame.
3. Then add the chopped potatoes,carrot,green peas and salt required into the pan. Mix it well and cook the veggies with the steam keeping the lid closed for 5minutes.
4. Once the vegetables are cooked in the oil and steam.Open the lid and mix it well.
5. Now add the second cocunut milk into it and stir until it thickens.
6. Later add first cocunut milk and stir well for 2 minutes.Add the vinegar or lemon juice and switch off the stove.
7. In another pan heat 1tbsp of ghee and roast the cashewnuts until golden brown.
8. Now add the roasted cashews into the curry along with chopped corrainder leaves.Mix it.
9. Transfer the curry to a serving bowl.
10. Serve it hot with Vellappams,chappaties or dosas.

Note :

• Cook the vegetables in oil added itself as it gives a roasted flavour (no water needed).
• Add the cocunut milk only when the vegetables are cooked. 
• Vegetables like beans,cauliflower can also be included.
• Always the quantity of potato should be more than other vegetables.
• Thick cocunut milk when used will make the stew more rich and tasty.

Tirangi Rava Idli

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: ADITI UPADHYAY

Recipe Name: TIRANGI RAVA IDLI

Soaking Time:  10 min.

Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 7 mins

Makes: 12 idlis

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups semolina (rava)

1.5 cups curd

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp oil

salt to taste

oil for greasing

Tempering--

1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)

1 tsp red chilly powder

2 green chillies , chopped

4 curry leaves (kadi patta)

1 tbsp oil

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Mix the semolina, curd, lime juice, oil and salt together in a bowl. Might add a little water to make the batter consistent, keep it aside for around 10 minutes.
2. Separate the batter in three different bowls and add 1-2 drops of orange and green food colouring (might use chutneys instead)
3. Prepare the tempering by heating oil and adding the cumin seeds, red chilly powder, green chillies and curry leaves. When the cumin seeds crackle, add the tempering to the semolina Batter.
4. Pour the  batter from all bowls into greased idli moulds.
5. Let it cook in the microwave oven for about 6-7 minutes.
6. Serve hot with a chutney of your choice.

Linking this entry to INDEPENDENT INDIA event sponsored by, Hudson Canola :) 

Event Announcement: Soups with SS

I actually feel so excited when temperature begins to drop a little… Not full-fledged winter yet but still time has come when you start making a list of your “Feel-Good” food. And even if it’s not winter for you, there’s nothing wrong in making a list for the next season ;) Is there any way we can cut off the calories and still enjoy some satisfying meals? Absolutely you can… Get your soupy bowls out and warm up faster with some super-healthy, comforting, steaming soups in cold days!

While posting many of soup recipes recently, I found someone who’s quite like minded… Someone who loves soups & salads eternally! Not only that, she too is a vegetarian… A lovely blogger… And more than that, a very dear friend of mine :) Sonal (of SimplyVegetarian777) and I came up with an idea to build a collection of soups for quick-access & new-ideas and just for that, we planned to run an event for this month, which will bring many entries of fellow-bloggers too. No strict rules (we’re not crying babies) for the event… But expecting too much fun for sure :)

Here are some quick rules of the event :

1. It’s a vegetarian event… Strictly no Non-Veg! Eggs are allowed.
2. Event runs from 5th June to 5th July (US time) and it’s open for bloggers as well as non-bloggers.
3. Non-bloggers send their entries to me: tocookingwithsj@gmail.com, which will be posted on my secondary blog and linked up here!!!
4. Any number of fresh/archived entries is allowed.
5. First, link to my announcement page (this one only) and Sonal’s announcement in your post and then use given linky tool to send your entry.
6. One must like Cooking with SJ and SimplyVegetarian777 for a valid entry.
7. Usage of logo is optional, but would be great if you add as it helps spread a word.
8. It would be nice if you can mingle a bit. Visit the fellow bloggers entries and leave your comments or like their work.

Click on the link to start linking your entries for ‘Soups with SS’!!!

System Review: Food Panda

I'm back with a wonderful thing to share!!! Who doesn't love a system which offers the service of food ordering... without tiring process... even without credit/debit card? 

I found one such website: Food Panda... Running all across the globe and if you ask where particularly in India, then lemme tell you... they've covered all major cities out there! Isn't it great? 

Enter a website URL, select your country, your area and food you want to explore... And you'll find a long list of restaurants around you from where you can order plenty of dishes!!! That's all what you have to do... 

