Hot chocolate with cocoa powder

Its finally getting cooler and rainy in our hot Chennai.The only time when I feel "Is it Chennai, doesn't feel like??" :) I'm not complaining.But along with the change in weather we are all falling ill and sick and something hot and welcoming like this hot cup of goodness is welcome.

No flour almond butter coookies

Happy Easter to everyone.We had a fun filled day with the kids and going out shopping.Even though I didn't bake anything as i intended I want to share this quick yummy recipe which makes a quick and healthy snack for the kids for the vacation.We leave for our holiday in two days and I'm trying to do everything I can to clean up this place and schedule a few posts so I can feed the blog while i'm not here.Hopefully I can make a few posts from there and be in touch with you.

Eggless Chocolate chip cookies pancakes

I don't have anything planned for V day its not a huge thing here in our house but I just wanted to make something for my lil ones and this is what I felt like because I have a whole lot of cookies sitting here at any point of time.

Both the kiddies loved it!So my V day plans were a huge success.These will work beautifully for a simple breakfast or tea time snack.So enjoy in simple pleasures!

It is so difficult for me to blog these days.Can you see the tiny hands coming to pick the fork I hardly find time to make any great set up before just taking a few clicks.And now while threatening my LM to take a nap I am hurrying through this post.

This is a really simple recipe that i just mixed and made in less than 10 minutes.

 You need

Makes 6-7 pancakes

Flour half cup
Milk one and half cup (approx)
Oil/melted butter 3 tablespoons
Sugar 2 tablespoons
Baking soda a pinch
Baking powder half tsp
Chocolate chip cookies crumbled 4-5(or more)

To serve chocolate sauce or melted chocolate mixed with milk and sprinkles or chocolate chips.

- In a bowl mix all of the above ingredients.Allow to rest for few minutes.

Heat a nonstick pan, pour ladle fulls of batter and wait for bubbles to appear on the top side once thats done flip over and cook on the other side for a minute.

Serve hot with chocolate sauce and chocolate chips or any sprinkles of your choice.

This was my Valentine's treat to my lil angels both of them loved it.

Eggless Chocolate chip cookies pancakes

I don't have anything planned for V day its not a huge thing here in our house but I just wanted to make something for my lil ones and this is what I felt like because I have a whole lot of cookies sitting here at any point of time.

Both the kiddies loved it!So my V day plans were a huge success.These will work beautifully for a simple breakfast or tea time snack.So enjoy in simple pleasures!

Rosme's - Eggless chocolate Brownies

Its another guest post from my friend Rosme.I had to wait for a long time but then I was happy to see what she'd sent me worth the wait recipe!

We met when we were in 11th one of the first friends I made since we stayed in the same building and went to the same school and same class same bench too!!Rosme is an Ayurvedic Doctor by qualification and a practising astrologer now.A mother of two now settled in Delhi - She's a very talented woman, a voracious reader,,a dancer and many more can be added to that list :)


Rosme sent me these eggless brownies recipe as she's a staunch vegetarian i have to expect a vegetarian dish from her.

The recipe is as follows

Ingredients

Dry ingredients
All purpose flour/Maida- 1 cup
Cocoa powder- 3 tbsps
Sugar- ¾ th cup
Coffee powder- 1 tbsp
Baking powder- 1tsp
Baking soda-1/4th tsp
Chopped pistachios (optional)-as required

Wet ingredients
Oil-3/4th cup
Vanilla essence-1 tsp
Yogurt-2 tbsp
Vinegar- 1tsp
Milk- 1 cup

• Pre heat oven to 180*C
• In a bowl sift together  the flour, cocoa powder, coffee powder, baking powder,and baking soda.
• Heat 2 tablespoons water.dissolve the sugar in this water. Then whisk in oil. Subsequently add oil , yoghurt and the vanilla essence to this mixture. Then add in milk and a tsp of vinegar.
• Now add the dry ingredients to this mixture and fold in gently.
• Transfer this to a greased baking pan and decorate with chopped pistachios(optional)
• Bake for 25 mins till a skewer comes out with very few crumbs.
• Allow it to cool before cutting.

