I am writing this column on November 26, the day I call my Valentine’s Day. Yes you guessed right. I got married to my Lady of Spice and Flavour on this day and so this column is about love and food of love.
I was talking to my wife about the meaning of love and she said for her, love means red roses and a romantic hand in hand walk. I was getting more and more impressed till she added that the walk had to be in Central Park and the roses given on the Charles Bridge in Prague. Hmmmm!
I still believe the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That is why food cooked with an element of love whether it is cooked by your mother or wife, is the tastiest food in the world.Ask me who makes the best gajar halwa in the world and I would say its is my mother. The answer would be the same for the best curry in the world too.
In my case, my wife spoils me silly when it comes to food though lately her love has become a little calorie conscious when it comes to feeding me. I dedicate this column to some famous recipes of my wife Sonal which are close to my heart or should I say stomach.
Walnut Spice Cake
Ingredients
● Flour: 1 cup
● Powdered sugar: 1 cup
● Seedless dates, sliced: 1 cup
● Baking powder: 2 tsp
● Walnuts: 3 tbsp
● Honey: 2 tbsp
● Eggs: 4
● Butter melted: 1 cup
● Nutmeg powder: 1 tsp
● Cinnamon powder: 1 tsp
● Ghee: 2 tbsp
● Oil: 1 tbsp
● Garam Masala: 1/2 tsp
● Maize flour: 1 tbsp
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degree C
In a blender, mix egg white and sugar till frothy.Slowly add yellow of eggs and butter
Add flour gradually mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg powder. Add in baking powder and honey. Blend to a smooth mixture
Grease baking tin with oil
Put dates and walnuts in the bottom and pour the batter over them in baking tin
With a spoon, even the top
Put in the oven, bake for 40 minutes. Keep checking by putting a fork in the middle.It’s done if the fork comes out clean
Remove once done from the oven. Let cool remove from the baking tin
Toffee sauce
In a heavy bottomed pan add 1 cup sugar .Stir continuously till it caramelises.Add thick cream immediately after removing from fire and mix well. Empty in a serving dish.Eat the cake drizzled with toffee sauce.
It will surely bring a sparkle in your loved ones’ eyes.
Cherry Centre
Chocolates
Yet another favourite dessert my wife makes. This can be stored and enjoyed for days to come
Ingredients
Cooking chocolate: 1 cup
Condensed milk: 1 tin
Seedless cherries: 1 tin
Brandy: 1 tbsp
Method
In a heavy-bottomed pan, put the condensed milk. Stir till it becomes like a dough
Remove from heat. Empty the dough on a plate
Now divide the mixture in small 50 paise size balls
Make a hollow in the centre and stuff the cherry and make it into a small ball
Take a tooth pick and insert it in the middle of the dough balls
In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Immerse the cherry dough balls in the chocolate so the dough balls form a chocolate coating over them
Arrange neatly in serving dish and refrigerate. Serve chilled.