New OTG and its first cake - Vanila Sponge Cake, Lemon Butter Cream Icing with Mangoes

 The current microwave oven I own, was giving me uneven baking due to a rotation problem. I have been eyeing an OTG oven for a while now - "the cooking range gas oven effect" you know!!! I ended up buying my very first OTG oven - a long time dream!!

It's a Morphy Richards 24" oven - nothing fancy. I found that one of the blogger Sharmi from Sharmi's Passion had mentioned this in her blog about baking, oven and some tips. After tons of research on the size, blah, blah, I ordered it from Amazon

To start with I baked my simple vanilla sponge cake and used butter cream icing. I was a little scared to be honest, after reading some first OTG baking disasters.. But the cake came out spongy and nice..  I was looking for a simple cake, but adding mangoes to top made it  a super star!! I also made chocolate muffins, recipe to be shared soon!!!!

I didn't manage to click pics in the making - no plans on blogging it, but here is the recipe I used..

Sponge Cake:

Butter - 200 gm (approx)
Sugar - 1 cup
Flour - 1 cup
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Eggs - 3
Vanilla Extract - a dash

Butter/Oil for greasing the tin

Butter Cream Icing

Butter - 200 gm
Icing Sugar - 200 gm
Lemon Juice - Tbsp
Lemon Zest

Topping

Half a Mango cut into Tiny Pieces


Method:

Sponge Cake

• Whisk eggs and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until ribbons are formed. I used a hand blender for this.
• In a separate blend cream butter and sugar until a smooth creamy paste is formed
• Add the butter sugar mixture to eggs and slowly incorporate them
• Add flour using cut and fold method.. Don't use the blender at the stage. I used a silicon spatula ensuring the incorporated air doesnt escape
• Pre heat microwave at 180C for 10 min.  Grease the tin - transfer the mixture to the tin and bake for 30-35 min (mine was done in 25 min)
• Cool the cake for atleast an hour or two before you proceed to the next step.

Butter Cream Icing

• Mix together the ingredients for the icing and blend until a creamy paste
• The temperature was too hot causing the butter to melt and become all goey.. I was keeping the icing in and out of the fridge to maintain the consistency.

Now the final Picture.. 

No doubt, it tasted super yummy.. It was a visual treat.. Didnt want to cut the cake - but nevertheless, total yummitos!!

Confession: Adding mangoes was due to sheer laziness of icing the whole cake, lol... 

Next post, Chocolate Almond Muffin, Alas final pics only :(

Cheers,
Amrin

Chettinad Chicken Masala

My family is spread across the globe and with the fast paced life - I have lost access to some simple yet soulful dishes we used to make at home - those that were regulars at home, once upon a time. From simple daal to shaami kebab, khattey saalans made by naanima, idli sambar, gajar ka halwa, veg biryani, macroni made by my Khalas (maternal aunt) , sheer khurma by my grand dad , all types biryanis to rumaali dum ke sevaiyyan made by my phuppu (paternal aunt) and of course, the pearl on the crown - Prawn Biryani and Crab fry made by my mom!!!! Oh yeah - I am a great foodie


I have planned  to pen and recreate their classic recipes and create a recipe journal here, so my cousins/aunts/friends or maybe my kids would someday reference this blog for their favorite gal's recipes ;) However I will be posting authentic Chennai Muslim recipes and a few recipes that is cooked at home.. Soulful home food and some gourmet at times.. Which goes unsaid - mostly non vegetarian dishes!!!

I recently learnt to make Chettinad All spice powder, a.k.a Garam Masala Powder from my SIL's mom - which happens to be a closely guarded recipe.. Though this type of chicken is not made at home, I still gave it a try - Though this is not called Chicken Chettinad, but known as Chicken fry/chicken thokku in common households. I will post the recipe for making the garam masala - Duh! I didn't click pictures when I made the masala last time.


Ingredients:

Chicken - 250 gms approx (since its just for 2 pax. with little appetite)
Onion - 1 big sized
Tomatoes - 1 mid sized
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Green chillies - 1 split and cut
Coriander - a handful chpped
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Garlic - 5-6 cloves
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tsp
Chettinad Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder -  1/4 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 tsp


For Marination:

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1tsp
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves -  a handful (I used the stalks)
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Yogurt - 1 tsp


Method:

Prepare the marinade with the ingredients for marination and chicken. Keep aside for 30 minutes

Prepare the ingredients for curry.

Heat oil in a pan and add 3 tsp of oil. When the oil is hot, add 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, garlic cloves, curry leaves, green chillies followed by onion and cook until onion turns golden brown

 

Add ginger garlic paste, and when the raw smell goes away add tomatoes. Close the lid and cook on low flame until oil separates.

Add chicken pieces, followed by coriander leaves and dry spices.

Let the chicken cook in its own water - add water if required.

Tadaaaa.. The final Presentation!!!

You can serve this with rice, chapati, paratha.. However I served this with Ghee rice (Bagharya Khaana), Aloo Gosht ka Khurma, Chettinad Chicken and some Raita to beat the heat!!