Notes :

I bake it at 180*C for 25 mins and then at 150 *C for a couple of mins. This lends an amazing texture to the dish.

Thank you Rosme for sending me these lovely egg free brownies!

Rosme's - Eggless chocolate Brownies

Its another guest post from my friend Rosme.I had to wait for a long time but then I was happy to see what she'd sent me worth the wait recipe!

We met when we were in 11th one of the first friends I made since we stayed in the same building and went to the same school and same class same bench too!!Rosme is an Ayurvedic Doctor by qualification and a practising astrologer now.A mother of two now settled in Delhi - She's a very talented woman, a voracious reader,,a dancer and many more can be added to that list :)


Rosme sent me these eggless brownies recipe as she's a staunch vegetarian i have to expect a vegetarian dish from her.

The recipe is as follows

Ingredients

Dry ingredients
All purpose flour/Maida- 1 cup
Cocoa powder- 3 tbsps
Sugar- ¾ th cup
Coffee powder- 1 tbsp
Baking powder- 1tsp
Baking soda-1/4th tsp
Chopped pistachios (optional)-as required

Wet ingredients
Oil-3/4th cup
Vanilla essence-1 tsp
Yogurt-2 tbsp
Vinegar- 1tsp
Milk- 1 cup

• Pre heat oven to 180*C
• In a bowl sift together  the flour, cocoa powder, coffee powder, baking powder,and baking soda.
• Heat 2 tablespoons water.dissolve the sugar in this water. Then whisk in oil. Subsequently add oil , yoghurt and the vanilla essence to this mixture. Then add in milk and a tsp of vinegar.
• Now add the dry ingredients to this mixture and fold in gently.
• Transfer this to a greased baking pan and decorate with chopped pistachios(optional)
• Bake for 25 mins till a skewer comes out with very few crumbs.
• Allow it to cool before cutting.

Notes :

I bake it at 180*C for 25 mins and then at 150 *C for a couple of mins. This lends an amazing texture to the dish.

Thank you Rosme for sending me these lovely egg free brownies!

No Bake Rocky road pudding

I have a bag of marshmallows sitting for a while in my kitchen and ofcourse we lost interest in eating it.So the quest begins to use it up.And this is where i got to - No bake brownies pudding.

I got this recipe from a random website even though i have used marshmallows in my chocolate puddings earlier i just wanted to know how to make rocky road brownies I;ve seen it on tv many times.But the marshmallows were there to use up.So this is what turned up.I won't call it brownies because the texture isn't fudgy but its very soft just like a pudding.And all that goes in makes it even more super good.Kids will love it.

 Even lil mister someone liked it.YOu can add wafers,nuts,dry fruits, Chocochips anything into it.

 There's not much of a recipe but this is how i made it.

You need
Milk 1 cup
Marshmallows 1 n half cups
Cocoa powder 1 n half tsp
Chocolate chips 1/4 cup/as required
MnMs with peanuts and plain ones 100gm packs each
Dried fruits and nuts as required

• Heat milk in a pan, when it starts boiling add the marshmallows keep stirring until all the marshmallows melt down into the milk.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir once and turn off the heat.
• I poured into a greased container and was able to make cubes.
• Pour into the prepared container and refrigerate for 2 hours.

 Indulge in some chocolatey goodness!

Sending this to Motions and Emotions Event , Diwali Bash 2013

No Bake Rocky road pudding

I have a bag of marshmallows sitting for a while in my kitchen and ofcourse we lost interest in eating it.So the quest begins to use it up.And this is where i got to - No bake brownies pudding.

Almond Fudge Balls

Its my sister's birthday she's really far from us now enjoying life but we miss her and her lil tiny tots too much.I made these fantastic almond fudge balls for her.We both love sweets and share a lot of common interests especially baking :)

One of the reasons this blog keeps going is because she keeps asking me for recipes and I'd like to keep record of the recipes i try out for people like her and also for my own reference at any point in time.

For those like her who don't have time with kids around this has to be an ideal quick to make fudge ball.

