ALMOND CHOCOLATE COOKIES

This recipe is dedicated to my friend Hemali Shah.

I made it this sunday with my 3 yr old angel and had a great time making it from scratch.

My angel has all the traits for becoming a big chef one day and she has started really early.

So here goes...................

INGREDIENTS-

Butter, softened 1 cup

Icing sugar 1 cup

Egg 1 no

Almond powder 1 cup

Refined flour 1 cup

Baking powder 1 tsp

Chocolate chips or chopped 1/2 cup

METHOD-

* To make almond powder, take whole almonds and blitz in the food processor or in the mixer or grinder.

* Mix the baking powder into the flour and sift well.

* Preheat the oven to 180 C.

* In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.

* Add the egg and mix well.

* Fold in the flour mixture very softly just till it all comes together. Do not overwork the dough.

* Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.

* Take it out and mix the chocolate in to the dough.

* Make into walnut sized balls and place them 1 inch apart on a baking tray lined with butter paper.

* Bake for 12-15 minutes.

* Let them cool on the tray for at least 5 mins and then remove them from the tray and cool.

* Store in an air-tight container. And enjoy the goodness of home-made cookies.

NOTE-

* You can also make the cookies without the almond. Just add the same amount of regular flour instead of the almond powder into the dough.

* You can also add any other flavor that you want into the recipe for a different batch of cookies.

* You can also make the dough and freeze it and use it as and when you need to bake them. It will stay in the freezer for at least 1-2 months if properly stored before the butter starts to get a rancid flavor.

3 YEARS.............

Its been 3 years and still going on....................

nut really slow nowadays. As have work, home and my angel to take care of.

But have decided that from today onwards will do try and put up a post at least once a week.

Now isn't that such a great way to start the 3 year anniversary post.

And i have some more great news.

My angel has come FIRST in her class. Today i got her mid-term results from school.

And i felt on the top of the world.

I am sure that i would not have been so happy when my results of class 12th had come out.

This is what motherhood does to you.

You revel in the glory of your kids achievement and your happiness knows no bounds.

Need to celebrate with her and need to take her out for her favorite KFC crispy chicken strips................................

BANANA CAKE

Easy banana cake recipe for anyone to follow...........even my 3 year old daughter can make this. So you can imagine how easy it is.

Ingredients-

Eggs 2 nos

Sugar 1 cup

Oil 1 cup

Refined flour 1 cup

Bananas 3-4, mashed

Baking powder 1/2 tsp

Method-

*Grease the cake tin with oil and dust with flour.

*Pre-heat the oven to 150 C.

*Cream the eggs and sugar with the help of a hand blender or a whisk, until light and fluffy.

*Add the oil and mix well.

*Add the mashed bananas.

*Add the baking powder to the flour and sift it.

*Add the flour into the egg mixture and fold well with a spatula.

*Pour the cake mixture into the cake tin and put in the oven for baking.

*Bake for about 30-40 mins, till a toothpick put in the center of the cake comes out clean.

*Let it cool in the cake tin for 15 mins and then de-mould.

FRESH MANGO CAKE

I've used mangoes for this cake but you could use any seasonal fruits that are available in the season. Apples would also taste very good.

Ingredients-

Eggs - 2 nos
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Butter - 1/2 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup
Flour - 1 cup
Baking powder - 2 1/2 tsp
Mangoes - 2 nos

Method-

* Mix the eggs and sugar till light and fluffy (it should hold the shape of eight written on it with a whisk)
* Melt the butter and milk together in a pan on slow fire.
* Mix the butter mixture with the egg mixture well,
* Fold int he flour and the baking powder.
* Grease and line a cake tin with butter paper.
* Pour the batter the cake mixture into the tin.
* Arrange the sliced mangoes on top and and sprinkle some sugar on top for a crispy sugary crust.
* Put in pre-heated oven for baking.
* Bake at 200 C for 15-20 min and then reduce the temperature to 100 C and bake for another 10 mins or so, till a toothpick put in the cake comes out clean.