Peppermint flavored Chocolate Cupcakes

I had an outing planned with my colleagues today and I had to bring something along .So I decided to make Peppermint flavored cupcakes at mid-night yesterday (strangely I think I’m more inspired to cook at night….late nights )

But anyway here’s a very easy peasy recipe of cupcake without frosting.Hmm why without? Simply because I didn’t have time to make the frosting

Ingredients:
2eggs
200 g self raising flour
85g margarine (room temperature)
200ml full cream milk
215g sugar
3 tablespoon cocoa powder
Few drops Vanilla essence
Cadbury Peppermint Chocolate finely chopped.
 

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for a few minutes on high speed.

Step 2: Add eggs, vanilla essence to the mixture and beat on high speed for 5 minutes or until mixture is very creamy and light in color.

Step 3: Add milk,coca powder and flour to the mixture and stir it all together. (Do not beat).Use a Spoon to blend the mixture until you obtain a very creamy mixture.

Step 4: Pre heat Oven at 180 degree.

Step 5: Fill the cupcake “cups” half way using the cake mixture, then add some of the chopped chocolate in each cup. Finally add another spoonful of the cake mixture in each cup so that the cupcakes are ¾ filled.

Note: The cake will grow in size that’s why we do not want to fill the cups totally.

Step 6: Bake the cupcakes for about 15 minutes.

Voila the cupcakes are ready!! Enjoy

Crepe duo –Choco Vanilla

It’s been a while I haven’t posted on my blog. The thing is,my job’s taking all my time (busy working days)and my parents are still out of the country ..goshhh this routine is killing me! Seriously!! I feel exhausted.

But the good news is, my parents are coming back in a week (Finally ) and I kinda feel relieved!

Normally on Sundays I’m good at doing nothing.. I just like being lazy and in a way relax and gather my energy for the week!

But tomorrow, Monday 12^th March is Public Holiday here..Yeey!! (Our Independence day).So I am still up at midnight, because I am not working tomorrow: P (okay..Actually because I slept practically the whole day and I can’t sleep now.. hehe )

But anyway the thing is, I was getting bored doing nothing so I decided to make some Crepe.

Crepes are just like pancakes but much thinner.

Ingredients: (Around 12 crepes)

2 eggs
1 table spoon Sugar
3 tablespoon Milk Powder
4 ½ Tablespoon Plain Flour
I table spoon Cocoa Powder
few drops of Vanilla essence
Water
Nutella – Hazelnut Chocolate Spread.

Step 1 :

In a mixing bowl beat the eggs and sugar lightly, just for the sugar to dissolve.

Then add the milk powder and vanilla essence to the eggs. Mix well so that there are no lumps.

Step 2:

Gradually add the flour to the mixture making sure that no lumps are formed.

Step 3:

Once the flour has been well incorporated into the mixture, divide the mixture equally in 2 bowls.

Step 4:

In one bowl add the cocoa powder and mix again.

In each bowl, Add water gradually until the mixture consistency is smooth and runny. . (Maybe around 3-4 tablespoon of water in each bowl)

Note:. The thicker the crepe mixture the thicker your crepe will be and the perfect crepe is always the thinnest!!

Step 5 :

Heat up a non-stick pan with 1 teaspoon oil and pour around 4 tablespoon of crepe mixture into the pan.

Take the pan off the heat and spread the mixture as much as possible , so as to obtain a thin crepe

Let the crepe cook for around 30 seconds and sprinkle some oil on top while it’s cooking.

After 30 seconds, flip it over, let it cook for another 10-15 seconds

Then take the crepe off the pan into a plate.

Repeat step 5 until crepe mixture is all used up.               

Note: Crepe cooking time is very short because we made the batter very smooth and runny.

*******

Garnishing:

Spread nutella on a choco crepe and do the same on a plain vanilla crepe

Place the choco crepe onto the vanilla crepe and roll them in together.

Cut the Crepe into slices and Serve!!

There are million ways you can garnish and serve those crepes.. Use your imagination and be creative!!

And by the way I took those pictures using my new DSLR camera!!