 Preparation time half hour + setting time

You need
Toasted Almonds 1 cup
COndensed milk about half cup
VEgetable oil/butter 2 tablespoons
Unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp
ALmond slivers to garnish each ball

Muffin liners or foil paper to wrap them

- If you have plain almonds add them to a hot pan and toast until crisp.Let this cool down.
- Add this to a mixer/blender and powder it finely.Add the condensed milk and oil and blend well.
- Scrape all of the almond mix and mix the cocoa powder well with a spatula or if you like to lick off your hands use them.
- Grease hands well and make balls and keep a sliver of almond on each of them.
- Refrigerate for 3-4 hours until set.
- Yummy chocolate almond fudge balls are ready to go!

Tips :
- I added a little honey which gave this glossy look but it got a little loose.
- You can add condensed milk lesser or more according to the sweetness you need but if you add lot more then it would get difficult to roll into shapes.

Sending this to JCO - Cyber style potluck party

Almond Fudge Balls

Its my sister's birthday she's really far from us now enjoying life but we miss her and her lil tiny tots too much.I made these fantastic almond fudge balls for her.We both love sweets and share a lot of common interests especially baking :)

No bake/Cook - Nutella cookies

Do I even need to ask if anyone loves Nutella. I made this for my LM she licked the nutella and gave me the rest of the stuff.You want a party pleaser this is what you should make!

I am part of JCO Cyber potluck and my partner is Manjula of Desi fiesta this recipe is from her space.Do check out her other interesting dishes!

Into the refrigerator

This is such an easy recipe that theres not much of a recipe :) 

You need

Nutella 

Honey loops

Sprinkles or MnMs/gems

Muffin tray liners

- Add the honey loops in a bowl and add enough nutella to coat all the honey loops.

- Drop spoonfuls of this nutella mixture into muffin liners and set in the refrigerator until they are set.

Yummylicious nutella no bake/cook cookies are ready to be devoured!

No bake/Cook - Nutella cookies

Do I even need to ask if anyone loves Nutella. I made this for my LM she licked the nutella and gave me the rest of the stuff.You want a party pleaser this is what you should make!

Chocolate Oreo Shake

Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads and all those who love and adore our dads.Not to forget the dads of our lil ones.Just to see the man in the house manage kids is a pleasure relief all in itself.I made this shake especially for my DH who is an ardent chocolate lover.

We all love chocolates some love them more and all kids adore Oreo.I know there are tons of recipes with Oreo and this is just one simple one i made today because it was just too hot to even think about tea.

Making a shake isn't rocket science, You just need a couple of things and a blender :)

Cold Milk 2 cups + 1 cup water
Condensed milk 1 small tin 90gm
Sugar extra to taste
Oreo cookies 3+ more to serve
Unsweetened Cocoa powder 1 tablespoon(i used Hersheys)

• Just blend everything in the blender.

 To serve - Pour into glasses of your choice and spoon the froth onto each glass and sprinkle Oreo cookies broken in halves and a touch of coffee powder (for the grown ups).Chill before serving.

Enjoy a lovely chocolate overloaded shake :) 

Sending this to Kids delight @ Sizzling Tastebuds  and Valli from Spicing your life , 

Chocolate Oreo Shake

Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads and all those who love and adore our dads.Not to forget the dads of our lil ones.Just to see the man in the house manage kids is a pleasure relief all in itself.I made this shake especially for my DH who is an ardent chocolate lover.

Chocolate Ganache Cake

I wanted to make an Easter post wondering what to post too..But when i tasted this cake i had baked yesterday I knew i had to share it here today :) 

Wishing everyone a Joyful Hopeful Easter Season :)

I haven't baking for a while now and I realised how much i wanted to bake these last days.I was missing it so much that i started dreaming about baking (happens quite often ...dreaming about food!)

I got a new toy in my kitchen too a mixer bowl + mixer.I totally love it.My mom got it for me.Its so handy and i could save a lot of mess that usually happens while cake mixing.

I wanted to bake something really nice for Easter and it had to be chocolate because we are all chocolate lovers here at home and whether good or bad i know it will vanish!Let me tell you i wasn't too happy with the way the cake came out looking from the oven and i wasn't sure what to expect from the original recipe too even though they have a picture attached here.

