Apple turnover

Ingredients

• Pastry sheet - 1 (thawed)
• Green Apple - 1 (peeled, cored & chopped)
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• Sugar - 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 1/2
• Cinnamon powder - 2 pinches
• Beaten egg white for brushing the pastries

Method

• Melt butter in the pan & fry the apple till it becomes soft. (mine was little crunchy this time)
• Now add the sugar, lemon juice & cinnamon powder. Fry till it becomes slightly thick.
• Allow it to cool completely before using it for stuffing.

• Cut square shapes out of the pastry sheet (approximately 3 or 4 inches each side).

• Now place the stuffing & fold it like a triangle as show in the picture.

• Brush the egg white on top of the puff pastries.

• Now sprinkle some sugar on it.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
• Place the puff pastries & bake it for 20 - 30 minutes or till the top layer becomes golden brown in color.

Tips for the recipe - Do not place the stuffing when it is hot or warm. This makes the butter in the pastries to melt & become loose. Work on the pastry sheets when it is slightly chill. So that, handling becomes easy. If you feel the sheet are not comfortable to handle then put it in the fridge for few minutes. So that it becomes cool & easy for shaping.

Thin crust Pizza

               There are three main steps to make good pizza. First one is the base/crust, second is pizza sause & the third is toppings. It is better if you have pizza pan,but you can still make good pizza by using baking tray. This recipe gives you one 12" pizza. I have divided the dough & made one 8" pizza & one 4 " pizza.

Base crust

• Maida/All purpose flour  - 1 cup
• Active yeast - 1 tsp
• Warm water - 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp
• Olive oil - 2 tsp
• Salt to taste

Pizza sause

• Tomato - 2 medium size
• Garlic (or garlic powder) - 2 finely chopped
• Tomato sause - 2 tbsp
• Olive oil - 1 tsp
• Mortadella cheese - 1 tsp
• Pepper - 1/4 tsp
• Basil - 1/4 tsp
• Oregano - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - a pinch

Toppings

• Capsicum - 1/2 cup
• Onion - 1/2 medium size (thinly chopped)
• Tomato - 1/2 medium size 
• Jalapenos - 1
• Olives - few 
• Mushroom -1/4 cup (thinly chopped)
• Pineapple - 1/2 cup (cubed)
• Mortadella cheese (grated) - 1/2 cup
• Olive oil - 1 tbsp

Method
For the sause

• Make a puree out of the tomatoes.
• Heat oil in the pan on medium flame & add the garlic & fry for few seconds.
• Now add the tomato puree & mix well for few minutes or until there is no raw smell.
• Now add all the other ingredients for the sause except cheese.
• When it starts becoming thick, add the cheese & switch off the flame.

For the crust

• Add the yeast in quater cup of warm water & allow it to sit for few minutes until you see the foam on top of the water.

• Now add this to the flour & mix well by sprinkling some salt in your mixing bowl. Also add 1tsp of olive oil.
• If the dough is very thick add 1 tbsp of water.
• Finally pour the remaining 1tsp of olive oil on top of the dough to shape a ball.

• Cover the bowl & keep it in a warm place until the dough doubles (approximately 1 hour).

• Now punch the dough & cover it again & rest it in a warm place,so that it raises again (this time approximately 20 - 30 minutes).
• Now nicely grease the 12 inch pan with olive oil & place the dough in it.

• Slowly spread the dough like a thin layer using your fingers.

For the topping

• Spread some pizza sause on the flattened dough.
• Arrange the vegetables one by one as shown.

• Finally sprinkle some cheese.

• Drizzle some olive oil on the edges of the crust & also some on the top.
• Bake it at 425 degree F for 20-25 minutes or till it becomes golden brown in color.
• Remove it from the pan carefully once it is done.
• Run your pizza cutter or knife to make pieces & serve hot.

Tips for the recipe - I didn't use olives & mushrooms cause i didn't have any at that time.You can also choose your own topping combos. Adding oil to the edges of the crust will give nice crispy crust.

I made small broccoli pizza & here is the topping recipe.

• Mortadella cheese (grated) - 1/4 cup
• Broccoli - 1/2 cup
• Jalapenos - 1 or 2 to taste
• Onions - 1/2 small size (thinly chopped)
• Garlic powder - to taste
• Olive oil - 1 1/2 tsp

Method - Spread some pizza sause on the flattened dough. Arrange the vegetables (broccoli, Jalapenos & onions). Sprinkle some cheese followed by the garlic powder. Drizzle some olive oil on the edges of the crust & also some on the top. Bake it at 425 degree F for 20-25 minutes or till it becomes golden brown in color.

