Chocolate Fudge Cake -- Merry Christmas

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle All the Way !!!

Wishing all my Friends, Bloggers, Readers and Family A Merry Christmas !!

Hope everyone are having wonderful Christmas celebrations Eve and great holidays with your loved ones,laughter,joy,cookies & cakes .


We did put our Christmas tree up yesterday and did all the decoration. I love the twinkling lights and ornaments that brighten the tree.


On the baking front prepared this Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Frosting. This is my first fudge cake and it came out so wonderful !! Loved it !! used butterscotch chips for decorating the cake.


Ingredients:


All purpose Flour - 1 1/2 cups
Dark Brown Sugar - 3/4 cup
Semi Sweet chocolate chips - 2 oz

Baking Powder - 1 tbsp
Butter - 3/4 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Milk - 1 tbsp
Eggs - 3 no
Butterscotch chips (optional)


Frosting


Semi sweet chocolate chips - 3 1/2 oz
Milk - 1 tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Butter - 1/4 cup

Preparation

• In a saucepan set over low heat, or in a microwave, melt together the chocolate and milk, stirring till smooth. 
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the flour, brown sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder and mix well till smooth and fluffy.
• Fold them into the chocolate mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Pour the mixture into the greased round cake pan
• Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the toothpick is inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 mins before removing from cake pan

• For chocolate frosting in a microwave safe bowl add chocolate chips, butter, milk and vanilla extract and heat for 2 mins.
• Stir well until smooth.
• Take a spoon of the frosting into a big heap on the top of the cake.
• Spread the frosting towards the edges of the cake.
• Place the  butterscotch chips on top of the frosting. 

Hawaii – Fun Vacation

One of the reasons for my month long absence from blogging here is --- we were having vacation in Hawaii.  It was much needed vacation for both of us; I was dreadfully busy with my job with very excessive deadlines in my projects. I and my husband wanted a break from our regular work and to relax.  I have to say that this vacation is one of my dreams which my husband fulfilled it. Hawaii is one of the beautiful and awesome places.

We visited two islands – Big Island and Kauai

Aloha !!!!!!!!!!

The Big Island of Hawaii is full of excitement and adventures.  We hiked  Volcano Mountain.  Viewed spectacular active lava flow at Kilauea – the world’s largest Active  volcano. Enjoyed the Island’s best beaches – White Sand, Black Sand, and Green Sand (no kidding) which are unique and very interesting beaches.

The Big Island of Hawaii is divided in half by three volcanoes. To the east is Hilo which is the windward side of the island and here we enjoyed the lush tropical scenery of Hilo Bay and Queen Liluokalani Gardens. , Beautiful waterfalls from rain forest at Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls.

And to the west is the Kona side which is the leeward side of the island and here we visted to all the beaches of Kona and Kohala, the hills of Waimea and stunning Kealakekua Bay.

Kauai is full of scenic wonders and historic places. Visited the most famous and breathtaking Waimea Canyon – “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. We hiked on Kokee State Park which is world’s wettest spot and also one of the finest hiking trails.

Next we visited Napali Coast enjoyed the amazing scenery and awesome sunset view. This is most challenging hiking we did. This leads to Beach of Hanakapiai which is one of the world’s dangerous beaches.

Hope you guys like my clicks !!!

Apple Bread

I love baking breads with fresh fruits. This weekend I baked this Apple bread with fresh apples, cinnamon and the bread turned out a way much better that what I expected. The apples gave it a unique sweetness paired perfect with the cinnamon.

It goes well for an excellent sweet breakfast with a cup of milk and also as an yummy dessert.

Ingredients:

All purpose flour – 3 cups

Apples peeled diced – 3 cups

Sugar – 2 cups

Milk – 1 cup

Baking Soda – 1tsp

Baking Powder – ¼ tsp

Grounded cinnamon – 1 tsp

Eggs – 3 no

Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp

Cooking oil – 2/3 cup

Salt – 1 tsp

Preparation

• In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder,salt,cinnamon and keep aside
• In a large bowl take eggs, sugar,oil,vanilla and mix well.
• Add the above flour mixture and mix well still smooth and fluffy.
• Add apples and combine well.

• Grease the baking pan.
• Preheat oven for 325 degrees.
• Pour the mixture into the greased baking pan.
• Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and let it cool for 5minutes.
• Cut them into pieces.

Sending this to Bake Fest hosted by Vardhini, Desserts with Apples by Nayna & Raven, Bread Baking - autumn flavours hosted by sarah, Kid's Delight - Deceptively Delicious by Pavani & Srivalli , Breakfast Club - Breads by Krithi & Helen , Love Lock with sweets by Vidhya and to my event CC-Holiday Baking 

Announcing Cooking Concepts # 5 -- Holiday Baking

It’s mid November, The Holidays are upon us – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year Beginning. I am eagerly waiting for these holidays so that I can get some break from my work and can plan for vacations ,parties and get together’s  :) Hope everyone are also planning for a great fun !!

Coming to this month’s concept is "Holiday Baking". No Christmas or New Year is complete without baking treats!!  So why waiting girls it’s time for baking.

As this holiday mood goes till December end, so I am extending this month’s concept till end of this year.

Happy Holiday Baking!!!

Here are some guidelines

• Make recipes which fit this month’s concept
• Please link back to this page. 
• Both Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian dishes are allowed but no pork or beef
• Use of logo is appreciated

• Send me your entries to sravscc@gmail.com with subject  “CC- Holiday Baking” with below details
• Name
• Blog Name
• Recipe Name
• Recipe URL
• Picture

Non-bloggers can also send their recipes along with picture to the above email id.

Last date for entries is Dec 31 2011.

Hope to see you all participating!!!!

Note: Thank you all friend’s for sending traditional and yummy recipes to event CC-Festive Food. I will be posting the roundup as early as possible. 

Moong Dal Fritters/ Pesara Punugulu

After many days I had a relaxing Sunday, spending time in home by cooking.  Pesara Punugulu is one of the items that I prepared today for the evening snack.  I prepare this snack quiet regularly when they is any left over pesarattu batter in my fridge.

This is a simple snack which can be made in no time. Moong dal Fritters can be prepared by pesarattu batter, rice flour, onions.

Ingredients:

Green gram batter – 1 cup

Rice flour – 3-4 tsps

Sooji – 1tsp (optional)

Onion – 1 small chopped

Green chillies – 2 no chopped

Curry leaves

Coriander leaves

Jeera – 1 tsp

Salt As required

Oil for deep frying

Preparation

• For Green gram batter soak pesalu/green gram dal for 5-6 hrs in water,drain and  grind dal, green chillies, ginger and salt to a paste.
• In a mixing bowl take the green gram batter, add rice flour, sooji, onions, coriander leaves, curry leaves, jeera, salt, green chillies and mix well.
• Heat oil in a vessel, once heated on medium flame drop a little mixture and fry them till golden.

• Remove punugulu from heat and serve with ginger or coconut chutney.

Sending this to CWS-Mung Beans hosted by Priya & Kid's delight hosted by Harini orginally started by Srivalli.