Banoffee Pie

This pie was devoured by my cousins, the minute they entered through my door. I did look for that opportunity to make this provided someone were to come over so that me and my husband didn't have to finish it all up(wink)! I barely finished making this pie and started taking the pics, when the door just opened and the entire party of boys just arrived. What's this chechi?!! Can we eat this now?? Well I wanted this to sit in the refrigerator for the biscuit base to set, but then you can't have em waiting can you? Served them without waiting! Better still, it tastes better the next day, and the base just sets perfectly for that extra crunch effect!

Ingredients:
Dulce De Leche (Condensed Milk) - 1 can (400gm)
Bananas-3, large
Heavy Cream -2 cups, whipped
Digestive biscuits or Marie biscuit- 200gms
Butter- 100gms
Grated chocolate/ Cocoa powder or Chocolate Sprinkles/ Chocolate Sauce to decorate

To make the Dulche De Leche

Place the can of condensed milk, unopened, in a large pot of water. Bring to boiling point and boil for 3 hours, topping up with boiling water from a kettle as needed. Ensure that the can remains covered in water, as otherwise there is a risk of the can bursting open. Remove and leave to cool completely. You can make this ahead of time or even boil several tins at one go and store the unopened cans in the fridge for several months. There are other ways of making the dulche which could either be David's way or Divya Kudua's pressure cooker way!
I wasn't sure which method to choose, but made my mind to resort to the safer method of placing it in a pot of water. No harm that way!

Now to get to making of this pie. Process the biscuits in the food processor and mix in the melted butter biscuit. Line a 10 inch pie pan with the biscuit mixture and place in the fridge for about an hour or else bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 160C. Open the of dulche de leche and spread this over the layer of biscuit.
Peel and thinly slice the bananas, and arrange in a layer over the toffee.Whip the cream until thick and stiff and spread over the bananas. And finally, decorate with grated chocolate or dust the cocoa powder on top using a sieve or with chocolate sprinkles. Drizzle with chocolate sauce if you desire too.

Butterscotch Cookies

I totally agree with Nag's verdict on these cookies being fudgy, gooey and down right yummy. A treat over this weekend, we all needed that simple something after two long weeks of going through bouts of illness and the various other things that simply keep you occupied. I had a packet of these morsels lying ready to be used from the batch of recently procured goodies. And I did my justice to them.

Ingredients:

White Sugar - 1/4 scant cup (even if it doesn’t quite measure a ¼ cup, its fine, because the cookies could be bit too sweet)
Brown Sugar - 1/4 cup
Unsalted Butter - 1/2 cup butter at room temp
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Egg - 1
Flour - 1.5 cups
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
A generous pinch of salt
Butterscotch Chips - 3/4 cup (I used the Nestle butterscotch morsels)

Preheat the oven to 180C. In a bowl, combine sugars with the softened butter until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and the egg and beat well until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt well with a fork. Add this to the wet mixture and combine well. Then add the butterscotch chips. The dough will be thick. Distribute the chips as well as possible. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a baking sheet. Use an ice cream scoop to drop the cookie dough on the baking tray. If you don't have an ice cream scoop, use 2 spoons, one to scoop up the dough and the other to smoothen it a bit and lower it on to the baking tray. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes until the top turns a light golden brown.

Am sending these festive beauties for Suma's event 'Cakes And More Cookie Fest'

Coffee Chocolate Pudding ~A Sweet Punch

It's a magical combination of Coffee And Chocolate

Serve this saucey warm chocolate bowl with a good scoop of vanilla ice cream

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cocoa
Pinch of salt
½ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
½ cup milk
1 egg, beaten
50g hazelnuts, chopped
For the topping
½ cup brown sugar
3 tbsp cocoa
1 cup strong black coffee

Preheat oven to 180°C. Sift together dry ingredients. Stir through butter, milk, egg and hazelnuts until well combined. Spoon batter into 4 ramekins. Sprinkle over brown sugar and cocoa then pour over coffee but do not stir. Bake for 16 - 20 minutes depending on how done you want it. I baked it for 18 minutes as my husband and child like it a lot more done than it being saucey, whereas I had mine baked at 16 minutes for a more gooey effect. Finally dust with cocoa powder or cinnamon and sugar; serve with vanilla ice cream.

