Spanish Delight Cake | San Marcos Cake(Step by Step Pics) ~ 10 th Blog Anniversary Special !!

Happy blog anniversary to me !!!

This day marks my first post in 2011 and its been 10 years here. Never did I imagine of such a blessed day in blogging. My initial trials were just to bookmark and keep my tried recipes stored somewhere. But as days and years passed by with all your love and encouragement, I tried so many recipes that I hardly could have thought of trying out. All thank to my friends, readers and my family for the continued support till day. I feel to have improved a lot since 2011 in terms of cooking, photography and jotting down recipes and still learning many things. Thanks again dears and I hope to see you all around in my space in future too. 

Today's virtual treat is a Spanish Delight Cake or a pastry cake I must say, which I wished to try since long the traditional way. I finally made this cake on my birthday and it was worth trying out this cake. We totally loved the cake. There is a mild chocolaty layer, caramelized praline layer and whipped cream with soaked layers of sponge cake in between. Sounds interesting? Read further to know the history and method of preparation.

 

Spanish delight Cake or spanish traditional cake dates back to 12th century which was made in a convent of San Marcos. The cake has very classic preparations with a soft sponge cake layer, vanilla whipped cream, a chocolate whipped cream, sugar syrup and a sweet egg yolk layer. I saw many you tube videos to prepare this cake but mostly people have skipped making the sweet egg yolk layer but i wanted to try it the traditional way and so I have adapted this recipe from here. Though the cake is very simple to make but the only extra effort is the sweet egg yolk preparation that you can prepare ahead and refrigerate. 

The sweet egg yolk adds a wonderful touch to the cake and I think the caramelized sugar using cooking torch would add an extra ordinary feel too. But I didn't have a cooking torch to caramelize so added praline in the center. That's the only thing I changed in the recipe, rest all is the same. I have made the cake in a 6' pan and so halved the ingredients but the cake looked tall compared to a 8' cake. The sponge cake is cut in three layers and the first layer is filled with chocolate whipped cream and the second layer is topped with vanilla whipped cream and finally the sweet egg yolk is poured in the center and the sides are covered with sliced toasted almonds. Quite simple right? Please do try this yummy cake on your special occasions. We loved every bit of the cake and I must say the cake tastes best the next day.

Preparation time ~ 30 minutes

Baking time ~ 30 minutes

Frosting time ~ 30 minutes

Author ~ Julie

Serves ~ 800 g cake

Ingredients

for sponge cake

maida 3/4 cup

corn flour 1 tbsp

baking powder 3/4 tsp

baking soda 1/4 tsp

salt a pinch

powdered sugar 3/4 cup

eggs -3

vanilla essence 1 tsp

any neutral oil 2 tbsp

for soaking 

sugar 1/2 cup

water 1 cup

sweet egg yolk layer

egg yolks 2

sugar 90 g or 1/2 cup

water 1/8 cup

vanilla extract 1/2 tsp

corn starch 3.5 g or 1 1/4 tsp

lemon juice few drops 

for frosting

whipping cream 1.5 cups

cocoa powder 1 tbsp

powdered sugar 1 tbsp

for decoration

*praline 2 tbsp 

or caramelize sugar using cooking torch

sliced almonds 1/2 cup

 

Method

How to make the sponge cake ? Refer the detailed pics here in this post on sponge cake.

• Sift the flours with baking powder, baking soda, salt thrice and keep aside. In another bowl, add the eggs and powdered sugar, beat until creamy and pale (may take around 5 minutes). Add in the oil and vanilla essence, mix well.
• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F and line a 6' tray with parchment paper and oil the sides, dust with flour and keep ready.
• To this add the sifted flour mixture in three to four batches and combine well using a spatula without much deflating the air from beaten egg mixture. 
• Transfer the batter to the prepared cake tin and tap the cake tin several times(20-25) to release the trapped air bubbles. Then place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Insert a tooth pick in the center of the pan and check if done (Mine was done in 25 minutes, I pre-heat the oven by using the both rods on. Initial bake time was changed to lower rod along for 5 minutes and then changed back to both rods on).
• Cool the cake on a wire rack and transfer out from the pan. Cover with a parchment paper once cooled completely and then wrap with a cling wrap or aluminium foil. I left overnight before frosting.

