Eggless Honey Cake 🍯 🎂

Honey Cake...a cake drenched in sugar syrup with jam and coconut frosting... Our childhood special cake in bakeries. Bit over sweet yet a yummy moist cake.

This one was in my to-do cake list for a long time... As this is my Husband's favourite cake (surprisingly, he does not eat over-sweet goodies).

Now... Now... Now... It's his birthday today. So if there is a day to bake this cake... Then it is today.... Right? 😉😄

Yessssss....I baked it today...No eggs, no butter, and no beater. A simple whisk-it-all process.

Okay, how did I get this recipe? The answer is very simple. I googled and directly hopped in to one of my favourite kitchens... "Raks Kitchen ".  I believe in her recipes blindly. Last night I decided to bake this cake... And with no prior trials, I made the cake with great confidence today.  The taste was not too sweet and the cake turned out perfect.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR 🎂 😄

Fine...Now to the recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

For the cake:
Maida/flour - 1¼ cup
Condensed milk - 14 tbsp
Oil - ½ cup
Orange juice (I used water)  - ½ cup
Powdered sugar - 3 tbsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - ½ tsp
Lemon Juice (I used ACV) - 1 tsp
Vanilla essence (I used orange essence) - 1 tsp

For the syrup:
Water – ½ cup
Sugar – 2 tbsp
Honey – ¼ cup
Vanilla essence - ½ tsp

For the frosting:
Mixed fruit jam – 4 tbsp
Powdered Sugar – 1 tsp
Orange red food colour - a pinch
Desiccated coconut – as required

METHOD:

For the cake:
1. Seive maida, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl and mix well. Set it aside.
2. In another bowl add the remaining ingredients and whisk well.
3. Now add the maida mixture to it and whisk gently till everything combines well.
4. Pour the batter into a greased and lined baking pan and bake it in a preheated oven @ 180°C for about 30 mins or till the cake is done.
5. Remove the cake from the baking pan, invert it and remove the lining paper. Let it cool.

While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup and frosting and let it cool.

For the syrup:
1. Mix sugar and water and let it boil till the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
2. When the syrup is WARM, add honey and vanilla essence and mix well. Let it cool.

For the frosting:
1. Mix jam, powdered sugar and food colour and heat it in low flame and keep stirring it to melt to a smooth paste. It just takes a minute. Remove from heat.

I trimmed the top and then inverted the cake for frosting

Cake assembling:
1. Maintain the cake in inverted position (bottom side as top),  as it gives a flat surface to frost easily.
2. Now prick holes all over the flat surface using a toothpick.
3. Spoon the sugar syrup slowly and generously on top, for the cake to absorb it through the pricked holes.
4. Over it, spread the jam paste and top it with dessicated coconut.

My tips:
1. My 1 cup measures 240 ml.
2. For the cake,  I didn't have orange juice in hand, so I used water and orange essence instead and avoided the vanilla essence.
3. I substituted lemon juice with equal measure of ACV.
4. For the frosting,  my jam was brown in color, so I added a pinch of orange red food color.
5. I baked ¾th of the measurements in a loaf pan for 30 mins.
6. Finally I trimmed the sides of the cake to give a neater look.

7 Cup Burfi

Yes... 7 Cup Burfi, the ingredients sums to 7 cups totally. Its taste is combo of Mysore Pak and Coconut Burfi.  A simple, humble and yummy recipe. Perfect for any special occasion and can be prepared in a jiffy.

Ingredients:
Besan flour - 1 cup
Dessicated coconut - 1 cup
Sugar - 2 cups
Milk - 1 cup
Nuts (cashew & almonds, powdered) - 1 cup
Ghee - 1 cup
Yellow food colour - a pinch (optional) 

Method:
Note: Maintain low flame for the entire recipe.
1. Heat a non-stick pan and add the besan flour and dry roast it for a couple of minutes. Keep stirring to avoid it from changing to brown color.
2. Add all other ingredients one by one (coconut, sugar, milk and nuts), and stir well continously. Finally add the ghee.
3. Cook till the mixture leaves the sides and when you start seeing small white bubbles, immediately switch off the stove.
4. Transfer the mixture into a ghee-greased tray and level it.
5. Using a knife, slice it while it's still WARM.
6. An instant burfi is ready.

MY TIP:
1.  For half measurement,  my tray size : 22 cm * 12 cm. 

Parsi Mawa Cake

Recipe adapted from Neetu's

Ingredients:

Flour - 1¼ cup

Baking powder - ½ tsp

Cardamom Powder/Essence - 1/4 tsp

Khoya / Mawa (unsweetened) - 100 gms

Butter - 6 tbsp

Sugar (powdered)  - 1 cup 

Eggs - 2

Milk - 6 tbsp

Almonds & Cashews (chopped finely) - To garnish

Method:

1. In a bowl add maida and baking powder. Mix well and set aside. 

2. In another bowl add sugar, butter, khoya and cardamom powder and beat till light and fluffy. 

3. Add the eggs one by one and beat it for a couple of minutes.
4. Slowly add the maida mixture little by little and milk and beat till everything is mixed well. Don't over beat.  

