Chocolate Cake with Caramel Icing

Chocolate cake is my Hubby's favourite one, I baked this cake for our Wedding Anniversary (27th May) and made Icing with Caramel. My Hubby gave me a lot of Surprise gifts, the whole day was lined up with continuous surprise gifts. In the evening, I gave him a surprise with his favourite Chocolate Cake. It came out very perfect Soft n Spongy Chocolate Cake, My Hubby enjoyed this cake very much on yesterday. He doesn't like the Icing with heavy Cream, So everytime I do different Icing without using Cream. This Caramel Icing is very easy one no hard times with it, very simple to make it in 5 mts melting the store bought caramel filling n topping with cadbury's dairy milk brown chocolate. Here, is the recipe for Chocolate Cake with Caramel Icing as follows,

Ingredients:

1.Cake flour - 1 cup
2.Cocoa Powder - 3/4 cup
3.Whole Eggs - 3 no's
4.Castor sugar - 3/4 cup
5.Canola Oil - 1/2 cup
6.Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
7.Baking Powder - 2 tsp
8.Boiling water - 1/2 cup

Preparation:

1.Pre-heat the Oven to 350 deg F, Put the eggs and castor sugar in a mixing bowl and beat it nicely for 5 mts with an electric beater till it turns white.
2.Add oil to the mixture, beat it in high for 5 mts.
3.Follow with Vanilla essence and baking powder beat it nicely. Now in tea cup measure the cocoa powder to 3/4 portion and add the hot boiling water with the cocoa powder. Mix it nicely with the spoon, now pour the thick cocoa mixture to the mixing bowl.( Now we used little bit of boiling water with cocoa powder totally the water we need to use is 1/2 cup add more boiling water according to it ).
4. Beat it nicely for 5 mts, now add the cake flour to the mixture beat it well in high for 2 mts.
5.Grease the baking pan and place the wax sheet on it, pour the cake mixture in the baking pan. One thing I made a mistake, try to beat it nicely the cake mixture with the fork before pouring into baking pan have to avoid the air bubbles.
6.After Pouring into the baking pan only I saw the air bubbles, I couldn't do anything on that time.
7.But Other thing came out perfect, bake it for 20 - 25 mts. Check it with the tooth pick.
8.Leave it to cool for 30 mts. It should be completely cool while we do the Icing.

Ingredients for Icing:

1.Nestle Caramel filling and Topping - 1 can ( I used 5 tbsp from the can )
2.Cadbury's chocolate - 60g ( I used 2 small bars)
3.Sugar balls for garnishing.

Preparation:

1.Use Double Boiler pot or Normal Steel pot topped with glass bowl to melt the Chocolate. Allow the water to boil in cooking pot place one glass bowl on top of the pot to melt the caramel and chocolate.
2.Put the caramel and 2 cadbury's bar to the glass bowl use the spoon to stir it well.
3.Gently stir the mixture till it turns soft ( Cadbury's bar is easy to melt quickly than other baking bars)
4.Now make it to smooth paste, apply on all sides of the cake and garnish with sugar balls or any other chocolate pipes of your choice.
5.Now the Perfect Soft n Spongy Chocolate Cake with Caramel Icing is ready to serve.

Home Made Mushroom and Bell Pepper Pizza

This week , I baked Mushroom n Bell Pepper Pizza for us. Home-made Pizza is very healthy and Quick to bake n make, We can do the toppings for our preference. Two weeks before, I tried to bake pizza  but the weather plays a massive role for raising the dough it gone off and I baked rolls for us with that dough. This week is nice weather Sunny days, even last time I kept the dough inside the oven but it didn't came out right this time I kept my dough in direct Sunlight it came out perfect for all the 3 times raising.

