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Posts Tagged ‘chocolate’

Chocolate Lava Cake for 2

Posted in desserts, family, snack type things, tagged chocolate, chocolate cake, craving, easy, for two on June 30, 2015| 1 Comment »

Food cravings are like wizards.

They appear out of nowhere (POOF!) and swirl a wand about (WHOOSH!) and say to you – You need a gooey, dark chocolate cake in your life.

It looks like this, the wizard says. Exactly like this.

You have to make one this very minute, the wizard says. No, I don’t care that it’s 11 pm and you’re in your pyjamas. You want this NOW.

All that’s left to do is give into the wizard’s command. He looks like Gandalf okay? Can you say no that face?

So I put together this gooey, delicious dark chocolate batter and pop it in the oven.

Look how you can tell the centre is still soft underneath once its ready? 😍

This lava cake has to be eaten the second it comes out of the oven. When you cut into it and see the warm and intensely chocolate-ty centre ooze out, you will know everything is right with the world.

The wizard knows my soul.

Chocolate Lava Cake for two

Recipe adapted from: Buzzfeed’s Christine Byrne

Prep time: 12 mins
Cook time: 11 mins, plus cooling
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter (unsalted and at room temperature), plus a bit more to grease the ramekins
2 tbsp caster sugar, plus a bit more for the ramekins
115 g dark chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 tbsp flour, sifted
pinch of salt
a couple drops of vanilla extract
icing sugar to dust (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200º C. Grease two small ramekins with butter and then scatter some caster sugar into each bowl, turning the ramekin around as you do, so that the base and sides are well covered. Tip the ramekin over once done, and throw away any sugar that falls out.
2. Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave in 2-3 bursts of 30 seconds each, stirring well between each burst, until completely melted.
3. Cut the butter into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl with the sugar. Cream into a paste using an electric mixer and then add the eggs. Whisk for a minute until everything combines, then add the flour, salt, and vanilla extract and whisk again until well combined.
4. Using a spatula, fold about a third of the melted chocolate into the batter. Slowly add the rest of the chocolate and keep folding until you have a uniform and smooth batter. Pour into the prepared ramekins and place on a baking tray. Bake for about 11 minutes, or until the edges of the cake begin to come away from the ramekins. Leave to rest on the counter for about 5 minutes and then flip onto serving plates. Dust with icing sugar to decorate if you wish, and serve immediately.

Flour-less Chocolate and Rum Cake and 10 things to do for yourself to feel better right this minute

Posted in desserts, family, friends, lists, tagged cake, chocolate, happy, list, rum, you on August 21, 2014| 7 Comments »

Life can be stressful.

That’s why God gave us cake.

Like this one.

He also gave us goofy friends who say silly things and make us laugh even when everything is miserable. And then all you want to do is feed them cake 🙂

Like this one.

Sometimes things in our lives are spiralling out of control.
Or things are not going the way you want them to.
Or hey, you’re unhappy about something and it’s all you can think about.
Been there, done that.

But you know what’s a billion times better than dwelling on those sad thoughts?

Doing something for you. Just for you.

A little pick-me-up or a stress-buster, and having some fun while you’re at it.

Here’s 10 things to do for yourself to feel better right this minute.

1. Cuddle with a puppy. Stick your face in the soft furriness and cover his face with smoochies. How about this one?

2. Call an old friend. Talk about monkeys, fitness, philosophy or food. Whatever you fancy- those are just a few things I talk to my oldest friend about.

3. Stand in front of the mirror. Let your hair down. And dance to this song. (I just did. And I can’t stop.)

4. Grab a cup of tea, get under the covers and drown yourself in a good book. I recommend this or this.

5. Go get some sunshine and breeze. Everywhere has someplace quiet and beautiful, but if you’re in Singapore like me, nothing beats the Botanical Gardens and this stunning trail.

6. If you have a funny dad like mine, (most people do right?) send him a message and then grab your stomach laughing for the next 5 minutes. Real examples below:

7. Go be a badass at the gym. Nothing feels like a problem when you’re snatching a heavy bar over your head. Like seriously. If you’re in Singapore come hangout with these super fun people at CrossFit Firecity.