Lemon Pound Cake

It had been long since a cake had been baked, and since it was long overdue this truly divine delicacy with hints of lime pleasantly satiated our tea time today. A tight crumb indeed as promised by Rose, following the traditional path of cake making.

Perfect Pound Cake Recipe
[Recipe courtesy: The Cake Bible]

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons Milk
3 large Eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups sifted cake flour (150gm) -  recipe for cake flour below
¾ cup sugar
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
13 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (184 gms)
Zest of a lemon - 1tbs
Lemon Juice - 2tbs

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Butter an 8 inch by 4 by 2.5 inch loaf pan, or any six cup loaf or fluted tube pan. Lightly whisk together milk, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl.  Using your fingertips, mix together the zest of the lemon and sugar till fragrant. Place dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix on low speed for 30 seconds, until blended. Add the butter and half the egg mixture, and mix until dry ingredients are moistened. On medium speed, beat for one minute. This will aerate and develop the cake’s structure. Scrape down sides. Add the lemon juice. Add the remaining egg mixture in two batches, beating for 20 seconds between each addition. Scrape down sides. Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth surface with a spatula. Bake for 35-45 minutes if baking in a fluted tube pan, until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on a rack in the pan for 10 minuets before inverting onto a greased wire rack. If using a loaf pan, flip the cake over so the top is up.

For making cake flour at home - Take 1 cup of all purpose flour and remove 2 tbsp from it. Replace the 2 tbsp flour with custard powder/ cornflour and sift together 2-3 times. Your Cake flour is ready to be used.

Banana, Blueberry and Orange Loaf

I actually forgot, about this month's sweet punch bake, when my mobile beeped a 'priority reminder' - Bake for Sweet Punch. Then started my madness of dashing back and forth, frantically searching of what to bake, what do I have, so little time....it so reminded me of one these songs I have seen Elijah watch "got to hurry, got to worry blues". With that as my background music, I fancied up this bake only because this month was 'our choice of the bake'- phew!!....the blueberries again I had stock thanks to my Lesa Gurl! Fresh garden produce of bananas from Shaicha's home (my dad's youngest brother) .and there you have have it...

Ingredients:
Self Rising flour - 2cups
Baking powder - 2tsps
Butter - 85gms softened
Caster Sugar - 115gms
Egg - 1 large lightly beaten
Pinch of salt
Medium sized ripe Bananas - 5
Blueberries - 125gms
Rind of 2 oranges, finely grated

Preheat the oven to 180C. Beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Gradually add the egg and beat it into the butter and sugar mixture until smooth and well combined. Sift the flour, baking powder into a mixing bowl and set side. In a separate bowl, mash four bananas (reserving one for decoration).
Divide the banana mash into two equal portions and add half of it to the creamed butter mixture along with the blueberries and the orange rind. Gradually fold in the flour with the remaining mashed bananas until well amalgamated but not over mixed.
Pour the cake mixture into a lightly buttered loosed 3-pt/ 7 1/2cup French loaf tin lined with parchment paper,pressing the mixture lightly into the corners and smoothing the top with a back of the the spoon. Peel and slice the reserved banana and cut into pieces. Dust them lightly with icing sugar (cut side up) and lightly press into the surface of the cake mixture. Bake for 45minutes until a cake skewer comes out clean. Dust lightly with icing sugar and cut into thick slices when cold. Spread lightly with butter and enjoy with a glass of milk.

