Delectable Ghee Cake Experience

For the love of Ghee Cake - Ghee cake is a popular cake at Cochin Bakery. This cake is a bit hit in Trivandrum. The credit goes to Supreme Bakery at Koravankoram, for spreading the taste of ghee cake in the capital.

Due to popular demand to learn this cake and this baking workshop at at Trivandrum, I have included it in one of the sessions.

On 22nd August, Saturday ( 3:PM) baking class, I'm covering Ghee Cake, Marble Cake and Tutty frutty cake. Those interested to learn and get hands-on baking lessons may contact me to register for the class. 

Phone: 08861389165, 09379398865 for more details of the class.

Sliced Ghee Cake

Ghee Cake 

Ready to savor Ghee Cake

I've posted the picture of Ghee cake in Home Bakers Guild, an active group of bakers in Facebook.  I got many comments asking for the recipe. So, check this tried out recipe.


Ingredients to make Ghee Cake:

• Maida                  2 cups
• Baking Powder   1 tsp
• Baking Soda       1/4 tsp
• Ghee                   250 gms
• Powdered Sugar 250 gms
• Eggs                   4
• Milk                     1/2 cup
• Sugar                  2 tsp
• Vanilla Essence 1/2 tsp

Method

1.  In a bowl sieve Maida, Baking powder and Baking Soda.
2.  In another bowl, beat together ghee and powdered sugar till light and fluffy. 
3.  Then add egg yolks one at a time, beating well.
4.  With the beater on low speed, alternately add flour and milk to Ghee mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
5.  In another bowl whisk egg whites, then gradually add 2 tsp sugar and vanilla essence and continue to beat until stiff. . Fold egg white mixture into the ghee mix.
6. Pour the batter in a cake tin and bake in a preheated oven of 180 degree for 50 minutes.

Source : funwidfud.blogspot.in

Eid Mubarak 2015 - Buttercream Daisy flowers

This white chocolate cake is light yet velvety. It is a cake with great depth of flavor from the white chocolate with butter cream icing of daisy flowers. Eid Mubarak 

Iftar 2015 - Mosque Road, Bangalore

Pattar ke gosht with rolls

From Netherlands With Love

Chantel came from Netherlands, the land of tulips, windmills and stroopwafels. She came to India for a week, loved Indian food and want to learn them and try it out when she gets back.

She got me a small box of stroopwafels which I tasted for the first time and it just melts in your mouth smile emoticon

It was a two day class were she learned the south Indian and the north Indian cooking sessions.

I had a different experience this time because she wanted me to take her to the local market, I took her to Russell market, which she enjoyed capturing pictures of the market. It was an unforgettable session. Menna's Indian Cooking Class Bangalore

— meeting a wonderful person.

Me and Chantel

Gift from Chantel - Stroopwafels

Stroopwafels

According to Wikipedia, Stroopwafel is a waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle. This is a popular in the Netherlands.

After tasking stroopwafels for the first time, I'm keen to get its recipe and make it at home. I also checked online, if anyone was making and selling stroopwafels in Bangalore. Sadly, none. 

Learning & Tasting

Market Visit - Russel Market, Bangalore

Garland Makers at Russel Market

Vegetable Seller at Russel Market

Missing My Appa

June 30th 2015 marks 16 years since my Appa passed away. It feels like a lifetime. There are days it feels like it happened yesterday. Loss is like that. Some days you move through life unburdened by it. Other days it cuts you to the core and the memories are strong.

I am grateful I went on my life journey with him. I learned so much about life. Wish he was here to see me and guide me now. Missing my Appa frown emoticon

 — with Marvin Stephen Gomez and Martin Stephen Gomez.

Appa - Younger Days

Appa -  Family Time

Chocolate Cake Experiment Continues

Here is an intensely dark and rich chocolate cake with a rum flavored chocolate frosting. This is for the die-hard chocolate fans. Serve with a dollop of creme fraiche for a delicious dessert. 

