Tia Maria Adult Cake ;)

I had a bottle of  Tia Maria ( coffee flavoured liquer ) lying with me since a few years now and i just happen to stumble upon a really simple but extremely delicious recipe for a cake. And, yes its an adult cake as quite a handsome amount of your choice of liquor goes into it. You can replace Tia Maria with any spirit you fancy, rum or brandy or even sweet sherry will do. 

Make this on Christmas Eve, or as a birthday cake for a special somebody or just for yourself. 

The ingredients are-

150gm cups of Flour or maida

3 eggs finally beaten separately

175 gm shakkar or brown sugar or just plain sugar

175 gm butter

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarb soda

Honey 175 ml

Tia Maria 125 ml

1/2 cup orange juice

Zest of 2 lemons or oranges

1tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

2 tbsp Cocoa powder

Nutmeg powder 1 pinch

Salt 1 pinch

Finally chopped- 1/2 cup each

Almonds

Raisins

Kaju or cashewnut

Khajur or fresh dates

Glazed ginger ( optional )

Petha ( optional )

Tuti Fruiti

Put the dry fruits, butter, sugar, honey, Tia Maria, orange juice, zest, cocoa powder and dry spices into a large wide saucepan and gently bring to boil. Stirring gently as the butter melts.Simmer for 10 min. Shut off the gas and let it stand for 30 min.

Now gently fold finely beaten eggs,  flour, baking powder and bi carbonate. Combine all the ingredients together. 

You dont need to beat it too much. Just let it reach the flowing consistency required for a cake batter. Pre heat the oven to 150 degrees. Place in the oven for 2 hours at 180 degrees. 

Let it cool on a rack. The knife will come out gooey in the knife test. But thats alright, it will cook more as it cools.

No icing is required on this cake. If you really want to decorate it with edible confetti or nutties.

Or serve it by pouring hot chocolate sauce over it. Try it and it'll sure be a huge success.. Enjoy

Puda ( poode ) - Saawan ka Mahina

Its that time of the year when you crave for fried food, hot coffee or masala chai along with the pitter patter of rain to give you the perfect company..

My family favourite in this season is Kheer with pudas... And they sure are a hit with all..The recipe is very simple.. As always be patient, take a deep breath, very few things can go wrong while making this.

Recipe for puda--- Makes enough for a family of 4

1 cup maida
1 cup suji
3/4 cup curd
1 cup sugar
50 gms khoya - optional
2 tbsp malai
2 tsp plain sauf
Desi ghee - optional, or use refined oil.
Milk if necessary

A night before take maida, sooji , sugar, saunf and make a thick batter with the curd and water. Leave it overnight. Next day before making, check if the batter is very thick add some milk. The consistency should be that of cake batter or pakora batter. Now grate the khoya or roughly crumble with your hands. Add to the batter and the malai. Mix thoroughly.

Now heat a broad non stick pan, put some oil. Take about 2 tbsp of batter and put in the middle of the oil. Tilt the pan so that a round puda is made and so that the centre is not very thick. Lower the heat. When the sides turm golden or slightly crisp, take a flat spatula and turn the puda. Try and cook on medium heat, or else they will be raw in the middle..

I keep two pans, simultaneously, makes it easy and quick. Please be wary that they do need a generous amount of oil, or else they'll stick to the pan. Oil the sides and also when you overturn, oil again.

This is not a health conscious recipe. Its for indulgence, to make for your loved ones or just pamper yourself.
Serve hot with a bowl of cold kheer. This one if for my friend Tanu, enjoy...