Espresso Cheesecake Brownie

If you in love with brownie & cheesecake WAIT !!! This recipe is for you. If you are a chocolate and coffee lover this is again a treat for you. This Espresso cheesecake brownie is certainly an over- overindulging recipe for me. The twin layer bottom is made with bittersweet chocolate brownie and topped with the espresso flavoured cheesecake. The flavor combination is impeccable and so is the texture. It a treat for your senses to have this cake starting with the soft velvety cheesecake and biting down to the firmly and fudgy brownie. You can almost taste it seeing the picture. It’s like falling in love for first time.

Minimally adapted from:  " Baking from my home to yours"  by Dorie Greenspan"

Makes:  16 Brownies

Preparation time:    1 hour (plus cooling)

Ingredients:

For the brownie:
All purpose flour:                   1/2 cup
Baking powder:                     1/4 teaspoon
Pinch of salt
Unsalted butter:                     5 tablespoon
Bittersweet Chocolate:          150 grams (coarsely chopped)
Sugar:                                   1/3 cup
Egg:                                      2 large
Vanilla extract:                      1/2 teaspoon

For the cheesecake:
Instant Espresso Powder:      11/2 teaspoon
Boiling water:                        1 tablespoon
Cream cheese:                      250 grams at room temp
Sugar:                                   2/3 cup
Vanilla extract:                      1/2 teaspoon
Egg:                                      2 large
Sour Cream:                         1/4 cup
All purpose flour:                  2 tablespoon

Method:
1) Preheat the oven at 180 degree celcius and butter a 9 inch square baking pan and dust it with flour, tap out the excess.
2) Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Put the butter and chocolate together and stir occasionally until the ingredients are just melted.
3) Whisk in the sugar to the chocolate mixture. Add egg one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and whisk vigorously for few seconds.
4) With the help of rubber spatula or whisk gently sit in the dry ingredients until they disappear in the batter. Set aside.
5) To make cheesecake dissolve the espresso in boiling water and let it cool.
6) Beat the cream cheese using a stand or a hand mixer until completely smooth. Add sugar and beat for another 3 minutes until well incorporated.
7) Beat in vanilla and espresso mixture. Add the egg one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition.
8) Lower the speed of mixer to low and add the sour cream followed by the flour. The batter will be smooth.
9) Give the brownie batter a few stir and pour it onto the prepared pan. Smooth the brownie layer and pour the cheesecake batter over it, tilting the pan as needed to even the batter.
10) Bake for 30 to 35 minute, or until the brownies pull away from the sides of the pan and the cheesecake layer is beige in the centre, lightly browned around the edges and puffed all over. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool to room temperature. When the brownie are completely cool, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
11) The easiest way to cut this cake is to run the knife blade under hot water, wipe it dry and cut the cake as desired.
12) You can serve it as it is or with some dust of coca over the top of the bar. You can also serve the cold brownie with hot fudge sauce.


Few more love of chocolate and espresso combination:
Twin Chocolate Panna Cotta with Espresso Jelly
Quick Tiramisu Trifle
Cake Roll

BON APPETIT..

Semlor (Swedish pastry bun)

I found this lovely small pastry bun few days back surfing on a food porn site and bookmarked it to try. Today after little research and trying several recipe sites I am here with best of this authentic Swedish pastry. Semlor consists of a cardamom-spiced wheat bun which has its top cut off, and is then filled with a mix of milk and almond paste, topped with whipped cream. The cut-off top serves as a lid and is dusted with powdered sugar. Today it is often eaten on its own, with coffee or tea. Some people still eat it in a bowl of hot milk. In Finland, the bun is sometimes filled with raspberry jam instead of almond paste, and bakeries in Finland usually offer both versions. The semlor was originally eaten only on Shrove Tuesday, as the last festive food before Lent. However, with the arrival of the Protestant Reformation, the Swedes stopped observing a strict fasting for Lent. The semla in its bowl of warm milk became a traditional dessert every Tuesday between Shrove Tuesday and Easter. Today, semlor are available in shops and bakeries every day from shortly after Christmas until Easter.