This Pizza dough measurement I gave it here for thin n crispy base and it yields 4 bases can store the each base seperately in cling wrap and keep it inside the fridge use within 1 week, for this weekend We have invited our frenz for Dinner get-together. So, I planned to bake Pizza with different toppings for them for that made extra base and kept inside the fridge. I like the thin n Crispy base with the veggies should be in chunk size but, my Hubby prefers thick base with the veggies should be in small pieces. We doesn't like the Mozarella cheese, cos sometimes We feel heart burn after having the Pizza with Mozarella topping at the last We won't feel pleasant dinner. So, I used reduced low fat Cheddar cheese for my cheese topping. Next time i will give the recipe for thick base. Here, is the recipe for Mushroom and Pepper Pizza as follows,

Ingredients for Pizza Base:

1.Cake flour - 4 cups ( i used tea cups to measure)
2.Instant yeast - 1 package
3.Salt -  1 tsp
4.Hot water - as reqd to knead the dough ( Not boiling hot water, Use bearable drinking hot water)
5.Canola Oil - 2 tbsp.

Ingredients for Topping:

1.Tomato sauce - 1 tbsp
2.Mrs.Balls Sauce ( Hot chutney) - 1 tbsp ( Use the sauce you like)
3.Green Bell Pepper - 1/2 medium ( cut into bit big pieces)
4.Sliced Red Onion - 4 tbsp
5.Pineapple Chunks - 3 tbsp
6.Sliced Button Mushroom - 5 no's
7.Sliced Baby Romanita tomatoes - 4 no's
8.Reduced low fat Cheddar Cheese Shavings - 4 tbsp

Preparation of Pizza Base :

1.Take one big bowl, add the Cake flour, Yeast, Salt and 1tbsp Canola oil. Mix it together with the help of the Spoon or Wooden Spatula, Pour little by little the hot water meanwhile mix the flour mixture with the spatula.
2.At one stage, you will feel the water is enough to add then stop pouring water now start to knead the dough with your hands apply little bit of oil and knead it nicely.
3.Apply little bit of oil on top of the dough, Cover the bowl with black plastic and keep it in direct Sunlight for 30 mts. ( Usually i keep the dough inside the warm Oven, but this time i kept in under direct Sunlight)
4.After 30 mts, Check the dough it will raise till the edge of the bowl. Punch down the dough, again cover the bowl with the black plastic and keep it under direct Sunlight for another 30 mts likewise do the same for twice.
5.Pre-heat the oven to 350 deg F, after kept the dough under Sun for twice now knock it down and make 4 equal balls out of the dough.
6.Roll down each ball in floured surface to thin round shape, apply oil to the plate in which you are going to bake.
7.Place the rolled pizza in the greased plate and poke all the sides of the rolled pizza with the fork.
8.Bake it for 5-10 mts, till it half done. Again, we are going to bake it with the toppings at that time it will bake completely.

Preparation for the Pizza Toppings:

1.Now mix both the sauces in one bowl, apply it on all sides of the Pizza base.
2.Spread the veggies n Pineapple Chunks on the pizza, Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese shavings on top of it.
3.Bake it in 350 deg F for 10 mts or till the cheese melts. I like the Juicy veggies, for that I bake the veggies for 5 mts before adding the cheese and then sprinkle the cheese bake it till it melts.
4.Slice the Pizza with the pizza cutter, now the Home-made Mushroom and Pepper Pizza is ready to serve hot.

Home Made Tortilla and Chicken Tortilla wrap

Before, We use store bought tortillas for our breakfast and sometimes for our getaway pack food. Here, one of my neighbour she has always make homemade tortillas for them. She only taught me how to make this easily by ourself and we can have the fresh tortillas than frozen one. She make and store nice round shaped tortillas for 2 days and keep it inside fridge covered with cotton cloth, i was also tried the tortilla on the same day she taught me it came out very well soo soft tortillas but only thing is mine not came in round shape rather in usual way resembles some other country maps so kindly bare with my tortilla shape. She also gave me an idea to use big cooking pot to shape our tortillas like we do for our cookies n for our pani pooris then it will come in shape.  My Hubby like this tortilla wrap with mixed veggies, chicken and mixed beans stuffing. Today, i have posted the tortilla wrap with store bought chicken burger pattice cos we use to have chicken burger while on our weekend getaway breakfast it is easy finger food to make quickly with mayonnaise and some other veggie stuffing.

