Microwave Eggless Dates Cake as Yummy Food turns '5'

Call it birthday or anniversary…..in these five years I never celebrated by making a special post for the big day…..reason….? I remember it when it is already gone…dumbo me…but this time…I remembered it from so long…as  one fine day I was referring to my old post…I noticed that soon my blog is going to complete five years…..I was very much amazed by seeing that…

Ahaa….five years of journey….I just can’t frame it in this single post…but let me share with you some fond memories…that made me grow to be what I am today….My blog is simple answer to all the people who ask me what you do by just staying at home…..isn't it boring…? So if you are reading this post then you people might have got the answer….I write…I cook…I click….I blog…my blog is my reflection….though this blog was started by me to kill the time…now I am happy that I started blogging…Blogging has given me wings…to fly…to soar new heights…to gain confidence….to brush my hidden skill for photography….I never thought I would click what I cook and eat…but now I do…in much sophisticated way….I know many things about camera…which I would have never explored otherwise….

I have gone crazy with props…which otherwise I would have never done….I had tried new recipes, twisted daily recipes, learnt to present food, etc….only because of blog…Apart from all this…I have got readers….Do you know much this word me to me….”Readers”…I have got people who read my blog….follow my blog updates on twitter, facebook, google +, feeds, pinterest, etc…who even take out time to comment….along with whole new bunch of virtual friends….whom you don’t even meet in person…but know what’s cooking in their kitchen and served at dinning table…

With 400 posts among which more than 350+ are recipes, 11500+ comments and 7 lac +page views leaving me blush each time I check on these stats of my blog. Along with this I have made good friends who are my energy boosters and my blog critics….A heart felt thanks to all the readers, followers, fans, commenters, friends and family. A special thanks to my sweet little sis who always make it a point that I blog….blog more often…whatever may be the situation….As I blew the candles lit on the birthday cake of ‘Yummy Food’….I silently whisper in my heart….Long Live…Yummy Food…..May the flavours of my kitchen always surround you….

 

Coming to today’s post….it is a simple cake made in microwave….with dates….Dates are my favourite….You can find dates in my fridge any time….I love gulping one or two whenever I open the fridge….I love adding dates to shakes and even to some desserts….These days I love adding it to my cakes…for its natural sweetness….This is one simple microwave cake that I make more often…as it turns soft and yum every time I make it…For the first time I have frosted the cake with ‘Chocolate Icing’….and the cake tasted extremely delectable….Try this to pacify that urge to gratify something sweet, gooey, chocolaty and yummy….

 INGREDIENTS:

DRY INGREDIENTS:

• 1½ cups + 2 tbsp. All Purpose Flour
• ½ cup Oats powder (see notes)
• 1½ cups Icing sugar
• 4 tbsp. unsweetened Cocoa powder (I used Cadbury brand)
• ½ tbsp. Baking powder
• ¼ tbsp. Baking soda
• pinch of Salt

WET INGREDIENTS:

• 10 Dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 tbsp. semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
• ½ cup +2 tbsp. Butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup Milk, room temperature
• ½ tbsp. Vanilla essence
• ½ cup chopped Walnuts

CHOCOLATE ICING: 

• 200 gms. Dark Chocolate, grated
• 200 ml. Cream                       

PREPARATION:

• Grease a microwave safe bowl with butter and dust with all-purpose flour. Set aside.
• Toss chopped walnuts in 1 tbsp. of flour. Set aside.
• Add milk to chopped dates and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Leave it to cool by adding vanilla essence and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Once this mixture comes to room temperature add in butter and blend the mixture to smooth paste. Remove and add tossed walnuts. This is our wet ingredients mixture.
• In a large bowl sieve in all the ingredients listed under dry ingredients. Repeat this process for 2-3 times. This process helps in combining the ingredients all together without any lumps.
• Now make a well in the sieved dry ingredients and add in the above wet ingredients mixture folding slowly and gently. Mix till you get lump-free batter.
• Slowly pour the batter into greased microwave safe bowl and gently tap the bowl on kitchen counter by turning around the bowl. This process helps in scattering the batter evenly and removes air-bubbles.
• Microwave on high (1200 W) for 4 minutes. Remove and check by inserting the skewer in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean then it’s done. Allow the cake to stand for another 4-5 minutes, before turning it onto a cooling rack. Allow the cake to cool completely before you start icing.

FOR CHOCOLATE ICING:

• In a microwave safe bowl mix in grated dark chocolate and cream, microwave for 1 minute or until chocolate is melted. Whisk until the icing turns smooth and glossy.
• Leave the mixture to cool for 1-2 hours or until thick enough to spread over a cake. 
• This mixture will thicken as it cools.

ASSEMBLING:

• Coat the cake with thin layer of chocolate icing using a palette knife. Sprinkle colored sprinkles all over the top of the cake. Cool it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Last but not least add your 'love' to make the dish 'YUMMY'.

NOTE:

Microwave cake turns harder after some time so when you are basting it with frosting…be careful to finish of the cake within 3-4 hours of making it. The frosted cake stays soft for four hours.

MICROWAVE TIMING: 

Microwave timing can differ depending on the models. Mine is 20 lit. capacity IFB Microwave

with 1200 W. 