Defrosted and out on a plate

Sinful chocolate ganache :)

When i opened the refrigerator to unmould the cake the was like a lava cake and i was so disappointed I wouldn't be able to take a picture.I just stashed it in the refrigerator and when we took it out straight from the freezer it was magic!  

Source :  Here

For the cake You need :

Dark /milk chocolate 500gm

Butter 125gm 

Caster Sugar 1/4 cup

Eggs 4

Plain flour 2 tablespoon

Maltesers to serve

For the chocolate ganache 

Equal portions of Thin Cream and chocolate 

• Preheat oven to 200C, grease and flour a baking dish/tin and leave aside.Use spring form pan if you have.
• Using a double boiler,met chocolate - place butter,chocolate and one tablespoon of caster sugar. Stir until all has mixed well.
• Beat the eggs and remaining sugar with a beater until pale and thick for about 10 mins on med-high speed.Fold in the flour gently, then the chocolate butter mix gently,do not beat while adding the chocolate mix.Mix until uniformly done.
• Pour into the prepared dish or tin and bake fpr 15 minutes.Or until the sides are done and middle is still little wobbly.Remove from oven.
• Run a knife along the edges of the cake and let it cool.Once cooled place in the freezer for 4 hours.
• De - mould the cake to do this leave it out of the freezer for an hour and once its out of the dish freeze again.
• Just before serving - prepare the ganache but bringing cream to boiling point and pour it over the chopped chocolate and stir well until creamy.

• To serve, take the cake straight out of the freezer and drizzle ganache and serve with Malteser balls.

Enjoy this decadent chocolate ganache cake!

My thoughts:

1. If the centre is not set just stash the cake in the freezer it will set.
2. Don't leave it out for too long it will become loose immediately in the heat(in Chennai atleast)
3. I used Milk chocolate chips you can use baking chocolate or dark chocolate.Mine was a bit too sweet with the milk chocolate and the sugar i could think of reducing some sugar.
4. The original recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of flour for 4 eggs i halved the recipe and used 1 tablespoon and some more of flour the cake was fudgy in texture.
5. It took me around 20 minutes to bake the cake which was set on the sides and wobbly in the centre.But the top was nice and set.
6. You can just bake it until fully baked ie.until the skewer comes clean i think it will taste well too.

Linking this to Cutchi's kitchen - 100th post give away

Chocolate Ganache Cake

I wanted to make an Easter post wondering what to post too..But when i tasted this cake i had baked yesterday I knew i had to share it here today :) 

Wishing everyone a Joyful Hopeful Easter Season :)

Divya's Guest post - Apple Chocolate Milkshake

My first ever guest post on my space by Divya of You too can cook.Most of you are familiar with Divya Pramil - she's a simple,sweet and an amazingly talented food blogger/photographer.Initially when I saw her space I would be left agape wondering how one can capture such simple things like tomatoes so beautifully, its that thing called talent and creativity that makes Divya so extra ordinary.Over the last few days we got to chat online and to my great surprise I discovered that she;s pretty closeby to my native place which multiplied my affection towards her many fold.I requested her to do a guest for me and she gave me this simple beautiful recipe.Lets see what Divya has to whipped up for us - 

Hello friends I feel so glad in sharing with you my guest post that I have made for a lovely friend and blogger Princy Vinoth. She is a very kind, down to earth, email-friend  of mine who mails me very often; we ramble about various things and our convo goes on about blogging, her lovely family specially her little kid Loritta. Our friendship sparked with a Google plus convo that later turned into email friendship. She is another humble and affectionate person that I have met through blogging who never forgets to say "hi" atleast even among busy schedules. Never in my life did I expect to come across such lovely people and I thank God and blogging for that. Am so glad to have known her and it is a pleasure for me to do a guest post for her. The best thing about this guest post is that I am the first guest on her blog and am super excited about it. She was so kind and thoughtful that she wanted mine to be the first guest post on her blog, moreover she included that any recipe would do. I am really so very honored and feel like she has honored a friend in the best way. Thank you so much for making me feel so special Princy akka. As I was thinking about a recipe to guest post at her space, her little kid came into my mind and so I made a recipe that I guessed she might love. Before I get into the recipe I would love to thank Princy Vinoth for the opportunity to guest post at her space. I enjoyed making this guest post for you akka. 