Chocolate Sour Cherry Cake

Ingredients
Plain Chocolate         175 gms
Butter                         115 gms
Eggs                           3
Brown sugar               115 gms
Flour                           115 gms
Baking powder           1/2 tsp
Almond powder           55 gms
Cherries chopped         85 gms
Chocolate curls for decorations

Frosting
Chocolate             175 gms
Fresh cream          5 tbsp
Butter                    55 gms
Rum                      1 tbsp

Sweet and sour Temptation -Chocolate Sour Cherry Cake

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree and grease  an 8 inch round cake tin and line with butter paper.
2. Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and heat until melted. 
3. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Cool for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.
4. Place the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl and using an electric blender beat until pale and creamy.
5. Add the melted chocolate and beat until thoroughly combined.
6. Add the sifted flour, then stir in the almond powder and cherries.
7. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whited until soft peaks form then gently fold into the chocolate mixture. 
8. Spoon into the prepared tin and gently smooth the surface.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 mts or until just firm to touch and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 
10. Cool the tin for 10 mts then turn out onto a wire reack to cool completely.

Frosting

1. For the frosting, place the chocolate, cream and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. 
2. Heat until melted, then remove from the heat and beat in the rum.
3. Cool for 20 mts then chill in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes or until thick enough to spread.

Decoration

1. Spread the frosting over the top of the cake, If using, decorate with chocolate curls, dust lightly with cocoa powder and top with the cherries

Time to slice and savor 

Pineapple and Coconut Ring Cake

I'm in the mood for more cake experiments. Last week I tried out a Classic Chocolate Cake recipe and I came out very good. This time, I've decided to make pineapple and coconut ring cake. This is a simple cake recipe which uses pineapple, and coconut - and it turned out to be delicious!

If you want to add more taste and looks, you can do top frosting. You can also try a light sprinkle of toasted coconut.

And, now it's your turn to try this cake during the week.After you make this cake in your home, share the pics, results and don't forget to share the cake with your friends or neighbors. 

Ring of Delight

A ring cake always looks impressive and is very easy to serve. Pineapple and coconut give this one a truly tropical flavour.

Slice and Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1. Pineapple canned          400gms
2. Unsalted Butter             115 gms
3. Caster sugar                  175 gms
4. Eggs                              2 + yolk of one egg
5. Flour                             225 gms
6. Baking powder             1 tsp
7. Baking soda                  1/2 tsp
8. Desiccated coconut       50 gms

Frosting:
Cream Cheese               175 gms
Icing sugar                    175 gms

Sharing time!

Method

• Pre heat the oven to 180 degree and grease your baking dish
• Crush the pineapple in the food processor
• Beat together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in the eggs until combined.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and soda
• Fold in the sieved mixture to the egg mixture
• Now fold in the crushed pineapple and coconut.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 25 -35mts
• Allow it to cool for 10mts before turning it into a wire rack 
• To make the frosting, mix together the cream cheese and icing sugar and spread over the cool cake.

Tips: You can also use canned pineapple rings or use desiccated coconut

Glimpses of Hyderabad City

I treasure a quaint love with Hyderabad city. It's the city where I experienced and encountered many things for the first time in my life. Thought I move of this place, I still treasure many aspects of this city - my college years at St Francis. The way we used to bunk classes to see movies, or how a group of friends used to stroll aimlessly, etc, etc.

It's here where I got the first job as a clerk. And, now I'm rediscovering this city. It's a place where I get a chance to meet so many new faces when I come down to conduct my baking and icing workshop. I wish to see and explore more of Hyderabad that I had missed in those years. I'll keep posting the places and experiences I have of this buzzing town.

Karachi Bakery 

Kolapuri Slippers - My one time fav

Think of Hyderabadi Biryani, and it's Paradise

Buddha across the street - Night Shot

Festivity in Charminar Side

Kulfi - I loved it.

Me @ the ever busy street.

Moon looms beyond this Iconic Place

Choodi Bazar - Dazzling as always

Another View

Vegetable sellers near Charminar

Visiting the Cemetery  

Garib Rath Train - Kacheguda Express

Sugar Craft workshop at Hyderabad

Glad to be back in Hyderabad - the city which molded me and which gave me a lot of treasured moments.
Had a wonderful 2 days Sugar Craft session at Menna's Cake Baking Classes Hyderabad

 — feeling thankful at Hotel Baseraa.

In the 2 day Sugar craft course, students get hands-on experience to make beautiful real life like Flowers with Gumpaste!

The flowers covered in the two day

1.Rose
2.Ranunculus
3.Tulips
4.Stargazer Lillies 
5.Orchids

Finally, you'll learn to make filler flowers to make a pretty bouquet! Also learn how to use the airbrushing techniques on gumpaste flowers

Setting the Students Table

Starting with the basics

Sugar Craft - Keeping it for drying

Slowly the flowers emerge

Creations 

One more to the mix

Rose - Close to Nature

Bouquet is Ready 

Team is Ready!