WELCOME TO MY VIRTUAL KITCHEN

Jan 4, 2012

BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR MY BEN-TEN BOY[ MAHER]



My son Maher is a big fan of Ben-Ten. He used to watch Ben-Ten cartoon. When he was about  turn to six I thought of  giving him a big surprise.I planned to prepare b'day cake with edible picture. But I didn't have any idea of it's availability. I goggled for this and inquired in couple of bakeries in Abudhabi. At last I found this one in Mister- Baker. Chocolate collar decoration idea was  from Youtube . I  made  9'' chocolate cake layered with some chocolates.

                                               check here  for collar decorations .
                                             Chocolate collar

                                                    

Jan 3, 2012

MATHI &VENDAKKA /SARDINE &LADIES FINGER CURRY


A simple fish curry, traditional recipe of Kearala,i got this recipe from Food-path ,Asianet. My hubby loves any kind  of fish curry  . So i decided to try this and he loved it! .


MATHI &VENDAKKA /SARDINE &LADIES FINGER CURRY


1.       mathi /sardine                -15
2.       vendakka /ladies finger  -5
3.       onion      sliced                 -1
4.       tomato    diced                -1
5.       ginger    crushed             - 1’’
6.       green chilly                       -2 to 3
7.       curry leaves
8.       tamarind pulp                   -2 to 3 tbsp
9.       coconut oil                         -3 tbsp
10.   fenugreek seed                  -1 tsp

For paste

1 . coconut  -1cup
2 . chilli powder- 2tsp
3 .coriander powder -1 tsp
4 . turmeric                 -1/2 tsp
5 . shallots/ulli            - 5
In a frying pan first add coconut sauté for 4 to 5 mnts then add shallots , curry leaves sauté again ,lastly add all powders mix well ,turn off the burner ,grind it well ,

METHOD;

 Clean and cut the fish into 2 pieces . Discard the head part of each. Heat coconut oil in chatty/vessel. splutter the fenugreek seeds sauté onions then ginger ,green chilly , tomato, sauté. then add cubed vendakka sauté well ,pour tamarind pulp then grind paste pour enough hot water ,let it  boil ,add fish , curry leaves ,simmer the gravy for 5 mnts till the fish pieces  turn soft and  the oil separates.
The curry tastes better if prepared at least 4 hours before serving and the best in second day. Goes well with hot rice or pathiri.







Jan 2, 2012

MUSHROOM MASALA


MUSHROOM MASALA

MUSHROOM   -400 GMS
PEPPER CORN           -1/2 TSP
GARAM MASALA  -1/2 TSP
ONION                    -60 GMS
DRY CHILLY(FRIED)           -7 NUMBERS
GARLIC                                  -2 CLOVES
TURMARIC POWDER           -1/2 TSP
CURRY LEAVES
COCONUT SCRUB                 -3TBSP
OIL                                         -4TSP
CLEAN ND CUT MUSHROOMS  .GRIND PEPPER ,GARAM MASALA ,ONION,DRY CHILLY,TURMARIC POWDER,GARLIC,TOGETHER, MIX MUSHROOMS IN THIS PASTE WITH SALT( FIRST MARINATION ),GRIND COCONUT AND MIX THIS PASTE TO MARINATED MUSHROOMS,
HEAT OIL ,SPLUTTER JEERA &CURRY LEAVES THEN ADD  MUSHROOM  WITH MARINATION  MIX WELL,COOK , ADD CORIANDER LEAVES ,



Dec 31, 2011

BLACK FOREST CAKE











BLACK FOREST CAKE


EGG   -4 LARGE
SUGAR    - 8 TBSP
BAKING POWDER -1 TSP
COCOA  POWDER -2TBSP
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR  -6 TBSP ( I USED 8 TBSP)
VANILLA  ESSENCE-1 TSP


  PREHEAT OVEN  TO 180 DEGREES
MIX ALL DRY INGREDIENTS  TOGETHER
BEAT EGG AND SUGAR IN A LARGE BOWL ON HIGH SPEED TILL TRIPLED IN VOLUME-ABOUT 7 TO 10 MNTS,ADD VANILLA ESSENCE ,ADD 1/2 OF FLOUR MIXTURE  AND FOLD GENTLY  ,REPEAT WITH REMAINING FLOUR ,UNTIL ALL FLOUR  HAS DISAPPEARED,


POUR TO CAKE PAN AND   BAKE AT 180 C FOR 25 MINUTES ,


FOUR CREAM FROSTING


FOSTER CLARK'S WONDER WHIP -4 SACHET
LIQUID WHIPPING  CREAM(PUCK CREAM) -1 CUP
VANILLA ESSENCE -1TSP
IN A LARGE BOWL POUR CREAM ,ADD  DREAM WHIP AND VANILLA ,BEAT ON HIGH SPEED TILL FLUFFY.