Makes:                           12-15 buns (medium size)
Preparation time:             3 hours

Ingredients:

All purpose flour:             2 1/2 - 3 cups
Active dry yeast:              7 grams
Butter:                             75 grams
Milk:                               1 cup
Salt:                                1/4 teaspoon
Sugar:                             3 tablespoon
Cardamom powder:        1 teaspoon
Egg:                                1 (for egg wash)
Almond:                          200 grams
Heavy cream                   2 cups
Powder sugar:                 4 tablespoon (some more for dusting)
Vanilla essence:               1/4 teaspoon

Method:

1) Melt the butter in a saucepan; add milk, sugar, salt, and cardamom powder. Keep the liquid warm and add to the active dry yeast. Stir well.
2) Mix 2 1/2 cups of flour with the liquid to make sticky dough, add more flour if required. Cover it with a kitchen towel and let it stand at a warm place for about an hour to rise.
3) Work the dough on a floured surface and make about 15 round buns. Arrange it on a baking sheet and cover it with a kitchen towel again to rise for about 45-50 minutes.
4) Preheat the oven at 200 degree celsius.
5) Brush the buns with a lightly beaten egg. Bake it on the middle rack for about 30-35 minutes until it is light brown in color. Let it cool.
6) Cut the top of the bun using a sharp knife and make a small hole in between. Mix the inside bit if the buns with almond paste and 2 spoons of milk to make a smooth paste.
7) Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla essence together to soft peak.

8) Fill each bun with almond paste filling. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream over it and cover it with cut lid. 9) Dust the sugar over it and enjoy this Swedish delicacy with a glass or milk or some hot coffee.

BON APPETIT..       

Blueberry Basil Cheesecake (No bake)

I am happy, it’s no bake, its quick, its small, and it’s an individual serve size, perfect for a quick summer dessert. Cheesecakes have always been a fascination for me. I have not yet made any proper cheesecake for my blog but yes this recipe is definitely a good start towards it.
Cheesecake is a sweet dish consisting primarily of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar; often on a crust or base made from crushed cookies or graham crackers, pastry or sponge cake. It may be baked or unbaked. Cheesecake is usually sweetened with sugar and may be flavored or topped with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, fruit sauce and/or chocolate. Cheesecake can be prepared in many flavors, such as strawberry, pumpkin, key lime, or toffee. Cheesecake is usually served as a dessert.
(Source- wikipedia)

Serve:      4
Preparation time :              20 minutes

Ingredients:
Graham crumb:              1 cup (substitute: Crushed digestive biscuits)
Butter:                           4 tablespoon
Cream cheese:               1 cup
Blueberry:                      1 cup (fresh)
Basil:                              5-6 leaves (finely chopped)
Heavy cream:                 1 cup
Sugar:                            4 tablespoon (powdered)
Lemon zest:                    1/4 teaspoon
Lemon juice:                  1 tablespoon

Method:

1) Mix the crumb and butter together and spoon it in the bottom of the glass. Let it cool refrigerator for 15 minutes.
2) Crush half cup blueberry, add it to the cream cheese, add basil leaves, lemon juice and zest. Mix well.
3) Whisk the heavy cream until soft peak, add sugar and whisk again until stiff peak forms.
4) Gently fold the cream cheese mixture and heavy cream.
5) Spoon it over the crumb mixture in the glass. Top it up with fresh blueberry and some basil leaf.

6) Keep it cold until served.

BON APPETIT..

Grilled Garlic & Thyme Chicken

A delicate looking herb with a penetrating fragrance, thyme is a wonderful addition to poultry, bean, egg and vegetable dishes.
An interesting piece of history about thyme: Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage. The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs". In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares. In this period, women would also often give knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Today's recipe is a classic example of simplicity at its best. It is a quick and simple recipe to make and yet healthy for all age group people. Even my 3 year old enjoys it always.

