Keerai poriyal

Healthy & nutritious dish which taste perfect when mixed with rice & some ghee.  Any kind of spinach can be used for this preparation but the cooking process is same.  

Ingredients :

1. Spinach (Finely chopped) - 4 cups
2. Onion - 1 big sized
3. Oil - 1 tbsp
4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
5. Urad dal - 1 tsp
6. Curry leaves -  1 tbsp
7. Red chillies - 3 nos
8. Garlic - 6 pods
9. A pinch of hing
10. Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
11. Salt to taste

Method :

1.   Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, garlic pods, red chillies, hing & finely chopped onion.  Saute till tender.

2.   Add the chopped spinach & cook till done.

3.   Finally, add the grated coconut & salt to taste.  

Serve with rice.

Sponge bob cake for my son's birthday

Very moist & dense sponge cake with buttercream icing & covered with marshmallows fondant.  My son was very happy & he had great time in his kindergarten.  Happy birthday visisht :)

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 3 cups
2. Baking powder - 1 tbsp
3. Salt - 1/2 tsp
4. Butter - 1 cup
5. Sugar - 1 3/4 cups
6. Eggs - 4 nos
7. Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
8. Milk - 1 cup

Buttercream frosting :

1. Icing sugar - 4 cups
2. Butter - 1 cup
3. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
4. Milk - 2 to 4 tbsp

Marshmallows Fondant :

1. Marshmallows - 200 gms
2. Icing sugar - 400 gms
3. Water - 1 tbsp
4. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
5. Vegetable shortening 

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven at 180 C.  Line up and grease the baking pan with the parchment paper.

2.  Sieve together the flour, baking powder & salt.

3.   Beat the butter until creamy & fluffy, gradually add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

4.   Add the eggs at a time & beating well after a addition.  Add the vanilla extract & beat until combined.

5.   Add the flour mixture & milk alternatively.  Bake for 30 mins until done.

6.  For the frosting :  Beat the butter, icing sugar, vanilla essence &  milk together until smooth & creamy.

7.   For the fondant :  Melt the marshmallow with a tbsp of water.  Now gradually add the icing sugar & prepare the dough.  Always grease the hands & the working surface with the vegetable shortening.  Once done, cover the fondant with the plastic wrap.  

Assembling the cake :

8.   Cut  & cover the cake with the butter cream icing.  Color & roll the fondant over the cake & refrigerate it.

Happy baking :)

Chocolate cake with cream frosting

Happy Birthday Visisht :)

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 11/3 cups (200gms)
2. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 1/2 cup (75 gms)
3. Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Baking soda - 1 tsp
5. Salt - 1/4 tsp
6. Butter - 1/2 cup (125 gms)
7. Brown sugar - 1 cup (200 gms)
8. Instant coffee granules - 1 tbsp
9. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
10. Eggs - 2 nos
11. Milk - 3/4 cup (185 ml)

Whipped cream frosting :

1. Whipping cream - 400 ml
2. Icing sugar - 5 tbsp
3. Vanilla extract - 2 tsp

Method :

1.   Sieve together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda & salt.  

2.   Beat the sugar & butter until creamy.  Beat in the coffee granules and vanilla.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating until just blended after each addition.

3.   With mixer on low, beat in the mixed dry ingredients, alternating with the milk.

4.   Preheat the oven to 350 F & grease the baking pan with parchment paper.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 45-50 mins.  

5.   Whip together the cream, icing sugar & vanilla extract.  Spread over the top and sides of the cake & decorate accordingly.

*I covered the cake with the fondant & the whipping cream frosting*

Happy baking !!!

Red Devil Cake with chocolate cream icing

Ingredients :

1. Dark cooking chocolate - 1 cup
2. Buttermilk - 1/2 cup
3. Brown sugar - 1 cup
4. Egg yolk -1 no
5. Butter - 1/2 cup
6. Brown sugar - 1 cup
7. Egg yolks - 3 nos
8. Baking soda - 1 tsp
9. Milk - 1/2 cup
10. All purpose flour - 2 cups
11. Egg whites - 2 nos

Chocolate cream frosting :

1. Whipping cream - 1 cup
2. Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
3. Icing sugar - 3 tbsp
4. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 tbsp

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Lightly grease the baking tin & line up with parchment paper.

2.  Simmer together chocolate, buttermilk, first measure of brown sugar and one egg yolk until dissolved.  Set aside to cool.

3.   Cream butter and second measure of sugar, add remaining egg yolks, baking soda dissolved in milk, and sifted flour.  Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture with chocolate mixture.

4.   Pour into prepared tin and bake for 50 - 60 mins.  

5.   In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients together till stiff.

6.   Sandwich the cake with the frosting & decorate accordingly.

Happy baking :)