Chocolate Cup Cake (in a Cup)

The company of good friends, Laughter, gossip and a lovely meal...what more could one ask for.

Once you get married and have children and get embroiled in the vagaries of the household and housework, you realize that your life is so dictated by all that is mundane. Once in a while you want to go stand on top of the highest hill and scream” I need a change!”

Well these moments come by very often here. Fortunately I have the good friends, we have the laughter, and the gossip is never lacking….Only we never manage to find time for a girl’s day out very often.

This was one of the few occasions we managed to get together…..and have FUN! And a good meal….

This was the end of the good meal.

All of us are forever fighting the battle of the calories, and all love Chocolate…

So a little light chocolate cup cake….where you can’t be Oliver Twist ”y” and ask for more….

A little thank you to the lady from The English Kitchen-Marie Rayner for this recipe…much appreciated.

Just that much……and the fourth cup was for sweet child …he came back from school on the pretext of a tummy ache….

Btw, the sobs and the pain disappeared the second he realized that aunties are coming over….Good food! Does the trick every time.

Forgive us if the pics are a little hazy....That was the last thing on my mind!

Easy peasy…No greasing cups, no flouring cups…NOTHING!

For the 

Chocolate Cup Cake (in a Cup)...

  

You need

(Double these for 4 cups)

4 tbsp flour

4 tbsp caster sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 egg

 3 tbsp milk

3 tbsp refined oil

¼ tsp vanilla essence

1 pinch baking powder

1 tabs chocolate chips (I chopped up Nutties by Cadbury’s)

Dry ingredients, including sugar, sift well together. (I did not have caster sugar so I used icing sugar…hence was able to sift.)If you use caster sugar then don’t sift the sugar along with the flour etc….just mix in later.

The eggs, to which the milk was added.

Now the oil ...

And the vanilla. Melted butter will work too.

I mixed these and popped the bowl into the fridge…till we were ready to eat.

The chocolate sliced . Chocolate Chips would have been better. The chocolate melted …..So be generous.

Onto the dry ingredients

Just 2 minutes….mix the dry stuff with the wet…

Well blended…a minute was all it took.

Poured into four cups….half way.

Into the microwave, 100% power for 5 minutes. (For 2 cups keep your eyes open…also your nose 3-4 minutes should do it.)

And ready to serve…..

Warm….

My friend Bhavna Panwar….she’s the one with the extra chocolate sauce…her tooth is sweeter…Her bite???We’ll have to ask her husband...Monica and I...we are sweet.Very.

If you can …..Serve with vanilla icecream, or whipped cream…

Decadence.

We can’t afford the extra calories.

So get together with friends…or indulge yourself for a change.

You are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake……just enough to satisfy your cravings….

So what are you baking today???

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Matar Makhane ki Tikki-Pea Patties...

Slew of blog posts I promised and Slew of blog posts I deliver...

This Matar Makhane ki Tikki was also a part of the dinner party appetisers  I serve rd for the non egg eating and no booze indulging kind of people...needless to say animal tissue of any kind does not figure on their lists in any form.

So ,one is restricted to a few items that have to be twisted and turned ...BTW, Makhane...are puffed lotus seeds.F.Y.I.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_seed

Benefits or no,they add a nice texture to your dishes and if you haven't tried them out yet....well what are you waiting for???

Best way,try these out.

BTW, The news paper you see in the background is to help in the mopping up.

Simple ,full of protein and low in fat-all you w anted in an appetizer an d with the punch of mustard...wow!

That's  what food should be all about...the punch...and the wow factor!The mustard gives an awesome punch to your nose from inside...and the pea patties(Taylor Lautner of Twilight-The New Moon Saga confessed to having snacked voraciously on beef patties to help him transform from the first movie to the second---as told to Oprah!)...peas are also protein dude.

So are you planning on snacking on pea patties soon?Wow that makes you vegan too!

And since these are gluten free...all those avoiding gluten can try this too.