Ingredients:

1.Cake flour - 3 cups
2.Butter - 2 finger size (put together the Index and middle finger on top of the butter and cut it)
3.Baking Powder - 3 tsp
4.Salt - 1 tsp

Preparation:

1.Mix all the ingredients together in one bowl and rub the butter with cake flour it turns like bread crumbs.
2.Add little bit of hot water ( bearable hot/Drinking hot). Make a soft dough out of it.
3.Now make small rotis or your prefered size.
4.Heat non-stick frying pan and toast the rotis to light brown colour (don't need to apply oil).
5.You can see small bubbles will raise while toasting and the colour of the roti change to light brown colour thats the texture for tortilla.
6.Then cover the tortillas with cotton towel.
7.Now the Homemade tortilla is ready to store and use immediately.
8.I made 8 tortillas out of this measurement and covered with cotton towel and put it inside fridge (don't keep in freezer). Next day just put in microwave for 10-20 secs then it will come to normal soft tortillas.
9.You can roll the rotis to even paper thin but for tortillas try to roll the rotis little bit thick like our chapathi and big in shape.

Ingredients for Chicken Pattice Tortilla Wrap:

1.Store bought chicken burger pattice - 1 piece
2.Crisp Lettuce - few leaves
3.Sliced red onion - few
4.Sliced deseeded tomato - 2 pieces
5.Garlic Mayonnaise - 1 tbsp
6.Sweet chilli sauce - 2 tsp

Preparation:

1.Bake the chicken burger pattice as in the package instruction and cut into thin strips. Spread the garlic mayonnaise on one side of tortilla and place the chicken pattice strips in the centre of the roti.
2.Arrange the sliced onion, tomatoes, teared lettuce leaves on the chicken strips.
3.Then squeeze little bit of sweet chilli sauce on top of the chicken n lettuce arrangement.
4.Now the Delicious Crispy Chicken Tortilla Wrap is ready to serve. We enjoyed this chicken tortilla wrap for our getaway day breakfast.

Fruit Cake

Fruit cake is simple and quick one to bake at any time. This cake i have learnt from our family friend Mohana akka here in my place, She taught me this cake how to mix n bake each n every step for my first time baking after my marriage.That time i was just noted down all the points and  the ingredients n preparation cos i was naive to baking the cake, but it came out in dark black colour and it gone straight to the bin. I was upset about my cake got flop at my first try but she was again taught me how to do in right form then i get to use of baking  and also came to know the things should n shouldn't do while baking. This fruit cake i have baked in last week, everytime while baking this one i come to remind about my first baked cake. Today, am going to share this Colourful Fruit cake as follows,

Ingredients:

1.Cake flour - 3 cups
2.Cake mix - 2 cups ( i used berry mix strawberry,bluebbery,kiwi n papino)
3.Chopped Cherries - 1/2 cup
4.Baking powder - 3 tsp
5.Bi carb soda - 2 tsp
6.Mixed Spices - 1/2 tsp
7.Condensed milk - 1 tin (385gms)
8.Margerine - 375 gms
9.Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
10.Almond Essence - 1tsp
11.Water measured from the same condensed milk tin.

Preparation:

1.Heat the water, condensed milk, margerine,Vanilla essence n Almond essence all in one pot. Put the fire in medium flame leave it to heat till the margerine melts then turn off the fire.(don't need to allow boil just margerine need to melt)
2.Now mix the cake flour, berries or cake mix, cherries, mixed spices, baking powder and bi carb soda  mix it together nicely with the help of spoon.(use wide deep bowl)
3.Mix both the wet and dry ingredients together and beat it nicely for 5 mts till it incorporate.
4.Grease your baking pan and pre-heat the oven to 350deg F. Transfer the cake mixture to the greased pan and bake it for 30 - 35 mts, after it baked check the cake with the tooth pick or with knife.
5.Leave it to cool in wire rack and then cut into slices and enjoy the colourful sweet fruits rich cake.

