Orange Cake

Eurekkaaa!! No...no...don't take me in a wrong way...I am not proving to be Archimedes & neither am I trying to copy his invention ;)...it is just the reflection of my feeling when I discovered the real way to introduce the flavor of juicy oranges into the cake! After hunting a lot for 'lemon zest' in maharashtrian stores (A sincere request to those who already know about 'zest'....do not laugh please!! :) ) & ending up with nothing in hand & nobody knowing about it, I almost decided to drop that particular ingredient from the recipe. But so much thankful I am to google search that I came across some videos where its very well explained what the 'zest' is & how to derive it from the fruit & that is how I ended up saying 'Eureka' :)

The only reason of giving so much importance to the 'zesty' para of this post is because- the real flavor of the fruit is introduced into the cake due to this zest. Be careful though!! You might also end up into a 'bittery' cake....this is where lies the crux of the whole matter! As I have already tried this one...just go ahead & bake it! The result is going to be a wonderfully Orange flavored Cake. I can assure, you will end up 'burping' in Orange flavor!! :)

Orange Cake

Serves: 2-3                        Preparation Time: 20 mins                        Baking Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup refined vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup powdered sugar OR 3/4 cup granulated sugar (I used powdered)

Juice of one Orange

Zest of one Orange

a pinch of salt

1 1/2 tsp baking pwd

1/2 tsp soda/ sodium bicarbonate

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 tsp orange food color (optional)

Step 1: Get the zest of one Orange. I used a fine grater for this. Make sure you grate only the upper part & no white part of the Orange...else it will add the bitter taste to the cake.

Step 2: Put the pressure cooker on the gas top to pre-heat as explained in previous post. Prepare the batter till then.

Step 3: Sieve the flour, baking pwd & soda. Mix well. Set aside.

Step 4: In a mixing bowl, mix the sugar & oil till creamy.

Step 5: Add egg & continue to beat till frothy.

The Orange zest

Step 6: Add vanilla essence, food color & mix well. Add orange juice, orange zest, salt & continue mixing.

Step 7: Add the flour mixture in batches. Do not overbeat now. Just mix well.

Step 8: Grease the pan & pour the mixture into it. Put it inside the cooker.

Step 9: Cover with a plate placed upside-down.

Step 10: Bake of a medium flame for 15 mins. Reduce the flame & bake for another 5 mins or till the knife inserted comes out clean. Its ready!! :)

A Secret Bake!!

How would you feel if you are biting a piece of chocolate cake & something suddenly struck your teeth....and when using your super fabulous testing skills, you try to identify what was that...and suddenly you realize, it was an almond or a pistachio or a raisin!! How would you feel then?? Won't  you feel as if it is some secret within that bake? Does that sound funny....but that was something Y felt after having the first bite of this cake which I surprisingly made on the 1st day of this year and so I thought of naming it this way.

After the Winter Special- Mawa Ladoo post this one is again dedicated to one of the same categories- The Dry Fruits!! After sharing with one of my friends about what did I do on the New Year, he composed a Quatrain for my post understanding my special love for Dry fruits this season. Would like to share it with you all here:

Rooms shift seasons, sometimes in Summer & sometimes in Winter

Tastes shift occasions, sometimes in Watermelon & sometimes in Almond

Its a taste, its a passion

Its a journey, its a bond!!

- Amit Ghosh

This is a simple chocolate cake with some dry fruits added to it. I assure you, it will not last longer once you give it a try :)

Dry Fruit Chocolate Cake

Serves: 3-4                Preparation Time: 15 mins                      Baking Time: 20-30 mins

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour + 1 tbspn for dusting the pan

1 egg

1/4 cup refined vegetable oil

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tbspn cocoa pwd

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 1/2 tsp baking pwd

small pinch of baking soda

7-8 raisins

1/2 tsp ghee

Coarsely Powder:

3 cashews, 3 pistachios, 3 almonds, 2 dry dates( kharik)

Step 1: While you prepare the batter, keep the Pressure cooker on the gas stove to preheat. Refer Pressure Cooker Magic- Choco Lava Cake post.

Step 2: Grease a pan with oil & whole wheat flour. Keep aside & work with the batter.

Step 2: Sieve whole wheat flour, baking pwd, baking soda & cocoa pwd. Mix well & keep aside.

Step 3: Heat ghee in a pan & saute the raisins till golden. Set aside.

Step 4: Beat the egg & oil till smooth & creamy. Add milk & mix well.