Serve:            2-3 persons
Preparation time:    60 minutes

Ingredients:

Chicken Drumsticks:              600 grams (with or without skin)
Thyme:                                  1 tablespoon
Red onion:                             1 medium (cut in squares)
Yellow capsicum                   1/2 (cut in squares)
Lemon Juice:                         2 tablespoon
Lemon slices:                         2-3 slice (medium thick)
Garlic:                                   5-6 cloves (crushed)
Olive Oil:                              1 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Freshly crushed pepper

Method:

1) Preheat the oven at 250 degree celsius. Spread chicken, onion & capsicum in a bake and serve evenly.
2) Crush the garlic and spread over the chicken. Arrange the lemon slices.
3) Add lemon juice, olive oil salt and pepper and bake it for 30 minutes.
4) Change the oven to grill mode and cook it for further 15-20 minutes until brown and crispy.
5) Serve hot with additional seasoning if required.

BON APPETIT..

Devil's Food White Out Cake

This cake certainly needs to be special because today is the most special day for 13 Secret Sauce as completing one successful year with blogging and cooking. The cake was selected from my favourite and for all the amateur bakers favourite baking bible "Baking from my home to yours". This twin layered devilishly dark chocolate cake has the rich chocolaty flavor of cocoa, bittersweet and semisweet chocolate. This cake has dense, firm super fudgy brownie kind of texture which makes it really special. This cake can be made for any big of small occasions. This cake looks more spectacular when a layer of coal- dark crust is broken into crumb and pressed over the frosting.

Adapted from “BAKING from my home to yours” by Dorie Greenspan

 Makes:              12 Serving
Preparation:       3 hours plus cooling

Ingredients:

All purpose flour:                       1 1/3 cups
Unsweetened cocoa powder:     1/2 cups
Baking soda:                              3/4 teaspoon
Baking powder:                         1/2 teaspoon
Unsalted butter:                         10 tablespoon
Light brown sugar:                     1/2 cup
White sugar:                              1/2 cup
Egg:                                          3 large (at room temperature)
Vanilla extract:                          1 teaspoon
Bittersweet chocolate:               50 grams (melted and cooled)
Buttermilk or whole milk:           1/2 cup
Boiling water:                            1/2 cup
Semisweet chocolate:                100 grams

For filling and frosting:

Cream cheese:          400 grams
Heavy cream:           400 grams
Vanilla sugar:            4 tablespoon

Method:

1) Preheat oven at 180 degree celsius and line a cake pan with butter and dust it with the flour. Line the bottom with parchment paper.
2) Sieve together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3) Beat the butter in a medium speed using a stand mixer or a hand mixer until soft and creamy.
4) Add sugar and continue to beat for another 3 minutes.
5) Add egg one at a time beating for 1 minute each. Beat in the vanilla extract.
6) Reduce the mixer to low speed and add melted chocolate. When fully incorporated add milk and alternately dry ingredient. Milk in 2 and dry mixture in 3 portions (begin and end with dry mixture).
7) Mix until the ingredient disappears in the mixture. At this point it looks like a thick frosting; mix the boiling water at low speed.
8) Using a rubber spatula scrap the mixing bowl and stir in the chopped semi sweet chocolate.
9) Divide the batter in two small cake pans if you require 3 layers or a single large pan if making twin layer.
10) Bake for 45 minutes if making a large single cake. Check if the tester comes out clean.
11) Cool down the cake on a wire rack. Slice the top crown using a long serrated knife gently in sawing motion. Set 2 layers aside and crumble the crown portion of the cake for decoration.
For frosting:
1) Beat using a stand mixer heavy all the heavy cream until stiff peak, add cream cheese and vanilla sugar mix again and refrigerate it for 30 minutes.
For assembly:
1) Put 1 of the cake round layer on a plate or the cardboard base. Top it up with the about 1/3 portion of frosting spread it using a metal icing spatula. Top with second layer cut side down and frost the side and the top.
2) Smooth the frosting roughly. Now cover the cake with the cake crumbs gently pressing the crumbs into the frosting with your fingers. Refrigerate the cake until served at least 1 hour. Cover it loosely to avoid any smell from other food in refrigerator.