Fruit & Yogurt Parfait

Yahoo! Finally got internet connection at my mom’s place….that means you can see regular blog updates from now onwards….Yesterday my friend called me to ask….what she can suggest to her 6 year old daughter to prepare at her school event, where the theme is to prepare a recipe without using electricity, gas and fire. No electricity means no blender, microwave, etc…without gas means no cook….without fire means no other source of cooking….Though the restriction sound simple….the number of recipes are also few….Keeping the age of the girl in mind, the first thing which came to my mind was Lassi…..as it is no fuss and no mess recipe….But lassi sounded simple to me….then I thought of simple chat with puffed rice…. made with sliced tomatoes, onions, chat masala, lemon juice, salt and coriander leaves….then dropped the plan thinking the puffed rice may turn soggy if the event last long….

Fresh fruit salad was there in my mind…but I thought many will go for that only…as it is easy…then came in sandwiches, bread and jam was other options which sounded so simple to me….and my friend was also not convinced with the recipe ideas….Wondering what I would suggest her to help her kid pass the assignment at her school… Thinking bit on healthy, simple, kid loving and easy to make recipe which should taste yum…I decided on ‘Parfait’. When I told her about ‘Parfait’….she was like…what…? Then I told her…Parfait is nothing but a layered dessert recipe…which is simple in making and flavoursome too. I told her lets make it healthy and kid friendly too…my friend was very happy to hear the new name of the recipe…as she was curious to know about ingredients and how the final product looks…I gave her good description of the recipe and the preparation steps along with ingredients needed…with a promise that I will mail her the pic of the recipe that evening….she hunged up the phone sounding much relaxed and satisfied…

‘Parfait’ is one of the simple recipe which I love eating most of the evenings to satisfy that untime hunger….and sometimes in the morning as breakfast…when I want to settle down with something simple….. The recipe which I make mostly at home calls for simple fruits, dry fruits and yogurt mixed with vanilla essence and honey. Scroll down to check the recipe in detail…..

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Oranges, peeled and white pith removed
• ½ cup Pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup Yogurt
• 1 tbsp. Honey
• 2-3 drops Vanilla essence
• 2-3 tbsp. Ragi/Finger Millet Cereals
• 1 tbsp. Chopped Almonds
• 1 tbsp. Raisins

PREPARATION:

• Whip yogurt with honey and vanilla essence.
• Stat to layer by adding sliced oranges, pomegranate seeds, above made yogurt, ragi cereals, almonds and raisins. Repeat the layers if necessary.
• Serve immediately.
• Add love to make this recipe more 'Yummy'.

NOTES:

• As I had oranges and pomegranates at home…I used those in making. Choices on fruits and nuts are endless so play around.
• You can even use flavoured yogurt’s which are easily available in market these days in making this.
• You can even substitute ragi cereals with corn flakes or oats or muesli.

Review: CouponDunia - Save More to Shop More

Some words carry magical spell with them….just the mention of biryani make my mouth water….when my Lil’M says mamma…my heart melts….the mere mention of chocolate gives me nirvana….the word shopping gives me a sense of pleasure…pleasure doubles when I see the words free, discount and rebate on my favourite brands. Who doesn't love to shop till drop when their favourite brands offer unlimited discounts? A new word to add to this list is ‘coupon’….

Pick a coupon on your favourite brand or store and get huge discounts…..isn’t it wonderful….? Today morning I sat up to order gifts from an online store to send across to my dear friend who will be celebrating her birthday this month. Personally I love going out and picking up gifts for friends…but this time…the climate is horrible here…that I just can’t plan to step out…and some bad experiences with courier companies…made me go with online store this time….as I need to send the gift to another state in India.

My friend is a huge fan of writer Khaled Hosseni….So I thought of gifting her with his latest book…’And the Mountains Echoed’….the only trusted site by me to order books is flipkart. While I was searching for…my sis came to me and enquired what I am doing…then I said I am ordering a book for my friend to get deliver to her on her birthday….she said…Oh….and asked me….Have you picked any discount coupon? Wondered me…asked her…what coupon? Then she told me…to check CouponDunia…..I was amazed to see the world of coupons…..

CouponDunia has got coupons offering great deals on most of the online sites…They have got three sections…namely Most Popular Online Stores, Latest Coupons and Featured Coupons displaying the brand logo’s and when the mouse is placed on the brand logo…you will know the number of coupons the store is offering………Clicking on the brand logo…you will get to know about active coupons …

The site of CouponDunia is designed user friendly….It was like Sone pe Suhaga (Icing on the cake) to me....returning to the online store flipkart I ordered one for her and one for me…as I got hefty discount on the book from the Flipkart Coupons picked from CouponDunia..….isn’t it great…? Life is awesome when you get simple pleasures like this….Now e-shopping experience has got better and bountiful….

Along with picking up Flipkart Coupons, I also picked up Dominos Coupons as they look pretty attractive to me. I was planning to throw a surprise party to my friend who is back from US recently……and this coupons are of great help…. ;-)

I have already mentioned to you about foodpanda in my previous post….I picked up some FoodPanda Coupons too.

 If you have got a store….CouponDunia has got a coupon…..great deals and amazing offers…. With 800 listed merchants listed, 1.5 lakh facebook fans and 8 lakh unique page views……CouponDunia is the new adda for all the shopaholics….. Add coupon to save more and shop more….