When the unexpected happens…

Sometimes we make great plans and expect certain things to happen according to the plan. But what I’ve learnt from my past experiences is that sometimes no matter how perfectly well you plan things, it does not always turn out the way you expect it to.

But ofcourse the unexpected can be a better surprise than what you thought and sometimes it might be the worst!

Anyway as I mentioned in my earlier post , I wanted to buy a DSLR camera and I choose to buy the Nikon d5100.Well this can be described as the plan and the Nikon as the expected result of the plan.

But as I said things don’t always turn out the way you plan.

To cut the story short I was expecting a Nikon d5100 but I got a canon 550 d instead. Which I thought was a very bad surprise, since I was really expecting the Nikon camera.

Well one of my friends told me “Embrace the bad to find the good” which I think is very wise. Therefore I’ve decided to  welcome the canon 550d with open arms  :P and I’m surely gonna find good in this camera. This is my new plan.. and the result? ..yet to find…

Back on facebook after 40 days!

40 days have gone and YESS I did survive without facebook (Yeeeyy)!!I think I have been able to find a right balance and better manage my time.

I have re-activated my account and I feel kinda re-connected to my friends, family….Hmm the world!!Which is a great feeling!

Well we cannot deny it ,for most of us Facebook is somehow part of our life, for some much more than others. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing… I just feel that we need to find the right balance between our “virtual” and “real” life.

What I mean to say is,Being on facebook is good.. But staying on facebook all the time.. Well I don’t think it’s so good! Anyways that’s just my point of view.

Well that’s just a quick post, marking my comeback on facebook.. hahah

And just so you know, I have made up my mind and I will be buying the Nikon D5100  DSLR camera!!

Have a great weekend Peeole!!! xoxo

Sugar Biscuits

Two days back I was in the mood for some baking. And since it was Valentine’s Day eve, I thought why not make some heart shape sugar biscuits.

They turned out great and are super easy to make !!

Here’s  the ingredients:

115 g  unsalted butter (softened)
½ cup sugar
2 cups self raising flour
1 egg
Vanilla essence
 

Icing  topping:

1 ½ Icing sugar
Red Food color
Water
Peppermint  flavor
Vanilla essence
 

Let’s make the biscuit dough

Step 1:Add butter and sugar in a bowl and mix until you have a creamy texture(5 mins on max speed)

Step 2: Add vanilla essence and the egg to the butter cream and mix for another minute until well incorporated.

Step 3: Add flour to the mixture and mix until u obtain a soft dough

Step  4. Pre Heat oven at 180 degrees

Step 5: Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into shape with a heart shape cookie cutter.(or any shape you want)

Step 6:Bake biscuits for 10-15 mins

Let the biscuits cool for 30 mins or so

Let’s make the icing now:

Step 1:In a saucepan add half cup of icing sugar, 1 tablespoon of water, some peppermint essence. Heat up the mixture until it turns glossy.

Transfer the sugar paste into a piping bag.

Outline the biscuits with the peppermint flavored icing and let it dry.

Step 2. In a saucepan add 1 cup of icing sugar , 3 tablespoon of water, vanilla essence and some red food color. Heat up the mixture until it turns glossy.(This one should be more liquid than the other sugar paste)

Pour the red icing over each the biscuit evenly.

 Let the icing dry for 30 mins and the sugar biscuit are ready!Enjoy

Happy valentines day to thoses who celebrate!!xoxo

Over 3 Weeks without facebook!

It’s been over 3 weeks (errmm ..I don’t know the exact number of days) that I’m not on facebook. Its finally fading away:P.I don’t get the “craving” to sign in anymore (proud ^^)

I think it’s mainly because I’ve been kind of busy the past 2 weeks.. My parents are out of the country and I am in charge of the kitchen : D . The thing is I have two brothers and I can assure you they have very good appetite! So000 I have been busy cooking  (and cleaning -_-‘..Not so fun!)

But anyway.. I was thinking I should invest in a good camera. Nowadays Digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) is the trend.. And it’s actually getting more and more accessible price wise. I think I have a hidden passion for photography too (Yet to unveil ). And ofcourse I need to take better pictures of my dishes.Coz seriously the camera I have doesn’t really do justice to my masterpieces!

