Bated Breath Birthday Surprise

I have been known as one of those species, that experiment.  My lab is none other than my kitchen! Yes, I am a Chef of sorts! I love taking risks and cooking something new. Coming from the Gujju background, everyone in my family is a foodie. Every celebration at my house thus has to have a good spread of sweets and snacks.  Add to it, my adventurous nature! I look forward to occasions to surprise my near and dear ones with a new dish. Not all the surprises are worth remembering though!

One such adventure however is fresh in my mind and will always be. How can I forget the bated breath with which I was waiting for it to come out nice, fluffy and aromatic?

It was my father in law’s birthday. This year I had made plans to surprise him with home made egg less cake. Off I went to a bake shop and gathered all the ingredients after referring to a cook book. I was excited! As I began following the steps, I soon realised that the fear factor has entered my brain ware like a creepy crawly! It was then the time to keep the cake mould in the OTG and wait!

The wait of 25 minutes seemed eternal! As if transfixed, I was standing right opposite OTG. Soon the aroma started wafting in the air. My thoughts by now had wandered into what if land. My breath was getting deeper and deeper, as if trying to shy away from the end results. As the OTG buzzed, signalling the end of baking, my thought train came to a screeching halt.

My legs started wobbling at the thought of reaching up to the other side. With bated breath and little shaky hands, I pulled the cake mould out. With a deep long breath, I pierced a skewer into the cake and pulled it out. 

Oh my my! It has come clean! I was on the moon now!

Decorating it, with chocolate frosting and some dry fruits was like a cake walk for me, courtesy the excitement that has resumed! Evening was far more than delectable, as my father in law could not stop appreciating and blessing me!

Sharing the recipe of the Chocolate cake with you all. This is the one that I have tweaked, based on my further experiments, and is tried and tested for sure!

Ingredients for chocolate Sponge Cake: 

·         1 cup condensed milk / milkmaid

·         ¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

·         1½ cup maida / plain flour / all purpose flour

·         3 tbsp cocoa powder

·         ¾ tsp baking soda

·         1 tsp baking powder

·         ¼ tsp salt

·         ¾ tsp vanilla extract

·         ¾ cup warm milk, add as required

For Chocolate Frosting:

·         ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

·         ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·         2 cups powdered sugar / icing sugar

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

·         ¼ cup cold milk, add as required

Chocolate Cake Recipe:

In  a large mixing bowl take condensed milk and butter. Beat in one direction till the mixture turns smooth and fluffy. Sieve maida, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Fold them gently. Add vinegar, vanilla extract and warm milk. Mix gently to attain smooth dropping consistency. Transfer the cake batter to a cake mould. Bake the cake at 180 degree celsius for 25 minutes.( you can bake it in cooker too. That recipe some other day, some other post!!!) Cool down the cake completely. Once cooled, cut it in two equal halves horizontally.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe:

1.     In a large mixing bowl take butter and beat it.

2.     Add cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract add cold milk.

3.     Beat till the mixture turns smooth and spreadable.

Decorating Chocolate Cake Recipe:

Spread the generous amount of prepared chocolate frosting on top of the lower half of the cake. Then place another half on top of it. Spread the frosting on its top and all along the side. Decorate it with dry fruits or fresh fruits or Gems or rainbow sprinkles.

Plate it in an attractive dish. Store in fridge till its cake cutting time!

-----By MocktailMommy Ruchi

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge 

 #writebravely  #writetribeproblogger

Linking this post to #FridayReflections by SanchVee and Corinne