Layered Chocolate cake with Whipped Strawberry cream

Family birthdays are super special and we love to celebrate the special day with homemade cakes. Homemade cakes are the most delicious of all cakes, isn't it? You can choose and control which and how much of the ingredients you want to add to make the cake your very own. I love to experiment and play around with different proportions and ratios of the ingredients and observe the effects on the resulting textures (That's the scientist in me talking😁) I also feel, baking and cooking are very therapeutic for my mind and brain that is racing at 100 miles/hour usually 😜. So here is the latest baking therapy from this week. Baked a small chocolate cake in bread load pan and then layered it with fresh strawberry whipped cream. Strawberries and chocolate go so well together and love the stark contrast in the layering pattern of dark brown and pink colors.

• Cake:

1 cup All purpose flour
3/4 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Yogurt (whole milk)
1/3 cup Water
1/3 cup Unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/4 cup Unsalted butter
1 Egg
1 tsp Bru instant coffee powder
3/4 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1 pinch salt

• Strawberry whipped cream:

1. 5 cups heavy whipping cream chilled
1/2 cup Strawberry puree ( Puree cooked with 3-4 sugar and till thick, strained and chilled)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2-3 drops pink food color (optional)
Whip the cream till soft creams form with electric mixer. Add strawberry puree and powdered sugar and whip till firm peaks form. Keep refrigerated till ready to use.

• Chocolate ganache drizzle: (Prepare at the time when needed)

4-5 Lindt dark chocolate squares, 2tsp heavy cream. Microwave for 20-25 sec till melted and smooth enough to drizzle.

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Layer bread loaf pan with parchment paper on the bottom.
2) Beat butter, egg, salt and sugar till light and fluffy. Add yogurt, water and rest of the ingredients. Beat till well mixed. Do not over mix!
3) Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 45-50 mins. Check with toothpick. It should come out clean.
4) Let the cake cool completely. Slice into 3 layers with large sharp knife.

5) Layer with strawberry whipped cream on the bottom layer. Place the cake layer and repeat for all layers.

6) Top the uppermost layer with whipped cream and drizzle with ganache on the sides

7) Decorate with whipped cream and fresh cut strawberries
8) Keep the cake chilled in refrigerator

9) Enjoy with your loved ones😍

Mix Vegetable Kurma and Whole Wheat Tandoori Naan

Now that everyone is staying put indoors, there is no more going to the favorite restaurants and eating out. Kids love Naan and Punjabi style curries (They call is "Órange curry"😆, due to the distinct orangish hue of the tomato based sauces in Punjabi curries) and miss their favorite Indian restaurant. So yesterday, made this elaborate Punjabi affair for dinner. They were overjoyed to have their favorite meal 😋 and we enjoyed cooking together as a family :)

** The Naan's are made with whole wheat dough (No Yeast, No Baking Soda/ Powder) and baked in oven.
Naan Recipe :
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/04/everyday-cooking-whole-wheat-tandoori.html

Mix Vegetable Kurma Recipe:

Vegetables: (Cut in Square chunks)
1.5 cups cauliflower chunks
0.5 cups Onion chunks
0.5 cups Carrot chunks
0.5 cups Red pepper chunks
0.5 cups Green peas

1 cups Paneer cut in squares

Cut everything and keep aside till ready to use.

Masala paste:
2 medium onions chopped
3 medium tomatoes chopped
1/3 cup cashews
2 tbsp Sesame seeds toasted
2 tsp chopped garlic
2 tsp chopped ginger
8 Black pepper, 5 Cloves, Small piece of cinnamon
Saute onions,  tomatoes with some oil till golden brown, Add sesame seeds, cashews, ginger-garlic and other spices. Let it cool completely before making into smooth paste in a blender with only little water.

Dry Spices:
3 tsp Everest Shahi Paneer Masala
2 tsp Red chili powder (Add more for Spicier curry)
1 tsp Cumin/ Shah Jeera
1 tsp turmeric
1 Bay leaf

Oil, Salt
Cashews and Cilantro for garnish


1) Saute the onion chunks, cauliflower chunks and other vegetables with some oil, cumin, bay leaf, turmeric, red chili powder and Shahi paneer masala.
2) Add the tomato-onion-cashew masala paste and salt and mix. Sautés for few mins.
3) Add some water to adjust consistency. (Milk cream/ Coconut milk can be added for richer gravy)
4) Add the Paneer and cook for few mins will closed lid.
5) Garnish with cashews and cilantro. Enjoy hot along with Whole wheat Naan, Brown Rice and Salad for a delicious and healthy meal!

My favorite curries to go with the Homemade Naan's:

Chicken or Paneer Chettinad:
https://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/03/everyday-cooking-chicken-chettinad.html?m=0


Zucchini Non-fried Kofta Curry:
https://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2013/08/zucchini-non-fried-kofta-curry.html?m=0