Coming to the recipe, kids usually seem to avoid fruits but they do love chocolates and so I have made a smoothie with a combo that is healthy as well as chocolaty. Your kid will never guess that there is an apple in the glass. It is not just for kids but for all chocolate lovers out there. This is a very filling, yummy and fuss free smoothie, as you just need some apple slices, chocolate powder and few minutes in hand. Try it and see them relish both health and taste. 

INGREDIENTS
Serves one person
Total Preparation Time - 5 minutes

1. Milk - 1 glass (chilled)
2. Apple - 1/2 of a medium sized apple 
3. Vanilla ice-cream - 1 small scoop (optional)
4. Cadbury hot chocolate powder - 1½ spoons 
5. Sugar - If required 

PREPARATION METHOD

• Peel of skin from apple and chop into smaller cubes. 
• Add all the ingredients onto a blender and blend well until smooth. 
• Pour into a serving glass and serve. 

TIP : You can add more apple slices if you wish to. And adjust the sweetness according to your wish. I haven't added sugar as it was sweet enough. The hot chocolate powder had enough sweetness and apples were sweet too, so add accordingly. 

Yummilicious chocolate apple milkshake is now ready!! 

 

Thanks again Divya for this lovely looking shake!(P.S - I already made this before i posted this and its seriously good!)

Divya's Guest post - Apple Chocolate Milkshake

My first ever guest post on my space by Divya of You too can cook.Most of you are familiar with Divya Pramil - she's a simple,sweet and an amazingly talented food blogger/photographer.Initially when I saw her space I would be left agape wondering how one can capture such simple things like tomatoes so beautifully, its that thing called talent and creativity that makes Divya so extra ordinary.Over the last few days we got to chat online and to my great surprise I discovered that she;s pretty closeby to my native place which multiplied my affection towards her many fold.I requested her to do a guest for me and she gave me this simple beautiful recipe.Lets see what Divya has to whipped up for us - 

Chocolate puddings with marshmallows

Its that time of the year when chocolates and strawberries become the symbols of love and friendship.

Happy Valentines' Day to you all :)

I've been wanting to try out these kinds of puddings with biscuit bases which usually makes the base for cheesecakes.I do not have the patience to try out cheesecakes however so with whatever i had at my disposal i tried these.I've been saving some marshmallows for a while now to try in an instant mousse but i didn't get there, this is the closest i could get, i guess.

SInce marshmallows use gelatin it acted as the setting agent in this pudding.You can replace this with agar agar/china grass or gelatin as you please.

To make this pudding you need

(Makes 3 large cup cake liner sized puddings)

To set them in cup cake liners

For the base:
Biscuits (Digestive/Marie) 5 6
Butter 5-6 tablespoons
Sugar powder as per sweet/optional

Chocolate layer:
Milk half cup
Marshmallows 9-10
Cocoa powder 2 tablespoons

For garnish
White chocolate pieces
Strawberry pieces/candy/jam

• Powder biscuits in a blender/food processor to course powder, add melted butter spoon by spoon until you can hold the powder into a ball(like ladoos), add sugar along with this and mix well.
• Place a liner in a small bowl the same size that can hold your liner,now press this biscuit base in each cupcake liner and press it down well with the spoon.Refrigerate for an hour.
• Heat milk in a pan and add the marshmallows it will dissolve slowly now add the cocoa powder  and stir in set aside.(you can use gelatin/agar agar in this step instead of marshmallows)
• pour this over the biscuit base and cover each bowl with foil paper and leave it in the fridge for another few hours until it sets firm.
• Before serving dip the bowls in normal water so the cupcake liners will loosen from them.

• Serve delicious chocolate puddings with chocolate sauce,or strawberry pieces and jam.

Enjoy this simple easy dessert!

Sending this to Valentines Treat @ Cuisine delights and Recipe junction, Let.s cook/bake,Cook with love:spouse, Bon Vivant - quixotic fixes, Foodabulous - celebrate february, Sweet luv