BON APPETIT...

Chicken Couscous salad

A combination of chicken and couscous makes this 20 minutes one dish meal. This recipe has flavours of cumin, cinnamon, ginger and cayenne pepper to give it typical Middle Eastern feel.
Couscous is a traditional North African dish of semolina (granules of durum wheat) which is cooked by steaming. It is traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over it. Couscous is a staple food throughout the North African cuisines of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Serve:                    2
Preparation time:    20 minutes

Ingredients:
Chicken breast:                       400 grams (cubed)
Couscous:                               1/2 cups
Olive oil:                                  1 tablespoon
Onion:                                      1 small (finely sliced)
Vegetable stock:                       1 cups
Garlic:                                       1 clove(thinly sliced)
Cumin:                                       1/4 teaspoon
Cinnamon:                                 1/4 teaspoon
Ground Ginger:                          1/4 teaspoon
Cayenne Pepper:                        1/4 teaspoon
Carrot:                                       1/2 cup (Shredded or cut in small pieces)
Raisin:                                        1/4 cup
Almond:                                     5-6 (toasted and slivered)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

1) Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes.
2) Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to pan and saute 3 minutes, stirring. Add garlic, cumin, cinnamon, ginger & cayenne. Toss it for another minute.
3) Add vegetable stock; bring to a simmer. Add carrot and raisins and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
4) Stir in couscous. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes.
5) Serve topped with almonds.

BON APPETIT..

Lemony Bulgur Salad with Shrimp and fresh Mint leaves

Bulgur is a quick-cooking form of whole wheat; it is usually soften with the boiling water. For this terrific main-course salad, I simply soften it in hot vegetable stock before tossing it with mint leaves and pre-cooked shrimp. This lemony flavour salad is a quick fix for any meal. Green colour and flavour of mint with a light pink colour of radish and shrimp makes it a perfect summer salad.
Serve :          1

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Coarse bulgur:                       1 cup
Vegetable stock:                    2 cups
Lemon zest:                           1 teaspoon (finely grated)
Lemon juice:                          4 tablespoon
Extra-virgin olive oil:              2 tablespoon
Shrimp:                                 1 cup (deveined and cooked)
Mint leaves:                           1/2 cups
Radishes:                               4-5 (thinly sliced)
Pine nuts:                               2 tablespoon (dry roasted)
 Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Method:

1) In a bowl, add the bulgur with hot vegetable stock and cover it with a kitchen towel. Let stand until the grains are tender, about 15-20 minutes hours. Use a fork to make it fluffy.
2) In a large bowl, whisk the lemon zest with the lemon juice and olive oil. Add the bulgur, shrimp, fresh mint leaves, sliced radishes and pine nuts and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

3) This salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Add the mint, radishes and pine nuts just before serving. Serve Cold.

BON APPETIT...

Salmon Green with Roasted Garlic Dressing

A happy salad is alway low in calorie and high on protein. Salmon green with roasted garlic dressing is a perfect summery, happy salad. This salmon salad  recipe has a roasted garlic-and-lemon dressing that is tossed with greens, Parmesan cheese, and topped with broiled salmon to make a light and colorful summery dish.

