Rich Chocolate Fudgy Brownie

Brownies are of the three varieties, the cakey ones, almost cakey ones and the fudge ones.
To me a brownie must be fudgy. I made these brownies on a quiet, anti-social Sunday where just the four of us had a gourmet meal of Puris, Chats, Brownies and Ice Creams.

I would elaborate as to why I said anti - social.
Before moving here I have heard stories about uppity, attitude showing, thankless and opportunist Indians who live abroad.  I used to hear those stories and rub it off saying it happens only to a certain set of people and not all of them

While living in India we were not social animals. We felt so adequate with our own family, visiting parents and relatives and never felt the need to socialize outside.

But a couple of years here and Oh boy!!! what have I witnessed?  Needless to say I have come across all the above and much more.

My other Indian friends who live in different countries told me similar stories too.
I think there is so much distress because when we live so far away we start considering other Indian friends as our own and tend to become possessive and thats where the problem arises.

Guatemala is a quaint little country with about 100 Indians. All the Indians live in the city about a maximum of 5 kms distance within their homes. What do you expect?
Unity, attachment, party every week, help each other in times of need etc etc. But the opposite has happened and it is very unfortunate.

I think all of us when given the opportunity fall into politics. It is really a great art not to succumb to it. Some of the Indians here would ill-talk so much about a friend that you think there is something really messy between those two. But you see them the next day, all sweet-talk and false talk just to be in the good books of the other person. What I don't understand is if there is really a problem cooking between two persons, why can't they sort it out by asking directly to them rather than passing stories, ill-talking behind or secretly fuming within. In spirituality they say hesitation is the greatest sin.
If there is a problem why hesitate? Go ask.  I have lost a couple of friends by asking but it is rather better than dealing with a relationship with a lot of friction. We fight with our husbands, children, parents and we talk to them the next moment as if nothing has happened without friction, that is because we don't hesitate to ask and sort out the problem. Same must be done with friends too. Life will be a lot more easier.

The most creepy one I have come across so far is bragging about the number of years they have spent in a country. Sadly people who live in India never count the number of years they lived there but moment they step abroad they start to count and it becomes a status talk.  The other day at a party a lady came up to me and said 'You know what? I have completed (as if it is a degree from the IIM) two years in Guatemala.   (me thinks .. so what??)

Some of the Indians who land up newly here are very very social with you that you think they are the best people you have come across in your life.  Don't be too naive... They were just choosing their 'group'.

Some socialize with you suddenly like a rebound love only because they were rejected by some other group.

Some who take all the help from you to babysit their kids while they enjoy movies, drinks, parlors or work at office and are absolutely thankless. There were instances when they don't even call or message to say good bye when they leave the country.

Some who behave their best when they come to your place but behave different when part of a different group.

Some who are so insecure and always monitor about who is partying with who and sulk about why weren't they invited.

Some manipulators who do more bad to you than good. I recently came to know from a common friend that we were not invited for drinking parties because we had been branded as 'Non- alcoholics and old-fashioned' by some of our so called friends.

Some who network (secretly) at such a pace with everyone only to know what is happening with work permits, permanent resident status etc. but never for a truthful relationship.

Some who are friends with other Indians to get free car rides, sell medical bills to others (note: not only illegally procuring medical bills but also selling them)

Some who demand home cooked food, eat to the heart's content and go and ill-talk with other friends.

Some who don't have their own brains to search for house-help but use your maid only to gossip and get information about what is happening in your house. Indians are smart, they can learn any language faster to gossip.

Some who demand you to get food supplies and many other things from your India and USA trips but refuse to do the same for you.

Some who are neutral (believe me they are the worst, they simply nod their heads for anything and because of that nothing productive happens) or simply put it behave like slaves to retain a friend.

Some who borrow your things but never return them.

Some who even befriend you and your friends to hire them or pull them into their organizations.

Some who give only ideas but not do any work when we organize group festivals or parties.

Some who act funny as if they have forgotten their Indianness that you have to remind them to remove even footwear during religious functions.

Some who network with people only online just for a virtual celebrity stauts to get as many 'likes' or 'comments' in their social networking sites , but in reality they are so different.

Some who befriend  you to just tell on others.

I told you before that you get to rub shoulders with the Indian diplomat crowd. Some who think that they have attained a high social status just because they were invited to an exclusive embassy party or   have been invited to a diplomat's house dinner.

It pains me deeply to think why can't we all be friendly just for a relation and not with any hidden agenda. Finally after all the bitter experiences, the Indians are of two types here - one who socialize only with Indians and the others who avoid the other Indians as some serious plague. I haven't come to the stage of avoiding them like plague, for I  know that not everyone is the same. Being indifferent or ignoring them will not help me break my limitations.  The more close you work with such people you get a chance at least to change them by passing on the good vibes and blessing them.

I constantly remember my Guru's words to be truthful to everyone and continue to do the goodness irrespective of whether it comes back to you or not.


