The Seven Cup Cake-Mother-in-Law's Magic!!!

Anything my mother-in-law prepares can so effortlessly seduce one's taste buds!! Before my marriage, I wasn't the greatest lover of sweets. It was only after tasting my mother-in-laws' sweets that I developed the sweet tooth in me! I have simply fallen prey to it!!

There is a particular sweet that she prepares at the time of Diwali which I find truly magical and mesmerising! Its called 'The Seven Cup Cake' and is similar to the Mysore Pak. But to me, its much more heavenly in taste when it is prepared by her!
Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Besan Flour -1 Cup(slightly roasted)

Milk -1 Cup

Ghee -1 Cup(altered according to your calorie consciousness)

Shredded Coconut-1Cup

Sugar -3Cups

So it totals up to seven cups from which its name origins.

Procedure:

1. Combine all these ingredients in a large pan or thick bottomed vessel and
set on medium flame.

2. Keep stirring to avoid lumps and sticking to the bottom of the vessel.

3. When the mixture is boiling, after sometime you can notice the ghee surrounding the edge of the pan.

4. At this stage just take a drop of it and put it on a plate allowing it to cool for
a minute. Then try making a small ball out of it and it should not stick to your hands/fingers. This is called a 'string-like consistency'.

5.Take off the mixture from the heat and pour it in a tray which has been greased with some ghee.

6.Allow it to cool completely which may take about an hour,depending on the
climate of the place you live or the room temperature of your house.

7.When the mixture is half cooled, slowly make cuts in it using a knife, in whatever shape or size you desire.

8.Let it to cool completely and then invert it on a clean countertop and cut out the pieces.

9.It can be stored in an airtight container and can be shelved for a week to ten days or refrigerated.

Picture to be followed soon...

Homemade Chocolates..

Chocolates, homemade or bought outside, are a delight any day.
Homemade chocolates are something which we all love isn't it... so much more near and dear! Frankly, I'm not a very big fan of cocoa products. Yet, I just love this variety of chocolate which my mother makes.
Its quite easy with simple ingredients. But I can guarantee you that your taste buds would surrender to its taste! It just melts in your mouth and just like that famous ad-line, you cant stop with one!
As a sweet ode to my mother, I'd like to name it "Mommade Chocolates"!!
Here it goes:

Ingredients:

Milk-1 litre(preferably whole milk or any available rich milk)

Sugar-400 gms

Butter-100 gms

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder-1 cup(any brand would do - Hersheys, Nesquick, Bournvita, Boost)

Procedure:

1. Mix all the above ingredients in a large thick bottomed vessel and set on medium flame.

2. Keep stirring to avoid lumps or sticking at the bottom of the vessel.

3. Arrive at a string like consistency wherein if you take a small qty of the mixture, allow it to cool and roll into a small ball, it should not stick to your hands (this would approximately take 45 min to 1 hr)

4. In the meanwhile, grease a tray with some butter or ghee. Pour the mixture into the tray and allow it to cool.

5. When it has cooled down just enough and hasn't hardened yet, slowly make cuts in it using a knife, into whatever shape and size you desire.

6. The chocolates can be eaten plain as is. In case you are nuts about nuts, you could simply press an almond or cashew into it when it is still soft. Sprinkle some pecan or pistachio pieces if you please, over the mixture while allowing it to cool.
There we go! Stuffed chocolates or nutty chocolates :)

7. When it has cooled, cut out the pieces and refrigerate it in an air tight container. If you have kids or chocoholics at home, there just might not be the need to do this!

9. If you are not able to arrive at the right consistency of mixture and feel its in a clay-like consistency even after cooling down, simply make small balls and press it flat with an almond or pista at its centre. The look and taste would still be saved to be enjoyed!