Easy Peasy Banana and Chocolate Chips Muffins

I think it takes half the time to make these than typing it's name ;) . Seriously it's that easy to whip up a batch of this . My kids and hubby loves them so I make these quite often . It's tastes best straight out of the oven so here goes............

INGREDIENTS

3 ripe bananas
50 gms butter melted
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
3-4 tbsp sugar
1 cup unbleached white flour or all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
a pinch of salt
1/4 cup or more if you like chocolate chips

METHOD

In a large mixing bowl , add the melted butter and the bananas and mash them .
Add the egg , vanilla and sugar and mix well
Sift all the dry ingredients together and add it to the mixture .
Mix it up but take care not to over mix it .
Stir in the chocolate chips .
Line the muffin pan with paper cases and bake in a preheated 180 c oven for about 25 min or till done .
This makes 6 large muffins .

Mutton in Fried Spices

The recipe I am posting today is an invention test of mine like the Masterchef program and I am happy to report that the curry turned out really delish and also very easy to make too . The aroma itself is mouth watering .Succulent pieces of meat is coated in an aromatic gravy made from whole  spices which is fried to intensify the flavour , so here goes..........

INGREDIENTS

1 kg mutton/lamb cut into medium size pieces
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 inch stick cinnamon
4 green cardamom
3 cloves
2 tsp black peppercorns
1 tbsp whole coriander
3-4 dried red chillies
1/2 tsp cumin
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 large onion fried till golden
2 large tomatoes
2-3 tbsp of coconut oil
2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped (optional)

METHOD

In a large pan , add the mutton , salt, turmeric and enough water to cook the mutton till done and set aside.
In another pan , add 2 tbsp coconut oil , turn the heat on low and add the whole spices and fry it for a few sec .
Set the fried spices aside and add the remaining oil and add the tomatoes and cook till soft .
Now grind the fried spices , fried onion and the cooked tomatoes to a smooth paste.
Put the ground mixture back into the pan , when it starts to get hot , add the cooked mutton and coat the pieces in the mixture .
Keep on stirring it and cook for a few min .
Add the liquid from the cooked mutton and cook on high heat till the gravy gets thick .
Garnish with the chopped coriander and serve hot with rice , nan or appams.

Race Car Cake Covered with Fondant

My friend and I had been waiting to make a car cake for a long time and finally we had the opportunity to make one .This was just a trial cake to learn and we were almost satisfied with the results  . It was actually pretty easy to make and hardly took any time so here goes.............

We made a square cake and cut it into a rectangle , save the pieces for other accents . The way we cut it is shown below and I hope you can make it out , I tried my best to photograph it according to stages .

The cake is again chocolate cake with nutella whipped cream frosting and is covered with Marshmallow fondant as always .

Mmmmmm......Tiramisu !!!

I am so impressed by the photographs of my fellow bloggers and also want my photos to look like that so now I am in the process of learning how to take quality pics and the internet is the best place to learn . There are so many good tutorials out there .One thing I have learned is that natural light is the best light to shoot and for the past few weeks I have been running around the house like a mad woman ( my kids really think this ) with a camera around my neck to find the perfect spot in my house where natural light is best .Whenever I find a spot and set up my stuff to take a shot the light might have moved an inch left or right or there is no light at all . The only time natural light is best in my home is  at 7 in the morning , who in their right mind would cook then ( I am not that desperate ) .
Finally I found the perfect spot , Mr.Natural Light comes at that perfect spot at 2 - 2.30 in the afternoon , you can imagine my delight at it , I was so happy I called everyone and told them .
Ok , so  I found light and have the camera and now for some action ;) . I clicked away like crazy and found a few , very few ( 1 or 2) pics which I thought looked impressive by my standards so here they are.....please be kind , pretty please .....

This dessert didn't even take me half the time I took to take the photo , it's that easy and anyone can make it . This is my absolute favourite dessert , by now all of you got the hint that I am into desserts and this one ranks on top . It's easy to make , heavenly to look at and divine to eat it . It's that good , really trust me . This is an eggless, non-alcoholic version . It is very light and melts in your mouth . This is an old recipe I got from a magazine or I think from the nestle tin , have no idea coz I wrote it down a long while back . I am not boring you anymore ( for those who take the time to read this ) so here goes............

INGREDIENTS

250 ml Whipping cream
1 can nestle cream
250 gms mascarapone cheese
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 cup strong black coffee cooled
24 finger biscuits
cocoa powder to dust
chocolate shavings (optional)

METHOD

Whip the whipping cream till stiff and set aside
In a bowl beat the nestle cream , mascarapone cheese and sugar till well combined
Fold the whipped cream into this mix gently .
Line a loaf tin with plastic hanging out at the sides .
Dip the finger biscuits in the coffee and arrange a layer at the bottom .
Pour half of the cream mixture on top and dust the top with cocoa powder
Again repeat the same process finishing with a layer of dipped finger biscuits on top .
Leave it in the fridge to chill for about 6 hours .
Use the overhanging plastic to lift it out of the tin onto the serving platter.
Top it with chocolate shavings and slice , serve and enjoy : D .