This brownie that I made, gave an affirmation that I indeed have magical hands. I just followed my own intuitive recipe and got the best brownies ever.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 tin - condensed milk
1 tsp - baking soda
yogurt - 1/2 cup
melted butter - 1/2 cup
cocoa powder - 2 tbsp

Method

Mix all the above ingredients and bake at 350 F for 35 minutes or till you see a fudgy top.
When cool , cut pieces and serve with ice cream

Enjoy!!!!

Black Forest Gateau

I made this Black Forest Gateau for my husband's birthday last December.

This pictures does no justice to the cake at all.


Ingredients For the Chocolate Cake

3 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cup sugar (make it 2 cups if you plan not to frost the cake)
6tbsp or 1/2 a cup of Hershey's cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
a pinch of salt
2 cups of hot water
3/4 up of vegetable oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Bake the cake with all the above ingredients at 350 F. I used two six inch tins to bake two cakes.

For the Frosting 
Cherry Compote - 3 tbsp
Whipped Cream 
Grated Chocolate 
Maraschino cherries


Once the cake is completely cooled, level them if needed.
Whip the cream till peaks appear adding one or two tbsp of icing sugar.
Cook the cherries in two tbsp of sugar and two tbsp of water until shiny.
Let it cool.

Assembling the cake

Spread the cherry compote on top of one of the chocolate cakes
Spread the whipped cream.
Place another chocolate cake on top and spread the whipped cream all around the cake.
Once neatly done, sprinkle the grated chocolate on all the sides of the cake.
Decorate the top of the cake with whipped cream and cherries and sprinkle some more grated chocolate.

Enjoy!!!

Apple Almond Cinnamon Loaf

I took this recipe from http://youreverydaycookradha.blogspot.com/2013/11/apple-walnut-cinnamon-loaf.html#comment-form

Her recipes are very accurate and I replaced the walnuts with almonds since I didn't have walnuts in stock.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 apple peeled and chooped into fine pieces
1/2 cup of almonds finely chopped
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup curd
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup of melted butter


Method

• Mix the sugar, cinnamon and curd well
• Add the melted butter and milk and mix well
• In another bowl, sieve the flour and the baking soda
• Add it to the sugar mixture
• Add the vanilla extract 
• Add the apples and the almonds and give a gentle mix
• In a greased pan, bake the mixture at 350 F for about 30 minutes 
• Cool in a wire rack and slice into pieces

Enjoy!!!

Baked Egg Free Doughnuts

Ingredients:
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 sachet of rapid rise yeast
Water as needed to knead the dough
Milk - 1/2 a cup
Sugar - 1tbsp
2 tbsp - vegetable shortening
Vanilla essence - a tsp

Method:

Mix the yeast in warm water and sugar and wait for two minutes for it to react and foam up.
Mix yeast with flour and add in the milk, vegetable shortening and water and knead into a soft dough.
Keep dough in a warm place allowing it to rise for an hour.
Check the dough after an hour, it would have doubled in size.
Roll dough and cut them into small doughnuts.
Transfer to baking tray and allow them to rise for another 40 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Frost and glaze the doughnuts with colors and sprinkles of your choice.

Enjoy!!!!


Pictures Illustrations

Doughnuts allowed to raise in the baking tray

Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting

Can you believe they are eggless???

Ingredients:

Some days here really depress me. Today was one of those days. How do you feel when the world corners you for no reason. I felt that today. That is a long story. There is no value for truth  in this world. How do you feel, when you have friends but you don't have anyone when you need them the most. I felt that today.

Living in a place where the language is different (I consider English as good as my mother tongue), the culture , the food and everything is different is thrilling and also challenging. There are a handful of Indians here and so even conversing with a wall is as good as conversing with them. It is like on BIG joint family living here. Every other Indian knows you here since the community is small. You can rub shoulders with the ambassador of India, get invited to their place for bureaucratic dinners and you feel so special and honored at those times because in other big countries it is impossible where the Indian community is large.

There are some cons living here as well. I know it is stupid, but it will bother you when some of the friends have secret parties without you and update them in the social network. You start to wonder if you are unworthy or not so cool to get their friendships. Though I rub it off and carry on with my work and try to keep myself busy, it bogs me down especially on those days when my husband is not around and I have no one to share.

The 'kriyas' and my meditation help me to an extent to live in this bothersome world.  To add to that, My husband who is not only my friend, but also plays my dear father, brother, boss (you name it, is not here). He is travelling for work and will be back this weekend. 

Today was a day which was so depressing and these beauties pepped my day up. They turned out so well and I packed a few to my son's guitar master who comes home to teach.

• 1.5 cups of flour
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• Sugar - 3/4 cup
• 1 cup curd
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp vanilla essence
• red colour essence - 1tbsp
• 1 tbsp - cocoa powder

Method:

• Mix in all the flour,cocoa,baking soda.
• In another bowl whisk together curd, butter and sugar till creamy. 
• Add flour,vanilla essence,vinegar and red colour to the above mixture.
• Fold it well and pour them into cupcake molds
• Bake the cupcakes for about 20 minutes in 350F

Cream cheese Frosting:

• Cream cheese - 1/2 cup
• Icing sugar - 2 cups
• Whipping Cream - 2 tbsp
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Beat all the above till smooth and creamy. Frost the cake with swirls after the cake has cooled completely.