Lets get started...

for the 

Matar Makhane ki Tikki-Pea Patties...

you need

2 cups fresh or frozen peas

2 cups Makhane or Puffed Lotus seeds

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Salt,red Chili flakes to taste

2 tbsp cashew nuts

1 tsp  cumin seeds or jeera

1/2 tsp Chaat Masala(optional)

Start with the peas.Lightly Blanch them,you want them mashable but green and not overcooked.Popping them into a pan of boiling water for 3-4 minutes should do it. Drain them and leave them to cool slightly. 

The cashew nuts ,chop coarsely.

Now the lotus seeds or Phool Makhane.Heat a pan and add 1 tsp of the oil into it.The lotus seeds or Phool Makhane go in next with a bit of salt.Roast these on a slow flame till the lotus seeds or Phool Makhane are crisp and coated with the salt.Almost like ball like Pringles.The Colour changes a wee bit too.

Lay them on a platter to cool slightly and then buzz in a mixer to make into a fine powder.These act as binders for our pea patties.

In a pan heat a little bit of the oil and put the cumin seeds to crackle.When they do add the peas and stir a bit.Season with the salt and red chili flakes.Let the peas caramelise a bit...it increases the flavour.

Now ,Out in a big bowl with the masher.You can process them ,but that uses up too many bowls...So when your maid is playing hookey...

Into this add the  lotus seeds or Phool Makhane powder and the cashew nuts. mix well.

With a wet hand shape them into small patties.One bite stuff.

Then pan fry with as little oil as your pan will allow,if you have a spray,use that.These can be baked in a preheated oven at 180 C/350 F for 15 to 20 Min's.For the crispness,increase the temperature to 200C/390F for only 4 to 5 minutes.

And plated....before the final presentation.....

Try these one bite Matar Makhane ki Tikki-Pea Patties and tell me what you liked about them...


So what are you baking today???

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Herb-alicious,Herby Cheese-Dhania Paneer

Bootylicious....

We all know what this was about...

Destiny's Child ,it was ...

Here's the protein,..that will go straight to make your "Booty" even more Bootylicious.

Light on the tummy,high with the good stuff and with endless possibilities.

You don't need to do what I did,let your creative juices run and make whatever changes,add or subtract ingredients or flavours...as long as the base of the paneer remains the same...all your efforts will hold.

Main Hoon Na!

Pretty?

BTW...this is also fasting material...

NO Flour

No Salt etc. 

Music is the food of love...so play on while you read..

For the 

Herb-alicious,Herby Cheese-Dhania Paneer...

you need

2 l skim milk(or full fat or half fat...whatever you choose)

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp ginger diced very very fine

1/2 cup chopped herbs(I used coriander,you can use whichever herbs in whichever combination you like)

1 tsp vinegar

Get the milk on to boil.

That's the ginger and cumin seeds

When the milk comes to a boil add the herbs and the ginger and the cumin seeds and then add the vinegar and turn the heat off.Remember,all additions before the vinegar,else they will not get trapped well in the curds.

Drain this in a colander lined with a cheesecloth.You can use the whey to make your dough,or sauces or just drink it....Don't throw away the healthy stuff.

Now ,the difficult part.You can collect it into one lump and make a ball of the Herb-alicious,Herby Cheese-Dhania Paneer,but I wanted a sausage.I wanted tiny roundels.So ,I took some help to tightly roll up the paneer before it got cold.HOT!HOT! HOT!

Tight roll..

And then tied the ends...I had twine...no cotton thread.In a big dish of cold  water to help the paneer to set.

Now for the big show... unravel...a little sausage.

And now cut small slices...

These are the small bits...without the sauce or chutney.Sprinkle Chaat Masala or season wit h just salt and pepper....and maybe sprinkle a bit of lemon juice.The world is your oyster.I wish i could lay claim, to this ,but no the local dairy in Shalimar Bagh,Delhi makes something like this in huge blocks.I just made some changes to suit my palette.

No matter how long its been ,you still miss home...

Delhi Rocks!

So what are you baking today???

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Kinnow Cheesecake-Egg less

I didn't know that...
I thought Kinnows were totally Desi...(I didn't even know kinnows were spelt like so...I always added 2 o's)
But,as facts would have it...they are not.Totally Californian...totally imported.
I remember not so long ago when imported used to be so hip!
So hip and happening...as is this cheesecake!

