Jul 19, 2012

Zebra Cake



INGREDIENTS:


4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup (8 oz / 250 g) granulated sugar
1 cup (8 fl oz / 250 ml) milk, at room temperature
1 cup (8 fl oz / 250 ml) oil (corn, vegetable or canola is fine)2 cups (10 oz / 300 g) all-purpose flour (maid)
1/3 teaspoon vanilla powder or essence
1 tablespoon (equals 3 teaspoons) baking powder
2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder 


LET'S COOK :


Preheat the oven at 350 F.


1. In a bowl mix egg and sugar until it becomes soft and somewhat creamy.Now add the remaining wet ingredients i.e milk,oil and vanilla essence and mix well.


2. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients i.e all purpose flour and baking powder.Add this mix to the wet ingredients in batches and mix well until all the ingredients comes together to form a yellow creamy batter. 


IMPORTANT : Do not over beat the batter.if you do so it will create air pockets and when you bake your cake it will have holes when u cut throught. This is applicable for all cake batter.


3.Divide the mixture into two equal portions.add the cocoa poder to one of the portion and mix well.


4. Now comes the assembling part.Sorry guys i couldn't take any photos.I know it would have been a great help for you if i have taken some pics.Anyway i will try my best to explain it well.Let me know if you want any help.


5.Lightly grease the baking pan with oil or butter.pour 3 tbps of the plain/yellow batter into the middle of the baking pan.Now pour 3 tbps of the cocoa batter above the plain/yellow batter into the center.next add the plain/yellow batter aobe the coco batter into the center.like this pour the batter into the center alternatively.


NOTE: Do not tilt or tap your baking pan to help them spread or dont even wait after pouring each batter to spread.it will spread by its own when you pour the batter alternatively.


6.Keep on pouring the batter until the batter is finished. At this stage you can find alternate colour rings formed.


7.Bake the batter for 40-45 min, until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.







CHAKKA ADA / JACKFRUIT STEAM CAKE





INGREDIENTS:

Rice Flour - 2 cup
Jackfruit preserve/chakka varitiyathe -1 -1 1/2 cup
Coconut slices - 1/2 cup
Cardamon powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Banana leaves

LET'S COOK:

1. Heat the ghee and roast the coconut slices until light brown.
2.Mix all other ingredients except banana leaves to make it a dough (just like chapathi dough).
3. Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less jackfruit preserve/chakka varatiyathe.
4. Take small balls of the dough and wrap the ball in banana leaves and lightly press them to make them little flat.
5. Steam cook the ada for 20-25 min or u can use pressure cooker without the weight knob.






Jul 16, 2012

Vanilla cookies/ Jam cookies



INGREDIENTS :


Unsalted Butter(room temp) - 1/2 cup (113 gms)
White Sugar - 1/4 cup (50 gms)
Egg - 1 (separated)
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 tsp
All Purpose Flour (Maida) - 1 cup (130 gm)
Salt - 1/8 tsp
Jam (of your choice)


LET'S COOK:


  1. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). 
  2. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the batter and beat just until combined.
  4.  If the batter is too soft to roll into balls, refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. Take small balls of the batter and place on the prepared baking sheet spacing about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. 
  7. Using your thumb or end of a wooden spoon, make a indentation into the center of each cookie and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
  8. Bake for about 12 -15 minutes, or until cookies are set.Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. 
  9. If you dont have jam or dont like jam, you can make it in to any shape like i have done(heart) and  bake it.And can drizzle chocolate or maple syrup on top.

YOU CAN USE COOKIE CUTTERS FOR DIFFERENT SHAPES.ITS FUN. TRY IT OUT.