8. Write. About anything. Let that pen hit paper and you’ll see things tumbling out making you feel better. Not convinced? Read this.

9. Sleep it out. Sleep makes everything calmer and clearer. Stay in bed all day. It’s okay to be lazy sometimes. Really, it is.

10. Bake this cake. Boom. Life is better.

Flour-less Chocolate and Rum Cake

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

180 g dark chocolate (the best you can find)
120 g butter (salted), plus a little extra for greasing
120 g caster sugar
4 eggs
11/2 tsp vanilla extract
60 g cocoa, sifted
100 ml dark rum
cherries to garnish (optional)

For the glaze

100 g dark chocolate
50 g butter
60 ml dark rum

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190º C. Melt the chocolate and butter together over a low flame, stirring until both melt. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the sugar and stir in well.
2. Crack the eggs in one at a time, making sure to mix well and fully incorporating each before adding the next.
3. Add the vanilla, cocoa and rum and stir well until everything comes together in a loose batter. Pour into a greased 9-inch round tin and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
4. For the glaze, melt the chocolate and butter together, and remove from the flame to cool. Stir in the rum.
5. This is a soft cake so make sure it is completely cool before you turn it out onto a plate or it may break. Placing it in the fridge for a few minutes before turning out usually helps. Once transferred onto a plate, pour the glaze over and top with cherries if you like.

This cake reminds you to be nice to yourself. Be kind. Things can get hard sometimes, but more often than not, they get better.

Spoil yourself a little. Because you’re amazing. And never for a minute think you’re alone.

In the end you’ll see, we’re all sitting across each other at a giant table, eating cake and laughing together 🙂

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10 life lessons from Dad and Paleo chocolate – the only Paleo hack you need

Posted in desserts, family, healthy, Paleo, tagged chocolate, coconut oil, dad, healthy, Paleo on September 11, 2013| 11 Comments »

For many lucky girls around the world, their Dad is their hero.

Dads teach us how to ride bikes and laugh from our stomachs.

They take us on adventures we can’t ever forget.

They protect us like a literal human shield, from all life’s bad things.

My Dad is that Dad.

And here are 10 things he’s taught me about life.

1. You can never be too early to catch a train or a flight. (2-3 hours before is mandatory, but anything above 3 hours, and you’re gold.)

2. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to a birthday party, but always make sure you attend a funeral.

3. Mixing a single malt with Coca Cola is a sissy thing to do. Drink it on the rocks. Like a boss.

4. Always do more than what is expected of you. Much, much more. And do not expect anything in return.

5. It is not nice to stand too close to boys in photographs.

6. If you have to read aloud at an event, the only thing to remember is to read slowly.

7. Try all the crazy things you want to. Just try them at home.

8. When you’re sad, watch The Tom and Jerry Show and you’ll feel better instantly.

9. If you really love something, chase it with everything you have. You will reach it.

10. Family always comes first.

There are so many more, but these are the ones I try to live by.
The ones that are now a part of me.
The ones I might pass on a daughter some day.

Mom says I am very much like my Dad. And nothing makes me prouder.

So this one is for you, Papa.

The first man I ever loved.
Baker of the softest cakes.
Granter of my every wish.
Protector from every pain.
Filler of my fridge.
Teacher of tough lessons.
Encourager of my every dream.
My biggest supporter.
My first hero.
My shoulder, my safe haven, my strength.

For everything you’ve taught me by example, and for everything you are, I love you more and more each day.
Thank you for being my rock.

I wish I could send you some of this wonderful Paleo chocolate, but it’d melt.

This Paleo chocolate is THE only Paleo hack you need.

Just a few simple ingredients and some stirring will result in the most dark, bitter, smooth, silken chocolate ever.

I feel like chocolate was the one thing I was really missing on my Paleo challenge and now I can eat it while being 100% Paleo!

This stuff is crazy rich though, so don’t eat a whole lot at once like I did. You’ll get a tummy ache 😛

Since coconut oil is the base, you will be able to taste it a little, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you can’t stand the smell/taste of coconut.