I had a tried and tested recipe...garnered from various tastings,but into this one I incorporated some bits from Good Food India's version.Few basics ,which are standard,and the look....I love the kinnows....Sadly there weren't too many at home,oranges have a different flavour from Kinnows.I didnt want mixed flavours...
The cheese cake sinks if you go overboard with the juice ..So,I added a tsp of gelatin to stabalise the liquid.To save my back basically....
You want clean slices of the cheesecake...not muddled pies on the plate.
And here, A shot of cheesecake shots...
NO Egg,
NO Alcohol.

Many shots in the background.

The only misnomer here...you cant take a shot at this...you need to spoon it out!
Been really busy ,or as sweet sister says..."BeeGy" didn't have time to post a blog...
Lots going around...who has the time to surf the net?Not me at least.So by the time this weekend is over there will be a slew of posts...

For the
Kinnow Cheesecake-Egg less...

you need

1 packet Digestive biscuits(I used Mc vities-230 gm pack. Bipasha Basu will not be happy with what I did to them)
100 gms butter
1 tsp vanilla essence
200 gms caster sugar+2 tsp grain sugar
600 gms cream cheese(since I live in Ranchi,cream cheese is non existent-I used fresh Paneer/homemade cottage cheese)
200gms whipped cream
2 kinnows
1 tsp gelatin powder
1 star anise
Juice of 1 lemon(optional)

I started with the digestive biscuits,in my new found best friend my 14 year old food processor!Whizz..

Into the crumbs or biscuit powder,add the 2 tsp sugar and the vanilla essence.Again whizz..

That's 100 gms of butter,all melted in the microwave.

Poured into the biscuit crumbs.Don't skimp on the butter,that's why the shot glasses...less crust!If you put any less butter,the base will be soggy..and squiggly and wet!

Once all mixed,a tsp of the base mix into the glasses,pressed down...

And into the tummy of the waiting mommy pie dish....this one has a loose bottom..like lots of Mommy's with loose "bottoms".Now these need to chill at least till your filling is ready.

These are the two Kinnows,I peeled using my Victorinox(of the Swiss army knife fame)peeler....tres fine!Forgive me my errors,I know not how to add the accents to my letters...

The rind/zest I chopped really fine...and more than a tsp I added to the cheesecake.I love the marmalade like taste.

These are the seedless Kinnows,one I juiced and the other I used for the presentation.

That's the gelatin ,1 tsp into the juice of one Kinnow.Let that juice mix sit in a bigger bowl of hot water,this has to go in at the end,so it needs to stay warm.

Gelatin soaking in all the juices....

Food processor bowl,cleaned.Into this I dumped the paneer- home made and the chopped rind of the kinnow.To this I added most of the sugar.....The rest I taste and add as I go along.Whizz really fine..

It took me at least 8-9 minutes.You don't want a grainy texture....so keep the food processor on till its nice and creamy.

That's the cream ,whipped.

Into the bowl and again whizzed.Now add the juice and gelatin mix,whizzing well to incorporate it into the cheesecake filling.After tasting,I added the juice of one lemon,I like things tart...you may need two...or none.Basically,keep tasting.That's why one should never trust a skinny cook.

And pour into the waiting mummy dish and the shot glasses...

Into the fridge to chill.In the meanwhile,with a very sharp knife,slice the kinnows,and put a few shreds of the rind with the slices in a bowl.

The remaining sugar,rind and star anise in a bowl with half a cup of water,I zapped in the microwave for 5 minutes to get a watery syrup.

Which I pronto poured onto the sliced kinnows.The flavours steeped,at this point some vodka would have really added a strong kick...

Now the Cheesecake had been chilling for 4 hours and was firm.I added some slices in a circle and poured a bit of the syrup on the Cheesecake.If the syrup is thick it will form a nice sheen...but mine was not,it was runny as the waters of a brook...men may come and men may go and all that....yup ,I know, Lord Tennyson(well read, I am)

I cut the remaining kinnows into pieces and topped the shot glasses.I also added some basil leaves for the wow factor.Was it wow??
Wait to be invited to my place for dinner...you'll love the company and the food!

Try the Cheesecake...and get drunk without the alcohol for a change........

So what are you baking today???

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