Birthday Happiness

So it was Dee's birthday yesterday and we had a little birthday do at home. Birthday's call for cake and I wanted to go for an understated, light cake that would compliment a heavy meal. I made the simple 'chaaya cake,' that I baked the other day (I just doubled the ingredients, to make two cakes). I then sandwiched a thick layer of fudge in between, covered the sandwich with a thin layer of butter cream frosting and topped it all off with some fruits. Done!

Cheesy Pasta and MEAT ..... the lucky "game meal."

I am keeping this post short because I am tired after all the screaming and cheering. We won!!!!!!!! This was the first cricket match I have ever watched, and I am glad I did! (First match, not counting the times I lost the fight over the remote with Acha and I was forced to watch the match. I usually just got up and went to my room and read a book instead.)  A big birthday shout out to Deeeeeeee.... We love you!! :D

So this is my 'game meal,' pasta with cheese, and meat sauce.


All you have to do is fry about 3 onions, and a few cloves of crushed garlic (use olive oil). To that, add 500gms of ground meat.

Add a dash of white wine and a pack of tomato puree.

Sprinkle in some oregano, parsley and basil.
Add ketchup (optional)


Cook for about 15 minutes.

 

 


Fry some crushed garlic in olive oil, add flour,milk and a bit of dried parsley. Cook till it thickens.

 


Cook some pasta.. Toss it in the meat sauce .. toss that into a dish, pour the white sauce over the pasta, cover with grated cheese. Bake for about 10mins.. Done!

Chaaya Cake

      I was supposed to post this yesterday, but I got extremely preoccupied with work and calls. Well, I'll keep this post short because I will hopefully be making two posts today to make up for yesterday. I made tea cake yesterday. So here it is, plain, simple and super delicious cake. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan. 
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• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.  Done!
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A Song and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 


 

 
 


There are some days when all you want is to feel cozy. We all have days when we all we want to know that everything is going to be okay. My Amma always asked me to believe, and everything else would fall into place. I am the kind of person who plays one song on repeat  for hours. It just comforts me to know the lyrics of each line even before the singer has a chance to sing it out. It makes me feel at ease. It is familiar, just like home. It's cozy. Today, I was listening to Colin Hay's "Waiting for my real life to begin." It helps me to think positive thoughts. It is pretty.

"Any minute now my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
And I'll stand on the bow
And feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down on me

And you said,"Be still, my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in"
Don't you understand?
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin..."

I made cookies today to reduce the stress and increase the happiness quotient. Staying positive. Staying true.

By the way, these are the best cookies I have made by far. They are chewy, crunchy and the huge chunks of chocolate help keep all your worries at bay.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chunky or smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light. Add the egg and mix until fluffy. 

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• Blend the flour, baking powder, soda and salt together well. Add these dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add the chocolate chips. 
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• Drop cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375°. Done!