Oreo Cookies Chocolate Cream Cake

Dear All,

Cookies are made of butter and love.  ~Norwegian Proverb

 

Who can say no to an Oreo Cookie? I am still yet to meet someone who dislikes Oreo's. These are very popular amongst kids as well as older generations. During my visit to US last year I understood the true craze of these cookies! Probably every trolly in the supermarket had big packs of Oreo's. Its packing also states "America's Favorite Cookie"! Oreo cookies are probably one of the oldest cookies available since 1920's. I have seen them being used in ice creams, milkshakes, cakes, puddings, fudges etc. I too enjoy these cookies especially with a cold glass of milk. Oreo's are so famous that it even has Oreo Cookie Day which is celebrated on March 6th.

Homemade Malai Barfi / Malai Peda under 15 mins

Hi All,

I am back with another mouth watering recipe which can be made under 15 mins!! I am sure everyone of us have tasted Malai Pedas or Malai Barfi's some or the other time in our lifetime :) Any special occasion and we have a box of delicious pedas ready. May it be Diwali or Rakshabandhan or a Birthday or if your child has scored good percentage in 10th....pedas and barfi's are served on almost all occasions. With just 3 ingredients used these are so much easier to make than the original version and absolutely no compromise in taste! 

This weekend I had a small reunion of my college friends, the menu was very simple as in such hot weather none of us were really interested in having a heavy meal. The menu was kept simple, Methi Malai Mutter(my updated version coming up very soon) with parathas and for dessert homemade version of Malai Barfi. Everyone enjoyed the barfi's a lot and went back with the recipe :) This recipe can be made in microwave as well as on gas stove. I made these on gas stove.

Recipe adapted from ShowMeTheCurry site
Malai Barfi/Malai Peda
1 stick unsalted butter (113 gms)
2 cups milk powder, 240 gms (I used Everyday)
1 tin sweetened condensed milk, 400 ml (I used Milkmaid)
Masala milk powder for garnishing / silvered almonds / pistachios etc

Procedure Gas Stove Version:-

• In a heavy bottom pan or a non stick pan melt the butter on low heat.
• Once melted remove the pan from heat and add in the milk powder and condensed milk.
• Mix the mixture properly with a spatula.
• Heat this mixture on slow heat for about 2 mins with stirring constantly. Be gentle while stirring.
• Again remove the mixture from heat and mix well.
• Repeat the 5 and 6 steps twice more, do make sure the mixture does not get burnt.
• Once the mixture is thickened and starts to loose the sides of the pan.
• If you are planning to make barfi than grease a plate with some butter or ghee and immediately spread the mixture on the plate smoothing the top. Sprinkle masala milk powder evenly on top and keep it in fridge to firm up. Once cooled you can cut slices and serve them.
• If you want to make pedas, cool the mixture for 15 to 20 mins until it comes down to room temperature. Take one spoonful mixture in your greased hands and gently roll it to form a ball. Press it lightly in middle to flatten the ball. Similarly make pedas of the entire mixture and decorate with silvered almonds or pistachios.

For Microwave version check out this

Verdict - These were a BIG hit in my house and so easy to make! Its a must try for everyone who has a sweet tooth and I am sure you wont be disappointed!


Lots of Love,

Eggless Vanilla Cake and Happy Holi to everyone!!

Dear All,

Wishing you all a very Happy Holi!  May god gift you all colors of life, colors of joy, colors of happiness, colors of love, colors of friendship and all other colors you want to paint in your life!

I know I have been away from the blogging world from quite sometime, I do appreciate all your emails and FB messages concerning my disappearance and I sincerely want to thank you all for remembering me.

Today's cake was a special request from one of my closest friend and my roommate S for her sister. It was around 6.30 pm on Thursday and I was in office eagerly waiting to go home and I got a call from S, the conversation went something like this.....

Me: Hello S...
S: Hey are you busy right now?
Me: Nah...tell me what happened?
(Just then there is lots of disturbance in the line..it happens all the time)
S: Hello...Hello...can you hear me?
Me: Ha ha... bolo na....
S: Hello...heelllooooo?
Me: S throw your mobile away...grrr...
S: Hello..yes now I can hear you...actually I wanted a favor from you?
Me: Sure..?
(Again disturbance in the line)
S: Actually I wanted to know if you can make a caaalle...
(and the line went dead, I literally jumped from my seat as I am sure she meant CAKE)
Again S called up and this time from her office phone
S: Hello Parita...
Me: Kaunsa cake banana hai??
S: Eggless vanilla banaate hai na..my sister has specially requested
Me: Neki aur puch puch... DONE!!!

Unfortunately I reached home pretty late that day, it was almost 11 pm when we finished our dinner so we decided to get up early the next morning and make the cake. We got up 5am in the morning to bake this cake....yeah i am one crazy baker..and it was well worth the effort! I have used this recipe as my base and tweaked a bit to suit my needs. As you can see in the picture the cake turned out beautiful....perfect crumbs. It was soft, moist and spongy..didn't miss the eggs at all! This is going to be my keeper recipe for eggless cakes! Of course you can tweak this recipe as per needs ..replace vanilla with almond or lemon or orange..anything would work! Do give it a try!

Eggless Vanilla Cake
Original Recipe here
Ingredients:-
2 cups all purpose flour (Maida)
1 can sweetened condensed milk, about 400 gms
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter
1 cup aerated soda water
1 vanilla bean, split and scrapped or 1 tbsp vanilla essence

Procedure:-

• Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C.
• Grease and flour a pound cake tin or any other cake tin that suites your needs.
• Sieve together flour, baking powder and baking soda.
• Mix melted butter and condensed milk together, just until both are well incorporated.
• Now add in vanilla beans or vanilla essence and mix well.
• Now add in flour mixture along with soda water and mix well after each addition.
• Pour the mixture in the greased tin and bake for 40 to 45 mins until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.
• Once baked, remove the cake pan from the oven and let it cool completely before removing and slicing the cake.