What's baking?

The season kicks off with fresh imported strawberries and there are packs of fresh strawberries piled up on the shelves in supermarkets. Who doesn't love being treated with any sweet/dessert/cakes made with strawberries?! I was craving for Swiss roll cakes since a week but never got time due to work and studies! So, I decided that I HAVE to make it this evening. 

Let's get started. I first baked a basic vanilla sponge cake with 4 eggs recipe and kept it in the freezer. Then I prepared the ingredients to make the strawberry frosting:

Ingredients:

• Softened butter - 1 cup
• Sifted icing sugar - 1 cup
• Finely chopped fresh strawberries - 1 cup

Method:

1. Beat the butter till it is softened.
2. Add the icing sugar and beat on low speed. You wouldn't want to have a flour shower in your kitchen :)
3.  Finally, add the chopped strawberries and beat till you reach the desired consistency. 
4. If the frosting is too thin, add some icing sugar. If it is thick, add strawberries to get a balance in the consistency.

Assembling:

• Spread the frosting on to the thin layer of the sponge cake and add sliced strawberries on top of it. Keep some to cover the outside of the cake.
• Roll it like a swiss roll or like a cinnamon bun.
• Wrap it with cling and freeze it till it is set.
• Cover the top and sides of the Swiss roll cake with the remaining frosting.

Strawberry Swiss Roll Cake is READY!

Review of Lingaa

 

Lingaa has been the talk of the town over the past few months of its release and now of some plagiarism issues which the director has been facing. In fact, the trailer, the audio release, the posters and of course RajiniKanth has increased the excitement and expectation by all fans of Thalaivaa who had been eagerly waiting for a couple of years after Director Shankar's big blockbuster, Endhiran, Even though Kochadaiyaan came along the await with it's own reviews and critics.

Has K.S.Ravikumar satisfied us with his movie, Lingaa?

Well, to start off with, it was a sweet treat to all die hard fans of Thalaivaa as it was his birthday as well as the release date of Lingaa. Lets get into the plot.

PLOT

Rajinikanth plays a dual role; as a grandfather raja in the British era in the flashback and his grandson in the modern times who is a thief. Yes, you read it right, he is a thief who is a disrespect for his grandfather.
Sometimes, even the unbelievable scenarios and dialogues would be accepted by our crowd of Rajinikanth fans. We cannot blame them for that. On the other hand, the biggest unrealistic spoiler is when a great king gives away his beautiful (real, not a graphic work) palace, jewels, gold coins and so on to build a dam for the people of a village and becomes a beggar where he has to start from scratch to become in that position again. Isn't that all unbelievable? Not practical, but his punch dialogue of being happy is not in the state of wealth but in the state of mind and heart was a winner in that circumstance.

Apart from all these, the lengthy 175 minutes movie stands a bit boring when the flashback drags and gets stretchy with some unnecessary scenes. Of course you are free to disagree.

MUSIC

The background music was appealing and the song which A.R.Rahman himself sang was the best out of the lot.

TECHNICALITIES 

Randy's camerawork, Sabu Cyril as a production designer and Samjith Mohd who did all the editing did their best. Even though the graphic team has not brought the best they could in the climax fight which was in the hot air balloon, we should not forget the Kollywood budget does not match with the Hollywood budget, one must not compare in that case.

OVERALL VIEWS

After all, it's Rajinikanth's movie, which fan would ever miss it?! And for the others I must say it is an excellent time pass.

A suprise for my Sister

It was a Sister's 15th Birthday. I wanted to surprise her with cupcakes! She loves cupcakes and me surprising her on her birthday would be the last thought on her mind. lol. So I decided it would be a real surprise indeed.

I made vanilla sponge cupcakes and made strawberry frosting. It was looking amazing when topped with fresh strawberries. First I made strawberry frosting early that morning and froze it till I bake the cuppycakes. Then the regular vanilla cake recipe was made and kept them in the refrigerator till I get ready with all the items to ice the cupcakes. They were not hard even though I kept them in the fridge, once taken out, in a couple of minutes it was soft again. Then I iced the cupcakes kept the sliced fresh strawberry and served.

