Mum's Delight

I got this recipe from one of my neighbours. Thanks to her, I baked this sweet to celebrate a special occasion. Believe me, it turned out really delicious! And to make it more appealing, I dusted it with powdered sugar (I did not have icing sugar) and topped each piece with strawberry preserve (any topping of your choice would also do). The end result is here for all to see.

Its delicious, easy to prepare and a hit at parties especially kiddies parties. No wonder it is called "Mum's Delight" !

However, weight watchers should avoid indulging in this as I found that no one can stop at just one piece!

 Mum's Delight

    

Ready for baking

Baked, Cooled and Cut into squares

 

Ingredients:

Butter	100 gms
Freshly Grated coconut	1 cup
Condensed milk	1cup
Marie Biscuits (crushed)	2 pkts (200gms) each
Drinking chocolate	1/2 cup
Chopped (mixed) nuts	1 cup
Icing sugar (optional)	for dusting
Strawberry preserve (optional)	For topping

Method:

1. Put butter in a baking tray measuring (12’x 9” x 2”) and melt over heat (gas stove) for a minute or two. Remove from flame.
2. Sprinkle crushed biscuits evenly on the melted butter.
3. Sprinkle grated coconut over the crushed biscuits.
4. Sprinkle drinking chocolate powder over the grated coconut.
5. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the chocolate powder.
6. Lastly, top it with the chopped mixed nuts.
7. Stir the ingredients roughly and spread it evenly again.
8. Place the baking tray in a preheated oven at 180 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes (a toothpick when pierced, will come out clean).
9. Allow to cool completely before cutting into desired shapes.
10. Dust it with icing sugar (optional).
11. Place a teaspoon of strawberry preserve (optional) over each piece before serving.

Preparation time: 20 mins

Baking time : 30 mins

Makes : 20 square pcs.

Note:

• I used unsalted butter. You can also use salted butter. For mixed nuts, I used cashews, almonds, pistachios and walnuts.
• I have restricted the use of condensed milk. You may add more if you prefer it sweeter.
• The cup that I have used measures 125 gms or 125 ml
• Can be refrigerated to preserve it for a longer period. 

Semolina Banana Cake (eggless)

This is one of the most easiest eggless cake to make. Ideally, it should be called "No fuss  No Mess" Cake !. Its very simple to make as all the ingredients are almost always available in all homes and according to me a healthy one too, as it contains no maida, no baking powder and no butter !! This cake will not rise so there is no anxiety at all and this is best suited for a small oven as it will take only 15-20 mins to bake. The taste is simply delicious. However if baked in a loaf tin which I did this time, it takes a longer time to bake.

Just removed from the oven

Sliced cake

Ingredients:

Semolina (Fine sooji)	1 cup
Sugar	¾ cup
Milk	1 cup
Bananas (Robusta or Chiquita)	2-3
Cardamom  powder	½ tsp
Mixed chopped nuts	2 tbsps
Raisins	1 tbsp
Saffron/Kesar	A few strands
Ghee (clarified butter)	About 2tsps

Method:

1. Roast semolina in 1tsp of ghee till light brown.
2. Crush the saffron in a tsp of warm milk and keep aside.
3. Peel the bananas and puree it in the blender. Then add to it sugar, milk and the roasted and cooled semolina and run the blender for a few seconds.
4. Mix in the nuts, raisins, cardamom powder and the saffron into it.
5. Pour this batter into a greased (with 1 tsp of ghee) loaf tin.
6. Bake in the (preheated) oven at 170 degrees centigrade for 35-40 mins.
7. Cool it on a wire rack and cut into slices.

Preparation time: 30 mins
Baking time  :      40mins
Makes : 20 slices

Note :

If the cake is baked in a square or round cake tin instead of a loaf tin, then the baking time will be reduced to 15 to 20 mins only.

Chocolate chip cookies (eggless)

Its that time of the season when everybody is in the mood to have a good time and to eat yummy things. The climate too adds to the festivity. I too am in a mood of baking and what better way of starting it than the delicious chocolate chip cookies. 

This is an easy recipe and does not take much time to prepare or bake but the aroma of the baking lingers for quite sometime not only in your kitchen but also in your neighbour's ! So be prepared !

Ingrdients:

Margarine /Butter	125 gms
Castor sugar	50 gms
Brown sugar	50 gms
Vanilla essence	1 tsp
Following  to be sifted twice
All purpose flour (maida)	200 gms
Cocoa powder	25 gms
Bi-carbonate of soda	¼ tsp
Baking powder	½ tsp
Salt	¼ tsp
Combine the following
Chocolate chips	50 gms
Walnuts	50 gms

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees centigrade. 
2. Cream butter and both sugars and vanilla essence together until light and fluffy.
3. Fold in sifted dry ingredients.
4. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Mix and combine well into a dough.
6. Knead the dough and make little balls, flatten and place on baking tray 4-5cm apart.
7. Bake for 10-15mins.
8. Cool on a wire rack and store in an air-tight container when completly cooled.

Preparation time: 35 mins
Baking time       : 15 mins


Makes             : 40 cookies


Note:

• .If salted butter is used, do not add salt.
• Cookies will rise a little and will not expand much but small cracks may appear. 
• Cookies will be soft until cooled to room temperature.