Fondant Handbag Cake

I am just in the learning process of cake decorating and I really wanted to try to make the handbag cake and got a chance since it was my little niece's b'day . She wanted a small cake with her favourite colors which were pink and purple and she loves chocolate . I had actually planned on a different shape but it didn't work out as planned but the end result was satisfactory and above all else , my niece really loved it and the look on her face when she saw the cake was enough for me .

The cake is the easy peasy chocolate cake and a layer of vanilla cake with chocolate ganache filling and whipped cream frosting . The cake is  covered with marshmallow fondant ( the best thing ever).

I also have been honored with another award by my blogger friend Jasmol of http://oureyeseatfirst.blogspot.com/ and would like to thank her for thinking of me , if you have not been to her blog yet (which I very much doubt ) then please you have to go there I promise you , you will be hooked .

I would also love to pass on this award to 10 other wonderful bloggers as well , they are really great !!!
http://www.dreamofcakes.net/
http://dulcedough.blogspot.com/
http://www.yourcupofcake.com/
http://cardamomhills.blogspot.com/
http://lindseyevenson.blogspot.com/
http://ourcookingcafe.blogspot.com/
http://www.lovefromtheoven.com/
http://ildolcebacio.blogspot.com/
http://www.cakewhiz.com/
http://aspicyperspective.com/

Quick and Easy Prawn Curry

This is a good  curry to make when you are short on time and also it is quite delicious too , it is mildly spiced and works very well with rotis or just plain boiled rice so here goes.....

INGREDIENTS

500 gms prawns
1 large onion chopped
1 inch pc cinnamon stick
4-6 green cardamoms
3-5 cloves
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
salt to taste
1 green pepper diced
200 gm canned tomatoes
2 green chillies chopped
1 tbsp fresh coriander chopped

METHOD

Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and fry the onions till soft
Add the whole spices and fry for a min.
Add the spice powders and the ginger and garlic paste and saute it .
Add the green pepper and the canned tomatoes and bring to boil .
Add the prawns and cook till done .
Garnish with chopped coriander and the chopped chillies

Beef Stir-Fry With Mixed Peppers

Stir-frying is the best way to eat healthy and it is quick to prepare too. Once you have all ingredients at hand , it is just the matter of throwing the ingredients in the pan or wok . This recipe is quite healthy ,delicious and quite easy to make too .The sauce is spicy and it perfectly balances the sweetness from the peppers so here goes.......

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp veg oil or peanut oil
1 tsp of chilli flakes
500 gms beef cut into thin strips
2 tbsp green chilli sauce
5-6 spring onions ,sliced
1 inch piece fresh ginger sliced thinly
1 red pepper ,deseeded and sliced
1 yellow pepper ,deseeded and sliced
1 orange pepper,deseeded and sliced
1 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
juice of half a lime
4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

METHOD

Heat the oil on low  and add the chili flakes and infuse it for a min .
Now turn up the heat and add the beef strips in batches and stir-fry until browned all over and set aside.
Add the chilli sauce ,spring onions and root ginger and saute for 1-2 min.
Add the peppers and stir-fry for 2-3 min.
Return the beef strips to the pan and mix it well.
Add the fish sauce , soy sauce and lime juice .
Cook for a further 1-2 min, then stir in the parsley and serve hot with rice or noodles.

Nutella Frosted Chocolate Cookies with Cream Filling

Whoa!!!! Now that name is a mouthful and so are the cookies . These cookies are just divine , they are soft and chewy cookies and the filling is a bit tangy from the sour cream which provides the perfect balance to the sweet nutella on top . One of them is enough to fill you up so here goes enjoy ...............