Hope you enjoy and do let me know your comments on how this turned out to be !!

Cheers,

Amrin

Hands on Microwave baking - chocolate orange cake with chocolate butter cream frosting

Its been a while I tried baking, thanks to my not so good oven that is mostly a trouble maker these days..

I had bookmarked a page on microwave baking, I saw some cakes, quiches and a lot of other good stuff.. I tried to make a chocolate cake and went upscale and made it in a tupperware box.

Here is a sneak peak and how I made it...

Its a simple cake, I sifted 1 cup of flour with 1.5 cups of sugar, 1 tsp baking powder , 0.5 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2tsp orange rind and 2 eggs..  Mixed wet and dry ingredients and cooked it in the microwave for 5 minutes. Voila, here is the end result..

Frosting:

200 gm butter, 1 cup icing sugar, 2 tsp cocoa powder and a few drops vanilla powder.. I also added some walnut and chocolate shavings for that ooomph!!!

Final Product:

Just keeping this simple to record my cooking and creations in this space!!!

Amrin

A sneak peak to my tea station and Cafè Brasilerio

To begin with, I love Tea... I love tea in any form, and I love the idea of exploring different teas from all over the world..

My love with chai started as a child, where I would secretly throw away milk and drink tea, from the kitchen.. Of course, my mom didn't know it.. And as I grew up, I would make tea, before mom came back from office. When it tasted good, and I gathered fan following - I started make tea often. I still remember, when my relatives would come home and ask me to make tea!! What else could motivate a 12 year old more??

Fast forwarding to the present, when the green tea was slowly seeping through Indian market, I managed to get my hands on lemon, lime, orange, jasmine, hibiscus, earlgrey, peppermint tea, nigella seeds, carrom seeds and what not.. I wanted to broadcast my love for tea, and wanted to have my own tea station at home.. Coming from an Indian conservative family, the thought of a tea station would crack up many.. So, I set up a small tea station in my office desk.. People would come, stop by asking "Amrin, can I borrow your orange tea??", "Ooooh, what is Roobis tea??"  I would still get comments like, "Stop wasting money?", "Are you crazy, why are you hoarding" and blah blah.

When I was moving things around and organizing my house, we had a IKEA cabinet that we decided to throw, but I decided to move it to the dining area, to display my mom's precious chinaware. And I stole one compartment and converted it to my tea station.

`

A closer image of the teas I am drinking at the moment, earlgrey, jasmin, yoolong, chamomile...  and ooh.. There is the hero!!!

I am super excited to have a tea station, like my own space - a space filled with my colorful teas.

Well there is something else here along with my tea, my Brazilian coffee - Cafe Pele!!!

Working with people from different parts of the world, and traveling to different parts of the world, indeed turned out to be a boon.. I always always always, trade Indian Spices to Irish, Chinese, Japanese, even Filipino tea.. However, I have a BFF from Brazil, who wanted me to get Filipino dried mangoes.. And I asked for Coffee this time - I was thinking why??!! I could have asked for chocolates, but decided to ask coffee??!!


My friend Dani, got me a 1 kg pack of coffee - I had no clue what to do with it!! I unpacked my coffee maker from its packaging and made my first coffee - of course black!!! And fell in love with it.. The aroma, the flavor.. Nothing like anything I tasted before..

I take very less quantity of the coffee to keep the freshness intact..

Talking about gifts, I got a Chinese Yoolong tea from a darling friend. 

I took one sachet and steeped into hot water, and loved it.. Nothing like I had before..  The packaging is super cute that I don't want to drink the tea, but just keep staring at it every day!!!!

Talking about tea, my Filipino Matcha tea with coffee jelly.. Its vibrant green milkshake, with typical green tea flavor!!

I will soon share a perfect cup of my chais, when my Brasilian Cafe obsession is over!!

This post is inspired from Yasmina's organizing blog on http://www.minaandherblog.com/31-days-to-a-pretty-organized-home-creating-a-coffeetea-station-day-7/

Cheers,

Amrin!!

A Comeback - Colors of Jaipur!!

Yes, I changed my blog name!! I cannot believe it either, I cannot believe that Nail Polishes don't interest me anymore!! SHOCKING? Not anymore actually?  A few years ago, my life revolved around which dress to wear my nail color.. I did a fairly GREAT job to amuse people on how much time I had to change my nail color everyday!! Poooof, someone maybe cast a spell on me :P :D

Well, I don't have paint my nails anymore.. MOST of my nail polishes are either thrown away or distributed to my friends with love..  But this basically means, I have grown as a business woman who explores the world and when I crave on having something on my nails, I get them done..

So, to stop my ramblings - I have transformed my blog to a lifestyle blog, that not only talks about nail polishes, but other things that add color to my life.. My life is now a rainbow - with a broad spectrum..

As a part of my work, I get to travel the world!! Isn't it cool?? Well, it's a mix of both.