You can make them in mini cupcake cases, and top them with nuts.

Or cut up in haphazard shapes 🙂

A little goes a long way – the piece will melt gently between your fingers as you nibble on it, so you can lick your fingers after as well 🙂

Paleo Chocolate

Prep time: 5 mins
Makes: 20-30 pieces

Ingredients:

120 ml coconut oil, melted
100 g cocoa powder
2 tbsp wild organic honey (or maple syrup), plus more to taste if you want
pinch of sea salt
assorted nuts (optional)

Method:

1. Pour the coconut oil into a medium mixing bowl. Add the cocoa powder a little at a time, stirring to mix well.
2. Add the honey and salt and stir everything togther until well mixed. Taste and add a little more honey if it is too bitter for you.
3. Pour into mini cupcake cases and top with nuts if you like, or pour over a parchment-covered tray and spread out to an even layer. Freeze for 2-3 hours. Roughly chop up the chocolate on the tray and store in a box in the fridge. The chocolate minis should also be stored in the fridge.

I’m telling you – Paleo never tasted this good!

Have a fantastic day my darlins 🙂

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Quite possibly the best desserts in town: Le Bistro du Parc, New Delhi

Posted in Bloggers meet, desserts, Review, savoury, tagged bloggers, cafe, chocolate, desserts, French, review on August 20, 2013| 8 Comments »

A quaint little cafe has come to town.

It’s very French, complete with chalkboard menus, divine desserts, and a very charming half French-half Punjabi restauranter called Naina.

Four of us from the CAL Blogger’s Table, stopped by for dinner one drizzly Saturday night. I wasn’t feeling well, but Sid convinced me to go anyway and I’m glad I did.

We started with a Midinette salad – tender pieces of grilled chicken, topped with julienne of green apple and celery, studded with bright pomegranate seeds, and tossed in a very light parsley mayonnaise.

Pan fried calamaris came next – a warm dish of delicious squid rings with garlic, baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and a red chilly coulis.

If you like liver, definitely try the Chicken liver parfait served with crispy pieces of baguette, a balsamic reduction, and confit onions. The pate is very delicate, and the sticky balsamic sauce is quite lovely with it.

The main courses are probably Le Bistro du Parc’s weakest link.

There was the average Grilled lamb with vegetables. It came with a mint-mango chutney and potatoes, but none of the flavours were memorable.

We also tried the Chicken and zucchini with olive tapenade – the tapenade was rich and slightly tart, but the zucchini was overcooked and mushy. Plus there was a little too much green on my plate 😦

The Pan-fried red snapper with ratatouille vegetables and in a bed of lemon foam was probably the most frou-frou dish on the menu. The vegetables were slightly sweet which I loved, and the fish had a gorgeous crispy skin, but the fish itself was a little under seasoned.

The big gun on the menu was the Rib of beef for two. After being asked how you would like your meat (we said medium-rare) it’s brought to the table like this.

Then it’s taken back to the kitchen, cut into pieces, and brought back like this.

The meat itself was too rare for our liking (we were told that “French” medium-rare was our “rare”) but it was taken back and cooked a while longer so it didn’t feel like we were cavemen gnawing at raw meat.

The hand-cut fries that came with it were excellent, as was the divine morel sauce, with little pieces of the mushroom floating in the golden sauce like succulent black jewels.

And now for the main event – the desserts.

Between the four of us, we choose 5 desserts to share.

The Lemon tart with meringue, Raspberry Charlotte, and Plum and almond tart were excellent. Each one made with care, pronounced, unapologetic flavours, and excellent presentation.

But let me tell you about the two desserts that will most certainly make me return to Le Bistro du Parc.

This most beautiful chocolate mousse – made with Valrhona dark chocolate, and served with pomegranate seeds and a strawberry coulis. When you put that first decadent spoonful in your mouth, you understand why people often liken chocolate to sex.