Whole Wheat Almond Eggless Cookies~ A Sweet Punch

A recipe accompanied by a video demo makes things way too simplistic. The cookies are wholesome goodness, without the guilt. And without a doubt, they'd go well for your evening tea. Using every ingredient within your pantry is the best reason you'd want to have a go at baking these awesome cookies. Throw in some chocolate chips or raisins and you'd have your own twist to the whole thing.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour - 1cup
Sugar - 1/2cup
Salt - 1/4tsp
Sliced almonds - 1/4cup
Green cardamom seed coarsely powder (ilaichi) - 1/2tsp
Unsalted butter  - 1/2cup (8 tablespoons or 4oz)
About 2 tablespoons of milk or as needed.


Pre heat the oven to 160C. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, sliced almonds and cardamom powder well. Next add soft butter and milk to the flour mixture to make dough. Dough should be very soft. Divide the dough into about 24 equal parts and make them into balls. Press each ball between your palms lightly; every piece should be about 1/2” in thickness. Place the dough balls on an un-greased cookie sheet about inch a part. Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes or until cookies are lightly gold brown. After they become lightly golden brown remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Let the cookies cool down for two to three minutes before taking them off the cookie sheet. 

Currant Slices with Spiced Apple Syrup

This cake chosen by the Sweet punch team, turned out to be a real treat indeed. The only thing I didn't have was a rectangular tray, which is something I'm definitely going to buy. But served in slices or wedges the cake is worth a try!!

Ingredients:
Currants - 175gms
Cinnamon Stick - 1
Apple juice - 300ml
Plain white flour - 175gms
Baking powder - 2tsp
Unsalted butter - 175gms
Caster Sugar - 175gms
Eggs - 3 beaten
Vanilla extract - 1tsp

Place the currants, cinnamon stick and apple juice in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to stand for several hours or overnight. Drain the currants thoroughly, pressing the juices through a sieve, reserving the juices and cinnamon stick. Set aside the currants. Preheat the oven to180C. Grease and line a 12x9 inch rectangular tray-bake tin. Sift the flour, baking powder into a large bowl and add the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Beat well until mixture is smooth. Stir in half the reserved currants into the mixture and spoon into the prepared tin. Spread the remaining currants over the top. Bake in the oven for 30-35minutes or until firm and golden brown. Meanwhile, boil the reserved the juices and cinnamon stick rapidly and reduce by about half, until syrupy. Discard the cinnamon stick. Cut the cake into slices and serve warm with hot syrup spooned over.

Meringue Cake ~ A Sweet Punch

I haven't tried a meringue cake before. The Sweet punch team did give us options varying from cakes to cookies. I went in with the simple Meringue cake which is two layers of cake sandwiched together with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Since I had some blueberries, I added a handful. My little one was the first to taste it, he simply couldn't resist it being rested. And in between mouthfuls he spurted out mama its very nice.......

Ingredients:
[Serves 8 - 10]
Egg yolks - 4 large
Sifted cake flour - 1 cup (100 grams)
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1/8 teaspoon
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup (1 stick) (114 grams)
Granulated white sugar - 1/2 cup (100 grams)
Pure vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Milk - 1/4 cup (60 ml)
Meringue Layer:
Egg whites - 4 large
Cream of tartar - 1/4 teaspoon
Granulated white sugar - 1/3 cup (65 grams)
Vanilla extract - 1/2 teaspoon pure
Topping:
Heavy whipping cream - 1 cup (240 ml)
Granulated white sugar - 1 - 2 tablespoons (14 - 28 grams)
Fresh strawberries - 1 pound (454 grams)  cut into bite sized pieces
Confectioners Sugar (powdered or icing) for dusting top of cake

Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Grease and flour two - 8 x 1 1/2  inches (20 x 3.75 cm) round cake pans. Set aside. Separate the eggs while they are still cold, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl. Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).In a mixing bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans, smoothing the tops with an offset spatula. Set aside while you make the meringue layer.

Meringue: In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla extract. Divide the meringue between the two cake pans, gently smoothing the tops with an offset spatula. Bake for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The meringue layers will have turned a light brown and will be crisp to the touch but soft inside. Place the pans on a wire rack to cool. When completely cooled, remove from pans.

