CHRISTMAS CAKE

Christmas is the best time of the year ... chilli weather.. amazing feel... no words to describe it.... I am not a christian but every year i celebrate christmas and christmas eve... decorating christmas tree making of christmas cake..... just amazing....

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Raisins

1/2 cup Sultanas / dried black currants

1 cup fruit mix

1/2 cup Almonds (toasted and roughly chopped)

1/2 cup walnuts

3/4 cup All purpose flour/ Maida

1/4  cup  Granulated sugar

1/4 cup Molasses

1  Egg, lightly beaten

56gm unsalted butter

1/2  cup Apple juice

1/2  brandy/ rum

1 tsp mixed spices(clove , cinnamon , nutmeg)

1  teaspoon Vanilla extract

1  teaspoon Lemon zest

1  tablespoon Orange rind

1/2  teaspoon Baking soda

1/2  teaspoon Baking powder

METHOD

Roughly chop raisins, sultanas and the fruit mix. Combine the chopped dried fruits with lemon zest and orange rind.
Add brandy/rum to this mixture.keep it for 4 weeks mixing it once everyday for good results.
In a large pan place the dried fruits zest rind fruits mixture. Over medium heat, add sugar, molasses, butter, spices and apple juice.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 5-7 minutes stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cool it to lukewarm.
Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Sift all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder .
Add the dry ingredients  to the liquid mixture.
Now, fold in lightly beaten eggs  and integrate into the batter.
Combine the nuts and vanilla extract to the batter.
Butter or spray vegetable oil and prepare a square cake pan/ loaf pan. If you have parchment paper, line the pan with that.
Pour prepared batter into the prepared pan and set the oven timer 60 minutes . Check cake after 50 minutes for doneness. If not, bake for another 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Mine was done in 60 minutes...
Remove cake from oven. Cool the fruitcake completely in the pan. Using a skewer prick holes on top of the cake. Bast with Cognac/ Brandy/ Rum/ non-alcoholic substitute. Remove from the pan.
Wrap fruitcake in plastic wrap/ cling film + aluminum foil. Place the wrapped cake in an airtight container and store at room temperature.

Recipe taken fromhttp://kitchenkemistry.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/christmas-2011-and-delectable-
delights/


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JUJUBES

Christmas is right corner and wanna make something different this time for my nephew.... He likes market bought jujubes as they are in attractive colors and sugary.... But they are loaded with preservatives ...so wanna make fresh for him.... tried for first time and got it perfect ... he just loved it and want all of them to have at once.... Just love cooking for him... my life....

Ingredients

Sugar 250 gms
Gelatin 2.5 tbsp
Food colour few drops( i used red and green for christmas)
Oil 1 tsp (for greasing)
Lemon juice 1/4 cup( fresh)
Water 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar for coating

Method

Mix all except oil and let it cook on low for 10 minutes.
Grease a square dish with oil .
Pour the mixture over it and leave overnight or at least for 8-10 hrs to set.
Cut in cubes and coat it with powdered sugar.
Keep it in air tight container.

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EGGLESS ORANGE TUTTI FRUTTI CAKE

I don't like creamy cake so tried tea time eggless orange cake and believe me its yummyyy.... u will get addicted to it....  Fresh aroma of orange gives an nice moistness to the cake ....

Ingredients

All Purpose flour/Maida - 1+1/2 cups
Baking Powder - 1+1/2 tsps
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
Granulated sugar - 3/4 cup
Thick Yogurt - 3/4 cup (at room temperature)
Vegetable Oil - 1/2 cup
Orange juice - 1/2 cup (Fresh)
Orange Zest - 1 tsp

Method 

First preheat the oven at 180°C. Grease & flour the baking loaf tin of 7" diameter.
Sieve the dry ingredients together and keep aside .
In other bowl mix sugar and yogurt and whisk nicely. To this add orange juice, oil and orange zest and mix. After they are well combined add the dry ingredients and fold in gently.
Pour the batter in tin.
But keep checking after 30 minutes or unless a tooth pick inserted in the cake comes out clean as every oven vary . Mine took 40 minutes....
When done, take it out and give a rest of 2 minutes in the tin, then demould and cool on a cooling rack...