Serve:           1
Preparation time:          1 hour (including marinating)

Ingredients:

Salmon Fillets:              1 frozen, skinless
Olive oil:                      1 tablespoon
Garlic:                          3 cloves
Lemon juice:                1 tablespoon
Light soy Sauce:          1/4 tablespoon
Dijon-style mustard:     1/2 tablespoon
Water:                         1 tablespoon
Pepper:                        1/4 teaspoon
Fat free yoghurt:           1/4 cup
Nonstick spray for coating
Green salad leaf mix     1 big bowl
Red onion:                   1/4 cup (thinly sliced)
Parmesan cheese:         2 tablespoon (freshly grated)
Cherry tomatoes:          4-5 (halved)
Kalamata olives:           6-7 (pitted and halved)

Method:
1) Heat olive oil in a small pan over medium-low heat. Stir garlic in hot oil for 1 to 2 minutes or until garlic is lightly golden. Put garlic to a blender container and add lemon juice, soy sauce, mustard, water, and pepper. 2) Cover; blend until combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons of garlic mixture; set aside.
3) Add yogurt to remaining garlic mixture in blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Chill until serving time.
4) Thaw salmon, if frozen. Rinse salmon and pat dry using a kitchen tissue. Coat the reserved garlic mixture evenly over salmon. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
5) Spray the grill pan with non-stick coating. Place the salmon on it and grill 8 to 12 minutes or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning once.
4) In a large bowl toss together green salad mix, onion, and Parmesan cheese. Place salmon fillet on the salad mix. Top with tomatoes and olives. Serve with chilled yogurt mixture.

BON APPETIT..

Chicken Waldorf Salad

Salad are said to be great for health. It can be a perfect mid day meal or a late evening dinner. In this recipe dried cherries, walnut, and rosemary enhance a simple chicken and apple salad. You can make it even more fabulous with smoked chicken from your local grocery store.

This salad was first created between 1893 and 1896 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. Other variations such as turkey, grapes, and dried fruit (e.g. dates or raisins) are sometimes added to give it a twist.  Another variation known as an "Emerald Salad" replaces celery with cauliflower. The salad also may include zest of oranges and lemons. A variation popularized in "Belfast's Lunches To Go" is made with peanuts. This variation is known as "Peadorf Salad".
(Source: Wikipedia)

Serve :     2
Preparation time:     30 minutes plus cooling

Ingredients:

Chicken Breast:               300 grams (Cooked, Shredded or cubed)
Green Apples:                 2 cups (coarsely chopped)
Dried Cherries:                1/3 cup
Walnut:                            1/3 cup (chopped)
Mayonnaise:                     2 tablespoon
Celery:                             2 tablespoon (chopped)
Sour cream/ yogurt:          3 tablespoon
Lemon Juice:                    1 tablespoon
Honey:                             1 tablespoon
Dried Rosemary:              1 teaspoon (crushed)

Lettuce leaves to serve

Method:

1) Combine chicken, apples, celery, cherries, and walnuts in a large bowl.
2) For dressing, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, rosemary, lemon juice, and honey in a small bowl. 3) Stir dressing into chicken mixture just until evenly coated.
4) Cover it and refrigerate, Serve on lettuce leaves.

BON APPETIT..

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

Chocolate & Cherry is definitely a match made in heaven so is this recipe. A quick, scrumptious, yummy "Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake". It is named so because u actually don't mix any of the ingredients and dump everything in a baking dish and after 30 minutes you get this beautiful gooey cake out. This rustic cake can be ideally made with a cherry pie filling and a chocolate cake mix. But I am making it here from scratch for all who doesn't have an access to these ready made mixes near them.