Shortly before serving whip the cream with the sugar until soft peaks form. Cut the strawberries into bite sized pieces and, if necessary, add a little sugar to sweeten them. Place one of the cake layers, meringue side up, on a serving platter. Spread the whipping cream onto the cake and top with the strawberries/ raspberries or blueberries or a combination of berries. Gently place the second cake layer, cake side down so the meringue layer is facing up, onto the first layer. Dust with confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar. If not eating immediately, cover and place in the refrigerator until serving time. The assembled cake will hold in the refrigerator for a few hours.

A Sweet Punch~Pear, Chocolate & Almond Crumble

We are down with a nasty cough, so couldn't enjoy this crumble with ice-cream like we wanted to nor did I make custard or cream to go with it. And without ice-cream, heavy cream, custard or any of the like the crumble is just warm enough to delight us all.

Ingredients:
Ripe pears - 1kg (4-5), peeled, cored and chopped into 1cm pieces
Light brown soft sugar - 50gms [ Can substitute with regular sugar]
Grated zest and juice of 1 un-waxed lemon
Swiss milk chocolate - 100gms, roughly chopped

For the crumble:
Plain flour - 100gms [ You could substitute this with Whole wheat flour too]
Butter - 50gms, chilled and diced
Light brown soft sugar - 50gms
Almonds - 50g blanched, lightly toasted in a dry pan and roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Grease 6 ovenproof teacups or ramekins or a pie-dish. In a medium bowl, mix together the pears, brown sugar, lemon zest and juice, and half the chocolate. Divide the mixture between the teacups or ramekins, spooning over any juice. To make the crumble, place the flour and butter in a medium bowl and, with your fingertips, rub together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, almonds and remaining chocolate. Spoon the crumble over the pears and press down lightly. Place the crumbles on a baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with a scoop of good vanilla ice-cream.

A Sweet Punch~ Molten Lava Cake

This month couldn't have gotten any better with the team announcing the Molten Lava cake as the challenge. The timing was just perfect, my brother in law had been pestering me to make him one...and to top it off he spent a good three days with me and my husband. So baked him one to keep him happy. The joyous moment calls for, when the spoon dug right through, to release the warm delicious chocolate center..

Ingredients:

Semi - Sweet Baking Chocolate – 4 oz (113g)
Butter – 4 oz (113g)
Eggs – 2
Sugar – 1/3 cup (75 g)
All-purpose Flour – 1/4 cup (40g)
Butter – for greasing ramekins

In a double boiler, melt chocolate. In a medium mixing bowl, beat Eggs and Sugar until light and fluffy. Once chocolate is melted, remove pan from heat and add in butter. Mix until the butter melts fully. Add chocolate/butter mixture into the eggs, add all-purpose flour and mix until well incorporated. Butter bottom and sides of ramekins (small glass/porcelain bowls) and pour in mixture about 3/4 way full. Place ramekins on a baking tray and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C) for 10 – 15 minutes. Shorter for gooey (molten) inside, longer for stiff inside. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

A Sweet Punch~ Chicken Quiche

The best quiche I have ever had is the one Freeda Aunty used to make. It was on my list of bakes to try out a quiche, and the sweet punch roll out their dish for September, making it all savoury with a quiche. An excellent choice!

Ingredients:

For the pastry:

Maida -200g

Butter (frozen) -100g (preferably unsalted)

Baking powder-1/4 tsp

Salt-to taste

Beaten egg-1

Ice cold water-as required ( which will be a few drops)

Sieve maida ,salt and baking powder together. Grate in the butter and mix it with the flour with your fingertips till it resembles coarse sand. Add in the beaten egg and water and gather it into a soft dough. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface and lift it up carefully and line the tin that you will be baking it in.If it breaks up and you need to do a patch work, big deal! It wouldn't be seen outside.Which ever tin you are using, make sure the dough comes a little way up the sides, so that it can hold the filling in. 