Log cake

Ingredients

• Eggs - 4 (separated)
• Sugar - 3/4 cup
• Self rising flour - 3/4 cup
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

• Clean kitchen towel to roll the cake
• Powdered sugar to dust the towel
• Butter or oil spray to grease the pan

• Whipped cream (White color - Vanilla or any other flavor of your choice) - 2 cups
• Whipped cream (Dark brown color - Chocolate flavored) - 1 cup
• Whipped cream (Light brown color - Chocolate flavored) - 1/2 cup

Method

• Beat the egg whites till it becomes stiff.

• Add sugar & continue beating till you get a creamy texture.

• Add essence & yolks & then beat moderately for few minutes.

• Add the flour slowly & fold it gently.
• Fold it in the same direction (till you finish) by rotating the mixing bowl slightly.
• Do not mix it too hard or in different directions as this will affect the texture of the cake by breaking the air bubbles.

• Grease a 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan & line with waxed or parchment paper.
• Also grease the waxed paper with little butter & then dust some flour on top of it & keep the pan ready.
• Pour the prepared mixture on it & place it in preheated oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit.

• Bake it for 15-20 minutes or till it is done.

• Sprinkle some powdered sugar on the clean kitchen towel & keep it ready.
• When the cake is out from the oven, remove it from the pan with in 5 minutes & place it on the towel.

• Remove the waxed paper & roll it up.

• Allow it to cool completely (approximately 1 or 2 hours).

• Unroll the cake & apply a layer of the white cream as shown in the picture.
• Now roll back the cake carefully.

• You can divide the cake into three pieces(1/2 " round pieces, 1 1/2 " round piece & remaining as third long piece) as shown in the picture or use it as a single log cake or any other shape of your choice.
• Arrange the cake on the serving tray & spread the dark chocolate cream lengthwise using fork, so that it resembles like a tree bark.

• Then spread the light chocolate color to the cut sides of the cake & finish it off.

Simple Test - Gently press the cake using clean hand on the top of the cake. It should spring  back. Then your cake is ready.

Put a sharp knife in the cake. When you take it out, it should come out clean. If it comes up with some wet batter, then it needs more baking.

 If you don't have self rising flour you can make your own self rising flour at home by mixing & sieving all the following ingredients together.

1 cup of plain flour/All purpose

1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of salt

Tips for the recipe - You can use any cream (whipped cream, butter cream, cheese cream) of your choice. If you dont have waxed or parchment paper at home, go-ahead & pour the batter directly on the pan. But take care that the pan should be prepared properly. Grease the pan & then dust some flour. I used icing colors to get good dark & light brown color.

Cake & caramel sauce

Ingredients

• Plain cake - 3 - 5 pieces
• Chocolate - caramel sauce - 4 tbsp or adjust
• Banana - 1 medium size

Method

• At the time of serving, place the cake pieces in the serving plate & add the sliced banana pieces.
• Pour few spoon of caramel sause on top of the cake & serve.

Tips for the recipe - For good taste refrigerate the cake, fruit & the sauce for sometime & serve chill.

Plain cake

Ingredients

• Self - rising flour - 3/4 cup
• Butter - 1/4 cup
• Milk - 1/4 cup
• Sugar - 1/2 cup
• Egg white - from 2 eggs
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp

Method

• Beat the butter & sugar (powdered sugar makes the work easy) together till it becomes soft & fluffy.

• Beat the egg whites well. 

• Mix the egg white with the butter & beat again for few minutes.
• Now add the milk & vanilla extract. Mix well it gets incorporated with the egg mixture.

• Now add the flour little by little & fold it very gently.

• Fold it in the same direction (till you finish) by rotating the mixing bowl slightly.
• Do not mix it too hard or in different directions for that may affect the texture of the cake by breaking the air bubbles.
• Now grease the pan with little butter & then dust some flour on top of it & keep the pan ready.
• Pour the prepared mixture on it & place it in the preheated oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit.

• Bake it for 25 minutes or till it is done.

Simple Test - Gently press the cake using clean hand on the top of the cake. It should springs back. Then your cake is ready.

Put a sharp knife in the cake. When you take it out, it should come out clean. If it comes up with some wet batter, then it needs more baking.

 If you don't have self rising flour you can make your own self rising flour at home by mixing & sieving all the following ingredients together.

