Chocolate chip Cookie cake

Click HERE to check out Siri's Fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram for Destitute Girls.

Click HERE to check out the Babycakes Pop Maker (Code - RU9) I am sponsoring as a raffle prize in this fund drive.

Click HERE to check out the post on how wonderful the Babycakes Pop maker is.

Click HERE to check out the Jewellery set (Code - RU22) my friend is sponsoring as a raffle prize.

Click HERE to make you BIDS and DONATIONS.




For the final day of the Marathon, I took a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe and turned it into a cake, that's why the name 'Chocolate chip cookie cake' :)

I used a 8in pie tray to bake this 'cake'. You can use either use a pie tray or a cake pan, but make sure it isn't too big or it will become a cookie instead of a cake. You can surely bake big cookie, but its going to be a chewy cookie so its going to be a soft one.
I just made it little thicker, so it turned into a cake.
I cut it into triangles, to get a smaller serving size (I cut into even smaller triangles than the ones in the picture :))

I lined the tray with parchment paper, but you surely can grease it and dust it with flour, to get a perfect round shape.
Its an easy recipe and I am sure the kids loved it because its something different, in a different shape anyway, but has the same cookie taste!

Ingredients:

Dry:

1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Wet:

1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg

1/4 cup milk chocolate chips


Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line the tray with parchment paper or grease and flour it.

Swift the dry ingredients together and keep aside.

Take the room temperature and whip it with the brown sugar and white sugar, until its white.

Add in the vanilla extract and egg. Mix until well combined.

Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until combined.

Gently fold in the Chocolate chips into the batter at the end.

Pour the batter into the baking tray and bake @ 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, until it browns on the top and the center comes out clean when inserted.

Cool on a rack.

Cut into pieces and serve when cool.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

Sending this to Srivalli's 'Chocolate Mela'

also to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

and Kavi for Kid's Delight -Something Sweet'

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Chocolate chip Pancakes made healthy with Multigrain flour

Click HERE to check out Siri's Fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram for Destitute Girls.

Click HERE to check out the Babycakes Pop Maker (Code - RU9) I am sponsoring as a raffle prize in this fund drive.

Click HERE to check out the post on how wonderful the Babycakes Pop maker is.

Click HERE to check out the Jewellery set (Code - RU22) my friend is sponsoring as a raffle prize.

Click HERE to make you BIDS and DONATIONS.

Who doesn't like pancakes early in the morning?...well my kids do and would prefer me making them every morning if possible. Well, that I don't do. They are reserved only for weekend mornings. And then I would add what they love into it and mostly probably that would chocolate chips.

Trader Joe's is a good place to shop for healthy and organic stuff. One of the items I have been getting from there, is the multigrain flour. It has barley flour, oat flour, wheat flour, brown rice flour, oat bran, cornmeal and also wheat bran. Isn't that a healthy combination.
Tell that to the kids and they are going to run a half mile from the kitchen. Turn that flour into pancakes - No questions asked and nothing is left on the plate! :)

Ingredients:

1 cup TJ's Multigrain baking mix
1/2 cup milk + more to bring it to required consistency
1 egg
1/4 cup chocolate chips


Few oil drops for each pancake

Method:

Mix the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) together to the required consistency.

Heat a skillet and add a few drops of oil.

Pour a ladle full of batter into the skillet.

When you see the it bubbling, add the chocolate chip into the pancake.

Wait for a few more seconds and flip it over when it browns on one side.

Remove as soon as you see it browning on the other side too, not more than a 20 sec.

Serve immediately, drizzled with a syrup and with their favorite fruit on the side.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

Sending this to Srivalli's 'Chocolate Mela'

also to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

and Kavi for Kid's Delight -Something Sweet'

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Crunchy Flowery 'Choco' cookies

Click HERE to check out Siri's Fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram for Destitute Girls.

Click HERE to check out the Babycakes Pop Maker (Code - RU9) I am sponsoring as a raffle prize in this fund drive.

Click HERE to check out the post on how wonderful the Babycakes Pop maker is.

Click HERE to check out the Jewellery set (Code - RU22) my friend is sponsoring as a raffle prize.

Click HERE to make you BIDS and DONATIONS.

For the 5th day of the Marathon... here is an easy breezy chocolate cookies...crunchy, buttery and melt in your mouth types...mmm...