Step 5: Add sugar & beat well till it dissolves & gives a creamy liquid base.

Step 6: Add vanilla essence. Add the whole wheat flour mix prepared in Step 2 in batches. Mix well. Make sure not to overbeat now. It should just be mixed nicely with the liquid base.

Step 7: End up adding the powdered Dry Fruits & golden raisins. Mix again.

Step 8: Pour the batter in the greased pan. Put the pan in the preheated pressure cooker. Cover with a plate placed upside down.

Step 9: Cook on a medium flame for 15 mins. Reduce the flame & cook till the knife inserted comes out clean. 

Step 10: Once cooled, remove from the pan & serve with a cup of Ginger Tea!! Heaven!! :)

Note: You may vary the type of Dry Fruits and their quantity as per your choice! I ran out of walnuts but they will surely add a crunch!

Pressure Cooker Magic- Choco Lava Cake

@Home, we mostly prefer the spicier cuisine, however, I wanted to start with something sweet for the first recipe post here & so here comes something just delicious & mouthmelting!!

Dominos launched the Choco Lava Cake & I started drooling for it!! Warm & enjoy the chocolate cake with the soft, creamy chocolate lava which melts in the mouth...mmmm yummmy!! I still remember the fear I had in my mind while baking the first basic cake...but I assure it to the beginners that baking is just like wine...the more it ripes with your practice..the more it improves...so just go ahead & do it!! 

Here's the recipe for the choco-lava cake which I have baked in a Pressure Cooker. The best part of the cake is the complete wheat flour (atta) & no maida used in the preparation...which makes it healthier for all in the family. I dont have an OTG as of now, but I know Y is surely thinking of buying one...watching my craze towards baking ;)...& I will offcourse compel him for that..just by making him "eat & burpp!!"!! Heyy, but the pressure cooker also works nothing less than the OTG for me...just the same tastes...the same smell..which emanates all over the house...makes you all crave for the new bake...so here comes the pressure cooker magic..

Choco- Lava Cake

Serves:4              Preparation Time: 20 mins             Baking Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

2 eggs

3/4 bowl Wheat Flour + some more for greasing

1/2 bowl granulated sugar

1/3 bowl refined sunflower oil or any vegetable oil

1 & 1/2 tsp baking pwd

1/2 tsp eating soda

4 tbspn unsweetened cocoa pwd

1 tspn vanilla essence

Ingredients for Choco Lava:

1 bowl Amul Fresh Cream

1 small Cadbury Bournville dark chocolate

1/3 bowl unsweetened cocoa pwd

4 tbspn powdered sugar

Step 1: Prepare the filling:

Heat the cream till it just starts boiling. Break the dark chocolate in a bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Add sugar. Stir well. Add a little cocoa pwd at a time & keep stirring to form a smooth & creamy chocolate lava. Let the filling cool completely till you prepare the cake batter.

Pre-heating the Cooker

 Step 2: Place the cooker on the gas stove on the small burner & least heat. It is advisable to use the cooker plate to avoid direct heat to the moulds. (This is pre-heating)

Step 3: Sieve the atta, baking pwd & baking soda together with the Maida strainer (with smallest holes). Add cocoa pwd to this & mix well. Keep aside.

Step 4: Beat the sugar & oil till smooth & creamy. Add eggs to this & beat again. I use a manual egg beater for this. An electronic egg beater can also be used but make sure not to overbeat. Add vanilla essence. Add the sieved flour (little at a time) to this mixture & beat till all the ingredients are just mixed well.

Step 5: Grease 4 small bowls with oil & atta. Fill half the moulds with cake batter. Place a tbspn of filling right in the middle (be careful!!). Now pour some more batter on the top to cover the filling completely. The moulds should be 3/4th filled. Finally the preparations are over!!

Step 6: Now place the moulds in the oven & cover the cooker with a plate kept upside down which will also allow the steam to escape. Keep on the medium heat & let it bake for 20 mins. Do not open the cooker for 20 mins. After 20 mins open the lid & check to see if the cake rises well & leaves the moulds from the ends. Now reduce the heat to minimum & keep it for another 10 mins. Turn off heat. Take out the moulds & let them cool.

Clockwise: 1. Cake Batter 2. Filling places in the center 3. Filling covered  with cake batter 4. Moulds placed in the cooker

Step 7: Its all ready now!! You can use all your creativity for the icing part or can have it just the way it is!! Creamy & delicious...I bet!!

Few Clicks: Had put some fresh cream & sugar granules over the cake before serving

Happy Baking!!