Orange Cake

 

Ingredients

1. 1 big ripe orange, zested and juiced

2. ½ tsp of vanilla essence

3. 2 eggs

4. ¼ cup sugar

5. ¼ cup all-purpose flour

6. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

7. ¼ tsp of soaked saffron in ½ cup of water (use only water)

8. ½ cup of skim milk

9. ½ cup ground blanched almonds sliced thinly

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray the baking loaf tray with nonstick cooking spray

2. In the mean time, set 4-5 cups of water over medium heat.

3. Separate the eggs, putting the whites in a separate bowl and egg yolks in separate bowl.

4. Using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks and set aside.

5. Add the sugar and ½ tsp of vanilla essence to the yolks, and beat until the sugar is dissolved and the color has turned a pale yellow.

6. Sift in the flour and salt and mix well.

7. Add the milk and stir until combined with hand mixer.

8. Add the orange zest and juice and saffron water and mix well.

9. Now fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture.

10. Mix egg mixture into flour mixture and add almonds. Toss into the mixture well but do not over mix it.

11. Pour the batter in a baking loaf tray. Place the tray into slightly baking dish and pour in hot water until iin t reaches halfway up the sides of the baking loaf tray.

12. Bake the cake until set, about 20 to 22 minutes.

13. Remove the tray from the water bath and let cool a bit before serving.

14. Slice them and serve with hot tea or coffee.

Chitra

Sugar Free Fruit Cake / Tuti Fruti / Ruehrkuchen mit Fruchten German Cake

This one I learned when I was in Germany. I was there during Wheinnacten / Christmas, when everyone was preparing such tasty cakes. I learned this from my friend Ella, this is her family recipe. Hope you also enjoy as I do.

Ingredients

1. 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2. 1 cup chopped golden raisins

3. 1 cup of green kishmish (raisins)

4. ½ cup of cranberries

5. 1 ½ cups of chopped walnuts

6. ½ tsp of salt

7. 1 cup unsweetened crushed pineapple jam

8. ¼ cup grated orange and lemon peels

9. ¼ cup orange juice

10. 5-8 packets artificial sweetener (as per taste)

11. 1 tsp baking soda

Directions

1. Mix sugar substitute with orange juice. Pour over chopped cranberries. Soak 1 hour, mixing often.

2. Mix raisins, nuts, lemon orange peel and pineapple jam mix it in the flour until well coated.

3. Add the cranberries and orange juice mixture.

4. Sprinkle baking soda over mixture, and mix.

5. Fold in the mixture well don’t stir. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 inch loaf pan.

6. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 40 minutes.

7. Cool and serve with fresh strawberry or raspberry syrup or just plain with tea or coffee.

8. For syrup you can crush the frozen raspberries or strawberries and boil them sugar and water. For every cup of berries add ½ cup of sugar and 2 glass of water. After the mixture is thickened or turned syrupy, strain it and cool down the syrup. You can use this over pancakes, bread, cakes or salads.

-Chitra

Marble Cake

 

Ingredients

1. 2 cups all-purpose flour

2. 2 tsp. baking powder

3. 2 tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder

4. ½ teaspoon salt

5. 1 cup sugar

6. ½ cup of unsalted butter

7. 2 eggs

8. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

9. 1 cup milk

1. In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk.

2. Beat it well until the mixture is smooth.

3. Grease and flour a 9 inch round pan.

4. Reserve ¾ cup of batter; pour the rest into pan.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

6. In the reserved mixture, stir cocoa.

7. Drop the cocoa mixture with the help of spoon over top of white batter. Using a knife, swirl the cocoa batter into the white batter to incorporate it in a marble effect.

8. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

-Chitra

Tiramisu

 

It is one of the most popular Italian cakes. It is made of Savoiardi (otherwise known as lady finger biscuits) dipped in espresso or strong coffee and layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks, mascarpone, and sugar, and topped with cocoa. Tiramisu has become one of the most popular desserts served in restaurants of all types, not just Italian restaurants. The recipe has been adapted into cakes, puddings, and other varieties of dessert.

Ingredients

1. 6 egg yolks

2. 3 tablespoons sugar

3. 1 pound mascarpone cheese

4. 1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled

5. 2 teaspoons dark rum

6. 24 packaged ladyfingers

7. 4 small circular cake molds

8. 1 plastic wrap

9. ½ tsp of butter to grease the pan

10. Shavings of semi sweet chocolate

11. Store bought golden cake bottom ( can buy from any store in party section or bakery/cake section)

For Garnishing

1. ½ cup coco powder

2. One chocolate covered biscuit/cookie (any different shape like a regular cookie).

3. Whipped cream

4. One chocolate M&M.

Directions

1. Take cake molds (for individual) and the plastic wrap inside to outside; so that when Tiramisu can be take out from the cake pan after it easily.

2. Place golden cake bottom to give support to cake.

3. Grease inside of the pan with very little butter.

4. Cover it with some shaved semi sweet chocolate and cover it with lid shake well so that chocolate sticks inside of the pan.

5. Keep it in freezer for at least 1 hour so that chocolate sticks to the pan.

6. In a large bowl beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes with electric mixer with whisk attachment.

7. Now add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth paste.

8. Add 1 tablespoon of espresso and mix until combined.

9. In a small shallow dish, add remaining espresso and rum mix well.

10. Dip each ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds. Letting the ladyfingers soak too long will cause them to fall apart.

11. Place the soaked ladyfinger on the bottom of each cake pan. Fit them in bottom very well.

12. Spread evenly 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.

13. Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining mascarpone mixture.

14. Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5-8 hours.

15. Now before serving take them out of the fridge with the help of golden cake support below and place it carefully in the some plate.

16. Sprinkle coco powder on the top with the help of strainer.

17. Garnish with whipped cream, cookie on top and M&M on the top.

18. Now slide it carefully on the serving tray.

Take out the Tiramisu only when your guests arrive, keep it in fridge till then. I made this for a party of 10 people and they all shared one each for 2-4 per person

-Chitra

Banana Bread - Low Calorie cake

You will never regret it, it's nutritious and low calorie as it is made with whole wheat flour, you will never go to any store to buy, as you can make better now.

Ingredients

· 1 ½ cup of whole wheat flour
· 1 tsp. of Baking Soda

· ½ tsp. of Salt

· 1 ½ cup of Sugar

· 3 eggs lightly beaten with 3 tsp. of Sugar

· 2 large banana’s mashed

· 1 cup of canola oil

· 2 tsp. of orange Tang flavor

· 1 tsp. of chopped almonds

Directions

· Preheat oven at 400 degrees।

. Take one bowl and combine eggs and sugar till they are bright golden color and thick.

· Now combine mashed bananas to eggs and stir gently.

· Take another dry bowl where mix all dry ingredients wheat flour, baking soda, salt and
sugar with fork so that you don’t have any lumps.

· Now mix Oil slowly and keep on stirring to dry ingredients.

· Now add Eggs and Bananas to the mixture and stir continuously so there are no lumps.

. Add almonds to it and stir.

· Pour the mixture to greased loaf pan.

· Sprinkle sugar on top of the mixture for crusty texture on top.

· Bake until lightly browned and bread bounces back to the touch, about 55 minutes to 1
hour.

· Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before turning out in a plate to cool
completely.

· Enjoy with tea, coffee or have as a snack.

-Chitra