Whip it up...Mocha Fudge

This was absolutely delicious and is a welcome dessert for any occasion.If you have a sweet tooth and nothing else can do justice to it...go ahead and try the Mocha Fudge.

                     Desserts take a very special place when I plan to have guests over. Before I think of the appetizers and the Entree I have to have my dessert planned. I was having my my dear U.Kevin over along with his Lorraine,Anaika and Aditya. I said this is the gonna make their day and indeed it did.

8 servings
Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup +1 table spoon dark or light cocoa
3 eggs
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
thin sugar syrup ( 1cup water: 1/2 cup sugar- dissolve)

• Heat oven to 350F. Butter bottom and sides of 2 round pans- 8*2".
• Melt butter in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add the cocoa, stirring until blended (u can also microwave the butter for 30 seconds and add the cocoa); cool slightly.
• Beat eggs in large bowl until foamy.
• Add salt and vanilla.
• Gradually add sugar  beating well.
• Add cooled chocolate mixture,blend thoroughly.Fold in flour. Stir in pecans/walnut( roasted tastes better). pour mixture into prepared pans.
• Bake 25-30 mins or until wooden pick it  inserted into cake comes out clean.Dont over bake. cool 5 mins. remove from pan to wire racks.
• Make the sugar syrup and pour it on the cake preferably when it is hot or when u have it cooled. Dont make it too soggy or it will be hard to pour the cream filling..(Optional)
• Spread CREAMY COFFEE FILLING over top and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls,if desired and refridgerate for 1 hour or longer before serving.

CREAMY COFFEE FILLING:

• 1 1/2cups cold whipping cream
• 1'3 cups packed light brown sugar (u can also use white sugar)
• 2 tsp gelatin

Freeze the bowl you plan to use for beating for 15 minutes.Soak gelatin in 2 Tbsp water and heat for 10 seconds on microwave. Start whipping the cream on low till it kind off becomes stiff. Gradually add the sugar and instant coffee and the gelatin.Beat until soft peaks form.Spread over cake and decorate as desired.

I mixed a few recipes and got this recipe. Cant seem to remember the exact site. but hope you enjoy it. Forgot to click any better pictures. Try it out and let me know how it tastes.

Nostalgic Nectarine

Having a keen interest in cakes made me want to make a cake that I tasted and relished all through my growing years. I cant say it tasted the same but it was well appreciated by all who tasted it. For those who visit Bon Bon Cakes will know what i am talking about. You wont regret trying it out.

Ingredients:
Pure Ghee - 4 1/2 Tablespoons
Vanilla essence- 3/4 teaspoon
Cake Flour- 1cup (lightly spooned into the cup)
Cornstarch- a little less than 1/2 cup( lightly spooned into the cup)
Egg Whites- 6 large
Sugar- I cup minus 1 tablespoon
Water -1/2 cup
Grated Lemon Zest of 1 lemon(optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and prepare 8 * 3"
cake pans.

1. Heat the ghee so that it melts. Let it clarify and when it is clear sieve it through a fine strainer. Add the vanilla essence and the lemon zest.
2. Sieve the flour and the corn starch
3. In a large mixing bowl beat the egg whites on high for atleast 7 minutes until light peaks are formed

•  Gradually stir in the water into the whites with a spatula. Take cake as you stir in the water so that the fluff of the whites is not lost.Use a spatula and fold in the water with whites. Take care not to reduce the air that has been incorporated into the cake.
• Remove 1/2 cup of beaten egg whites and carefully mix it into the butter. This step is very important. If you add the butter directly to the whites it wont incorporate and will settle at the bottom of the bowl.
• Fold in the flour little by little and fold it in gently with a spatula until all the flour has disappeared
• Fold in the butter mixture until just incorporated.
• Pour into pans and bake for 25 minutes
•   Unmould onto lightly greased racks

Syrup

• Sugar- 1/2 cup
• Water 1/4 cup

Heat water and sugar till both dissolve. Use a pastry brush and smear about 4-5 tablespoons on each layer.