Simple and very easy to make! The dough is slightly thicker than, I mean harder than regular cookie dough. So that the reason for the 'flowery look', which my kids enjoyed cos they look like flowers :)

You can skip adding the cocoa powder to make regular plain butter cookies, which also tastes just as great and make a good base for ice cream! :)

I use white whole wheat flour in equal quantities with white all purpose flour, so that the whole wheat taste stays subtle when the kids try them. This did help in keeping the flavor almost same.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour, unbleached
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter

little bit of confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar for dusting
Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat.

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and combine well.

Add the butter and mix well.

Make balls smaller than a golf ball and slightly flatten it on the parchment paper. they will crack on the edges giving them a flowery look!

Place them 1/2 inch apart.

Bake them for 15-20 minutes. They will be slightly soft when hot.
When they become cool, they will harden up.

Dust with powdered sugar when cool.

Serve when cool.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

Sending this to Srivalli's 'Chocolate Mela'

also to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

and Kavi for Kid's Delight -Something Sweet'

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Simple Easy Coconut Macaroons

Click HERE to check out Siri's Fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram for Destitute Girls.

Click HERE to check out the Babycakes Pop Maker (Code - RU9) I am sponsoring as a raffle prize in this fund drive.

Click HERE to check out the post on how wonderful the Babycakes Pop maker is.

Click HERE to check out the Jewellery set (Code - RU22) my friend is sponsoring as a raffle prize.

Click HERE to make you BIDS and DONATIONS.

Coconut Macaroons as a house favorite. If we get any from the store, they are gobbled up immediately. If I make them, they are gone instantly! The box has to be opened and that's it....we jump upon them as monsters!!
OKOK Maybe I am exaggerating a tiny bit...but surely we all love them....my little one is just getting to like them, but me, my husband and my older one love them.

This has been on my to do list for a very long time. To make life easy for myself, I first tried them with the whites we get in a cartoon. they did come out good, but since the whites in the cartoon as little runny than the original egg whites itself, when they baked, the whites ran a little at the bottom.

Second time, I tried with regular egg whites and there was no running at the bottom.

Third time, I tried whipping the egg whites a little and this really gives a soft texture to the macaroon.

So I would suggest you try them in any of the above ways....the result with the last is surely better than the rest.
If you are going to eat them immediately, first and second ways are also good too.

There is egg less version of coconut macaroons, which I am going to try next :)


Ingredients:

2 cups shredded or grated coconut, unsweetened ( you can use the only you get in the Indian grocery)
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp unbleached all purpose flour, maida
3 egg whites, whipped till they turn white
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For Chocolate topping:

Melt milk chocolate in microwave as required.

Method:

Pre-Heat oven to 325 degree F.

Combine all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Gently fold in the wet ingredients.

Using a tablespoon, drop small rounds onto the baking sheet.

Bake for 15-20 min, till they start turning brown, and are cooked through the center.

Remove onto a cooling rack.

Serve when cold. They taste good even when they are warm.

After they cool, melt chocolate and drizzle over them. You can also dip the bottom half, for a half chocolate and half plain look.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

Sending this to Srivalli's 'Chocolate Mela'

also to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

and Kavi for Kid's Delight -Something Sweet'

Check out the Blogging'>http://spicingyourlife.blogspot.com/p/blogging-marathon.html">Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12

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Eggless Chocolate pudding and a Fund drive for Destitute girls of Vaidehi ashram

Hello everyone...Today I am here with a very beautiful message from Siri, from CookingwithSiri, who is conducting a fund drive for some really beautiful children, an ashram actually, Vaidehi Asharam, for girls who are less fortunate than us, but who totally deserve the happiness the world can offer.

Please hop on to her blog to read about them and the fund drive, and please remember that a little of your time (and money :)) goes a long way.
The small donations you can offer can help buy them food and clothing, basic needs for them to survive.

You don't only have to donate only but she is conducting a raffle with wonderful prizes offered by the Food blogger community, which you can bid for!!! The money, in the form of your bids will directly benefit the Ashram through her.

I am sponsoring a BabyCakes Pops Maker, like you saw, and I loved, in my previous post, as a raffle prize. You can see how well you can make cake pops and also how easy it is.
I am offering this for everyone who resides in US and the prize will be shipped to the lucky draw/dip winner who will be picked by the asharm kids. All the details on how to donate and bid are on Siri's blog.
So guys what are you waiting for, jump on to her place and do your thing!!!
There are tons of other beautiful prizes to be won, so don't stop at the BabyCakes Pops maker, but indulge in which ever items appeals to you the most.

A friend of mine from, Padma Fashions, is also Sponsoring a raffle prize for people in US. You can check out beautiful jewellery set here.