1 cup of plain flour/All purpose

1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of salt

General tips for cakes

•  If you open the oven too soon, your cake may not rise well due to the change in the temperature.
• Using a small sharp knife loosen the cake from the sides of the pan & then turn the pan upside down to remove the cake gently from the pan.
• After removing the cake from the oven allow it to cool for 10 minutes(approximately) & then remove the cake from the pan. Or else cake gets stuck to the pan.
• It may also gets stuck even if the pan is not properly prepared.
• Also do not allow the cake to stay in the pan for a long time. It makes the bottom part of the cake soggy.

Eggless chocolate cake with cherry

Ingredients

• Self rising flour- 1 cup
• Brown sugar - 2/3 cup
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - 1/4 or 1/2 cup
• Refined oil - 1/3 cup
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
• Water - 3/4 cup
• Spray oil to grease the pan
• Whipped cream - 1 1/2  cup 
• Cherry Mixture/Jam - 3/4 - 1 cup 

For the cake

• Mix first 3 ingredients together in the mixing bowl.

• Now add oil & water to the flour & mix till it gets incorporated.

• Add lemon juice & the extract & continue mixing. Take care that you do not mix too much.
• Preheat the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
• Grease the pan well with spray or oil.
• Pour the batter & bake it for 20 -25 minutes or till it is done.

Simple Test - Gently press the cake using clean hand on the top of the cake. It should spring back. Then your cake is ready.
Put a sharp knife in the cake. When you take it out, it should come out clean. If it comes up with some wet batter, then it needs more baking time.

• After 10 minutes, remove it from the pan & allow it to cool completely.
• Then cover the cake & refrigerate it for few hours. It is not necessary to cut the top of the cake. 
• Now arrange it in the tray. Gently press it (do not press it too hard), you can also cut the cake & arrange it if needed. It should be evenly placed as shown in the picture.(You can also directly bake it in the square or rectangular baking dish).

• Apply the cream evenly on the top of the cake.

• Spread the cherry mixture on the cream. 

• Cover & chill the dessert. Scoop the dessert from the sides & serve chill.

Tips for the recipe - I like to have little bitter taste in my chocolate cake. so i have added half a cup of coco powder. If you don't like to have bitter taste then you can reduce the coco powder to 1/4 cup. Instead of whipped cream, you can also use sweeten butter or cheese, anything of your choice. Brown sugar is best for this recipe but still you can go ahead with white sugar also. I like to have more cake, medium  cream & less cherries. So I have arranged the cake in the 6 inch length square tray. If you like to have a thin layer of cake then you can go for lengthier tray. Also you can increase the amount of cream if you wish. Take care while adding cherries. Too much of cherries may make your dessert too sweet or sometimes sour. If you don't have self rising flour you can make you own self rising flour at home by mixing & sieving all the following ingredients together.

1 cup of plain flour/All purpose

1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of salt

General tips for cakes - If you open the oven too soon, your cake may not rise well due to the change in the temperature.
Using a small sharp knife will loosen the cake from the sides of the pan & then turn the pan upside down to remove the cake gently from the pan.
After removing the cake from the oven allow it to cool for 10 minutes (approximately) & then remove the cake from the pan. Or else cake gets stuck to the pan.
It may also gets stuck even if the pan is not properly prepared.
Also do not allow the cake to stay in the pan for a long time. It makes the bottom part of the cake soggy.
After greasing the pan, dust little plain flour before pouring the batter.It helps the cake to come out clean.

Egg puff

Ingredients

• Puff pastry sheets - 1 sheet (thawed)
• Boiled eggs - 2 (cut into half)
• Onion - 1 medium size(chopped lengthwise)
• Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
• Aniseed powder - 1/4 - 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala - 1/4 - 1/2 tsp
• Red chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
• Egg white (optional) - 1 (beaten)
• Oil - 1 - 2 tbsp
• Salt to taste

Method
For the stuffing

• Heat oil in the pan & fry ginger-garlic paste.
• Add the onions, salt & fry well.
• Add the chilly powder, garam masala powder & aniseed powder.
• Now add the eggs & mix gently.
• Switch off the flame & allow it to cool completely.

For the Puff

• Cut square shapes out of the pastry sheet (approximately 3 inches each side).
• Now place the masala with 1/2 egg in the center of the squared sheet.

• Now fold the corners of the sheet to cover the egg masala.

• Brush the egg white on top of the puff pastries.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
• Place the puff pastries & bake it for 20 - 30 minutes or till the top layer becomes golden brown in color.

Tips for the recipe - Do not place the stuffing when it is hot or warm. This makes the butter in the pastries to melt & become loose. Work on the pastry sheets when it is slightly chill. So that, handing becomes easy. If you feel the sheet are not comfortable to handle then put it in the fridge for few minutes. So that it becomes cool & easy for shaping.