Filling 1 

•  Jello Instant Vanilla Custard

Filling 2

• 1 nectarine cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water minus 1 table spoon water

Heat the water and sugar and add in the nectarine pieces and cook for 5-10 minutes.Cool

Whipped Cream

•  1 cup whipped cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Put the vessel being used to whip the cream on ice and whip on medium speed and then on high speed.When the cream start to form peaks add in the sugar to make it stiff

Assembly of the cake

• Use a serrated knife and cut horizontally into 3 equal pieces
• Use the syrup to wet the cake. Don't make it too moist ( it will be hard to handle the cake)
• Pour the custard filling on the first layer
• Place the second layer on top of this layer carefully so that all sides are aligned
• Sprinkle as mentioned above with syrup and put the nectarine filling
• Repeat with 3rd layer  if needed and cover the last layer with sugar syrup
• Use the whipped cream and cover the sides
• Decorate it and enjoy the hard work.

BON APPETIT

Shutter Bug

Yet another birthday darling....and wondering what cake to make...I remember your passion for photography and click comes an idea...how about trying my hand at a camera...I I thought to myself this birthday has to be very special since it is a milestone birthday. and there the genie brought Samantha here for a holiday. So all wrapped in one I hope you had a great birthday

Knitting Niche

After trying my hand at cakes I decided to do something different. I glanced upon the church bulletin and as I went through it I read about Sr. Eileen volunteering her time to teach knitting at the church for those interested. I was keen on learning something new. Having been at home most of my time other than my volunteer agencies I was looking forward to meeting a few more wonderful people and learning something new.
                               The date chosen for our first meeting was Wednesday,February 3rd 2010 at 2 pm. I walked in and saw so many new faces. I was introduced to them- Terry, Lucy, Mary, Bridget, Susan S, Joanne and not to forget Sr.Eileen. We also had Susan B, Kecia and a few others who joined in later. I enjoyed their company and the little stories they shared every week along with new knitted things they made.
                                   Sr.Eileen showed us a few things she had made and they were so beautiful. I was touched by her passion for new born life, her dedication to the cause close to her heart against abortion. The little things she knitted for the new born were precious and so perfect. I wished that one day I would able to make something close to her beautifully knitted baby cap,booties and socks. She patiently taught me how to knit and even more patiently removed the wrong stitches. She was indeed an excellent guide and I am glad to say I did pick up a little bit of knitting from her. I made this set of a baby blanket with a cross stitch teddy bear on it,booties,bib and cap.

                               We were all glad to learn so much from Sr.Eileen and me in my own little way wanted to thank her for her patience and time. I couldnt think of anything more appropriate..

Since all were not able to make it we have Sr.Eileen,Mary, Terry and Susan in the snap all well versed with knitting and myself as the novice.

                       I am now looking forward to the knitting niche to commence once again this Fall

Welcome Madison

As Dan and Carrie were all set to welcome their little one, there was excitement all around. It was my first time in America that I attended a wedding and now it was their baby shower and before we knew Madison was there. I just wanted to share in their happiness and what better way to tell them we care...

Dr. Seuss- Cat in the Hat

A friend of mine called me and said it was her twins birthday's and she planned to have Dr. Seuss-Cat in the Hat as the theme. I just was wondering as to how I could make a cake that would be apt to the theme. I always consult my very knowledgeable husband for his good advice and novel ideas. As I sat thinking I could see him sketching and planning and involved in deep calculation. In a matter of seconds he was ready with a design to make the perfect cake with every angle marked to get the perfect curve to the hat. I was all set and ready to go and in just 5 hours I put it together. I wasn't satisfied as yet and  then came up with the idea to make a little sketch of the Cat in the Hat. As I always do I asked my ever talented spouse and in a matter of few minutes I was indeed surprised to see what stood in front of me.....

 

My Little Basket of Flowers

As spring arrives after a long drawn winter; the new shoots of grass and the leaves on the tree bring forth a new sense of life. The buds that bloom on every branch heralds a new meaning with every blossoming flower that brings forth a new inspiration.

Christina and the lil Mermaid

Hoping against hope that you don't confuse the mermaid (I tried to perfect) for Ursula.. Happy Birthday my dear Christina.

                            

Suprise for my dear husband

As I was newly married and wondering what gift to give my husband I thought it was nice to give him something that I made myself...Lo and behold he was indeed taken aback when he saw a bikini cake and a whole lot of friends to surprise him..