LIBBY'S COCKTAIL MIXED FRUIT -1 SMALL CAN
CHERRIES- 15


Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
vanilla essence 1 tsp

Bring the sugar and water to a rolling boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.  pour vanilla,cover and allow to cool. {Can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a month}








Assembling the cake:
Split the cake  horizontally to get  2 layers. Sprinkle both sides of each layer with the syrup, and reserve on platters. Place the bottom layer on the serving platter.
Reserve about 1/2 the cream for the topping and frosting. Take a third of the remaining cream and spread over the bottom layer. Distribute cocktail fruit over the cream, 
Put about 1/2 a cup of cream in a piping bag to make rosettes on top if desired. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining cream. Cover the sides with grated dark chocolate. Pipe rosettes on top, sprinkle chocolate flakes in the centre, and place cherries on the rosettes. Chill until ready to serve,.









Dec 29, 2011

TANGY MUSHROOMS



TANGY MUSHROOMS


mushrooms  500 gms
onion 1 large thinly sliced
green chillies 3 deseeded and chopped
garlic  6 cloves finely chopped
ginger 1 tbsp finely chopped
tomato 1 large chopped
asafoetida pwdr 1/4 tsp
fenugreek seeds 1/2 tsp

 for masala yoghurt

yoghurt 150 gms
coriander pwdr 2 tsp
turmaric pwdr 1/2 tsp
cumin pwdr 1 tsp
red chilli pwdr 1 tsp
oil 6 tbsp
salt
red colour [optional]

method
heat oil in a pan ,add fenugreek seed and asafoetida ,when the seeds splutter add the onions and saute for a furthet 2 mnts ,whisk together all the ingredients of masala yoghurt ,add the masala yoghurt and saute for another two mnts now add the tomatoes and ginger cook on medium heat till oil seperate add the mushrooms and salt and cook for 3 -4 mnts serve garnish wth chopped coriander leaves ,,,


recipe courtesy;;  Rakesh Puri

Dec 19, 2011

WHITE CHRISTMAS CAKE




     MY FIRST DSLR PHOTO FROM GRANDSTORE



 WHITE CHRISTMAS CAKE .


 CHECK THIS LINK FOR RECIPES


Ingredients
  • For the Vanilla Cake:
  • 5 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup whole milk, divided, at room temperature
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted then spooned & leveled
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cubed
  • For the Whipped Vanilla Frosting:
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) PLUS 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened but cool
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • white sanding sugar, for decoration

Instructions
For the Vanilla Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two round 8-inch cake pans. Place round pieces of parchment paper in the bottom of each cake pan and grease the parchment paper. Flour the bottom and sides of the cake pans by tapping a spoonful of flour around to coat. Discard any remaining flour.
  2. In a measuring cup, whisk together the egg whites, 1/4 cup of milk, and the vanilla. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients on low speed for 30 seconds.
  4. Add in the butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of milk. Mix on low speed just until moistened. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 1 1/2 minutes.
  5. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition.
  6. Divide the batter evenly into the cake pans using an offset spatula to level the batter. You can weigh the cake pans on a kitchen scale to ensure even layers.
  7. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be very careful not to over bake! Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides of the cakes with a small knife or spatula and invert cakes onto greased wire racks. Gently re-flip the cakes so that the top of the cakes are facing up. Let cakes cool completely.
  8. Wrap the cakes tightly until they are ready to be frosted. The cakes can be stored at room temperature for 2 days and in the refrigerator for 5 days.
For the Whipped Vanilla Frosting:
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 8 minutes.
  2. With the mixer on low, add in the remaining ingredients and mix for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and whip until frosting is very light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.







Dec 18, 2011

DOLL CAKE




 

DOLL CAKE FOR FATIMA AT HER THIRD BIRTHDAY..

I made this doll cake for my little angel's 3 rd  birthday.I searched on YouTube to find a proper decoration for this doll cake .I baked two chocolate cakes, one in 9 ''cake pan and other with Pyrex glass bowl.I got this decorating edible candies from Lulu Hyper Market. My daughter's barbie coloring book helped me in choosing  the design.After seeing the cake Fatima was excited as never before.















CHECK THIS LINK FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS CAKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwqaF8f3VW0