Serve :            2
Preparation time:     45 minutes


Ingredients:

For cherry pie filling:
Cherry:             2 cups (pitted)
Sugar:               1/2 cup
Corn starch:      1 tablespoon
Water:              1/4 cup

For cake mix:
All purpose flour:    1 cup
Butter:                    50 grams (cold cut in small pieces)
Cocoa powder:       1/4 cup
Baking powder:       1 teaspoon
Salt:                         1 pinch
Sugar:                      1/4 cup (fine granulated sugar, I am using Vanilla Sugar)
Vanilla essence:         1/2 teaspoon

To assemble:
Butter:                     1/2 cup (melted)

 Method:

1) For cherry pie filling heat a saucepan and add cherry, sugar, water at medium flame for 5-7 minutes until soft and cooked. Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoon of cold water and mix it in the cooking cherry mixture. Let it cook for another couple of minute. Set aside.
2) Sieve together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add cold butter and mix it using a back of spoon or finger tip. It should resemble a fine bread crumb after mixing well. Add fine sugar and vanilla essence, mix well. Cake mix will look like a dry brown, crumb like of a powder.
3) Preheat the oven at 190 degree celsius. To assemble take a baking dish spread the cherry pie filling at the base top a thin layer or cake mix evenly.
4) Spread the melted butter over the cake mix using a spoon to make it wet.
5) Bake at 180 degree celsius about 30 minutes. The cherry will be bubbling from inside and cake topping will be hard to touch.

6) Let it cool for 10 minutes before you serve. Serve warm as it is or with a cold vanilla ice cream or cold whipped cream.

BON APPETIT..

Cherry Cobbler

You can never forget the name of this dish because of its uniqueness. Cobbler refers to a variety of dishes, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, consisting of a fruit or savoury filling poured into a large baking dish and covered with a batter, biscuit, or pie crust before being baked. Some cobbler recipes, especially in the South, resemble a thick-crusted, deep-dish pie with both top and bottom crust.

The scone-topped cobbler predominates and is found in both sweet and savoury versions. Common sweet fillings include apple, blackberry and peach. Savoury versions, such as lamb, beef or mutton, consist of a casserole filling, sometimes with a simple ring of cobbles around the edge, rather than a complete layer, to aid cooking of the meat. Cheese or herb scones may also be used as a savoury topping.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Today's preparation is a yummy, juicy homespun cherry cobbler, where the base is of the soft cherry pie filling and the topping is a hard crusty biscuit. Enjoy this hot and bubbling cherry cobbler directly out from the oven.

Minimally adapted from Joy of baking

Serve:                  2

Preparation time:   45 minutes (including baking)

Ingredients:

Cherry:                300 grams (fresh or canned, about 1 cup after pitted)

Lime juice:           1 teaspoon

Sugar:                  2 tablespoon

Cornstarch:          1/2 tablespoon

Biscuit dough  

All purpose flour:    1/2 cup

Sugar:                     2 tablespoon

Butter:                    2 tablespoon (cold, unsalted, cut into pieces) 

Baking powder:      1/2 teaspoon

Salt:                       1 pinch

Vanilla extract:       1/2 teaspoon

Cream or milk:       1/4 cup (cold)

Method:

1) Cook pitted cherry, lime juice and sugar with 1/4 cup of water together. Let it cook till soft. Add cornstarch mixed with some cold water to the cooking cherries. Cook for another 1 minute at low heat.

Set aside.

2) Preheat the oven at 180 degree celsius. 

3) Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and mix into the flour mixture using your fingertips lightly. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

4)  Add the cream to the flour mixture to make soft dough. Stir just until combined. Do not over mix. Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface.

5) Roll the dough into a circle that is about 1/2 inch thick,cut the dough into rounds.

6) To assemble place the cherry filling at the bottom of the ramekin mould. Gently place the rounds biscuit on top of the fruit. Brush the tops of the biscuits with a little cream.

7) Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and the biscuits are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into a biscuit comes out clean.

8) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

9) You can relish it like this or serve with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  Refrigerate leftovers and reheat before serving.

BON APPETIT..

"Black Forest Trifle" & "White Forest Trifle"

I am falling in love with these small dessert served in glasses or small bowls, absolutely. They call it "Trifle". Multiple layers of fruit, cream, cakes, jellies soaked in juices that delights your senses with so many colors and texture. Full of flavor in each and every layer make it a stunning dessert for any occasion.

