Apple-Walnut Swirl Cake

Really simple and easy to make.

Use "any" vanilla cake recipe. The best and tried recipe that you have. The cake should be a little moist.

The mixture in between the cake layers includes:

1 Apple (peeled grated and dried)
1/2-1 cup chopped walnuts/pecans
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 lemon zest or 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2-4 tbsp brown sugar

Mix them all together and layer evenly. In 13 by 9 inch pan spread half the cake batter and sprinkle the apple/nuts mixture (recipe above). Then spread the remaining batter and bake at 180 degrees C for 25-30 minutes (check with toothpick-time may vary with ovens).With a fork or knife make swirls (like in a marble cake). Enjoy warm with tea.

Chewy, Crumbly, Dark Chocolate Cookies (NESTLÉ®)

When I think of food, I think of childhood... family meals, home cooked with love, baked goodies and best of all "cookie memories" revolving around cookies from my childhood days...chocolate chip cookies, chocolate filled cookies, creamy, buttery, coconutty, chewy and even plain milk ones. How do you like yours? Plain, thin and crisp, soft and chewy, with nuts, double chocolate chip or even triple chocolate ones (My personal favouite)

I always love to try out new cookies-Ben's cookies being one of my favourites out here in the desert. (must try their praline & triple chocolate ones!). But what is better than a home baked, chewy goodness. Iam the one with the mighty sweet tooth (or a sweet jaw if that would be a word). Husband on the other hand is more into dark and bitter ones.

So one fine day after watching (or rather drooling) over Food Network, I went to the kitchen and found a NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®  bag in the fridge and on it, was this recipe. If you're a fan of bitter-sweet dark goodness, this recipe is for you.

As I say, you can always play around with the recipe and add semi-sweet chocolate chips just to give it a sweet kick!

cookies ready to go in the oven

 

Prep: 15 min

Yield: 12 Servings

 

  

     Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) Nestlé® Toll House® Dark Chocolate Morsels, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Nestlé® Toll House® Baking Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

 

 

I got a little carried away and spread the melting chips, you can try that too!

 

 

 

freshly baked

 

      Directions

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease.
• Melt 2/3 cup morsels in microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Set aside.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in remaining 1 cup morsels. Drop dough by level 1/4-cup measure 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs and the tops have a cracked appearance. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Makes: 12 cookies.

hmmmm can let go of all diets for this beauty!

Originally published as Jumbo Dark Chocolate Cookies in NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®

Rainy day & A Creamy Dessert.

Hello helloo....I know I have been away...been busy with in-laws over, and Rayyan is going through the phase of "I need mama 24/7 and I need answers to every question asked...with explanation!"

Just the other day was a beautiful in Riyadh, rain and hail stones,...first it drizzled, then hailstones and then finally it rained...sadly all the laundry I did a day before was soaking wet even before I realized.

I enjoyed the day shopping, a long drive and ended with a warm home cooked meal.

I usually make up quick recipes using the stuff in my pantry. I cooked a nice chicken karhai and some snacks for rain. We usualy make fried pakoras, samosas and other savoury snacks back home but here I just got some from a local shop.

I had to whip up a dessert and didnt have much on my hand so I just made this little beauty which not only tasted good but looks good enough to serve to guests.

The base was crushed mcvities, then poured warm vanilla pudding, pieces of vanilla pound cake, pudding again, top with blueberries, whipped cream, sprinkled with crushed biscuit on top! Ready in minutes, delicious to eat :)

Enjoy!

Oreos & Cream In a Glass.

I had a dinner for few friends, a couple of weeks ago. I had the menu planned and desserts ready. Last minute I felt, I must make one more dessert. That's just me! Have to have a last minute addition to the menu. I am a big fan of quick recipes and very fond of desserts in a glass. You can use a small glass/serving bowl but not very big one, smaller portions look pretty in transparent glasses.

I did a step by step guide on how to make this quick & yummy dessert.

To start off I crushed and grinded Oreos. (put them in a bag and use the rolling pin or just put them in the grinder) Spoon a tablespoon each of crushed oreos in the glasses.




The next step is the filling or the pudding. I used whipped cream mixed with Oreos (crushed pieces) & a little condensed milk. I put the mixture in the fridge for few hours and it thickened. You don't want a runny filling. You can add cream cheese to give it a creamy cheesy flavour and name it Oreo cheescake! ;)

Use anything you like, even icecream! :)

You can spoon it in the glasses, I tried to be neat and piped it.



And here it is all creamy and swirly.



Top it up with more grinded Oreos. (the same, used for the base.)





Top it off with Whipped Cream (I used cream in a can-dreamwhip/reddi whip)



Sadly I didnt take any photos of the chocolate I decorated on top (had no time!). I found this picture on the internet and it is what you can do to decorate your desserts. I used a mould, but I find thise piping chocolate and putting in the fridge to set easier.





Finally it was ready to eat and this was what was left in the morning which my friend & I enjoyed the next day, for lunch! :)



Feedback and comments are most welcome :)

Recipe of the day: Fruit Tartlets

A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes with custard. Tartlet refers to a miniature tart. (Source: Wikipedia)


I simply adore tarts & tartlets. Especially for breakfast. I made some for friends for a breakfast at my place, few days ago and everyone loved them. They are easy and if you are into baking you will get them perfectly in the first go!

What You Need:


For pastry (makes 12)

200g/7oz plain flour (plus extra for dusting)

85g/3oz icing sugar

55g/2 oz ground almonds

115g/4oz unsalted butter (diced and chilled)

1 egg yolk

1 tbsp milk


For filling:
You can use custard powder (I used foster clark's-vanilla)

If you have a good from scratch custard recipe you can use that. Just make sure its not runny and thin. Make sure to cool and cover custard.


How To Make It:

To make the pastry, sift the flour and sugar into a bowl, then stir in the almonds.

Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the egg yolk & milk and mix to form a dough.

Turn out to a lightly floured surface and knead for few minutes.

Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.

Roll out the pastry and use it to line 12 deep tartlet (or even separate tart pans)

Prick the pastry bases with a fork.

Press a piece of foil into each tartlet, covering the edges and bake for 10-15 minutes or until light golden brown.

Remove the foil and bake further 2-3 minutes.

Cool.




Make the custard separately and put a spoonful filling in each pastry case.

Arrange fruits on top (I only used strawberries but you can use kiwis, berries and peaches too!)

Pipe cream to garnish and dust with icing sugar or brush fruits with a little apricot or any flavoured fruit jam to give it a shiny glaze.



Serve immediately.

Enjoy :)