I am reposting some recipes which all inspired by my mom and am sending these recipes to Shabitha's CELEBRATING MOM'S EVENT:

Black Chana Curry/Kadala Curry

Kola Urundai/ Fried Meat Balls

Lamb Kuruma

Chicken Biryani

Masala Vadai/ Paruppu Vadai

Rice n Dal Payasam

Sandhagai/ Idiyappam/ String - hoppers

Venpongal

Brinjal Curry

Warm Brussels Sprout Salad with Baked Chicken Kiev

Brussels Sprout is my Hubby's favourite veggie, he like the kuruma which i use to cook with it for roti n poori. This veggie is very good for the health rich in vitamins and folic acid good for diet, easy to cook at any time. But, shouldn't overcook this Brussels it releases the odor some dislike this veggie because of this odor for that just cook it for 6 - 10 mts that is more than enough for Brussels. Here, i used baked brussels  for my Hubby's Salad. Actually, in the Salad book they said to use shaved raw brussels but my Hubby don't like the raw smell of it for that i baked the brussels to light and then served with baked chicken kiev. He enjoyed this salad very much for his dinner with soup. The Vegeterians can add Baked or raw shaved brussels with chopped apples and Honey n Vinegar dressing. Here, is the recipe for the Brussels Salad as follows,

Ingredients:

1.Brussels Sprout - 10 no's
2.Chicken breast piece - 1 (I used chicken kiev, vegeterians can substitute Apples)
3.Lemon Black Pepper - 1 tsp
4.Boiled egg - 1
5.Salt as reqd
6.Olive oil - 2 tsp
7.Garlic Powder or Minced Garlic - 1 tsp
8.Sliced Almonds - 2 tsp ( can use any other nuts)

Preparation:

1.Bake the chicken kiev/breast in 350deg F till it turns soft. I used chicken kiev so i didnt added no salt n chilli powder, if you are using chicken breast marinate with chilli powder, salt and bit of olive oil for 10 mts and then bake it.
2.Now rinse the brussels sprout , trim off the ends and remove if any wilted leaves. Cut each sprout into halves ( i got very small brussels so cut into halves if you got bit big cut into quarters).
3.Now put 1 tsp of olive oil,minced garlic n salt in one bowl, mix the sprouts with the oil n salt. Bake it in 350deg F for 5 mts.
4.After it got slightly tender leave it to cool and then sprinkle the lemon pepper on top of sprouts n mix it , cut the boiled egg into halves and baked chicken into bite size pieces.
5.Now toss lightly the brussels and baked chicken pieces together and  arrange it in the serving plate then sprinkle the sliced almonds and place the halved boiled egg on top.
6.For the vegeterians, toss the brussels sprout and cubed apple together spread it in the serving plate with honey n vinegar ( white wine vinegar) dressing.

Honey Glazed Soetpatats - South African Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato is much healthier and full of Nutrients packed one than an Ordinary Potato. An Ordinary Potato is high in sugar content which quickly released and used by the body it is not good for diabetic. Here in South Africa, Soetpatats ( Sweet potatoes) is traditional starter they make in different ways like mashed sweet potatoes, glazed, Stewed and Baked. In South India, we also do the same but in different version of having it, mash the cooked sweet potato mix it with little bit of ghee and sugar. Only the ingredients and cooking method is different from place to place, this Soetpatats are often eaten very popular sweeter dish can be roasted or baked.

Ingredients:

1.Sweet potato - 1 medium in size (250 gms)
2.Margerine - 1 tbsp
3.Brown Sugar - 1 tbsp
4.Honey - 2 tbsp
5.Cinnamon powder - a big pinch
6.Salt to cook the sweet potatoes

Preparation:

1.Cook the sweet potato into a pot  and over with hot boiling water and required amount of salt.
2.Bring to boil and simmer until it turns soft n tender.
3.Drain it well and keep it aside to cool.
4.Heat a Non-stick pan in medium flame, melt the margerine, brown sugar, honey and add a cinnamon powder together.
5.Put the fire in medium flame and leave it to melt till it turns thick syrup. Now cut the cooked sweet potato into thick blocks and put it into the pan.
6.Close the pan with the lid for 5 mts, then only the syrup will incorporate to the potato blocks.
7.Pre-heat the oven to 350deg F and foil the baking tray, Place the glazed sweet potato blocks in the tray and pour the syrup on top of each blocks.
8.Bake it for 10-15 mts, now the Honey Glazed Sweet Potato is ready to serve hot.
9.We both tasted this yummy Glazed Sweet Potato with our yesterday's dinner. Sure kids will love it very much.