Slice and enjoy....

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CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Buying candied fruits from market is too costly .... make at your home with fresh ingredients without using any preservatives .......

Ingredients

Big Lemon 2 (galgal in hindi)
Sugar 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar 1/4 cup
Water 1 1/4 cup

Method

Slice the lemon peel lengthwise not the lemon.
In a pressure cooker take 1 cup water add lemon peel and give 2-3 whistles.
Remove the peels and discard the water .
With the help of spoon remove the white part of the peel carefully.
In a pan take 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar.
Boil and add the peels and let it cook on low for 30 minutes.
Remove it on a kitchen towel on a wire rack and let it dry for 8-10hrs.
They will be shiny and little wet.
After 10 hrs take 1/4 cup of powdered sugar in a big bowl and add peel and cover it and give a nice mix.
Again levae it for 2-3 hrs for coating to get set.
Keep it in air tight container and enjoy having like this .
I used for my christmas cake.

GINGERBREAD MAN COOKIES

Gingerbread is a sweet food-product flavored with ginger and typically using honey or molasses rather than just sugar. I have made an twist because i don't have molasses and don't want to add honey so added jaggery/Gur. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a soft, moist loaf cake to something close to a ginger biscuit. The different types likely share a common origin...

Ingredients

All purpose flour 2 1/2 cups **

Salt Pinch

Baking Powder 1/4 tsp

Ginger Powder 1 tsp

Cinnamon Powder 1/2 tsp

Nutmeg Powder 1/4 tsp

Clove Powder 1/2 tsp

Butter 50 gm

Sugar 50 gm

Milk 1/4 cup

Jaggery 1/2 cup(melted)

Method

Sieve dry ingredients and keep aside.

Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl .

Add milk and melted jaggery and mix well with a electric beater till all mix together.

Mix flour and make a dough .

Cover with cling film/plastic wrap and keep in refrigerator for 1 hr.

Roll out on a floured surface.

Cut into gingerbread man shape with the help of cardboard cutting or cutter.

Place it on a greased baking tray and bake it in a pre heated oven at 180 degree

for 12 minutes or until edges changes its colour to light brown.

Remove on a wire tray and let it cool.

For Icing

Take Icing sugar and mix very little amount of water with spoon to make a smooth paste.

Divide mixture into three and add edible color accordingly.

Decorate as per your liking....

Note

**I used 150 ml cup.

*It taste better after 2 days.

*keep in an air tight container.

ZAFRANI MURG TIKKA

Tikkas are originated from lucknow ... But now days they are popular all over north india.... There mouth watering texture and mouth melting taste give a perfect snack....

Ingredients

500 gm boneless chicken thigh,
1 tbsp garlic paste
1 tbsp ginger paste,
50 grams yogurt/curd
50 grams cheddar cheese/any cheese
2 tsp white pepper powder
2 chopped green chili
Salt as per taste
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
50 ml fresh cream
few strings of saffron soaked in 2 tsp milk

Method

1 st Marinate

Cut chicken in medium size chunks

In a mixture bowl take half of ginger, garlic, salt, white pepper and lemon juice. 

Marinate the chicken with this mixture and leave it for 2 hours.

In a separate bowl take cheddar cheese and yogurt, make a nice creamy mixture

Take the chicken out of the first marination and add to the cheese and yogurt mixture

Add cream, chopped chili, cardamom powder and soaked  saffron. Leave the chicken for another 2 hours in refrigerator.

Cook the chicken in electric tandoor till light golden in colour. Or

On Grill pan or in oven at 200 degree till golden .

Serve with tandoori parantha , onions and green chutney....

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Happy cooking ....:)