The beet red color insides of the cake

Enjoy!!!!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot cakes and Cream cheese frosting -  There is nothing much we need to do to make this cake look good. Carrot by itself adds to the texture and flavor of the cake and when adorned with cream cheese, it only scores high in visual appeal. An incredible short-eat for snack boxes to school or office. I baked a batch of these when we visited a friend's house for dinner. When it comes to gifting food, nothing like home-made goodies made with all the love and care.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups of All purpose flour
1/2 a cup of sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of nutmeg
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 cup natural yogurt or 2 tbsps of Flax seed powder mixed in 6tbsp of water
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp of grated orange zest

1.5 cups of shredded carrots (I love to shred them super thin)

1/2  a cup of raisins

For the frosting:

a little less than half a cup of cream cheese

1/4 cup of unsalted butter

2 cups of powdered sugar

1 tbsp of water

1 tsp of vanilla

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Line the muffin tray with cupcake liners and keep them ready
• In a bowl mix in the carrots, raisins and flour
• Mix in the other ingredients and incorporate them into the batter well.
• Pour the batter into the cupcake moulds and bake for 15 - 20 minutes till done.
• Take them out and cool completely before you frost them.
• For the frosting, mix in all the ingredients listed till you get a thick spreadable consistency,
• Decorate the cupcakes with the yummy cream cheese frosting and wait for it to rest a while.

Super moist cupcakes waiting to be adorned

So... Good!!!!

Recipe Credits:

I have adapted this recipe from Laura's Kitchen.  We love to watch her shows just for her easy- to-make-no-hassle recipes. 

Chocolate Cake with rich Ganache frosting

I am a Isha Yoga meditator. While I participated in one of the Silence program called Samyama, the program required us to follow a non-dairy diet for almost sixty days. The diet was no chili in any form and also no dairy. I would crave for something sweet as a dessert when we dine out.  As it is there aren't any options for vegetarians in Guatemala and looking out for vegan cakes is madness. This cake used to be a regular at our household (without the ganache frosting of course) during those days.
I am trying hard to remember from where I found this recipe. A big 'thank-you' to the kind hearted blogger who shared this recipe. Follow this recipe to the T and check the cake in the oven after 20 minutes. The middle part should be firm and not sink back when pressed. There is one more technique I learnt from the school cook. Once you take out the cake from the oven, rock it like a baby, with the oven mitts put on in your hand obviously , else you are going to burn your hands bad. This way the edges become loose And also the cake cools faster before you turn into the wire rack.

Ingredients :
3 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cup sugar (make it 2 cups if you plan not to frost the cake)
6tbsp or 1/2 a cup of Hershey's cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
a pinch of salt
2 cups of hot water
3/4 up of vegetable oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Method:
Sieve Flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in a bowl
Mix hot water with sugar in another bowl and whisk till the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add it to the vinegar, vanilla extract and vegetable oil.
Add this liquid mixture to the flour mixture and fold gently.
Grease and flour two round 6 inch cake tins and pour the mixture equally.
Bake in 350F for 25 minutes till done in a pre-heated oven.
Let the cake cool completely in a wire rack.

Now comes the joyful part.. Frosting the cake with rich ganache.

Frosting:

• Two cups of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• A cup of heavy cream.

Mix the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Heat them on a sauce pan on very slow heat. 

Double boiling also works best.

Do this till you see a smooth and glossy chocolatey mixture.

Turn off heat when the mixture is thin.

Let it cool for about an hour.  Now you can see that the ganache mixture has firmed up.

In a handheld mixture beat on high speed till creamy,

Frost prepared ganache on cake immediately.

Vanilla Cake with Butter Cream Frosting

Vanilla cake with Buttercream frosting

Ingredients:

Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp

Baking Soda - 1 tsp

Flour - 1 + 3/4 cups

Sugar - 1 cup

Vanilla essence - 2 tsp

Butter melted or Vegetable Oil - 1/2 a cup 

Thick natural yogurt - 1 cup

Method:

• Combine curd, and sugar and mix them till no lumps are formed.
• To this mixture add in vegetable oil, Baking powder and Baking Soda
• Gently add the flour mixing gently all the time.
• Pour in the vanilla essence and mix in gently one more time.
• Grease and flour a cake tin and transfer the prepared mixture.
• Bake for 20 minutes in 350F

Frosting the cake with butter cream

1 cup butter

1 tsp Clear vanilla extract

1 lb or 4 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 or 2 tablespoons of milk (add milk depending on the heaviness of the frosting)

Combine all of them and beat them until light and fluffy.

Add a few drops of food coloring of your choice and decorate the cake.

I have decorated the cake with gum paste flowers and pink buttercream frosting.