I was in Jaipur last week, well for the gazillionth time, but this time - IT WAS DIFFERENT!!!  I was a local, wandering the streets, bargaining with local hawkers, eating street food - Isn't this the life, we all miss??

I stayed at the Jaipur Marriott, nothing new.. Same old property, good ambience, nice coffee shop, food available all the time, and what else do you need when you just need a bed to snooze..  I visited the famous street, every Jaipuri would be proud to call it their own.. Tadaaaa.. The Baapu Bazaar!!! Baapuji, though we have our differences, I love this place to pieces ;)

The first day, I reached there around 8:30 - owing to crazy Jaipur summer, hot winds and crazier traffic... Most of the shops were closed, but a glimpse of what I found..

I wish I was in college once again, but who said a working woman cannot carry a jhola??  Well, that would be ME :(

Busy Streets!!!

Neembu Mirchi (Lemon and Chilli)!! Well, that's what we need to shoo away the Evil Eye?? Isn't it ;)

Beautiful door hangings - would change any house to a ethnic palace :D

Well, Is it even fair to visit such a place without shopping for jewelry?? My bangles with a Bling :)

Day 2, was super fun.. I met some old lost friends - and wandered around the local street of Jaipur. From eating Kota Kachori, Gopal Singh ki Pataasi, Natraj's Rajasthani Thali, Eating Ice Pan, Getting Mehndi done on roadside and what not!!!

Paani Puri a.k.a Gol Gappa a.k.a Puchka a.k.a Pataasi - Every Girl from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari LOVES IT!!!

Gopal Singh Pataasi Bhandaar

Matke Malaai Kulfi..

And my Mehndi!!!

So, when you have visited all the mahals of Jaipur (hawa, jal, and what not) and you have time to explore, here are my recommendations for you :

• Hing Kachori from Kota Kachori
• Pataasi from anywhere , ask for suji puri
• Annu Mobile Paan Bhandaar - Trivia: they supplied paan for Shahid Kapoor's wedding.
• Mehndi on Baapu Bazaar.
• Baapu Bazaar and Chaura Raasta
• Nahargarh
• DON'T forget the razaais and chaadar, and Bargain, Bargain and Bargain!!! As much as you can!!!!
• Kundan jewelry - I mean any kind of jewelry.

I will come back with more ramblings, more on travel, lifestyle, cooking, DIY and just me talking.. Do let me know your comments..

P.S: I know Jaipur now as much as a local, and I know a bunch of crazy locals. I can answer almost anything you ask!

Cheers, Wasalam,

Amrin

Welcoming Summer with an Nail Art - It's ze warm sunny day !!

I had tried this nail art some time back and hope you all enjoy it.. At the moment I am going through a very bad nail phase, my nails break very often and are lifeless..  The cuticles, ufff !!! Need to go back in to full time nail care spree , me thinks  :)

This is inspired from Cute nails Youtube video by Cute nails... She is one of my favorite nail art gurus on youtube, the other one is missjenfabulous.. Please check out their channels for mind blowing nail art :)

Enjoy the pics and let me know your comments :)


I used a blue base from Envy (Health and Glow Nail paint, and dotted white nail paints fot the clouds)

Now, the sun part.. What's summer without the sun ?? I wanted to try just yellow, but it wasn't showing up on blue background.. Added black outline - I know, I messed it up :(

One of my friend comments, it looks like a modified version of Tamil Political party flag :P lol

Pics taken indoors :)

A clearer version ...

That's it for the day.. Do let me know if you have any ideas of making the sun look better :)

Please comments your thoughts and feedback on this piece of nail art !


See you all in my next post...

Adios Amigos :)

Cheers,

Amrin

Miss Claire One Stroke Nail Polish in B2 and a glittery Manicure :)

Like I had mentioned in my last post, I just didn't leave the blog under COMA but my interest in collecting Nail polishes, trying out nail art and most of all, painting my nails.. It's been 4 months since the beginning of the year and only these were added on to my stash : Jordana Base and Top Coat in January and following which I purchased 2 Faces Matte nail paints, 1 faces mini nail paint and some magnetic MUA nail paints.. I doubt this to be some evil eye's effect lol :P

Anyways, the NOTD for the day is here.. I don't have much of a review here, only some pics as I had sported this with saree for the Ethnic wear day at work..

The base color is Miss Claire One Stroke Nail Polish in shade B2.. I think the cost of this nail paint is 180 bucks . I bought this nail paint in a blog sale where the seller claimed that she hadn't used the nail paint.. So yayyy!!

This is how this nail paint looks on me..

I am not really a fan of this color and kinda felt it didn't suit me.. I wanted to add some glitters and went to Nyx Girls Nail paint in Frizzy Spots , but to my dismay the polish had clumped and the chunky glitters were stuck to the bottom.. And this is the second time I ever went to that nail paint after reviewing.. I usually don't have problem with nail paints going dry and clumsy unless they haven't been used a lot..

Finally, I managed to win the battle with it and ended up with this final simple mani..

Hope y'all like this simple comeback post.. Will see you all soon in my next post..

Tada..


Cheers,

Amrin