Vegetable Carving Classes

Learn the basic of Vegetable Carving on 22nd April 2015 3:00pm at Poonthi Road, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum.

Contact Marina at 08861389165 or 09379398865 to register for the classes at Trivandrum.

Limited Seats

Summer Strawberry Cake

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring

My summer wine is really made from all these things

Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time

And I will give to you summer wine...

Mesmerizing lines from the fantastic song, Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood. And, when I have strawberries, the lines from this song keeps playing in my head.

Now it's strawberry season, and it's time to indulge in a cake with strawberries!

Summer Strawberry Cake

Cool Treat for the Summer

This Easter in Bangalore my house hosted a group of gregarious boys from my brother's office. While we had an elaborate menu, barbecue ( veg and chicken), honey glazed chicken wings, hariyali chicken, rice, chicken grill, pork vindaloo, and finally a dessert " Summer Strawberry cake".

When I made this cake, I never expected it to be this soft, tender and yummy. The subtle sweetness, soft sponge cake, and flavor was a bit hit with everyone.

Next, it's your turn to bake summer strawberry cake. Just follow this recipe, word by word and you'll soon join the exclusive club of bakers who have claimed this summit. Keep baking, keep discovering. :)

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups Maida
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 teaspoon strawberry essence
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3/4 cup strawberries halved

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree C and butter a 9-inch  cake pan.
2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl  using beater, beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy.
4. Now add the egg and strawberry and beat on low speed until well combined.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth.
6. Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula
7. Arrange the strawberries on top, cut side down, so that they completely cover the batter
8. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the strawberries.
9. Bake for 45 minutes in 180 degree or until the cake is lightly golden and a tester comes out clean.
10.  Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack. Serve with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.



Ready to savor 

Recipe Courtesy : Martha Stewart

Honey Glazed Grilled Chicken Wings

Honey Glazed Grilled Chicken Wings

Ingredients to make chicken wings starter:

12 chicken wings with skin, rinsed and patted dry

Items required to Marinade

• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic crushed
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

For the Sauce

• 1 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 tablespoons molasses (Dark Caramalised sugar can be used)

Method

Preheat oven to 200 degrees centigrade. 

Line baking tray with foil for easy cleanup. On above the tray keep your rack and lightly grease it, you will have to place your wings on the rack.

In a medium bowl, mix together marinade Ingredients along with the chicken wings, 

Zip lock and keep it in the freezer overnight.

Line wings on prepared baking rack so they are not touching each other.

Bake on upper middle rack for 45-50 minutes for 200 degrees centigrade. Bake till the desired crispiness, 

watching closely so they don't burn. Flip chicken wings over and grill the other side until crispy.While wings are cooling, 

Melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining sauce ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce to a simmer until slightly thickened, approximately 3-5 minutes.

Taste and add additional hot sauce for spicier sauces/more honey for sweeter.

When chicken is done, add to a large bowl and pour over sauce. Gently toss wings with a spatula until evenly coated.

Serve with desired dip.

Notes:

1. Don't make the sauce in advance or it will become too thick.
2. If you are not finding paprika substitute with chili powder

Recipe Courtesy : Carlsbad Cravings

French Dessert - Macaron

How does one describe a macaron? Here's the Wikipedia answer...
A macaron is a type of small circular cake, typically made from ground almonds or coconut (and/or other nuts, with sugar and egg white.

The name of the cake comes from the Italian maccarone  meaning "paste", and referring to the almond paste ingredient.

How does a macaron taste? 
It's crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle. When I tasted the first macaroon, It just melted in my mouth.

Macaron Class in Trivandrum 
The three-hour French Macaron Class focuses on the creation - start to finish of these elegant, sophisticated, and colorful pasteries.
During the class, students are divided into groups and work through the steps from dry ingredients, to creating the batter, to piping, and then finish with a box of beautiful macarons for you to take home with you!

4 Different types of macaroon filling taught in the class:

• Orange Ganache
• Pumpkin spice buttercream
• Lemon Curd

Date - 20th April 2015,10:00 am ( Monday)
Location :- Poonthi Road, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum

Come and learn one of the French desserts which is fast becoming one of the current 'sweet' crazes across India. 

Perfect Dessert after Dinner

Gift Macarons to Your Friend

Ingredients to make Macroon in Bangalore

Key ingredients are almond meal, 

Savory Sausage and Cheddar Bread Pudding

Pudding with a Twist

Slice of Pudding

Bread pudding is a bread-based dessert, which is usually sweet. But, it can be made savory ( food which is salty or spicy and not sweet in taste). This version is from a tried and tested recipe given by a chef turned food blogger. Thanks to her detailed blog, I could make it in the first attempt.

This savory dish has bread, sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar, and other ingredients. It's time to make 'em, bake 'em and eat 'em.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 500 gms spicy Chicken sausage (casings removed)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 loaf (18 slices) white sandwich bread, crusts removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 cups grated  cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley,( If using dried parsley - 1/4 cup)
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 teaspoon salt ( Salt as per taste)
• 2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoon chilly flakes

Method

1. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
2. In a large sauté pan (preferably nonstick) over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter.
3. Add the sausage and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break the meat into small clumps, until browned, about 10 minutes. 
4. Transfer the sausage to a large mixing bowl, leaving the fat in the pan.
5. Turn the heat down to medium, then add the onions to the pan along with 1 tablespoon of butter. 
6. Cook the onions, stirring constantly, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
7. Add the onions to the mixing bowl with the sausage, along with the bread cubes, grated cheese and parsley. Toss well, then spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
8. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Chilly flakes,salt and pepper.
9. Pour the egg mixture  over the bread mixture. Cover tightly with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least a few hours or overnight.
10. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Bake for about one hour, until puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Note: The cook time is based on cooking the bread pudding directly out of the refrigerator. If it's left to sit out at room temperature before baking, check for doneness after 45 minutes.

 Recipe courtesy: Jenn Segal
 I have made few changes in the spices to match with the Indian taste.