The Code names while donating through Siri's page are:

Babycakes Pop Maker - RU9
Jewellery Set From Padma Fashions - RU22
What ever you do, remember its all for a good cause, for these girls who will get a better life with what we do. I know, we cannot do a lot, but we here are a big food blogging community and when we join, I am sure nothing is impossible.
The HOPE that we can bring a tiny change in a person's life, is surely enough for us to join in on this fund drive.

This fund drive is a month long...but don't wait till the end (what it is, that we always tend to forget towards the end), just do it now and I am sure it will make you happy inside :)
Remember your contributions or bids as less as ten dollars will help buy food for these sweet kids.

Coming to the Blogging Marathon, my post today is sweet and sinful chocolate indulgence!....for the kids you say...nahhh...for me too!...heavenly and delightful!

A yummy dessert after a heavy meal is all I ask, but I rarely get....I wish I could make this very often, but I know instead of the kids...I will be eating most of it!....with fruit OK!! :))
My older one really loved it! it was creamy and yum, he said!
Very easy to make with simple ingredients is what I like...I always thought it was difficult to make and may be it wont come out as creamy as we get in the store.
Quite on the contrary it was smooth and creamy....eggless too.

The first time I made it, the corn starch did not dissolve properly and it did not turn out smooth. the second time I made sure I strained the corn starch mixture before dissolving it into the whole quantity.

Its in very tiny amounts that I make. Please increase the quantity if you want more.

Makes 4 - 1/4 cup servings

1 cup half and half
2 tbsp corn starch
3 tbsp cocoa powder unsweetened ( I used Hershey's)
3 tbsp sugar (more or less)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp instant coffee

Adapted from David Lebovitz's Book 'Ready for desserts' - Recipe of Chocolate Pots De Creme

Method:

Heat the Half and Half in a sauce pan till it starts bubbling at the edges. Lower heat and let it simmer.

Take about 1/4 cup half and half aside.

To the rest, add the cocoa powder, sugar, coffee and vanilla extract.

To the hot half and half which you kept aside, add the corn starch and mix well, so that it isn't lumpy.
(if it gets lumpy, add more corn starch and mix. Before mixing this into the whole mixture, strain it to remove lumps.)

Add the corn starch mixture to the whole mixture and whisk until combined.

Keep whisking and you will see that the chocolate mixture will start thickening.

At this time, pour into small moulds, or one large moulds which is heat proof.

Set aside in the refrigerator until set. (about 2 hours)

Serve garnished with fruit or biscuits.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

Sending this to Srivalli's 'Chocolate Mela'

also to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

and Kavi for Kid's Delight -Something Sweet'

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Mysore Pak / Sweet Chick pea flour cake

For the second day of the Blogging marathon, I chose a easy sweet recipe which I know, the inner child in us desires and loved it as a kid.

Easiest and maybe one of the first sweet I tried out in the beginning of my 'Cooking career'! One of my favorites as a child and which my kids thoroughly enjoy. Its none other than Mysore pak. One of the most popular sweet in India.
My younger one couldn't resist them at all and each time he would pass by, he would pick up one...I had to hide them, so that I could save them! :)

But seriously, the mysore pak which we get in India is amazing. Loaded with tons of ghee, so soft and melt in your mouth kind of texture. The color also varies from top to bottom, a golden yellow on the top to a dark brown caramelized look for the bottom, on some varieties. Who can even resist it? :)
Though there are quiet a few variations which we find in the store, this one is the easiest one which can be done at home.
It does take lot of stirring and mixing, but just 5 ingredients and you are done!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup besan, fine chick pea flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup melted ghee
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup water

Method:
Grease a big tray or plate and keep aside.

In a big frying pan, roast the besan on low to medium heat, till it turns slightly brown in color and you can even smell the roast besan. Remove from heat and keep aside.

In a big wide kadai or a big sauce pan, melt the sugar using the water.

When the sugar has melted, bring the heat to low and add the roasted besan slowly, so that no lumps are formed, stirring continuously to combine with the melted sugar. Turn the heat to medium now.

Then slowly add in the melted ghee, 1 tbsp at a time, till all the ghee has been absorbed. You will see that the mix doesn't stick to the sides. Keep stirring and slowly the batter will start bubbling.

Start adding the oil, 1 tbsp at a time, till all is absorbed. Keep stirring.
The batter will start to forth and bubble, that's when you know, it is ready to be removed from heat.

Pour into the greased plate, flatten it.

Let it cool for a few minutes, before cutting into it. If you let it cool completely, you may not be able to cut through it completely. So cut when its slightly cool, then let it cool completely.

You can decorate it with broken nuts if desired.