I was surprised when I found my favorite eating joint (considered to be quite small in the city) with their Egg Bhurji n Aloo Paratha listed ;)

Some features in detail (I know you must have planned to order something just now, but wait a min if you want to know more about this amazing system):

• It’s not only for India! They’ve their system running in nearly 40 countries :) Isn’t it great?
• More than 3000 restaurants of India are included in their database.
• They cover all cuisines for you to pick your favorite from…
• Even many restaurants offer special discounts too… Don’t miss to subscribe to stay updated with those deals!
• Detailed information of all restaurants i.e. open hours, delivery charges (if any), delivery time, min. order etc.
• Complete menu of a restaurant with price listing, which can be added to your order from there and then only.
• User reviews are allowed for helping others to order!
• Not only that, they accept the payments online or a wonderful ‘Cash on Delivery‘ option is offered too!

Check out this website: www.foodpanda.com 

And wait a min... It has to be mobile everytime ;) You can download an android or iphone application and process via that too. Link to download: http://www.foodpanda.in/contents/apps

Event with a Giveaway: "Only Cooking with Grains"

Do you believe in eating healthy food? If yes, then you must be knowing that grains being important sources of fiber, vitamins, minerals… you must include them in your daily diet! Well… true that some grains are healthier than others, but overall each one of them provides many nutrients which are essential for health. 

Whole grains like barley, buckwheat, corn, quinoa, rye etc. Refined grains get processed in a mill to remove the bran and germ from whole grains… Sad :( as the process also removes some amount of fiber, iron, and vitamins too!!! In any case, we’re using those refined grains which are widely accepted in form of flours also.

So, pick your grain, cook a dish and link up here!!!

Even though I’m a regular reader of Pari’s Space, I never had been a part of this ‘Only’ series! And so I wanted to grab a chance on the announcement itself… I had been waiting for my turn, and here I’m with you as a host of Pari’s Event of the month – “Only Cooking with Grains” :) Ahan… I’m definitely the one who strongly believe in staying healthy, enjoying deep-fried munchies or junk food at times is considerable though… But on a serious note, I love trying out different grains and different cuisines at the same time.

Do you have a collection of recipes, cooked with grains as a main ingredient? Here is something interesting for you to participate in…

More Details @ http://cookingwithsj.com/2014/03/31/only-cooking-with-grains/

Visit this link and start linking your entries from today itself!!! 

Bread Pizza

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: Megha Sharma

Recipe Name: Bread Pizza

Everyone loves pizza but it took some time to make it at home . if you want to eat pizza in less than 30 mins then try this "Bread Pizza" . It tastes even better than Pizza and those who dnt have oven can make it on tawa also. I love to make it on tawa . Now its your turn. Give it a try. 

INGREDIENTS:

For Bread--

2-3 slices of bread

1 Cup pizza Sauce.

1 Cup shredded cheese (Pizza cheese or grated cottage cheese both works equally good )

10-12 Jalapeno pepper 

10-12 Black Olives 

Salt (as per taste)

Chat masala (as per taste)

Red chilly powder (as per taste) 

Black Pepper powder (as per taste) 

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Take a bread slice and toast it little.

2. Apply pizza sauce on it.

3. Now put one pinch of salt chat masala  red chilly powder and black pepper powder on it.

4. Place black olives and Jalapeno pepper on the bread slice.

5. Cover it with shredded cheese.

6. Now put it on tawa and toast it for 3-4 min.

7. Press the stuffing gently

8.Now carefully flip the bread slice (upside down)

9. The side of bread having stuffing is now on the tawa (Don't worry the stuffing will not come out) 

10 Let it grill for 2 minutes

11.Turn off the flame and bring the toast to the plate

12. Hot bread Pizza ready in 10 minutes.

Enjoy!! 

Variations:

I use all my left over cooked vegetables to make this bread pizza. Panner bhurji is the best one to make this recipe

Tips:

* If you want you can apply some oil on the sides of the bread it helps in making it more crispy.

* You can use any vegetables of your choice.

* If you want to make it in Oven then Pre-heat the oven on 350 f . Grease your cookie sheet a little . place the bread slices on it and cook for 10-12 minutes.In this case no need to toast the bread first on tawa.

* This recipe gives you the taste like a grilled one.Ready in 10  minutes. Every one in your home will love it.

  

* Just don't worry about if you flip the toast your stuffing will come out . it will not come out . It is  a fun        making this toast :) 

Linking this entry to Shruti's Bachelor Cooking Event :) 

Masala Bhindi

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: Megha Sharma

Recipe Name: Masala Bhindi

This is a very tasty yummy dish which you can eat as a side dish or main dish with rice or roti. This dish took less than 30 min to cook .