5. Pour the batter into a greased and lined baking tray. 

6. Sprinkle cashews and almonds on top. 

 7. Bake it for 35-45 minutes or until the cake is done. 

Note:
1. I used half of the measurement of all ingredients to make this cake.
2. My 1 cup measures 250 ml for this recipe. 

Marshmallows - The easy and best recipe

I've already posted a marshmallow recipe. But I have to frankly accept that this is the easiest, quicker and best recipe. So here comes the recipe... 

Ingredients:
Sugar - 180 gms
Water - 75 gms
Gelatin - 12 gms
Water - 60 gms
Pineapple essence - ¼ tsp
Yellow color - a few pinches
Cornflour - for dusting

METHOD:
1. Soak gelatin in 60 gms water in a glass bowl for an hour.
2. Mix sugar and water (75 gms). Bring to boil to a thick syrup consistency (soft ball stage - 240°F). Remove from heat.
3. Pour this mixture drizzling slowly into the soaked gelatin and beat with an electric mixer starting with slow speed and gradually to high speed.
4. After a couple of minutes, add the essence and color and beat the mixture till soft peaks are formed.
3. Pour this into a butter greased tray using a spatula. And let it set overnight at room temperature.
4. Remove the set marshmallows from the tray and place it on a cutting board dusted with cornflour. Coat it with flour on all sides. 
5. Cut into squares and dust with corn flour.
6. Store it in air tight containers. Stays well for 2-3 days in room temperature.

NOTE:
1. Use sharp knife to cut the marshmallows. Dust it with flour before using it.

2. Output - 230 gms marshmallows
3. For 1½ measurement : My tray size - 10 inches * 6 inches. 

Chiffon Cake

A light, airy, spongy chiffon cake.

Ingredients:
Eggs - 4 (50gms each, separated)
Flour - 120 gms
Sugar - 100 gms (powdered)
Oil - 3 tbsp
Milk - 4 tbsp
Vinegar - 2 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Flavouring essence - 1 tsp

Method:
1. In a bowl, add the eggs whites, essence, vinegar, salt and beat till frothy. Add in sugar little by little and beat till stiff peaks are formed.
2. In a separate bowl, mix egg yolks, oil,  milk and flour, and whisk it well to combine without any lumps.
3. Slowly add the stiff egg whites little by little (in 3 parts) to the flour mixture and fold gently. Don't beat or whisk. GENTLY FOLD. The batter should be foamy.
4. Pour the batter in a greased and lined baking pan. Gently shake and tap the pan on a flat surface twice to remove any air bubbles.
5. Bake it in a pre-heated oven @ 170° for 30 minutes.
6. Once done, remove it from oven immediately and with mild force tap the pan 2-3 times on a flat surface to avoid the cake from sinking.
7. Run a knife along the edges of the cake, and remove it. Allow it to cool.

Chiffon cake is ready.

My tip:
1. I baked in a loaf pan (¾th of the given measurement). Traditionally chiffon cakes are baked in bundt pans.
2. I prefer strong flavouring essence like pineapple to vanilla. So I added pineapple essence and yellow colour to the batter.

Easy Pan Release - for baking pans

Easy Pan Release 

Convert all your normal baking tins to non-stick with this easy homemade pan release mixture. No more greasing... No more dusting... Yay!!! 

Yes.. With this simple recipe, you can make a mixture which effortlessly releases the cake in shape. 

Ingredients:

Flour

Oil

Butter/shortening 

Recipe:

1. Take all 3 ingredients in equal ratio (1:1:1)

2. Mix the ingredients well together without any lumps. Done!!! 

 3. Just coat the baking pan with this mixture, before pouring the cake batter. 

The cake was released easily

And the pan is clean ☺️

The Cake 🎂... In Perfect Shape ☺️ 

 To save more time, this can be made in small batch and stored in fridge in an airtight glass container. 

Minimalist Drawing - Mom n Me

An idea from Pinterest... Minimalist Drawing - Mom n Me

Classic Walnut Brownie

Brownie... Who doesn't like a slice of fudgy, chocolaty, chewy, intense rich decadent Brownie underneath a crispy crust.  It is meant to be like that. Otherwise it would be just a Chocolate cake. 

So, here it is... A simple but perfect BROWNIE. Period. 

Recipe adapted from Maureen Callahan's Intense rich brownies. 