How to make whipped cream and chocolate cream? I have shared the detailed step by step pics of making whipping cream here in this recipe, pls refer.

I chilled the beater blades and bowl in the fridge overnight and thawed the cream in the fridge overnight(earlier it was in the freezer). Remove the blades, bowl and cream from the fridge. Pour the cream to the bowl. 

With the beater blades attached beat the cream for 4-5 minutes until it turns stiff peaks (Remove 1/3 rd of the cream when there are soft peaks to mix with cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Incorporate the cocoa in the whipping cream first and then beat. Beat this mix separately in another bowl). Both creams should be beaten to stiff peaks.The test to make sure its done is by tilting the bowl upside down and find that the cream doesn't move at all and stays stiff. Immediately transfer the cream to the refrigerator till use by covering with a lid or cling wrap (I haven't added any sugar in the whipping cream layer as the cream has sugar in it).

How to make sugar syrup?

Make a sugar syrup using 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Put this on a stove and heat till the sugar is dissolved. Put off stove and leave to cool completely.

How to prepare the sweet egg yolk layer?

• Add the sugar 90 g or 1/2 cup and water(1/8 cup), add in vanilla essence and keep on heat until sugar dissolves with few drops of lemon juice.Boil this mix for 2 minutes and switch off leave to temper slightly. 

• Beat the egg yolks (2) with corn starch 3.5 g or 1 1/4 tsp vigorously in another bowl until its in homogenized state(pic no.7). Pour the sugar mix in continous thread with a whisk or fork. Don't stop stirring in between as it can form lumps. 
• Now using a double boiler method, cook the egg yolk. Place water in a sauce pan and when it boils place the egg yolk mix and beat continuously until the mixture thickens and turns pale yellow in color(may take 2 minutes). Remove from heat to cool.

How to assemble the cake?

• Once the cake is cooled, the cake can be cut in two or three layers as per the height of the cake. My cake was best for a two layer cake, but my kids wanted to make it a three layer, so I somehow managed to cut it in three. Use a serrated bread knife or twine to cut the layers. I used a serrated knife. Be very careful when you cut the cake in layers, as the cake is very soft and delicate.

• Then place a dollop of cream on the cake base and place the base on the turn table. Place the first layer of the cake. Add pieces of parchment paper over the sides of the cake all around to get a neat finish at the end. Add sugar syrup on the first layer and then place the chocolate whipped cream on top of this layer and spread using an offset spatula. 
• Add the second layer and pour sugar syrup on this layer. Add the plain whipped cream and  finally place the third layer, add the sugar syrup and spread the cream on the sides. Spread gently because you may get crumbs on the offset spatula. 
• Pour the sweet egg yolk on the top of the third layer in the centre. Try leaving a 1" gap around the borders so that the piping becomes easy, and the egg layer spreads a little.
• Once you have finished a crumb coat, refrigerate the cake for half to an hour before you add more layers of frosting.

                                                   

• After an hour, remove and add more cream to cover the sides and top. Using a scraper or offset spatula, give a neat finish.  
• Finally, remove the parchment paper placed on the base of the cake. Pipe in the rosette using a piping bag around the cake and place sliced almonds on the sides. If you are using a cooking torch to caramelize sugar, then sprinkle a little sugar and caramelize the sugar using the torch. I didn't have a cooking torch so tried adding praline which was good to add an extra crunch to the cake. Spread the praline in the centre over the sweet egg yolk layer. Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours before you slice and enjoy !!

NOTES

* I used 2 tbsp of cashews and 2 tbsp of almonds with 1/2 cup sugar caramelized. Toast the nuts in a dry pan for about 3-4 minutes on low medium flame. Remove from pan and then to the same pan add the sugar (1/2 cup) and wait to caramelize. When the sugar is caramelized to golden brown, then add the toasted nuts to this and give a quick stir. Remove on a ghee smeared tray or on a parchment paper. Smoothen down as quickly as possible to flatten the nuts. Leave to cool completely. Then break the nuts and add this to a ziploc bag. Whack this using a rolling pin to lightly crush the nuts and to make the praline. Reserve in air tight containers at room temperature till use. For more specific,detailed praline recipe with step by step pics is here.