I‘ve been checking out the different entry level DSLR camera on the market (that are within my budget)

There are 3 cameras that really caught my attention Canon 1100D, Canon 600D and Nikon D5100.I am not a camera experts but I did check the reviews on each and the specifications..And I might have a preference for the Nikon D5100.But I haven’t made my mind just yet.

Now there is a never-ending debate on whether Nikon is better than Canon or vice versa. I think they are both good in their own way. And it’s not right to just compare the brands. It would be more appropriate to compare 2 model of the same category.And then judge based on the functionality available in each model. Well that’s how I will be choosing my camera.

That’s all for now! I will surely make up my mind before my next post (hopefully)

Have a great week People! XOXO

Chocolate Genoise with fruits

The key to making the best dessert (Specially Cakes) is to measure all required ingredient to the nearest milligram. What I mean to say is, additional sugar (in whatever recipe) will not enhance the taste but over sweeten the dessert.(….overdose of flour will most definitely ruin everything..So watch out )

Like we say in French “La pâtisserie est une science exacte”

Saying so I think a measuring scale is an essential tool in the creation of any dessert!!

Okay so basically Genoise is a sponge cake that is filled with whipped cream and fruits.(errmm..ignoring the calorie level)

Like the name says “Sponge” Cake, it’s a very light, airy cake and to get this texture we need loads of eggs as in 8 Eggs (ohh yes… For only one cake.. no kidding )

Yesterday I made the best Genoise ever!! (Tested and Approved )

Here the ingredient for making the perfect Genoise my way.

Chocolate Spong Cake:

8 eggs
190g  Sugar
150 g Self raising Flour
45g Melted unsalted butter (Or Margarine)
2 TableSpoon Cocoa Powder
Few Drops of Vanilla essence

Frosting:
500ml Whipping Cream
3 tablespoon Icing Sugar
2 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
Few Drops of Vanilla Essence

A can of Mixed fruit , some grated milk chocolate and some Cherries
 

Step 1 :
Grease  a 26cm diameter baking pan  and pre heat oven  to 180 degrees

Step 2
Step egg yolks and whites in 2 bowls.(you might wanna use a larger bowl for the whites)

Step 3
Add few drops of vanilla essence to the egg white and beat on a very high speed until it  becomes white and frothy. The whipped egg whites mixture is ready when it clings to the beater attachment but does not drip.

Step 4
Add sugar and vanilla essence to the egg yolk bowl and Beat the egg yolk mixture on a high speed until creamy. (Around 5 mins)

Step 5:
Combine yolks and whites. You need to fold in gently the egg yolk mixture to the Whites. (Do not over mix)

Step 6:
Once your egg mixture is ready, sift in the flour &Cocoa Powder.
Fold it all together remembering again not to over-mix and then add the melted butter when the flour has been incorporated correctly.

Step 7:
Pour the batter into the greased baking pan and bake the cake for 30 minutes.

Once the cake is ready let it cool down (for around an hour) before cutting it into 3 layers.

Lets make the Frosting.

Hint: take a large bowl and add some ice in it. Pour the whipping cream into a smaller bowl and put it into the iced bowl.(this will help hold the cream when its whipped)

Whip the cream on high speed until it becomes fluffy (Around 10-15 mins).Then Add the vanilla essence and icing sugar to it and beat on high speed for another 2 minute

Lets layer our cake now.

Step 1: Open the canned fruit and use the fruit syrup to moisturize the cake. Pour spoonful of the syrup generously over the first layer.

Step 2: Add some whipped cream on the first cake layer and spread it evenly. Add fruits on top and some grated milk chocolate.

Step 3: Cover the cake with the second layer. Now takethe remaining  whipped cream and add the cocoa powder to it.(We want our middle  and top layer to be choco whipped cream)

Again damp the cake with some syrup, then add the choco cream and sprinkle some grated chocolate on it.

Step 4: Cover with the third layer, again damp the cake with the syrup.

Finally spread the remaining cream evenly over the cake and add some grated chocolate and some cherries on top.

There you go! The Genoise is ready but not to taste just yet!! You should let it chill in the fridge to some hours before its ready to be eaten :p