Sunday, December 7, 2008

My Fave Gadget : Kitchen Treasure Hunt

                                             BATTERY OPERATED BEATER/WHISK
MILK FROTHER-ORIGINAL NAME

My Drink of  Hot Coffee-frothy as I like it!




For my kids-Foamy Chocy-drink



I am hurrying this post across to Dibs@Chitra Amma's Kitchen
For the event hosted by them, I can think of only this fave. gadget of mine which is used several times in a day! :D 

The gadget of my choice is a Kitchen Appliance - a small battery operated Beater/Whisk from IKEA, which can be inserted into the cup or bowl for whisking the coffee / chocolate drink with milk or beating eggs within a jiffy. 
The gadget is very economical (KWD 0.600 or approx 90INR)  considering the rough daily use, requires two rechargeable pencil batteries which last for a month to me. This gadget is two year old. 

Here  I  have taken pics of the gadget at work.... 

Original, unflavored  soy milk,  added a tsp of sugar, a tsp of chocolate powder, spoon kept in  the mug /cup so that when the beater is churning the milk, its spill force is controlled by spoon thus preventing a spill. Works and mixes best in 15 seconds. 

Similarly, I do not make coffee like majority do. I take a cup of milk,  mw it for 1 min add sugar, coffee pwdr and use this gadget to give me the perfect foam, perfect temperature and perfect taste that I crave for. 

I am not able to post the complete set of stepwise pics due to some problem. Would try to update more pics here as soon as possible. 

Am sure many of you would love this time saver gadget be it beating eggs or stirring sugar in your cuppa! Whatsay?? :D 

This post is off last minute to DIBS to join the carvan of  Kitchen Treasure Hunt



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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A CENTURY -Barbie Doll Cake : Over-Studded with M&Ms (Eggless, Butterfree, Chocolate)



Hello dear friends n fellow foodies! Absolutely unplanned but just could not post anything.

My family's deep and heartfelt 'Shraddhanjali' to the brave and victims of 26th Nov '08 tragedy. (I am in no position to comment on what happened to our dear city hereafter! Just praying that this brutality ceases. )
Coming to the food post, this being my 100th post, would like to keep it short and simple.
Thanking all the lovely food bloggers whom I visit, the one's who know me, who have inspired me in cooking a variety and also made me bake, thankyou to all, for those lovely and encouraging words that makes me try for more and moreso thanks for trying out the recipes you found user-friendly :D

This is a birthday cake, I baked, constructed and decorated for my daughter Kriti, on her 4th Birthday (8th of Nov) in accordance to her instructions. Am glad that not only was she proud of the looks (which are visibly beginner's) but also relished it over a store bought one.

This post is being dedicated to my absolutely mindblowing daughter for all her support from this age to me!


This is an EGGLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE - from Hetal, Anuja @Show me the curry -ORIGINAL RECIPE here- have not made any changes.
Its not only eggless but moist and butter free too! **HAVE BAKED IT THRICE NOW**

Ingredients for Choco Cake:
1.5 Cups All purpose flour/Maida
3 tbspn Cocoa powder (dark)
1 tsp baking soda
1 Cup fine sugar
1/2 tsp salt

5 tbspn vegetable oil
1 tbspn white distilled vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 Cup cold water

Method of Baking it:
In a large bowl, sift together maida,cocoa and baking soda, mix the sugar and salt well.
In another bowl, mix the cold water, oil, vinegar, vanilla essence. Make a well in the center of the
dry ingredients, add the liquid mixture, whisk well or until uniform, should be free from bubbles. In a pre-heated oven, at 180 deg C - 9" by 9" square bake for 30 - 35 mins till inserted toothpick at center of the cake comes clean. Transfer onto a wire rack cool it completely.
*This was the basic Recipe*

Assembling :
I had baked double measure, One in a bowl shaped steel vessel and another in a pan.
Shaped them into three concentric circles. Video help from - here.
Made ganache to glue them -

Ganache
-
200 ml whipped cream, bring to a boil. Chop and keep 200 gms bitter sweet bar.
Take the saucepan with simmering cream off heat source, add all of the chocolate and keep stirring in circular motion, till a dark chocolatey concoction of body lotion consistency is reached - add a tablespoon of honey. Mix well. Keep aside. Arrange the large circle of cake on a waxed paper pour ganache in center, spread with spoon leaving half cm along edges. Repeat with other parts.


Keep the abdomen above part of Barbie doll ready and insert it neatly into the top part. Remeber to say 'hands up Barbie' if you don't want her to spoil her would be dress! :D
Pour ganache over the body as in this pic to dress the upper part of her body. Use tooth pic for applying straps. Leave this to dry for few hours.

Icing - Swapna/Swapna's Cuisine was of great help for making this. Used her PERFECT icing.
100 gms butter, 200 gms powdered sugar, few drops vanilla essence, few drops red color.
Mixer with stand- In a bowl take room temperature butter, add sugar powder... speed medium ...time 2 mins beat, add the vanilla and coloring and beat well. Those who are good with piping can pipe designs with nozzles..should go for double measure of icing stated here.
I applied the icing to the doll's body as well as over studded it with two packets of M&M large.
Then moved the doll on a foiled cardboard, slowly with a sharp knife cut the excess of waxed paper below the BARBIE Doll's Gown.

Thats it..we are done. Many hours assorted, but a life time of contentment!!

Enjoy the cake as visual treat.


Thankyou!!

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Egg Substitute Event - Vinegar Round Up