I am Passing this Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes to AWED - Africa hosted by PJ and to Divya's AWED menu and to Meetha's - Monthly Mingle - South Africa.

Venetian Wafer Cake

Wafer cake is my Hubby's Faaav Dessert, he likes to have it after Dinner. I usually make custard n caramel for him, it's soo simple n quick one. Wafer Cake is Light dessert looks soo colourful and soo soft, while making and baking it looks little bit different but after cut into pieces look beautiful ones. If anyone planning for a party or get-together then this one will be the perfect dessert easy n quick one for more persons. Usually, my Wafer cake looks plain this time i planned to make it colourful and i tried that it came out right. Here, is the recipe for you.

Ingredients for making Wafer:

1.Cake Flour - 2 cups
2.White Sugar - 1/4 cup
3.Eggs - 2 medium
4.Butter - 4 tbsp
5.Baking Powder - 2 tsp
6.Salt - 1/2 tsp

Ingredients for making Custard:

1.If you got tetra pak thick custard then it is fine can also use that.
2.Milk - 2 cups
3.Custard Powder - 2 1/2 tbsp
4.Sugar - 2 tbsp
5.Food Colour - Red n Green ( i got only red and green, can also use your favourite colours)

Preparation for Wafer:

1.First melt the butter in one deep bowl, add the sugar beat it well follow with eggs beat it well together. In another bowl sift the cake flour, salt and baking powder mix together n keep it aside.
2.I didn't used my electric egg beater to this wafer, use fork or egg beater.
3.Now add the dry ingredients to the egg bowl use your hand and mix it together like a cookie dough.
4.The same consistency the dough should not stick to the edges of the bowl.
5.Knead it well together, make into small balls like we do for poori.
6.All balls should be in same size and roll down the each balls into very thinly in round shape.( roll it very thin first grease the surface with margerine n then roll down then only its easy to take from the surface)
7.I used my aluminium pot lid to bake, cos it is perfect round shape i couldn't fit the rolls in my baking tray in big tray i can keep only 1 if i put another its touching each other.
8.So, i used my Pot plates for baking, you can use your comfortable trays.
9.Preheat the oven to 350 deg F, grease your trays and place the rotis and bake it for 5-10 mts ( till it turns light light brown it will start to bubble on top no need to leave it till golden brown)
10.Like the same do it for all rotis and place it in cloth to cool.You can see the cracks on sides of the rotis don't worry it will become right while we are serving.
11.Atleast one biscuit roll will tear or turn light brown , make it into crumbs for toppings.
12.Now place one biscuit roti in plate apply red colour custard on all sides then place another roti apply green colour custard on all sides follow with another roti apply the plain custard like the same do it for all biscuit rotis like doing for Lasagna layers.
13.On top pour all colour remaining custards and sprinkle the biscuit roti crumbs over the sides and top, leave it cool inside the fridge for 1 or 2 hrs.
14.Now cut the wafer cake into pieces you will see the difference, the custard will set into the rotis it will turns soft and it looks like jelly.

Preparation for Hot Thick Custard:

1.Heat the milk in medium flame , add the custard powder and sugar.
2.Mix it gently continuously it will turns thick.
3.Cook in medium flame or else it will burn at the bottom.
4.Now take out the pot from fire after it turns thick hot custard, pour food colours in 2 bowls n pour custards to the bowls and keep remaining custard for yellow colour.
5.Mix the custard well with the food colours, now its ready to make the wafers.
6.First bake the biscuit rotis then try to make this hot custard.