INGREDIENTS:

Bhindi (2lbs) (qty u like to make)

2-3 Green Chilies

Salt ( As per taste )

Chat masala 1/2 tbs

Aam chur Powder 1 tbs

Red Chili Powder 1tsp

Garam Masala 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder 1 tsp

Coriander Powder 1 tsp

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Wash the Bhindis and dry them with kitchen towel.

2. Cut the top and tail of the bhindi (Okra).

3. Make a horizontal cut(length wise) cut in bhindi (don't cut in 2 halves, just make a cut in center).

4. Now heat the oil in a pan and fry bhindis in it for 5-6 min on medium flame.

5. Now add all the above mentioned dry ingredients and mix them well.

6. Cover the pan and let it cook for other 5-7 mins on the medium flame.

7.Turn the bhindis very gently and cook again for 2-3 minutes.

8.Take off the lid and cook the bhindis for other 2 min

9.Your Masaa bhindi is ready to eat .

*This Bhindi is Recipe is very easy to cook and delicious in taste. If you want you can cook the masala separately first then stuff the masala in the bhindis and cook them in the same manner mentioned above.

* The another way to cook this recipe is you can make them in the same manner you cook "Stuffed masala baigan". That is mix all the dry ingredients in a palte .Then stuff the dry masala in each bhindi and fry them in the same manner .

Linking this entry to Shruti's Bachelor Cooking Event :) 

Healthy Bean Salad

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: Megha Sharma

Recipe Name: Healthy Bean Salad

Recipe Description: 

Bean Salad is good recipe for breakfast and for snack also. This salad is rich in Fiber minerals . less calories and fat. time for cooking is less than 30 mins.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup White Chickpeas

1/2 Cup Red Kidney Beans

1/2 Cup Black Eyed Beans

1/4 Cup Onion (chopped)

1/4 Cup Tomato (Chopped)

2-3 Tbs Cilantro

2 Green Chilies (Chopped)

Black Olives (optional)

Jalapeno (optional)

Salt 1tbs (as per taste)

Red Chilli powder 1 tsp (as per taste)

Black Pepper powder 1/2 tsp

Lemon juice 2 tbs

Steps to follow:

1. wash and soak White Chickpeas,red kidney beans. black eyed beans in hot water for 20 mins*

2. pressure cook all of them for 4-5 whistles. Some times it took more time depends on the type .

3. After all the pressure released open the cooker and take out all the beans

4. Let them cool for 5-10 mins

5. Now mix onion . tomato and mix them

6. Now add all the dry Ingredients and mix them

7. Add olives, jalapeno and cilantro

8. Add lemon juice

9. Give a final mix

Healthy yummy recipe for b'fast or snack ready in less than 30 mins.

* One can use canned beans also. In this case start from no. 5 to make the recipe you can add red green and yellow bell pepper also more taste and crunchy flavor. This recipe is good source of Vitamin and mineral less in calories and high in Fiber.

Linking this entry to Shruti's Bachelor Cooking Event :) 

Creamy Quick Sandwich

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Bachelor Cooking' :)

Participant Name: Megha Sharma

Recipe Name: Yummy Creamy 5 minute sandwich

Recipe Description:  

A delicious healthy breakfast or snack made with whole wheat bread which is high in fiber with the flavour of cream or cheese is ready in 5minutes.

Ingredients:               

4 slices of  Bread (i like brown bread)

Heavy Whipping Cream or (Malai)

1 Small Onion (Chopped)

1 Small Tomato (Chopped)

Cilantro 2-3 tbs

Salt as per taste

Red Chilli pwder 1/2 tsp or as per taste

1 tsp Chaat Maasala      (optional)

1 tbs oil

Steps to follow:

1.Take a bowl add heavy cream in it and mix it gently.It wil become little thick

2. Now add all the dry ingredients in it and mix it gently .

3. Add onions and tomato in it and give it a mix.

4.Now at last add cilantro and mix it well.

5.Leave the mixture for 5 minutes .

6.Take 1 slice of bread and toast it little 

7. Put 1-2 tbs of mixture on it .

8. cover it with other slice.

9. repeat the same process for rest of the slices.

10 Heat a pan or tawa or toaster.

11. Add little oil on both side of slices and toast it from both sides.

12.cut in half

13. serve it hot with tomato sauce.