She did love 'em. :) This is what she said: "Thank you Sis for these Wonderful Cuppycakes  They were sooo delicious.♥♥ Was such a surprise for me! I'm so happy!!!". And ofcourse, I'm happy too :)

As you all could figure it out, it's cupcakes arranged as 15.( She is 15 years)

 

This was the first 3 cupcakes, I iced and kept the whole strawberry for the photo shoot ;)

South Indian Lunch

This is Basmati Rice, Dhaal, Tomato Rasam and Beef fried sambal. (Clockwise)

 Everyone in my family enjoy having South Indian Cuisine, so my mom cooks it often. The combination of Rasam and Beef sambal is so yummy. It's best to have this menu on a rainy day when your tummy is always hungry. ;)

That awkward moment

That awkward moment, when I post on my blog after ages! Haha, I know it has been quite awhile, was been busy with my exams and assignments. 

When a I have to go through a lot of effort in studying all the important points and my brain goes on vacation during exams! haha and Facebook keeps disturbing me saying, "Check me, check me, check me". Phew!

Anyway, I hope to post again quite often. See you guys sooner than soon could be ;)

Whipped cream with fruits, chocolates and oreo

Simple dessert loved by kids. I got this idea from a friend of mine and wanted to make this right away. The first layer into the glass was fresh cream with icing sugar then I crumbled the Oreo and then added some strawberry pie filling on top of that. Then another layer of fresh cream piped in. Final layer was just Maltesers and one Oreo. This dessert could be made within 15 minutes. Simple but very tasty. 

Puff pastry fruit tarts

Toppings: Kiwi, peach, pomegranate, vanilla custard

I did not make the puff pastry dough. I got the puff pastry from the store. I just had to bake them. You know, it's very easy that way, that's when cooking gets interesting when the work load is less. Vanilla custard was not the powdered custard, I know, you would assume it to be that way ;) , I made with egg yolks the original custard recipe. Finally, it was just the assembling part which was very easy.

Sri Lankan Fish Patties (Deep fried pastries)

This is a Sri Lankan delicacy which is usually sold at all road side food stalls and restaurants. It can be made with chicken, salmon or beef filling. The original taste comes when made with salmon.
The dough is made without yeast/baking powder.

As locally called patties, is a tasty evening snack. Can be served with ketchup.

Expecting Winter

THEM: BRACE YOURSELVES WINTER IS APPROACHING!!!


ME: THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY :D 

Yes, you may be surprised, but I LOVE winter. Not many would like the winter season, but I do. I live in the Middle East, where the summer is extreme while the winter is also in it's peak. Sadly, the winter this year was not what I expected.  Sigh

Cakes from the bakery

I took these photographs of these gateaux from the Danube Bakery in Saudi Arabia. They are famous for their pastries and gateaux. They have wide range of croissants, pastries, cakes, donuts, and tarts. I go crazy when I enter their bakery, it gets so difficult to decide what to buy. 

 

 

Rich Creamy Chocolate Moussee

I made this for my black forest gateaux filing. It was rich and creamy. I used this to pipe in between gateaux but this could also be served just like that. The ingredients I used were:

Fresh cream
Icing sugar 
Cooking dark/milk Chocolate (Sweetened/unsweetened)
Vanilla Essence

Another variation could be adding white coking chocolate instead of dark chocolate. Then it would be White Chocolate Mousse.

Breakfast on Eid

This is my mom's special breakfast on Eid. Batura, Channa dhal and butter chicken. Another name for Batura is Poori. It is made with atta/whole wheat flour. Channa dhal is basically chick peas.

The truth about studying

Even staring at a wall seems interesting while studying! Ergh! Best time to fall asleep.
I would try waking early and start my studies but I feel sleepy. If I try staying awake during the night  to study, I still feel sleepy! What am I supposed to do? *Yawns*

Black Forest Gateaux

This is Black forest gateaux made with light sponge chocolate cake piped in with whipped cream, black cherries and rich creamy chocolate mousse!Strawberries and whipped cream was used for the topping.

Who wouldn't say a YES to have a slice of this delicious rich gateaux?! 

Cupcakes and Square cakes ;)

Made for a School function in 2011.