Trifle ('trifle') is a dessert from the English kitchen. It consists of several layers served in a glass bowl. The classic trifle is lower layer cake pieces then sprinkled with sherry; across them some fresh fruit, such as strawberries or peaches and finally a layer of custard or custard. However, there are many variations are possible: the cake can be replaced by the cookies or brownies, and instead of the custard pudding may also be covered with ice.  

Today I am making a black forest and white forest trifle , definitely inspired by my last week's trip to "The Black Forest" (German: Schwarzwald). It is a wooded mountain range located in the southwest corner of Germany in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. And of course the market is flooded with the season's fresh cherries. All this was enough of a temptation to make this yummy trifle. I am going to share some amazing pictures from our trip which will justify the reason making this lovely dessert.

Serve:    4 (Makes 2 black forest and 2 white forest trifles)

Preparation time:  45 minutes.

Ingredients:

Basic chocolate sponge cake:               50 grams

Basic vanilla sponge cake:                    50 grams

Fresh or canned cherry:                        2 cups

Heavy cream:                                       200 grams

Vanilla essence:                                    1/4 teaspoon

Sugar:                                                  1/2 cup

Vanilla Sugar/ powdered sugar:            2 tablespoon

Balsamic vinegar:                                 1 tablespoon

White and brown milk chocolate to garnish

Method:

1) Cook the pitted cherry, sugar and balsamic vinegar in a saucepan for 5-7 minutes until soft and dark. Set aside to cool.

2) Whisk heavy cream to get a soft peak. Add vanilla sugar and vanilla essence and whisk again to mix.

3) Break both chocolate and vanilla sponge cake roughly using hands.

4) To set the trifle, take your favourite glass or bowl. Layer the chocolate and vanilla sponge cake separately in 2 glasses at bottom, top it up with the cherry and juices, put a layer of vanilla cream on the top. Repeat the layers. 

5) Put some shredded chocolate on the top, white chocolate for white forest trifle and brown chocolate for a black forest trifle.

6) Top it up with a fresh cherry and refrigerate it until served.

BON APPETIT..

Mixed Berries Jam & Peanut Butter Bread

I was planning to make bread from last couple of days; finally I am here again with this fascinating and yummy looking striped bread. The strip that makes the bread so colourful and tasty is made with layers of filling of berries jam and peanut butter. A slice of bread has the sweetness of jam and nuttiness of peanut butter.You cannot resist having a single slice of it at a time.

Serve: 4-6
Preparation time:  2 hrs 30 minutes (including rising time)

Ingredients:

Dough
Dry active yeast:           7 grams
Warm milk:                   1/2 cup
Sugar:                           2 tablespoon
Olive oil:                       2 tablespoon
All-purpose flour:          2 cups (I am using multigrain bread flour)
Vanilla extract:              2 teaspoon

Filling
Mixed berries Jam:       2 tablespoon
Peanut butter:               2 tablespoon

Method:
1) Mix the milk, sugar, olive oil and yeast using a whisk.
2) Put the flour in a large bowl and make a well in between. Pour the yeast mixture into the well.
3) Using your hand, bring all the dough together and set it aside for 10 minutes.
4) Bring out the dough on a floured surface and stretch using your palm. Fold it to half and turn around 90 degrees. Repeat the process for 5- 6 times until the dough is elastic but not sticky.
5) Put it in a clean bowl, cover it up with a cling film and let it rise at a warm place for about 1 hour of it doubles in size.
6) After an hour take the dough out and punch it down a little. Divide it in 2 equal parts.
7) Roll it in a rectangle of 12" X 24" inches each.
8) Spread the jam on one sheet and peanut butter on the other. Roll it to make a log. Using a sharp knife cut in half and twist 1/2 jam and 1/2 peanut butter roll together to make two separate rolls. (Refer: picture)

9) Twist both the rolls again to make a large single log. Butter a long loaf tin and put the striped bread log in between. Cover with cling film and put it back on a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.
10) Preheat the oven 180 degree celsius. Bake it bread for about 30- 35 minutes until done and have a hard crust outside.
11) Let it cool for 30 minute before you slice and serve.