P.S : it's 2 pm , off to take another pic ;).

Plantain and Coconut Milk Pudding

This is a very unique dish we make for special occasions like welcoming our new year , the beginning of Eid . It is the best thing I have ever tasted especially the one my mom makes and I don't think anyone makes it like her . The soft ripened plantains are cooked in a delicious creamy coconut milk . It tastes really fresh and I think this is a new thing for many of you out there , so here goes.....

INGREDIENTS

1 coconut freshly grated
2 large ripe plantains cut into chunks
1/4 cup basmati rice soaked for at least two hours
3 tbsp split chick peas soaked for at least two hours and cooked
1/2 cup or more ( according to your taste ) sugar
a pinch of salt
1/4 tsp cardamom powder

METHOD

The main thing is the fresh coconut milk in this dish so add 1/2 cup of water to the grated coconut and grind it in the blender really well . Now sieve this and set aside the milk ( you get a thick milk from this )
Do not discard the coconut , put it back in the blender and add 1 cup water and repeat the process , grind it really well and sieve the milk . Do not discard the coconut , add 1 cup more of water and blend it again .
Sieve the milk and now you can finally throw away the coconut ;).
In a deep saucepan , add the last coconut milk and in this add the plantains chunks and cook it till soft , then add the chickpeas.
Meanwhile , when the plantain is cooking , add the second coconut milk in the blender along with the soaked rice and grind it really well .
Add this mixture to the saucepan and stir it really well , by now the mixture will start to thicken , add the sugar , salt and then the first thick milk .
Cook it till it starts to get thick .
Now turn it off the heat and set aside to cool .
You can have it warm or cold , it tastes wonderful both ways .

NOTE

Check if you have to add more sugar , add it according to your taste as the plantains can be sweet or the coconut milk can be sweet . 

Vanilla and Chocolate Layer Cake with Caramel and Mousse Filling

 Eid Mubarak to everyone !!!!!  What a fun and hectic week it was with all family and friends getting together , truly it was a week to remember .The best part was the food and that too lots and lots of it and everyting truly delicious .As usual I was in charge of the dessert and decided to go all out for it and I am not one to brag ;) ,  but the cake turned out superb and everyone loved it .I made a chocolate and vanilla layered cake with white chocolate and dark chocolate mousse filling and caramel so now you know why everyone loved it . It was just superb and above all very easy to make so here goes........

INGREDIENTS

1 recipe of Chocolate cake
1 recipe of Vanilla cake

for the dark chocolate mousse filling 

150 gm dark chocolate chopped
1 cup whipping cream

for the white chocolate mousse 

150 white chocolate chopped
1 cup whipping cream

1 tin nestle caramel treat

for the frosting

1/2 cup water
2 tbsp brown sugar
150 gms butter softened
11 oz dark chocolate chopped

METHOD

Make the cakes in two 8 inch sandwich tins according to the recipe .
To make the mousse filling , melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler till smooth .
Whip the cream till stiff and fold in the melted chocolate .
To make the frosting , In a saucepan add the water,  sugar and  butter and heat it till it melts .
Now turn off the heat and add the chopped chocolate and stir it till smooth .
It takes a while to set so make it first .
To assemble the cake cut each cake in half horizontally .
Place a layer of vanilla cake , spread 2 tbsp of caramel treat on it .
Now add 3 tbsp of  the dark chocolate mousse filling on top.
Place a layer of chocolate cake on top and then add the caramel treat again if you like and top it with the white chocolate mousse filling .
Now repeat the process till you run out of cakes : ) .
Now frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting and leave it to till .
Garnish the top with crushed peanuts if you like .
Serve and enjoy .

Spicy Squid Masala

I love squid and my kids love them too , so much that they don't mind the heat in this dish . This is my fav way of making it , no strike that eating it . It is very easy to make , absolutely no skill required and it tastes and looks great so here goes........

INGREDIENTS

1 kg squid washed and cut into rings ( I use the head too )
2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
3-6 garlic cloves minced
1/2 inch pc of ginger minced
1 large onion sliced thinly
5-10 curry leaves
2 + 1 tbsp coconut oil
a pinch of garam masala ( optional )

METHOD

In a pan , add the squid , spices , ginger and garlic and keep on high heat .
When the liquid starts to come out from the squid , lower the heat and cook for about 5-10 min .
In another pan , add 2 tbsp coconut oil .
When it starts to get hot , add the curry leaves and the cooked squid while reserving the liquid .
Be careful , because the squid starts spluttering .
Fry it for a few min and then set it aside .
Add the remaining oil and fry the onion slices till golden .
Add the reserved liquid and when it starts boiling , add the fried squid and cook till the water has evapourated , stirring it frequently, sprinkle some garam masala if using .
By now the masala must have coated all over the squid and gives off a nice aroma.
Serve hot with rice or roti and enjoy .