Plum Custard tart

Slightly different from the usual tart recipe, a baked delicacy that's a combination of delicious plums and vanilla custard on a mildly sweet base flavored with a hint of Indian spices.

Ingredients
4-5 ripe plums (pitted and sliced)

For the base
1 cup all purpose flour
3-4 tbsp cup sugar
1/2 cup warm milk
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp elaichi/cardamom powder

For the custard
1 1/2 cups milk
3-4 tbsp custard powder
1/4 cup sugar

Method

To prepare the custard, add custard powder and sugar to the milk. Mix well to make sure that there are no lumps.
Cook this mixture on low - medium flame till semi-thickened.
Set aside for it to cool.

For the base : Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Wait for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is active.
In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, remaining sugar and spices. Add the warm milk-yeast mixture and knead the dough.
Set aside in a warm place for 1/2 hr.

Assembling and Baking

Press the dough at the base of a pie pan and par-bake @200°c for 10 minutes.
Remove the par-baked base from the oven. Pour the custard over the base.
Arrange sliced plums on the custard.

Bake @ 180°c for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven, cut into slices and serve warm.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2012!! Chocolate Chip Pudding Cake

This is a quick recipe using cake mix & instant pudding mix....Yummy pudding cake to celebrate the start of a New Year ...

Ingredients

1/2 pk French Vanilla cake mix
1 small pk French Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips ( you can use regular chocolate chips, but I like the mini chips)
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
4 tbsp butter

For the chocolate glaze

1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp butter

Method

Beat together eggs, milk & melted butter. Add the cake mix & pudding mix. Beat well.
Fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour into a cake pan (preferably bundt pan) & bake in a 350F pre-heated oven for 45 mins to 1 hr.

Chocolate Glaze


Cocoa powder  &  Confectioners Sugar


Mix together all the ingredients for the glaze. Cook on medium heat till the glaze is shiny.

Let it cool down.

Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.

Cut into slices & serve.

Traditional Kerala Christmas Cake

This cake is found in most bakeries across Kerala during the Christmas Season....loaded with dry fruits & nuts. Christmas is not complete without these yummy cakes known as "Plum Cake". Plum cakes are baked in many homes during this season & shared with friends & family.

A few important things to remember while baking this cake..

*  The color & taste of the caramel decides the taste of the cake
*  Soak the dry fruits in juice or rum for atleast a week. I soaked 1 cup of dry fruits ( red & green cherries, candied orange & lemon peel, chopped apricots, plums & raisins)
* Before adding the dry fruits & nuts to the cake batter, drain the juice (save it for later) & coat with flour. This prevents the dry fruits from sinking to the bottom of the cake.

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar + 1 cup sugar to caramelize
1/2 cup butter (softened)
4 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp powdered cloves
1/2 tsp powdered cinnammon
1 cup dry fruits (soaked in orange juice with rum extract for atleast a week)
1 cup chopped nuts

Method

Soak the dry fruits in the orange juice-rum combo & leave it for atleast a week.

Prepare the caramel by cooking some sugar in a pan on medium heat. DO NOT STIR. When the sugar melts & turns brown, add some warm water,(1/4 cup of water) 1 tsp at a time. Stir till the sugar dissolves well & turn off the heat. Let this cool while you prepare the batter.

Beat together 1 cup sugar with butter till its frothy. Add the eggs & beat well. Pour in the caramel & 1/2 of the drained juice-rum combo.

Sift together flour, baking powder & spices.

Drain the dry fruits (save the juice for later) & add them along with the nuts to the dry mixture.

Fold in the dry mixture to the rest of the batter.

Bake in a 350F pre-heated oven for approx 30 mins.

After removing the cake from the oven, make small slits on the top of the cake & pour the rest of the juice-rum combo onto the cake. Cover & let it sit for a day or two. This will enhance the taste of the cake.

Christmas Snacks - Achappam & Kuzhalappam

There are some special snacks that are prepared in Kerala during the Christmas season. Achappam & Kuzhalappam are some of the special snacks made during that time. These are some of my favorites and I decided to try making them this Christmas.

