Chocolate cup cakes and my first frosting ever:))))))

chocolate cupcake

I am so excited to post this one.Finally I tried icing on the cake..that too on these wonderful looking and absolutely delicious chocolate cupcakes.My husband got me a brand new  blender few days back.I consider it my x'mas gift;).But the very first recipe i tried was not this icing but that of Mayonise....it came really well..Then i tried this frosting with butter and icing sugar.I even made orange juice with my blender..yaaa i looooooove my blender😙

Look at them!!!..aren't they real beauties?I love these many colours here.I  bought these lovely silicon cupcake moulds recently.I am on a baking spree since Christmas.i have baked some cookies, cupcakes, chicken and so on.

INGREDIENTS

All purpose flour -1 1/2 cup
Baking powder -3/4tsp
Baking soda -1/2tsp

Coco powder -1/2cup
Sugar -3/4 cup
Egg -1
Oil - 1/4 cup
Buttermilk - 3/4 cup(i mixed 1/2cup milk with 1/4cup curd)
Vanilla essence -  1tsp

For frosting

Butter -100gm
Icing sugar -200gm
Vanilla essence - few drops
Milk - 2 or 3 tbsp
food colour of your choice a pinch

METHOD
Preheat oven at 180 degrees for 10 minutes
In a bowl mix flour baking powder baking soda and coco powder and keep aside
In another bowl mix sugar and oil well
Add in egg and whisk
Now add vanilla essence followed by buttermilk and mix everything well
Add the wet mixture into the flour mixture and fold gently
Grease the muffin tray or mould and pour in the batter only till 3/4th of the mould
Bake for about 15-20 minutes
 Check whether the cake is done by inserting a toothpick or knife at the center .if it comes out clean your cake is done
while the cake is getting baked we can make the frosting
in a bowl add butter and blend at high speed for 5minutes
add icing sugar little by little and beat
finally add the vanilla essence and milk and beat again
your icing is ready
Allow the cake to cool once baked and apply the icing on the cake
Serve and enjoyyy...:)

Beetroot Mezhukupurati/Beetroot stir fry

This is a very simple dish which goes very well with rice.We even use it along with chapati too.I love vegetables as much as i love meat.When it comes to food i eat almost anything and everything unless it is forbidden:).and beetroot tops my favourite list of vegetables.I don't think i have to mention the nutritional benefits of this wonderful creation of God:) here again as you all are well aware of it already

My mom used to prepare beetroot mezukupuratti in a different and more simpler way.And it tastes delicious.My fond memories of childhood definitely includes my mom's beetroot mezhukupuratti and morukoottan/morucurry(yummm)

To the recipe

Ingredients

1. beetroot - 2 nos
2. onion - 1 big
3. garlic - 2 or 3 pods
4. chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
5. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
6. grated coconut - 2 tbsp
7. mustard - 1 tsp
8. dry red chilly-2 or 3
9. oil - 2 tbsp(i used coconut oil)
10. curry leaf - a spring
11. water  and salt -as required

Method

• cut beetroot into small cubes and put them in water in a bowl and keep aside.
• heat oil in a  pan and splutter mustards
• add dry red chillies
• add finely chopped onions and saute nicely
• add in curry leaves and crushed garlic
• drain the beetroot add it along with chilly powder, turmeric powder and salt
• cover and cook for 3 minutes
• now add water and salt and mix well
• cover and cook in medium to sim flame till the water evaporates and beetroot gets cooked
• finally add the grated coconut
•  give a nice stir and switch off the flame

PLUM CAKE/X'MAS CAKE

Helloooo folks....MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all.....Christmas has always been a wonderful time since childhood. Lot of fond memories are associated with Christmas. Of course it was always about  holidays that comes after looong tiring  exams and the last day of examination we used to have x'mas celebrations ...Once i became  Virgin Mary for the nativity scene with a real 7 month old baby in my hands as the baby Jesus:)...i still remember how the baby looked at me in my hands.May be he din't like all those make up in me . He showed his dislike by crying sooo loud..All the guests and audience were surprised to see a real baby .never before or after i have seen a real baby for a nativity scene:)))