* I haven't toasted the sliced almonds but you can always toast and use.

RELATED POSTS

* Opera Cake

* Tiramisu
* Pineapple Pastry Cake

* Chocolate Chiffon Cake 

* Marble Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

* Joan's Rainbow Cake

* White Forest Cake 

* Red Velvet Cake

* Neapolitan Christmas Cake

* Reine De Saba avec Glacage au Chocolat(Julia Child's Cake)

Homemade Ghee Soan Papdi (Step by Step Pics) ~ Holi Special

Any festivities demands yummy sweets and that's a casual affair all over the world. Holi is right here and I thought why not try soan papdi. Soan Papdi was in my try list ever since I tasted the store brought  soan papdi. However, the easiest access to soan papdi was to reach the super market, grab one from the shelves and all loved the melt in mouth texture. But each time I had the store brought one, I had this intense feeling to try this at home very soon. You tube videos of commercially preparing this sweet were seen many a time but didn't give me that confidence until I saw a hindi video of soan papdi making at home, then there wasn't much to look back and I followed that video. Soan Papdi needs a little expertize in swiftly moving and playing with the sugar syrup so that the sugar doesn't crystallize and is pliable all throughout the process. The sugar syrup is formed as a loop and is pulled in the manner of 8 as many times as you can and is stretched as long as you can. Also, the besan mixture is applied each time to the loop till you finish the mix. If you need help ask for help and pull the strands because as you get closer to the finish it becomes a little tough to pull the strands without breaking. I was a little apprehensive about the outcome as it was a tricky procedure but to my luck, the process went on smooth except that the sugar crystallized the first time I tried making it. Then I added lemon juice to correct the issue.Other than that everything went fine and I was so happy to see the fine strands when was pulling the strands.It gives an immense joy to see the outcome. But I didn't like the way the strands were cut and placed in a plate because once they were placed and cut, the strands came together again. 

The first try gave me so much confidence that I tried the second time too to improve the results and I think justice was done and all thanks to the youtube video in Hindi where she explains clearly and displays an easy method to play with the sugar syrup by pouring it over a parchment paper which helps us to handle the heat much easily. Getting a pliable sugar syrup is the most tricky part too to get smooth long strands else the sugar hardens and it becomes difficult. I have displayed both pics of first and second try, so you get to see two different garnish of almonds and pistachios. Do read up the notes section and steps carefully and try this out. Do send me a pic too if you try at home.

Preparation time ~ 20 mins

Cooking time ~ 40 minutes

Serves ~ 12-14 small pieces

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

besan / kadalamavu 75 gms (3/4 cup)

maida (all purpose flour)40 gms (1/3 cup) 

ghee/ clarified butter 40-45 gms  (1/3 cup)

cardamom powder / elakka podi 1/2 tsp

granulated sugar 1/2 cup (100 gms)

water 1/4 cup

lemon juice 1 tsp

Method

• Heat a heavy bottomed pan or non stick pan and add ghee. To this add the besan and maida together. Continue to stir the mixture, first the mixture will turn crumbly. Continue to roast on low flame till the mixture starts to leave ghee If you find ghee is less add a tbsp of ghee more. I added 1 tbsp less of 1/3 cup in the beginning and so I added that tbsp. As you cook further the ghee separates, the colour of besan  changes darker and then the mixture turns frothy and bubbly. Switch off flame and move away from residual heat or transfer in a plate smeared with ghee. I left the mixture in  the pan to cool so the colour of besan turned more brown at this point. Add cardamom powder at this point and mix well.

• Keep a tray lined with parchment paper and spread ghee over the paper to pour the sugar syrup. Also, smear ghee on two plates- one for working with sugar syrup and one for finally setting the soan papdi. Leave aside till use. 