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Bachelor Cooking’ Event :)

Eggless Chocochips Cookies

Cookies… Cookies… Cookies… I enjoy being in my kitchen the most while making/after baking chocolate flavored cookies! And munching those freshly baked cookies serves to be the best goodies ever :)

I know I always stay loaded with 100s of topics ;) And to release that load, I definitely have to have special tea-sessions with friends/foodies!!! I used to bug my sister-in-laws back in India but here, mostly I get to trap hubby only… ;)

Just a fistful of chocolate chips was left in a pack, and thought of making something for a special tea-time, as I had to talk with hubby about my phone call with a dear friend – Shalvi :) Started making ‘Chocolate Chips Cookies’ @ around 4:30 pm n hubby arrived @ 5:15 pm… And I starteddddd my radio……

Find this recipe @ http://cookingwithsj.com/2013/10/08/eggless-chocochips-cookies/

Somaas

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: Thangalakshmi Maharajan

RECIPE NAME: SOMAAS

I am from South Tamil Nadu and we have many traditional sweet recipes (Inippu) that have been passed down generations. One such is somaas which has a stuffing that isn’t so sweet and also it keeps well in shelves for a good time period.

INGREDIENTS:

For Outer Layer:

All purpose flour/Maida-1cup

Ghee -1tsp

Salt-1/2 tsp

Water-1/4-1/2 cup

For Stuffing:

Grated Fresh Coconut-1/4 cup

Ghee-1 tsp

Roasted gram/Buna channa-1/2 cup 

Sugar-1/3-1/2 cup

Cardamom-5 pods 

Oil-For deep frying

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1.Take a mixing bowl add  the ingredients given  for the outer layer except water and mix them well with the tip of your fingers.

2. Then add the water slowly and knead the dough to a pliable mass. Let the dough be thick so add water carefully

3. Knead the dough for further 5-10 mins and rest the dough for at least 1 hour in a covered bowl.

4. Now for the stuffing add ghee to a hot pan, add the coconut and fry until they are golden brown. Remove them from the pan and allow it to cool.

5. Now add roasted gram, sugar and cardamom pods to a mixer jar and grind them to a coarse powder.

6. Mix the coarse powder and fried coconut keep aside.

7. Divide the dough into a small lemon sized balls and rolling them in to a circle.

8. Now spoon the filling across the diameter of the circle 

9. Now slowly take one side of the circle and stick to the other side by pressing the ends with a little water in your hands.

10. Prepare the rest of the dough in the same way.

11. Take a heavy bottomed pan and pour the oil needed for deep frying. Let the oil become really hot.

12. Now drop 1or 2 somaas ‘carefully into the oil. It will soon puff up on one side. Then turn them to the other side and fry them until they are golden.

13. Remove them from oil and place them on tissues to absorb excess oil.

14. Once they are cool store them in a clean, dry, airtight container.

15. Serve with sugar sprinklings on top.

Notes:

*Resting time is very important for the dough to soften.

*Add water carefully as the dough must be a little hard. So do not add excess water.

*You can also add desiccated coconut. Stuffing with coconut will stay good for 3-4 days. Stuffing without coconut can be stored for 10 days.

*Add sugar according to your taste.

*You can also grind the stuffing to a fine powder. The coarse powder will give a great texture. I added some black sesame seeds to the stuffing for texture.

*Roll the dough as thin as you can which ensures the crispiness of the outer layer.

*The oil must be really hot for even frying and also see to that you remove them when they are golden brown as they tend to get easily burnt.

*Stick the ends of the dough properly otherwise they will leak all the stuffing when dropped in oil.

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)

Banana Ring Rolls

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: ANU ASHIN (From: Kitchen Snippets-For the love of Cooking)


RECIPE NAME: BANANA RING ROLLS

INGREDIENTS:

2 no. Ripe bananas
1/4 cup Grated coconut
1/4 tsp Cardamom powder
3 tbsp Sugar

4-5 tbsp Ghee/Oil

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Peel bananas and cut them into long slices with medium thickness.Heat oil/ghee in a pan and shallow fry the slices on both sides.Keep aside.
2. In the same ghee/oil add grated coconut ,cardamom and sugar and stir well till coconut starts to change colour.Remove from stove.
3. Place one banana slice on a flat surface and put some coconut mixture along the slice.Then roll the slice carefully and fix it using a toothpick.Repeat the same with all the slices.
4. Serve as an evening snack!