The other stunning dessert I can’t stop thinking about was the Pistachio Paris Brest – a choux pastry bun filled with a luscious lime-green pistachio cream. The dessert gets its name from Paris–Brest–Paris – a 1200km bicycle race from Paris to Brest and back to Paris and is therefore shaped to match the circular circuit.

Even Nachiketa, our reigning dessert queen was suitably impressed.

Le Bistro du Parc is a lovely place to perhaps go on your first date. It’s relaxed, the food is reasonably good, and the desserts will most certainly make that magical first kiss happen.

Here’s what the others there had to say:

Sid from Chef at Large
Nachiketa from Crazy over Desserts
Sushmita from My Unfinished Life

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The lazy person’s chocolate cake (One bowl, no eggs, no butter, no milk, no whisk)

Posted in desserts, tagged cake, chocolate, easy, egg-less, eggless, no butter, no eggs on July 11, 2013| 3 Comments »

I’ve made a certain discovery recently.

People. Are. Lazy.

And many of those people are my friends.

One is too lazy to boil eggs. Another is too lazy to turn on a gas stove. A third has pretend palpitations if a recipe has more than 3 steps.

Incidentally all these people love cake. Cake monsters each and every one of them.

So this recipe is for you lazy ones.

Almost zero effort = Melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake.

You don’t need a fancy whisk. You don’t need to wash up multiple pots and pans. Heck you don’t even need to crack an egg.

Look, you can even entertain yourself with this scary cake face. It looks like it wants to eat something.
If you find this funny, we can be friends. Like totally.

All you need is an arm. And the will to mix a few easy ingredients together. And of course, the desire for some sweet, sweet chocolate cake that’ll make you smile for a week.

So move your lazy behinds. And make this cake.

One bite and you will send me many kisses. I know it.

The lazy person’s chocolate cake (One bowl, no eggs, no butter, no milk, no whisk)
Adapted from: Sweet Little Bluebird

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 35 mins
Serves: 10

Ingredients:

170 g plain flour
3 tbsp cocoa powder
225 g caster sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a little more for greasing
240ml water
100 g dark chocolate chips (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180º C. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish with some oil. Add the first 5 ingredients and mix to combine.
2. Make three depressions in the dry ingredients – 2 small and 1 big. Add the vinegar and vanilla to the smaller depressions and the oil to the large one. Pour the water over and mix everything well until you have a smooth batter.
3. Stir in the chocolate chips to evenly distribute them. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, remove, cool, and eat!

This cake is delicious as is, but if you want to really take it to next level, make this super easy, yet utterly divine ganache frosting.

Look at its glistening, gorgeous yumminess.

Baileys dark-chocolate soft ganache

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5-7 mins

Ingredients:

100 g good-quality dark chocolate
100 ml cream
2 tbsp Baileys (optional)
sprinkles (optional)

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl.
2. Heat in the cream in a pan, stirring constantly until small bubbles start to appear at the edges of the pan. Add the Baileys, stir well, and pour over the chocolate.
3. Mix well until the chocolate melts and you have a glossy ganache. Smother over the cake and top with sprinkles if you wish.

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Double chocolate cookie chunks with gooey caramel centres

Posted in desserts, snack type things, tagged caramel, chocolate, chocolate chips, cookie, Dulce de leche on June 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Are you a cookie monster?

I bet you are.

What’s not to like, right?

Especially if there’s a surprise lurking inside the decadent chocolate exterior?

Like these double chocolate chunks with a super rich and super wonderful dulce de leche centre.

I used some really adorable half and half chocolate chips. They’re half white and half dark chocolate.

Aren’t they pwetty?

Also, I used a lovely purple silicone mat my aunt gave me. I loved how easy it was to use!

These cookie chunks aren’t delicate. They’re chunky. They’re hunky. They’re a little bit like Moto Moto. ( Go listen to his song :P)

I like ’em big. I like ’em chunky. I like ’em big. I like ’em plumpy.
I like ’em round. With something something.

Still talking about the cookies here darlings! 😉

And the dulce de leche inside is the best caramel ever. It’s golden and thick and sweet, and stays gooey inside the cookie, until you take a bite and it melts in mouth, coating your tongue with its awesomeness.