Coming to present...I decided to give it a  try on  x'mas cake this time.I hated plum cake or x'mas cake right from childhood ..It was the black raisins i hated the most.It used to give a burnt taste which spoiled my taste buds.But this time i wanted to try a plum cake for x'mas sake  or for "blog" sake:)))....AND i am glad i tried:))))...I loved every bit of this cake....The original recipe called for black raisins..But i was very careful .I used the normal brown raisins.I added more nuts and tutti fruties and cherries than raisins.Plus i skipped  the traditional soaking the dry fruits in rum or so .The color the texture and the taste...everything was perfect with this yummy cake

INGREDIENTS

1. all purpose flour -1 cup
2. butter - 2/3 cup  
3. sugar - 3/4 cup
4.   eggs - 3
5. chopped cashews - 1/4 cup
6. raisins - 1/3 cup
7. chopped dates ,cherries,tutti fruty ,orange peels etc - 1/4 cup
8. cinnamon powder -1/2 tsp
9. clove powder - 1/2 tsp
10. baking powder - 1tsp
11. vanilla extract - 1tsp
12. sugar - 2/3 cup
13. a pinch of salt

for the caramel syrup

1. sugar - 1/2 cup
2. water - 1/4 cup

METHOD

• in a pan melt the sugar slowly in medium heat
• it will first melt and then turn into a dark brown goop.keep stirring and let it turn a deep dark caramel colour
• turn off heat and add about 1/4 cup water
• turn the heat back on and slowly heat the caramel mixture until sugar dissolves
• let this cool aside
• pre heat oven at 180 degrees for 10 minutes
• mix the dry fruits and nuts with around 2 tbsp flour and coat it completely.this is to avoid the dry fruits n nuts to sink to the bottom of the batter 
• in a bowl mix the flour baking powder spices and salt and mix well
• in another bowl mix butter and sugar until fluffy
• add vanilla essence and mix
• next add one egg and beat.now add the flour mixture little and mix. likewise alternatively add egg and flour mixture and mix well
• add the cooled caramel and the dry fruit and nuts and gently fold in
• pour the batter into a well greased pan
• bake for about 30-35 minutes or when a skewer inserted comes out clean
• allow the cake to cool completely 
• slice and enjoy

WITCH FINGER COOKIES

 My eyes always get stuck in such colourful and creative things.The child in me suddenly awakes.Same happened when i saw this spooky witch finger cookies in yummytummy..There is a kick in making such beautiful cookies .Since the day i bookmarked this recipe;my little one has been nagging me to make them

As a first step i have bought all the ingredients required and kept.but still got busy with other works.But every now and then i used to get the reminder from my little one:)

These creepy looking witch finger cookies ,when i finally made few days back,came out really well.It was crispy and utterly butterly delicious.My little one was absolutely happy and surprised to see how the cookies came infront of her for real finally....I have packed few for my friend's kids and they all were surprised and  loved it.now to the recipe

INGREDIENTS

all purpose flour /maida - 1 3/4 cup
Baking powder -1tsp
Butter -100gm
Icing sugar -3/4 cup
Egg - 1
Almond extract - 1tsp
Vanilla essence -1 tsp
Green food colour -1tbsp
Strawbwerry /mixed fruit jam - as required
Almonds - as required



METHOD

•  preheat oven to 160 degrees for 10 minutes
• In a bowl mix the flour baking powder and keep aside
• In another bowl mix butter and sugar well
• Add in the egg  ,both essences,green colour and mix .
• Now add the flour into the egg mixture and form a soft dough
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes
• Take the dough from fridge and make small balls
• Roll it into long finger shape
• Make indention(small hollow)on one end as on our finger and place almond on it as nail
• make wrinkles on the cookies with a knife or fork as in our fingers
• Arrange in a baking tray and bake for 20 - 25 minutes
• once done remove the almonds and apply some jam there and place back the almonds.
• Allow to cool and serve ..enjoyyy