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)

Unique Brownie

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: MAULI SHAH

RECIPE NAME: UNIQUE BROWNIE

Most of people like chocolates…. Chocolate flavoured dishes. I am one of them. I can say that I m a big fan of choclolates or addicted of chocolates. In a day I have to eat chocolate or chocolate flavoured dish. 

Often I used to make cakes n brownies of chocolate flavoured. Specially brownie. I love it. very yummiiee… creamy… chocolaty…. Hot brownie… Bt it takes good time to cook n also its pre-preparation. As I can’t wait for long time to eat this delicious dish , I find a trick to prepare this delicious dish more faster and easy. 

INGREDIENTS :

9 Pieces bourn-bourn cream biscuits

9 Pieces hide ‘n’ seek biscuits

6 Pieces merry biscuits

3 tbl spoons sugar powder

4 tbl spoons drinking chocolate powder

1 tbl spoon cocoa powder

1/2  tspn baking soda

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup malai

FOR GARNISHING

Walnuts

Cashew

Chocolate sauce

STEPS TO FOLLOW :

1. First in a bowl mix trio (bourn-bourn, hide ‘n’ seek, merry) bisuits in a small pieces form and mix it well.
2. After it add sugar powder, drinking chocolate, cocoa powder and mix it.
3. Than add milk and malai and mix it by blender for 10 to 15 minutes till it becomes smooth and creamy.
4. Add baking soda in mixture and blend it for 2 mins.
5. Take  a microwave proof pan n grice it by butter.
6. Add the mixture in it and garnish it with roasted walnut n cashew.
7. put it for 4 mins in pre-heated microwave.
8. After take it out put it in a fridger for 5 mins to set and its ready to serve.

Note : We can serve it with choco or vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce and can make the moments and parties more special with this special dessert.

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)

Event Announcement: Bachelor Cooking

A NEW EVENT ANNOUNCED @ COOKING WITH SJ: 

LIMITED INGREDIENTS:

• Bread
• Mushrooms
• Eggs
• Pasta
• Beans/Lentils
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Cauliflower
• Wheat Flour
• Besan
• Basic Spices
• Oil/Butter/Ghee

RULES OF THE EVENT:

1. You must add a link to announcement page - 'Bachelor Cooking' event by SJ in your recipe. Usage of logo is mandatory as it helps spread a word.
2. Only recipes with ingredients listed above is valid. Also, it should be quick and easy for students/bachelors to cook.
3. Dishes can range from appetizers, soups, salads, mains, sides… Everything except desserts! If you’ve got some sweet entries, link up with Sweet Celebration with a giveaway.
4. One must like my facebook page and subscribe me via email for valid entries.
5. Any number of fresh entries are welcome. Max 3 archived entries are allowed.
6. Non-Bloggers may send their entries on myownfoodcourt@gmail.com with contestant name, recipe name, cooking time, ingredients, method and picture of the dish.

Start linking your entries for ‘Bachelor Cooking’ series HERE OR @ COOKING WITH SJ…

Drop a comment to this post once you link your recipes which will help me verify them.

Carrot Fruits 'n' Nuts Cake

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: Roshny Daniel

RECIPE NAME: Carrot Fruits 'n' Nuts Cake

Ingredients:

1. cup*   All purpose flour

1 cup Whole wheat flour (atta)  

2 cup sugar 

2 tsp  baking powder 

2 tsp Vanilla essence

2 tsp ground spice(cinnamon,clove,nutmeg,cardamom) 

1/2 tsp salt 

4 eggs 

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 

2 cups grated carrots 

1 1/2 cups chopped nuts(cashew nut,almonds)

1 cup dried fruits

* 1 cup=16 Tbsp

Preparation:

- Preheat the oven to 180 C . Lightly grease and flour a  cake pan.

- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients flours, salt, spices and Baking powder.

- In a large mixing bowl beat together eggs and sugar till fluffy .

- Add in vanilla essence and mix .

- Next add in  oil .

- Slowly add dry ingredients and blend together well with out lumps.

- Add carrots, fruits and nuts.

- Pour into cake pan and bake for 35-45 minutes. Check after the first 35 minutes, to see if a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If not, continue to cook, checking every 5 minutes.

- Remove cake from oven when done and cool.