Filling:

Boiled and shredded chicken-1/2 c ( you can substitute it for paneer or other veggies of your choice)

Onion-250 g ,chopped

Milk-1 c

Cheese-100g (cheddar will work fine)

Beaten eggs-3

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil- as needed.

Heat oil and slightly fry the chicken/paneer til it is golden brown. Add in the onions and fry till onions have caramelized. Switch off the flame. Add milk, cheese, beaten eggs, salt and pepper and mix well. Pour into the pastry case and bake for 25 mins or till golden brown. Let it cool in the tin completely . Serve it in wedges.

A Sweet Punch~Tiramisu

Tiramisu is something I thought I'd never attempt. One the length of the recipe itself is intimidating and more so I just don't know how to frost, ice and do any of those wonderful intricate things. But then what's a sweet punch without a challenge? It's all about taking each step at a time following the recipe word to word...and I tell you....what you'd end up with is something not just delectable but a definite score on your baking repertoire. Not only did my family and Jeny girl love it, I think I managed to cheer up a sulky friend...who needed a sweet indulgence to lift his spirits up..

Ingredients:

Baking: From  my Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

For the cake layers:

2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

For the espresso extract:

2 tablespoons instant espresso powder

2 tablespoons boiling water

For the espresso syrup:

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon amaretto, Kahlua, or brandy

For the filling and frosting:

1 8-ounce container mascarpone (store-bought or homemade)

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon amaretto, Kahlua, or brandy

1 cup cold heavy cream

2 1/2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped, or about 1/2 cup store-bought mini chocolate chip

Chocolate-covered espresso beans, for decoration (optional)

Cocoa powder, for dusting

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9×2 inch round cake pans, dust the insides with flour, tap out the excess, and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet. 

To make the cake:

Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for another 3 minutes. Add the eggs one by one, and then the yolk, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Beat in the vanilla; don’t be concerned if the mixture looks curdled. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, adding the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the milk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients); scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed and mix only until the ingredients disappear into the batter. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, rotating the pans at the midway point. When fully baked, the cakes will be golden and springy to the touch and a thin knife inserted into the centers will come out clean. Transfer the cakes to a rack and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right-side up.

To make the extract:

Stir the espresso powder and boiling water together in a small cup until blended. Set aside. 

To make the syrup:

Stir the water and sugar together in a small saucepan and bring just to a boil. Pour the syrup into a small heatproof bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of the espresso extract and the liqueur or brandy; set aside.

To make the filling and frosting:

Put the mascarpone, sugar, vanilla, and liqueur in a large bowl and whisk just until blended and smooth.

Working with the stand mixer with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream until it holds firm peaks. Switch to a rubber spatula and stir about one quarter of the whipped cream into the mascarpone. Fold in the rest of the whipped cream with a light touch.

To assemble the cake:

If the tops of the cake layers have crowned, use a long serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion to even them. Place one layer right-side up on a cardboard round or a cake plate protected with strips of wax or parchment paper. Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, soak the layer with about one third of the espresso syrup. Smooth some of the mascarpone cream over the layer – user about 1 1/4 cups – and gently press the chopped chocolate into the filling. Put the second cake layer on the counter and soak the top of it with half the remaining espresso syrup, then turn the layer over and position it, soaked side down, over the filling. Soak the top of the cake with the remaining syrup.

For the frosting, whisk 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining espresso extract into the remaining mascarpone filling. Taste the frosting as you go to decide how much extract you want to add. If the frosting looks as if it might be a little too soft to spread over the cake, press a piece of plastic wrap against its surface and refrigerate it for 15 minutes or so. Refrigerate the cake too.

With a long metal icing spatula, smooth the frosting around the sides of the cake and over the top. If you want to decorate the cake with chocolate-covered espresso beans, press them into the filling, making concentric circles of beans or just putting some beans in the center of the cake.

Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 hours (or for up to 1 day) before serving – the elements need time to meld.

Just before serving, dust the top of the cake with cocoa.