I am sure most of the delhiites (specially old, people having bronchial and other respiratory problems) were feeling happy and lucky enough to receive warm winters this year. But certainly I am not one of them. In fact, if I, were given a chance I would happily pack my bags and shift permanently to Alaska. To me, winters is magical, something so beautiful to behold.
Last week we got a glimpse of season’s first ever dense fog but soon to my disappointment all that gray evaporated giving way to the bright and shimmering sunlight.
Just after Inder left for work, I get back into the kitchen to organize and to arrange the boxes that I have just put down on the slab. It’s been over a month but still I am not satisfied with the adjustment, everyday I bring down everything from the shelves to try some more comfortable arrangement; and to make more room for more of my kitchen items. But suddenly when I looked at the clutter that I have created a few minutes before, which I am so inspired to clean – looked daunting and stressful. So I wrapped up the work there and then, put everything back from where they have been picked and finally grabbed my tea and came into my room to remember the quote.
“Doing less is a way of life, a practice and it begins right here, where you are now.” – Savoring Slow.
Last week we gathered again to celebrate the marriage anniversary of my sister. We watched Airlift based on a real life story of great Mathunny Mathews (read more about him over here). Surprisingly most of us didn’t know much about the great man till the time we watched the movie. A few more interesting things happened that day: my nephew showed me his Prefect batch, which he got recently. The same day, my very generous sister-in-law gifted me a amazing designer cookie gun (I haven’t yet tried this tool as I am waiting for the Sunday to come when both Virat and I can play or work together). It feels wonderful when somebody supports you and your passion by such sweet gestures. The cake, I took with me was appreciated by everyone (will share the recipe soon). And, while coming back home we watched amazing lightening at Rashtrapati Bhawan. We didn’t get out of the car to click photographs as were already very late but Inder stopped the car and let me take photographs.
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Virat loves to pack some homemade goodies for him and for his school friends in his school lunch. It’s been so many years now but still wait there is so much anticipation or curiosity to hear some response from him and specially from his friends. Mostly they have rave reviews but at times they do get critical, like recently one of his friend commented “The magic was misssing”.
That was the cake I last talked about, which Virat made a few months before for his sisters. We all shared the cake it came out delicious.
Recipe adapted from Ricardocuisine
Ingredients
for Cake
• Whole wheat flour – 2 1/4 cup
• Baking powder – 1 tsp
• Baking soda – 1 tsp
• Butter – 150 gm, softened
• Castor sugar – 1 ¾ cup
• Lemon zest – 1 tsp
• Eggs – 3
• Lemon juice – ½ cup
• Buttermilk – ½ cup
for Ganache
• Cream – 200ml
• Chocolate – 250 gm
Method
For ganache
Pour cream into a microwavable bowl, add chopped chocolate and microwave for 2 minutes. Let it sit covered for 15 minutes to let the chocolate dissolve. Now, stir the mixture to make it a smooth spread.
For cake
Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Butter and line four 5” cake tin. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest with an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until smooth. At low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the lemon juice and buttermilk. Spoon the batter equally into the prepared pan and bake for about 15 – 20 minutes. Let cool. Unmold from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Place one layer top side down on a cake board spread some ganache or chocolate sauce then place another, repeat the same process with third and fourth. On top of the cake drizzle some sauce.
bakingflavours 