Here’s the recipe. Go make your inner cookie monster proud! 🙂

Double chocolate cookie chunks with gooey caramel centres

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Makes: 12
Recipe adapted from: Hip Foodie Mom

Ingredients:

115 g butter (salted is fine)
300 g caster sugar
60 g cocoa powder
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
220 g flour
100 g chocolate chips (dark, white, milk, or mixed)
80ml or 1/3 tin Dulce de leche (recipe here)

Method:

1. Melt the butter in a large pan and then stir in the sugar and cocoa. When slightly cool, mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
2. In another bowl, mix the baking soda and flour together. Add this dry mixture to the cocoa mixture a little at a time until completely incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Place the dough in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Line a baking tray with parchment or use a silicone mat.
4. Preheat the oven to 180º C. Take about a heaped tablespoon worth of dough in your hand and shape it into a rough ball. Make an well in the centre and fill it with a teaspoon of dulce de leche. Cover the well with a flattened piece of dough to seal. Place these on the tray/mat and bake for 20 minutes or until the edges of the cookie are beginning to dry slightly but the centre is still soft. Remove and cool before serving.

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2-ingredient mini dark chocolate discs + giveaways!

Posted in desserts, giveaway, healthy, tagged chocolate, dry fruit, giveaway, healthy, nuts on May 23, 2013| 13 Comments »

At precisely 2pm every afternoon, post my lunch, I’m hit with an unavoidable sugar craving.

Usually there is a way to fix it – I take a quick walk with a friend and pick up a small pudding cup.
Or I remember there’s chocolate in my bag. Or maybe some blessed soul has brought mithai to office.

But on the days when there is nothing sweet around, I’m a little like this:

So I’ve always been on the lookout for something healthy + sweet that I can keep by my desk for those pesky sugar cravings.

And you’ll be please to know – I have found it, my sweet peas.

And here they are.

Made with just dark chocolate and an assortment of dried fruit and nuts, they’re the perfect healthy sweet fix.

You can experiment with what you want to put on the discs – I did coconut, almonds, cashews, prunes and raisins.

Once you have the ingredients, all you have to do is happily plonk the dry fruit and nuts over the chocolate. Or you could arrange them with precision and artistry. Just have fun with it!

Mix and match to make each one look different.

They’re the perfect size when you want a hit of sweetness.

Make some now! 🙂

2-ingredient mini dark chocolate discs
Adapted from: Undressed Skeleton

Prep time: 5 mins, plus setting
Makes: 12

Ingredients:

125 g dark chocolate
a handful of your favourite dried fruits and nuts

Method:

1. Melt the chocolate in a microwave or in a double boiler. Line a tray with some grease-proof paper.
2. Using a tablespoon, scoop out melted chocolate and create small circles on the paper, flattening gently as you go. Add a mix of dried fruits and nuts over the circles and leave to set in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Remove gently from the paper and eat, or store in a sealed container in the fridge.

*GIVEAWAY ALERT*

Have you guys heard of Food Panda? A website that allows you to order food online, these guys have scouted your city and put together the menus of hundreds of restaurants in your area. It’s super easy to use, really fast and they’ve even listed places with discounts and special vouchers together for your convenience. Pretty cool, right?

Food Panda wants to offer 6 lucky readers a 150/- INR voucher to use the next time you’re hungry! All you have to do visit Food Panda, and tell me which restaurant you’d love to order from. Yup, that simple.

I’ll pick 6 winners by a random draw and announce them in my next post 🙂

Have a fun week ahead, lovelies!

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culinarystorm

It's raining food!

Posts Tagged ‘chocolate’

Chocolate Lava Cake for 2

10 life lessons from Dad and Paleo chocolate – the only Paleo hack you need

Quite possibly the best desserts in town: Le Bistro du Parc, New Delhi

The lazy person’s chocolate cake (One bowl, no eggs, no butter, no milk, no whisk)

2-ingredient mini dark chocolate discs + giveaways!

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