• Now heat the sugar in a pan with 1/4 cup water. Bring this to a boil and leave on medium heat. Add lemon juice at this point and then you notice there are lot of bubbles popping up. In between add a drop of this syrup in a bowl of cold water. Try making a ball out of this syrup and you must be able to do with ease. At this stage the color of the sugar also looks caramelized and the bubbles reduce in sugar syrup. Switch off flame, work quickly and transfer the syrup to the prepared paper and make sure that the syrup doesn't flow out of the paper in the initial two minutes. Then using the same parchment paper work the sugar syrup by folding the paper as to cool it slightly(folding the paper helps us to not touch directly on the sugar syrup) so that you can work on the syrup more easily. Continue to do this process till the sugar syrup starts to form a mass and is cooled slightly but still warm to touch and can start to work with. 
• At this point, transfer the sugar ball on the plate and using both hands gently stretch the sugar as to make a circular strand and then keep stretching and twisting when it becomes long as like a 8 pattern. After a 6-7 stretches, add the cooked besan ghee mixture. Spread over the made strands and continue tow work quickly with sugar strands. You must work very quick to add the mixture and pulling the strands to stretch get a 8 pattern and then fold back and redo till you get very thin strands and the ghee besan mixture finishes. Make sure that the circular pattern doesn't break and stretch quick but gently. Also make sure to stretch evenly at all the circular pattern.

                                                 

• Then finally cut the strands with a scissor and place in the ghee smeared plate. Garnish with sliced pistachios or almonds and mark to cut the pieces. Cut small pieces once its cooled down and enjoy !!

NOTES

* You can use half of ghee and oil to make soan papdi too. However ghee adds a special flavor and softness. 

* Just make sure that the besan(kadalmavu) doesn't get burnt and get darker in the residual heat. So transfer the mixture to a separate plate till use.

* Add lemon juice to prevent sugar from crystallizing.

* You should be very quick to work with the sugar ball so as to prevent it from becoming a solid ball. Keep folding the parchment paper so as to move the sugar ball and when the heat becomes bearable start to make a round shape and figure of 8 pattern as quickly as possible.

* Apply the besan mixture completely in batches as much as possible, at the end if besan mixture is left over and there is no option to apply as you exceeded the time then omit adding. I faced this issue in my first trial.

* Use good quality parchment paper and not baking paper because when using baking paper the paper is so thin that the sugar gets struck to the paper.

SWEETS THAT YOU CAN TRY AT HOME THIS HOLI -

Avocado kalakand

Rava- Thenga(Suji- Coconut) Burfi

Maa Ladoo
Chocolate Burfi

Thirunelveli Halwa(Wheat Halwa)

Badam Burfi

Pista Burfi
Badusha
Instant Jalebi
Gujjiya(mawa) 
Homemade Khoya / Mawa
Rava laddoo
Kaju Katli
Ghee Mysore Pak
Rasagullas
Gulab Jamun
Rasmalai
Badam- Paneer Burfi
Badam Katli
Peda (Milk)
Moongdal laddus

Kadai Mushroom (2nd Version) | Side Dish for Chapathis/ Rotis

Since we are observing lent, am in hunt for good vegetarian recipes that goes on well with chapathis and breakfast sides. The rice sides have never been an issue for me as they are many dishes that I frequently make. However, vegetarian sides with chapathis, appam and for other traditional items and my people at home need variety each time and so I keep trying out different recipes. I love some simple recipes that can be put together swiftly and should taste delicious as well. I have already posted a kadai mushroom which is a gravy type curry that goes well with rotis sometime back but this one is a semi gravy type dry one which is unique in is own way.The cashew paste adds a sweetness and richness to the masala. This is one such recipe where in you can combine to make a delicious side for chapathis/ rotis or even use this for filling up wraps /rolls too. We totally loved this recipe. I have adapted the recipe from Chef Harpal Singh and tweaked slightly to suit our taste buds. Do give this a try and lemme know too how it turns out to you.