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)

Upside Down Apple-Cinnamon Cake

Posting on behalf of a non-blogger to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: Roshny Daniel

RECIPE NAME: Upside Down Apple Cinnamon Cake

Ingredients:

Topping

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup  sugar ( for caramelization)
2.5 medium apples-Peeled ,cored and cut to wedge shape
1/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder

Cake:

6 Tbsp unsalted butter(room temperature)
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla essence
1 cup flour
3 Tbsp cornflour
1 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 apple peeled ,cored and diced

Preparation:

- Preheat oven to 180 C. Line a cake pan with butter.

For Topping

- In a sauce pan melt 4 Tbsp butter .
- Add 1/2 cup sugar and cook till sugar melt to light golden brown.
- Add cinnamon and nutmeg powder.
- In to sugar syrup add apple wedges and cook on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes.Stir occasionally to avoid burning of sugar.
- Cook the apples in butter sugar solution till apples release juice.
- Pour this mixture into the greased cake pan and arrange.

For Cake batter

- Mix together the flour,corn flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a bowl beat 6 Tbsp butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla essence.Beat until well blended.
- Mix the dry ingredients alternating with milk in to the creamed mixture until combined.Dont over beat.
- Gently stir in the chopped apple in batter.

- Pour batter in to the cake pan lined with apple and sugar syrup.
- Bake the cake for around 40 minutes or until golden brown.
- Leave the baked cake to cool for 5  minutes and then invert the cake to serving plate.
- Do not allow cake to leave in cake pan to cool as it will let the caramel to stick to base of cake pan.
- Serve warm with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)

Black Forest Cake

Posting on behalf of MY GUEST-WRITER to link up with my ongoing event 'Sweet Celebration' :)

PARTICIPANT NAME: Rashmi Madhan

RECIPE NAME: Black Forest Cake with Chocolate Leaves

INGREDIENTS:

1 Chocolate Cake (as above) or 1 Devils Food Cake (your choice) Slit into 3 layers.

2 x 425 grams PITTED black cherries.  

2 tablespoons arrowroot/corn flour

Drain and reserve the cherries and juice/liquid separately.  Of these keep at least 8 cherries aside and let them drain on a kitchen towel so as to remove as much juice as possible.

Take the liquid/juice in a saucepan and heat it gently. Mix the corn flour/arrowroot with two tablespoons of the juice and return it to the pan.  Do not let it boil but let it heat gently and add the cherries back to the pan.  

Once you have a thickened saucy cherry sauce take it off the heat and let it cool.

You can do this a day ahead of time and keep it in the fridge.

2 x 300 ml cartons whipping cream

4 tablespoons icing sugar

Whip the cream and sugar together till soft peaks form

¼ Cup of Kirsch or White Rum

Chocolate Leaves: 

12 or more Leaves from Roses or any Leaves that have a well defined shape and veins.  Clean with a damp cotton cloth and pat dry making sure they do not have any moisture clinging to them.

1 bar of 70% Dark Chocolate grated.  

1 Packet Chocolate Hail.  If you can not source Chocolate Hail then use grated Chocolate instead.  1 Chocolate should be enough.

Method for the Leaves:

- Place a sheet of baking paper or any waxed paper on a flat surface.  Separate the leaves and place them in a bowl.  

- Keep a very small spatula or a butter knife handy.

- Melt half the grated chocolate on a double boiler and once it is nice and glossy smooth remove from the boiler and wipe the bottom to ensure no water gets in.  Add the other half of the Chocolate and continue stirring.  This is known as tempering the chocolate and it helps the chocolate set well. The result should be a smooth and glossy chocolate sauce.

- Carefully “paint” the back of each leaf with this Chocolate.  You can even use your fingers if you find it difficult to use a knife or brush.

Place each leaf carefully on the baking sheet, Chocolate side up.  Once you have finished all the leaves you need to do put the baking sheet with the leaves in the fridge and leave for 20 minutes.  Remove from the fridge and carefully peel of the leaf and you will be left with perfect Chocolate Leaves.  Believe me, it sounds more fiddly than it is!!  These can then be stored in an air tight container and kept in a cool place for later use. The rest of the chocolate can be grated and used to decorate the sides.

Assembly:

Place the Bottom layer of the cake on the serving platter and bruh with a third of the Kirsch, top with a layer of cream and half the cherry sauce.  Repeat with the middle layer.  Now place the final layer of the cake and brush with the remaining third of the Kirsch.  Cover the top and sides with cream and decorate with the cherries and chocolate leaves on top and the chocolate hail or grated chocolate on the sides.

Serve and Enjoy!!!

Linking this recipe to Shruti’s ‘Sweet Celebration’ Event :)