INGREDIENTS

150 gm chocolate
50 gms butter
1 egg
1/2 cup caster sugar
65 gms flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
2-3 tbsp hazelnut powder or almond powder

for the filling

100 gms sour cream
1/4 cup icing sugar
50 gm cream

100 gms nutella
1 tbsp of oil

METHOD

Melt the chocolate and butter
Cream the eggs and sugar till pale and fluffy
Add in the melted chocolate and stir it to mix .
Mix the dry ingredients together and fold in the chocolate mix
Chill it in the fridge for about 2 hours if it seems very loose
Now roll them into small balls and flatten it a little .
Bake them in an 180 c oven for about 10-15 min .
Cool on wire rack .
Mix the sugar with the sour cream till the sugar has dissolved completely .
Whip the cream till stiff and fold into the sour cream .
Place teaspoonful on the cookies and chill
Add the oil to the nutella and microwave it for a few sec just enough to melt it
Spread this on top of the cream and serve .

Fondant Baby Shower Cake

 I love to decorate cakes , it's a hobby of mine , especially since I 've discovered marshmallow fondant . Whoever thought of marshmallow fondant is a pure genius  It is just like kiddies play-dough , you can do anything with it and the results are just amazing. I am just in the learning process and have made a few of them and this cake  I am posting today is one I made for a friend of mine who wanted to gift it  to her sis-in-law.

It is a 3 layer chocolate and vanilla cake with chocolate ganache filling and whipped cream frosting . Everything on the cake is made of fondant . The marshmallow fondant is very easy to make , I don't exactly measure it because there is no need to . You just have to microwave the marshmallow with a few sprinkling of water and the marshmallow melts , then add in the icing sugar till you get a nice pliable dough . Add in the desired color and make whatever you want . 

Spicy Tuna Fish Cutlets

For a change I decide to post something savoury today .This is something we make as a snack and it is quite popular  in South India . Cutlets are mostly made with chicken or beef but I always make it with canned tuna because it is quite easy and very tasty too so here goes ...........

INGREDIENTS

2 cans of tuna drained
1/2-1 tsp red chilly powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
3-4 curry leaves chopped ( optional )
1 medium onion chopped finely
1 green chilly chopped finely ( optional)
1 large potato
2 tbsp chopped coriander
salt  to taste
1 egg
1 cup or more store bought seasoned breadcrumbs
oil for frying

METHOD

Microwave the potato on high for 5 min and then turn and microwave on high for 5 min.
Peel and mash the potato.
In a pan heat a tbsp of oil and add the tuna fish , chopped curry leaves , the spices and salt to taste and fry them in the oil for about 2-3 min stirring constantly .
Add about a tsp of oil , add the onions and fry them till the onion turns soft .
Turn it off the heat and add this tuna mix into the mashed potato .
Add chopped coriander and the salt and mix it all up and form them into small balls and flatten them  or into whatever shape you desire .
Beat the egg with a little water and dip the tuna and potato mix into the egg and then the breadcrumbs .
Fry them in the oil till it turns golden brown and serve hot with ketchup .

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Since I have started blogging I have piled on a couple of pounds ,nope not a couple, about 10 pounds or so . Oh please god why does all the yummy tasting stuff have to be the most fattening , why,why, WHY?
Whewww!!! Now that is off my chest I will get back to the recipe I am posting .These brownies are rich , decadent and moist and above all very good for your diet , that is if you are looking to put on a few pounds.For today I will enjoy this , tommorrow is another day maybe then :).

INGREDIENTS

225 gms plain chocolate chopped
75 gms butter
4 eggs
350 gms caster sugar
115 gms plain flour
a pinch of salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup walnuts chopped

for the cheesecake batter

50 gms butter
175 gms cream cheese
115 gms caster sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD

Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave on power 30 for about 5 -6 min .
Meanwhile beat the eggs until light and fluffy .
Gradually add the sugar and continue beating till blended.
Sift over the dry ingredients and fold in the mixture.
Stir in the chocolate and walnuts . Set aside 2 cups of this mix.
To make the plain batter , cream the butter and the cream cheese .
Add the sugar and continue beating till well blended.
Beat in the eggs , flour and vanilla essence.
Line and grease a 13/9 inch tin .
Spread the unmeasured chocolate mix  into the tin.
Pour over the cheesecake mixture .
Drop spoonfuls of the reserved chocolate mix on top.
With a metal spatula ,swirl the mixtures to marble.Don't blend completely .
Bake in a preheated 180 c oven for about 35-40 min or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean .
Unmould when cool and cut into squares to serve.