Ingredients:

Maida - 3/4 cup
Cocoa powder - 3/4 cup
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup (packed)
Salted butter - 6 tbsp (melted)
Semi-sweet chocolate - 85 gms (1/2 cup)
Milk - 1/3 cup
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Eggs - 2 (large)
Walnuts (chopped) - 1 cup


Method:
1. Preheat oven to 175°.
2.Grease and line a 10"x6" rectangle baking pan.
3.In a double boiler over low heat/microwave (for 30 seconds), melt chocolate with milk and remove from heat.
4.In a separate bowl, combine the first 5 dry ingredients. Mix the walnuts in it.
5.When the chocolate has cooled, whisk in the melted butter, eggs and vanilla.
6.Add the dry ingredients and fold gently to combine.
7.Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
8.Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging.
9. Let it cool completely for a couple of hours.
10. Slice and serve.

Tips:

1. My 1 cup measures 240 ml.
2. Leave enough extra lining paper to overhang on the 2 long sides of the baking tray, so that you can grab the edges and use it as a sling to remove the brownies.
3. Use a serrated plastic knife to mark the squares and then just run over a pizza cutter to cut the brownies perfectly.
4. I got brownies of 1 inch thick.

Instant-no dal Sambhar

A very simple and fast-to-cook side dish. It's tasty too 😋. 

Recipe adapted from Yummytummyaarthi

Ingredients:

~~~~~~~~

Oil - 5 tblspn

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Asafoetida - a pinch

Onion - 1 (medium, chopped finely or sliced) 

Tomato - 1 (large, sliced) 

Green Chilli - 1 sliced

Besan flour - 2 tblspn

Chilli Powder - ½ tsp

Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp

Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp

Sambhar powder - ½ tsp (optional) 

Potato -  2 (medium sized, boiled with a pinch of turmeric powder +½ tsp salt) 

Water - 2 cups or as needed

Salt to taste

Sugar - 1/4 tsp

Tamarind - 3 pods

Coriander leaves - 5 sprigs (chopped finely) 

Method:

~~~~~~

1. Heat oil in a kadai, temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves and Asafoetida. 

2. Add onions and green chillies. Saute for a couple of minutes. 

3. Then add tomatoes and saute till the oil starts to separate slightly. 

4. Reduce the flame. Add besan flour, coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and sambhar powder. Stir well for a minute. 

5. Add water. Slightly mash the potatoes with fingers and add it. Finally add salt, tamarind, and sugar, and let it boil. 

6. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve. 

Nargisi Kofta - Scotch Eggs - Chicken Egg Balls

Nargisi Kofta - Scotch Eggs - Chicken egg balls... A recipe from a cookery show... Tried and tested by my Mom,  with a bit of help from me. It turned out really yummy 😋 

Ingredients:

Eggs (boiled) - 3

1 whole egg and 1 cup bread crumbs for coating

Oil as required for deep frying

Outer crust ingredients:

Finely minced/ground chicken - 250 gms

Big Onion (finely chopped) -  1½

Green chillies (finely chopped) - 2

Garam masala - 1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

Salt - as per taste

Coriander leaves

Method:

1. Mix all the outer crust ingredients. 

2. Divide the mixture into 3 equal balls. 

3. Take 15cm *15 cm aluminum foil. Place a ball at the centre and press gently. Now place an egg in it and wrap it around using the aluminum foil. Avoid touching the outer crust mixture with bare hands. The aluminum foil does not stick to the outer crust mixture,and that helps us to easily wrap it around the egg avoiding the clumsiness of sticking. 

4. Next crumb coat the balls by first dipping it in egg and then coating it with bread crumbs. Roll the balls gently to a perfect egg or ball shape. 

5. Finally, heat the oil and deep fry the balls in low flame till golden brown. 

Youtube link : Here

Chicken Dry Roast

Chicken dry roast... It's my Mom's recipe and one of my favorite dish from her cooking. It's so simple and very yummy. Goes with anything or nothing 😋... Yes you can indulge with a bowl of this just like that. I do that 😜. 

Happy to share the recipe with you... Here it goes... 

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1/2 kg

Gingelly oil - 3 tbsp

Sunflower oil - 3 tbsp

1 sprig curry leaves

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Sambhar powder - 1/2 tsp 

Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp

Garam masala - 1/4 tsp

Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp

Fennel powder - 1/2 tsp

Cinnamon powder - a pinch

Cornflour - 1/2 tsp

Salt - as per taste

Coriander leaves for garnishing 

Method:.

1. Clean and wash the chicken. 

2. Heat oil in a non-stick Kadai. 

3. Add the chicken, curry leaves and salt. Close the Kadai and cook the chicken in low flame stirring occasionally. 

4.Cook the chicken till the soup water (which oozes out from the chicken)reduces to 2tbsp, then add Ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute. 

5. As the oil starts separating, add all the masala powders and saute for a few minutes. 

6. Sprinkle the cornflour and saute for minute. 

7. Turn the stove to high flame, and finally saute the chicken for just 1 minute till it gets roasted. Switch off the stove. 

8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves. 

Easy and delicious chicken dry roast is ready to serve.