Also check out a few mushroom recipes that I posted earlier-

Stuffed Mushroom

Mushroom Theeyal

Chettinadu Mushroom Masala

Mushroom Fry

Mushroom Butter Masala

Mushroom -Paneer Pulao

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Mushroom Thoran

Mushroom Manchurian

Mushroom Quiche

Preparation time ~ 20 minutes

Cooking time ~ 20 minutes

Serves ~ 3-4

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

button mushroom 100 g

onion / savala 1 medium-sized sliced

tomato / thakkali 2 medium chopped

ginger - garlic paste 2 tsp

capsicum or bell pepper 1 small cubed

garam masala 1/2 tsp

coriander powder 1.5 tbsp

kashmiri chilly powder 1.5 tsp

turmeric powder 3/4 tsp

coriander leaves 2 tbsp

kasoori methi 1 tbsp

cashew nuts 10 or paste 2-3 tbsp

dry red chillies 2 

whole garam masala 1/2' piece cinnamon, cardamom 1, cloves 3

salt to taste 

oil 2-3 tbsp

Watch on YouTube -

Method

• Wash the mushrooms under running water and wipe it dry with a paper towel. Remove any struck dirt or soil. If it's too dirty, then peel a layer of the skin and clean. If not, then just wash, wipe and use. Cut in slices or cubes as desired, but please don't cut very thin slices or cubes.
• Soak the cashews in water for half an hour and then grind in a blender until smooth.
• Then, heat oil in a thick bottomed pan, add dry, red chillies, whole garam masala followed by cumin seeds. Sauté and then add chopped onion. Fry until the onion turns translucent and slightly browned. Add salt to fasten the process.
• Add in the ginger-garlic paste, sauté until raw smell disappears. Then add in chopped tomatoes and cook till the tomatoes turn mushy. Finally, add in coriander powder, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Sauté until the oil starts separating. Add the cashew paste.

                                                

• Finally, slide in the cubed capsicum and then mix well for two minutes. Add salt as needed.
• Then add the cubed or sliced mushrooms, mix well and cook covered for another 5 minutes. The water oozes out of the mushrooms, so please don't add any water to cook. Also, the gravy of kadai mushroom is not very thin.
• Lastly, the mushroom gets cooked and oil separates. Add the garam masala, mix well and add coriander leaves and kasoori methi for garnish and switch off flame. Keep covered till served.

NOTES

* You can add cubed onions too along with capsicum to add volume. I have not added, as I have added chopped onion in the beginning.

* You can use paneer instead of mushroom to make kadai paneer as well.

* You can add a tomato and one onion as cubes, along with capsicum. I have done in video recipe.

* You can add dry red chillies in the begininng or green chillies vertical slit at the end.

                                                   

Few more vegetarian curries that can be served with chapathis/pooris/rotis /naan are
*Kashmiri curried apple
*Dahi bhindi
*Mattar-Paneer
*Bell Pepper-Potato Curry

*Makai palak Curry

*Paneer Lababdar
*Chole masala
*Rajma masala

* Aloo Palak
*Mixed veg kuruma

*Palak Paneer Masala 

*Paneer Korma

*Baby Corn Butter Masala

*Kashmiri Dum Aloo

Check out this link for mushroom recipes here.

                                         

Chakkapazham Pori with Stuffing | Jackfruit Fritters ~ Step by Step Pics

Most Keralites aka mallus enjoy the jackfruit season and why not, this is Kerala's own fruit. Though the raw jackfruit has tremendous health benefits than ripe ones but most of us love the ripe jackfruit. Jackfruit is a rich source of folate, riboflavin, potassium,magnesium. It is also a store house of vitamin A and C which protects our body. My MIL goes mad over this fruit and can have all three times of the day. There are several recipes that are tried using ripe and raw jackfruit. I have tried a few of them that are listed below at the end of this post.

I have been trying this chakkapazham pori just like pazham pori sine two three years now but each time I modified a bit and tried. The reason is that unlike the fried solid plantain pieces in ethakka pori, the chakka pieces in chakka pori becomes wiggly once fried and so have to be consumed hot else becomes soft very soon. Moreover the chakka pieces are hollow inside too so I ended up filling these pieces with a mix of sugar and grated coconut which worked perfect for this snack. You can add more variations to this like adding few chopped dry fruits and nuts too along with sugar and grated coconut. It tastes similar to pazham nirachathu and we all loved it. So finally I have started trying the chakka pori with filling which is really good. Scoop out the seeds and fill in with this coconut- sugar mix. Love this snack with a cup of tea!!