Serve when cold. Can be kept in an air tight container for about 2 weeks.

Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

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Cake pops for 2nd Blog Anniversary and Blogging Marathon

Yes...its that time of the year again!!
I am so happy that 'Smitha's Spicy Flavors' turned two last week. I didn't find much time to write up a post, so now since I am again joining the Blogging Marathon team (Started by Srivalli of Spicing your Life), I decided to do this as my first post.

Thanks for all your support and comments over the past year that I am able to improve myself and do more yummy cooking! I mean experimenting and devouring!

This past year saw many changes in my life, biggest being us moving to California and settling down. There were a few days, maybe I can say months when I didn't find time to writes posts. Such were the times when I couldn't join the Blogging marathon, which I loved to do.

Anyways now I am glad to be back and hopefully will continue to do for the coming months.
With almost 200,000+ page views over the past two years and now with almost 800+ page views per day, tell me who is grinning from ear to ear??

When I first started to write blogs, I didn't even think this is possible and something like this can happen...I am Happy with what I achieved and hope to continue to keep my readers happy with my posts. I would love to hear from you guys about how I am doing and how I should improve. There is always room for more improvement and I would like to do as much as I can.

There are a few interesting things coming up in the next week or two! Keep watching and I hope everyone will participate and help out as much as you can.

Ok back to the post for today...I chose 'Kids Delight - Something Sweet' for the theme for the Blogging Marathon.

Since it was going to be my anniversary post, I wanted it to be something special for sure. Couple of months, I received a very cool gift from my friend in the East coast. It was a 'Babycakes - Cake Pop maker'. I couldn't wait to try it out. Its a very wonderful gift - Thank you guys!!...My kids are enjoying it a lot!

I am all for easy and simple dishes to make and this is the most easiest bake I have ever done!
It a very simple machine, more like a sandwich maker, only here it cooks the batter into small rounds for the cake pops.
Kids can help decorate and sprinkle stuff on it to make it fun looking!
Its so easy that I will be making this very often, and the most important part, easy clean up and 'Portion control' ...haha...but still it is a very cool kitchen gadget!

I made chocolate cake pops, with bittersweet chocolate coating and white chocolate coating. Sprinkled them with some fun colors and they were ready in an hour.
Only waiting time was to wait for them to cool down after baking. After dipping them in chocolate, I put them in the freezer for 5 minutes and the chocolate hardened quickly!

I used a very simple recipe from the cookbook which came with the machine and it worked wonderfully! :)

In case you don't own this piece of coolness....just bake a cake using your favorite recipe. After cooling, crumble it into tiny crumbs, either using hands or using a food processor. You can use jam or frosting to make small balls of the crumbled cake, insert a stick and dip into your favorite dip or melted candy melts. Decorate as you with.

Only difference with the machine is that, you don't need the jam or frosting to make balls, they are already in the shape of balls, into which we stick in the stick and dip!
So its only cake and no extra mess!

Makes about 24 pops

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all purpose flour, maida
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder (I used Hershery's)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 salt
3 tbsp oil (canola or vegetable)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
3/4 tsp lemon juice


Method:

Mix together - flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt in a mixing bowl.
Add in the oil, egg, vanilla extract, milk and lemon juice.
Combine well into a smooth batter.
Preheat the machine as directed.
Pour in about 1 tbsp of batter in each hole. Close and bake for 4-5 minutes or until done.
Cool and prepare for dipping.


Chocolate Dip:

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp vegetable shortening

Melt the chips in the microwave. Add in the shortening and mix well.


White chocolate dip:

3/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 tbsp of oil

Melt the chips in the microwave and add in the oil little by little, only till you get the consistency you want. You don't have to add all the 2 tbsp.


Prepare for dipping:

First dip the stick into the chocolate dip and insert into the cake pop. Let it dry. For quicker drying, put it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Next, holding the stick, dip the cake pop into the chocolate dip.
Slowly tap the stick so that the excess will fall out, if not it will drip down the stick.
You can let this dry or immediately sprinkle it with sprinkles.
If you want to add the other chocolate dip on top, let it dry then dip in the next one or use a fork to draw lines.
Let it dry completely before serving.

This machine came with cake pop stands which are convenient to let the cake pops stand and dry. Otherwise you can use a piece of foam to stick the pops in to dry.

Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela

to Kavi for 'Kid's delight - Something Sweet'

to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

In the meanwhile, I got some awesome awards from some awesome bloggers....Thanks You everyone....you are too kind.
Sharing these with all the sweet people who patiently read my blogs....please receive them and put them on your blog! Love you all!

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