BON APPETIT..

You would love to check few more Artisan Breads

I am submitting the same bread at YeastSpotting

French Cherry Clafoutis

Living and travelling in Europe has made me fond of lovely, French, Italian and Turkish desserts. From a no sweet person I have become a dessert lover. Today I am trying to make an authentic recipe from French origin.
Clafoutis is a baked French dessert of black cherries arranged in a buttered dish and covered with a thick flan-like batter. The clafoutis is dusted with powdered sugar and served lukewarm.
Traditional clafoutis contain pits of the cherries. According to baking purists, the pits release a wonderful flavor when the dish is cooked. If the cherry pits are removed prior to baking, the clafoutis will be milder in flavor.
(Source: Wikipedia)
You can use any other fruits or pitted preserved cherries for this recipe. Traditionally, what makes clafoutis a clafoutis are the cherries. In fact, purists may say that if there are no cherries, it is not clafoutis, rather a “flaugnarde” or “flognarde".  Adjust the sugar in the recipe according to the fruit you use.

Ingredients:

Cherry:                   1 1/2 cup (pitted) fresh or preserved
Full cream milk:       1 cup
All purpose flour:     1/2 cup
Sugar:                      1/2 cup
Vanilla essence:        1/2 teaspoon
Egg:                         2 medium
Butter:                      1 tablespoon (melted)
Salt:                         1/4 teaspoon
Oil to spray
Powdered sugar to garnish

Method:

1) Preheat the oven at 180 degree C.
2) Spray an oven safe pan with cooking spray. Arrange the pitted cherry in the pan evenly.
3) Mix the remaining ingredients onto a smooth batter, using a whisk. You can use a blender instead for a faster process.
4) Pour the batter over the cherry and let it bake for 25 minutes.
5) Serve it warm or at room temperature with sprinkle of powdered sugar over it.

BON APPETIT...

Twin Chocolate Panna Cotta with Espresso Jelly

If you are a coffee and chocolate person, you will definitely fall in love with this dessert. It is certainly a perfect ending of a grand feast. This recipe is a combination of white and brown chocolate with an espresso jelly topping. Just dig into the dessert and enjoy each bite of chocolate and cream with strong espresso shots.

Serve:          4

Preparation time:    3-4 hours

Ingredients:

Brown Milk Chocolate:                  50 grams

White Milk Chocolate:                   50 grams

Instant Coffee powder:                   1 tablespoon

Gelatine Sheet:                               3 sheets (Jelly sugar for vegetarians)

Heavy Cream:                                300 grams

Sugar:                                            3 tablespoon

Star Anise:                                     1 star

Method:

1)  Heat 150 grams of heavy cream in a sauce pan. Soak the gelatine sheet in cold water for 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon sugar, and grated brown chocolate to the boiling cream. Reduce the heat and add gelatine. Mix it well using the whisk. Pour it in the serving glass and let it set in the refrigerator for 1 hour. I kept my serving glass and mug slanted using a muffin tin to set it diagonally.
2) After an hour, heat another 150 grams of heavy cream in a sauce pan. Soak the gelatine sheet in cold water for 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon sugar, star anise and grated White chocolate to the boiling cream. Reduce the heat and add gelatine. Mix it well using the whisk. Take out the star anise and pour it in the serving glass and let it set in the refrigerator for another hour.
3) After the two layers of panna cotta is set, boil half cup of water and add instant coffee powder and 2 tbsp sugar to it. Add soaked gelatin, mix well. Pour it over the panna cotta and refrigerate it until the jelly is set to serve.

4) Serve cold with some chocolate garnish if required.

BON APPETIT...

Another experiment of flavours with Panna cotta