Preparation time ~ 10 mins

Cooking time ~ 10 mins

Serves ~ 14 chakka pori

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

chakka / ripe jackfruit 12-14

grated coconut 1/2 cup

sugar 1/3 cup

maida (all purpose flour) 1 cup

cumin seeds 1/2 tsp

salt to taste

turmeric powder a pinch

oil for frying

Method

• Prepare a batter using maida, salt, cumin seeds and turmeric powder. Make the batter not very thin or very thick. Leave the batte for 10 mins before using.
• Mix the coconut with sugar and keep aside. Cut open each jackfruit piece by making a slit and remove the seed. Place a tbsp of this coconut filling and close.

                                                   

• Heat oil in a kadai/ wok upto 2" depth and get ready.
• Dip each filled jackfruit in the batter and drop in hot oil. Flip all sides and get evenly browned. Cook on medium flame else the cover gets browned soon. Drain using slotted spoon and place on paper towel. Remove from paper towels immediately then to retain the crunchiness else it becomes soft on cooling.
• Repeat the same step of making all chakka poris till you finish the batter. If you have any batter left over, you can just drop in oil without jackfruit and this also tastes crisp. Enjoy with a cup of tea.

NOTES

* You can add 2tbsp of sugar to the batter too if you love the cover sweet. I haven't added sugar as the filling and jackfruit has sweetness.

* You can even add few chopped nuts or raisins for a variation in the filling.

RELATED POSTS

JACKFRUIT RECIPES
* Chakka Cake
* Chakka Jam

* Chakka Varetti

* Chakka Kumbilappam

* Chakka Puttu

* Chakka Chips

* Chakka Unniyappam

* Chakka Ada

* Mangalorean Jackfruit Fritters(Chakka Bonda)

* Chakka Avalose Unda

* Chakka Kozhukatta

JACKFRUIT SEDEDS(CHAKKAKURU) RECIPES

* Chakkakuru Shake

* Chakkakuru Cheera Thoran

* Chakkakuru Manga Curry

Eggless Wheat flour Tutty Fruity Cake ~ Step by Step Pics

Today's recipe is one such keeper cake that can be made anytime for tea and can be simply put together without any fancy ingredients or gadgets. This cake uses wheat flour and rava with baking powder, baking soda and yogurt. I have posted a tutty fruity cake earlier too but that uses egg, you can try that too but as we are observing lent I was mostly experimenting eggless these days. If you are looking for another interesting recipe with tutty fruity then check this out tutty fruity cookies which is one of my favorite Christmas cookies. The best part of this cake is that it hardly takes any time to put together and bake. There is no beating involved as there is no butter and the only time it needs is the soaking time of rava(suji) which you can do ahead and start baking. Rava adds a nice crumbly texture to the cake. I have already tried this cake many times now, and this is a quick cake that you can bake for sudden tea parties. Cool the cake completely before slicing, as it's so soft that it tends to break. Do give this a try and send me a pic too. 

A few more simple EGGLESS cakes that you can try-

* Vanilla Cake

* Yogurt Cake

* Orange Cake

* Dates Cake

* Chocolate Cake

* Marble Cake

* Mango Cake

* Atta Cake

Preparation time ~ 30 minutes

Baking time ~ 30 minutes

Serves ~ 1 loaf

Author ~ Julie 

Ingredients 

wheat flour or maida 3/4 cup

rava/ suji 1/2 cup

baking powder 1 tsp

baking soda 1/2 tsp 

yogurt 1/2 cup

water 1/2 cup

oil 1/3 cup 

tutty fruity 4 tbsp

cherry sliced 2 tbsp 

vanilla essence 1/2 tsp

powdered sugar 3/4 cup

salt, a good pinch

Watch on YouTube-

Method

• Add the rava to a blender jar and powder it fine as possible (if using fine suji skip this step). Then mix the rava /suji with water(1/2 cup) and keep covered for 20 mins so that the suji absorbs water.
• Sift the wheat flour with baking powder, salt twice. Keep aside.

