Flower Design Cake project

This is the second course in Wilton classes for cake decoration. While there is a wide variety of icing to select from royal icing is one that stands out among bakers to make flower designs & wedding cakes. It actually cuts down the time taken for decoration as the flowers are pre-made to air dry which can be used for years if stored properly. Royal icing also allows for bakers imagination.

A 8" round double layer chocolate cake with yummy vanilla filling. Basket weave design on the sides of the cake to hold flowers on top to obtain a 3-D effect of flower basket. This chocolate basket holds flowers like 1. large fuchsia colored petunia
2. large white Easter Lillie's
3. medium yellow daffodils
4. medium orange daisies
5. small icy blue primroses
6. small vivid African violets
7. cute little baby pink apple blossoms
8. buttery yellow rosebuds on the vines over the basket.

The flowers tastes like sugar candy which the kids love while the color appeals to the adults with the elegance of nature which is the specialty of baking flower cakes using royal icing.

First Successful Party order

All the firsts in life stands out in memory. So is the first successful accomplishment. On a late summer afternoon when my son & I where lazily surfing in our apartment cafe was a turning point in my cake career. A new career which i had never thought about in my entire life just picked up. I left my son in the kids room to play while i took some print outs & checked few cake designs, a little girl came to me asking "did u leave ur son in the playroom? he's not there" This statement almost panicked me, i started running around the entire clubhouse while my boy coolly came out from the gym saying i just went there to see. That little girl then wanted to babysit my son while i surfed. There started a new friendship & a blooming career. Her mom casually spoke a few words to me & asked if i could make her daughter's birthday cake? It was an excitement at first followed with a hesitation whether i can finish that pretty big job? we exchanged contact numbers planning in mind to take a few days to decide over. Eventually i took the order and baked the birthday cake with a jump start from my instructor who was gladly willing to help me & encouragement from my spouse who did a one day babysitting for my son & taking over household chores. Its a wonderful experience and happiness when the birthday girl shouted its my cake while i placed it on the party table.

Its a simple polka dot design on a vanilla cake with butter cream frosting. I made the decorations with royal icing that i learnt in Janet's classes that previous week. I just decided to make cake decorating as my career in future which is a creative job and work at home option so i can spend the time close to my kids always.This is  just a first step but when i get a big win it only means the real teacher who's selfless training is the backbone. I am happy to dedicate this to you Janet Phelps - my cake decorating instructor.

tea

A sip from a cup of hot tea is my dad's everyday favorite. I wondered how my dad was so active from early morning till night in childhood while he shared his secret that is drinking tea from his young age. He goes one step ahead & advices all coffee drinkers to stop & consume tea. At times he also shows us some paper, magazine evidences how much healthy is a cup of tea. Most of all he likes plain lemon tea to refresh himself after a hard labor. So this makes my chai corner very special and I will give lots of details about various variety of chai available that are good for health.

Now there a lots of varieties available in tea and people are well aware about them. It's not only the taste but preparation matters a lot with tea.
* tea tastes sour when over boiled.
* making a tea concentrate and adding hot milk is always healthy instead of boiling together.
* adding spices like ginger, cardamom, lemon to tea not only enhances the flavor but good on everyday consumption.
* honey or even maple syrup can be added to tea as sweetener instead of sugar which is more healthy.
* chineese and most asians usually have hot tea with food against water or soda to improve digestion & avoid heart burn immediately after a spicy intake.

Varieties of tea:

Leaf tea and Dust tea are two commonly know varieties in India based on the process of grinding.
Leaf tea is usually coarse can be boiled few minutes longer than dust tea and filters clear in the cup.
Dust tea leaves some residue in the cup after filtering minimal boiling required since its a very fine powder.

   

Its just not a tea party play but a desire to grow.


This is just not a cup of tea but a morning ritual for many....

Cheps fry

Wondering whats this? taro root popularly called chepang killangu in short is cheps. This recipe is dedicated to the bachelor friends who made a gum paste out of it without knowing the proper recipe. Am giving a simple method to fry but there are lot many ways to do.

Ingredients:

Cheps = 5-6 nos
salt = to taste
chilli powder = 2 tbsp
rice flour = 1 tbsp
oil = to fry

method: boil cheps in cooker for up to 2- 3 whistle. cool down completely before attempting to fry.
peel the skin cut in to slices or wedges as you like. In a pan pour oil for shallow frying (1/2 cup).
Add the cheps when oil is heated fry for 5 Min's or golden color. Remove all the excess oil to a container now add salt, chilli powder and fry. After a 2 Min's add rice flour if desired and fry till crispy. Altogether frying takes 10 Min's & boiling takes 20 Min's with cooling in between should be 30 Min's.

Tips: this is a simple method with out much spices. you can boil the cheps previously and save it in fridge for 2 days before frying.
For more spices alternate chilli powder with sambar powder.
Add coriander, soya, cumin, curry leaf, or any masala powders in moderation.
Even you can mix the spices with oil apply on the shallow fried cheps keep it fridge for few hours to marinate & fry again. But this is a elaborate method most experienced would love to try.
Alternatively persons concerned about health & nutritionists can avoid the shallow frying and directly add spices and fry 1 time only. Either way cheps tastes really good. Desired eye appeal is obtained when shallow fried.

If skipping the shallow frying step add oil give a minute to heat then add salt & spices & then cheps so that spices won't smell raw while evenly coat on the cheps.