Easy Chocolate Cake

 

 Easy Chocolate Cake

Hi this is for my Friend kaiser.mirza on facebook he asked me about an  Easy Chocolate Cake

Perfect for birthdays, this is a great recipe for an easy, foolproof chocolate cake. It’s moist and fudgy and will keep well for 4-5 days.

Ingredients

For the cake

• 225g/8oz plain flour
• 350g/12½oz caster sugar
• 85g/3oz cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 free-range eggs
• 250ml/9fl oz milk
• 125ml/4½fl oz vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 250ml/9fl oz boiling water

For the chocolate icing

• 200g/7oz plain chocolate
• 200ml/7fl oz double cream

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins.
   
   Technique: Greasing and lining cake tins 
    
   
   
2. For the cake, place all of the cake ingredients, except the boiling water, into a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, or electric whisk, beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.
   
   
3. Add the boiling water to the mixture, a little at a time, until smooth. (The cake mixture will now be very liquid.)
   
   
4. Divide the cake batter between the sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
   
   
5. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.
   
   
6. For the chocolate icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk the mixture until smooth, glossy and thickened. Set aside to cool for 1-2 hours, or until thick enough to spread over the cake.
   
   
7. To assemble the cake, run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the cake tins to loosen the cakes. Carefully remove the cakes from the tins.
   
   
   Technique: Removing cakes from a cake tin 
   
   
   
   
   
8. Spread a little chocolate icing over the top of one of the chocolate cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.
   
9. Transfer the cake to a serving plate and ice the cake all over with the chocolate icing, using a palette knife.
   
   

Carrot cabbage uthappam dosa

Carrot cabbage uthappam dosa

Ingredients:

1 cup Dosa batter (for 1 uthappam)
2 tbsp Grated carrot
2 tbsp Grated cabbage
1 tsp Oil/ghee

Preparation:

step 1
Heat the non stick tawa, spread a ladle full of batter to thick dosa.

step 2
Sprinkle grated carrot and cabbage, pour ghee/oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

step 3
Turn uthappam and cook on the other side for 1 minute

step 4
Serve uthappam with sambar and onion tomato mint chutney.

Sophie's smoked salmon & ricotta wraps

Sophie's smoked salmon & ricotta wraps

Ingredients:

4 tortilla wraps
4 large tablespoons of fresh sheep ricotta
rucola leaves, cleaned, about 50 to 60 gr in total
fresh basil leaves, cleaned, 3 basil leaves per wrap, torn in pieces / so 12 basil leaves for 4 wraps
smoked salmon: about 150 to 200 gr for 4 wraps

It is lovely enjoyed with some good white wine like Mâcon Villages 2007, Blanc sec.

 

Preparation:

1. Taka a plate & place 1 tortilla on it. Put water on all the tortilla. Dip the rest of the excess water off with kitchen paper.
2. Place in the microwave on the highest heat for 40 seconds.
3. Take it out of the microwave. The tortilla wil not be hot.
4. Spread the ricotta all over the tortilla. Spread it out on all the sides.
5. Now, place the smoked salmon on top of the ricotta.
6. Now, on a horizontal line, place the rucola leaves on top of the salmon. Not too much because rucola is nutty & too much is too much. You want a subtile taste! So, spread the rucola evenly.
7.Then, add the 3 pieces of torn basil leaves, just above & under the horizontal line of rucola leaves, evenly spread.
8. Now, instead of rolling it up, fold the left side a bit into the middle of the tortilla & then fold the right side a bit into the middle & then roll the filled tortilla carefully up.
9. Take your rolled up tortilla & turn it over. Cut diagonal in 2.
10. Take a serving plate & plate up! Put 1 half on the plate & place the other half on top!!