                                  

• Combine the yogurt with powdered sugar and stir until well combined. (The granulated sugar can also be used, but it takes longer to dissolve, also make sure that you are using less sour yogurt).
• Add the soaked rava mix to the dry ingredients, mix well. 
• Prepare the bread loaf pan lined with parchment paper and oil the sides, dust with flour. Keep ready. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
• Mix the baking soda to the yogurt powdered sugar and mix well. Add immediately to the dry ingredient mix. Then add the oil and vanilla essence.
• Finally, toss in the chopped cherries and tutty fruity. Transfer the prepared batter to the pan (the batter may be thin like dosa batter, but don't worry it will not sink down).

• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes (mine got done in 30 minutes). I gave the below heat alone for intial 5 minutes and then switched top both rods mode and the last minute gave top rod alone for that golden color on the surface (each one's oven is different so try).
• Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes in the pan and then remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.

NOTES

* I have used wheat flour here, but you can always use maida too.

* I have used slightly roasted upma rava or sooji for this cake but if you get the fine suji then try with that which gives a nice texture as well. I have prepared this cake without grinding the suji too, works fine, but the cake slices tend to break. Suji adds a nice crumb to the cake.

* If your yogurt is very sour, then add more sugar to balance. I have used mildly sour yogurt and this cake is moderately sweet.

Cauliflower(Gobi) Masala ~ Step by Step Pics

Kids are starting off exams from today and its this time of the year when schools were shut last year due to Corona. One full year of online classes went off so soon and they could hardly meet their new classmates. How did you all feel about the classes as parents ? Did you like the online schedule? Initially I did like the idea of home schooling and kids got easily adapted to the new system too but I felt they have become lazy and have lost the school discipline fully. Though they are doing the school works on time but most of the time they were idle and so were struck to more gadgets. Anyways this was a routine all over the world and can't blame anyone for this happening. Hoping that kids get to see school and classmates soon in the next academic year.

Today's recipe is a simple mildly spicy tangy masala of cauliflower. Cauliflower is a versatile veggie that you can prepare n number of dishes with it. This pairs well as a side with cooked rice, even can be wrapped as a filling for wraps. My family love this quick masala with gobi(cauliflower).It has a nice color and the cauliflower florets are tender and soft when cooked. Vegetarian recipes is all that I have now till Easter and once in a while going vegetarian everyone loves here. Check this out and a few more delicacies with cauliflower listed below-

• Cauliflower Pepper Fry
• Hot Chilli Gobi'
• Gobi Stuffed Paratha

Preparation time ~ 10 minutes

Cooking time ~ 15 minutes

Author ~ Julie 

Serves ~ 4-5

Ingredients 

gobi/ cauliflower 1 medium size

onion 2 medium sliced 

ginger paste 1 tsp

garlic paste 1 tsp or 4-5 cloves

tomato 2 chopped

kashmiri chilly  powder 1 tsp

turmeric powder 1/2 tsp

coriander powder 1 tsp

garam masala 1/2 tsp

fennel seeds 1 tsp

coriander leaves 2tbsp

curry leaves a sprig

oil 2 tbsp

salt to taste

Method

• Separate the cauliflower florets and drop in leuk warm water. Add 1 tbsp of salt to this and leave aside for 20 mins. Blanching helps remove worms and dirt. Then, wash the florets under running water and make smaller florets if they are large.
• Heat oil in a pan and add fennel seeds. Add sliced onion and saute with curry leaves. Saute till the onions turn lightly browned, add ginger- garlic paste, saute till raw smell disappears.

• Add the spice powders in low flame and then add tomatoes. Add salt lightly and then add 1/4 cup water. Cook covered for 3 mins on low flame till the tomatoes are mashed nicely.
• To this add the cauliflower florets, mix well and add 1/4 cup water. Adjust salt as needed and then cook for 7 -8 mins until cooked.

• In between check the masala and add water to cook (if needed ).Dry up all the moisture and you get a tasty masala ready in no time. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve.

NOTES

* Adding fennel seeds adds a nice flavor to the masala, omit if you don't like the flavor.

* Add a potato or 1/4 green peas too if you love to add to a wrap.