ACHAPPAM

Ingredients

2 cups  rice  flour
1 cup coconut milk
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp black  sesame seeds

Method

Mix together all the ingredients to form a batter.  The batter should be a little thinner than dosa batter.

Heat oil in a pan. Heat the achappam mould in the hot oil.

When the oil & the mould are hot, dip the hot mould into the batter. Dip it back quickly into the hot oil.

Shake the mould slightly to loosen the achappam from the mould. Fry till golden brown on both sides.

Remove from hot oil & drain on a paper towel.

Once the achappam has cooled to room temperature, store in an airtight container.

KUZHALAPPAM

Ingredients

2 cups rice flour
1 cup coconut milk
a handful of pearl onions (finely chopped)
1 tsp jeera
1 tsp black sesame seeds
salt to taste

Method

Heat oil in a pan.

Knead together all the ingredients into a firm dough.

Divide into small balls & roll out into a circle.

Wrap the dough circle around your finger or a metal tube. Carefully drop into hot oil & deep fry till it is crisp & golden brown.

Remove & drain excess oil on a paper towel.

Store extras in an airtight container.

New Year Special - Strawberry Layer Cake

Ingredients

1 box strawberry flavoured cake mix
1 pkt strawberry flavoured gelatin mix
1 tub whipped cream

Method

Prepare & bake strawberry cake as per instructions on the box. Cool completely. Slice horizontally into 2 layers.

Prepare gelatin as per instructions on the packet. Refrigerate till half set. Dont set completely.

Spread the half of the half set jelly on the first layer of the cake. Spread half the whipped cream on the layer of jelly.

Repeat the layers. Top with whipped cream.

Decorate with sliced strawberries or frosting.

Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

1 stick of butter (8 tbsp) (softened)
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Christmas theme shaped cookie cutters

1/2 cup candied fruit OR chocolate chips to decorate the cookies

Method

Beat together softened butter & sugar till smooth & fluffy. Add the egg & vanilla. Beat for a few mins.

Add the flour slowly in 2 or 3 batches. Beat on low speed till the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

 Place the dough in a ziploc bag & refrigerate for an hr.

After an hr, remove the dough from the bag. Roll out into 1/8" thickness. Using cookie cutters, press into the rolled out dough. Remove extra dough.

Gently press the candied fruit or chocolate chips on the cookies.

Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough.

Bake in a 350F pre-heated oven for 8-10 mins till the sides turn golden brown.

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.

 Another look at the tempting , festive cookies

 

 

Peppermint Cookie

CHRISTMAS   COOKIE - PEPPERMINT   COOKIES

Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk ( u can use regular milk if evaporated milk is not available. Evaporated milk makes the cookie richer & tastier)
1 egg
3 tbsp butter
2-3 peppermint candy canes (crushed)
a pinch of salt

Method

Cream together butter & sugar. Add the dry ingredients & mix well.
Beat egg with the milk & blend well. Add this to the other mixture & mix well.
Add 1/2 of the crushed candy canes to the batter.
Bake in a 350F pre-heated oven for 12-15 mins

Frosting

Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler. Add a few tsps of milk to make the it thinner if required.
Spread on cooled (room temperature) cookies & sprinkle with the rest of the crushed candy canes.
Enjoy !!!!!!

HOLIDAY RECIPE - Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the chocolate crust

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup baking cocoa

4 tbsp sugar

6 tbsp butter

For the filling

2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp flour

Method

Preheat oven to 300F

Combine together all the ingredients for the crust. Press firmly on the bottom of a baking pan.

In a mixer, beat cream cheese, eggs, condensed milk till smooth & fluffy. Add vanilla extract & mix well. In a small bowl, toss 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 1 tsp flour. Stir them into the cheesecake mixture.

Pour this mixture into the baking pan with the crust. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips over the mixture.

Bake for 1 hr. Cool to room temperature.

Serve chilled.