                                

Butterscotch Pudding (Step by Step Pics)

Butterscotch sauce means scotching butter and brown sugar mixed with cream. I love butterscotch flavors in any forms of desserts, cakes so do my kids. The buttery caramel like smooth flavor entices our taste buds that you almost forget everything around. I know it may sound exaggerating but am a hard core fan of this flavor and I know all butterscotch lovers may agree with me too. I have used granulated white sugar which was caramelized and used to make butterscotch sauce. Once the sauce and praline is ready, the rest of the procedure is very simple just like making any other custard.Also you can prepare the sauce and praline before hand to make custard instantly and set the pudding in no time. 

This is the simplest process that you can make this butterscotch pudding. I have kept it real simple as we love the smooth melt in mouth texture of this pudding. You can try out different variations to this pudding like for example you can add bread slices as a layer or place crushed biscuits as a layer mixed with butter. Make the butterscotch sauce in double the quantity and pour half of the sauce on top of the additional bread or biscuit layer and then pour the prepared pudding on top. This may be an added icing on the cake. Do give this a pudding a try and lemme know too.

Also Check out -

* Butterscotch Icecream

* Butterscotch Banana Bread

Preparation time~ 10 minutes

Cooking time ~ 20 minutes

Author ~ Julie

Serves ~ 2 bowls

Ingredients

for butterscotch sauce

granulated sugar 1/2 cup

butter 1 tbsp

whipping cream 1/4 cup

for pudding

whole milk 1.5 cups

vanilla extract 1/2 tsp

corn starch 2 tbsp

egg yolk 1

sugar 2 tbsp 

for praline

cashews 2tbsp

almonds 2 tbsp

sugar 1/2 cup

Method

for making praline

• Toast the nuts in a dry pan for about 3-4 minutes on low medium flame. Remove from pan and then to the same pan add the sugar (1/2 cup) and wait to caramelize. When the sugar is caramelized to golden brown, then add the toasted nuts to this and give a quick stir. Remove on a ghee smeared tray or on a parchment paper. Smoothen down as quickly as possible to flatten the nuts. Leave to cool completely. Then break the nuts and add this to a ziploc bag. Whack this using a rolling pin to lightly crush the nuts and to make the praline. Reserve in air tight containers at room temperature till use.

for making butterscotch sauce

• Caramelize the sugar in a pan and wait till its golden brown. To this add the butter and mix well. Then add the whipping cream and quickly stir till the sauce becomes thick and reduces froth. Switch off flame and leave to cool.

for making pudding

• Boil about 1 1/4 cups of milk and reserve the remaining milk(1/4 cup). To the reserved milk add corn starch, mix well. Beat the egg yolk using a fork with 2 tbsp sugar and add spoon full of milk each time to the egg mixture and continue to do this for 3 tbsp and then add this mixture to the boiling milk on stove (this step helps to prevent the egg from getting cooked instantly). Then add the corn starch mixed milk to the boiling milk gradually and continue to stir. The milk mixture thickens like custard as you pour. Finally add the cooled butterscotch sauce and give a quick mix. Switch off flame and leave to cool. add vanilla extract and mix too.

• Pour in ramekins or glass bowl or pudding bowls, garnish with made praline(adding praline now is optional because if you plan to invert the bowl then add praline just before serving. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to overnight(I did overnight). Remove from fridge, invert on a plate and serve or serve just like that in ramekins.

NOTES

* If you like to just scoop and have and don't wish to separate it out of the mold in one piece then can omit the egg yolk. Egg yolk adds the stabilizer and so can be removed out of the bowl easily.

* I made a small batch for kids when I had a little whipping cream left after making cake, but you can always double the ingredients and make in large batches.

* You can also add the praline in the pudding and mix too for an additional crunch.

* You can even add butterscotch essence instead of vanilla essence for a richer flavor. Just add 1/4 tsp.

Please don't forget to check out these simple puddings too -

* Semiya Custard Pudding
* Coffee Pudding

* Pineapple Mousse

* Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers

* Citrus Pudding with Whipped Cream

* Easy Strawberry Pudding

* Fruit Custard

* Mango Biscuit Pudding

* Pineapple Sago Pudding