Rainbow Cake with frosting

Yes i am back after a longggggg gap.Well, actually i was in Chennai for some personal work.This one is made for my younger brother who celebrated his birthday on 9th March.Well,i wanted to actually make a rainbow cake with seven colors but could do with only five.The original recipe is actually for a marble cake but i preferred to add colors .

Updated Pic:
The last piece left:Captured from my bro's Cam:

Adapted from Bake it half and Simply in YouTube
Ingredients:
Plain Flour-1 1/8 Cup
Castor sugar-2/3 Cup
Softened unsalted butter-1/2 Cup
Warm Milk-1/5 Cup
Egg whites-3
Egg Yolk-3
Baking powder-1 1/2 Tsp
Vanilla Essence-2 Tsp
Lemon Zest-1 Tsp
Salt-A pinch
Liquid food Green Color-2-3 drops
Liquid food Orange Color -2-3 drops
For greasing Flour and butter extra

Method:
1.Pre heat the oven at 180C.
2.Put the butter in the mixing bowl and blend it on high speed.

3.Add half of the sugar and the vanilla essence and continue blending for another 5-8 mins till the sugar is dissolved and the batter has become fluffy.

4.Now add the egg yolk one at a time and blend well.Finally add the lemon zest.

5.Take a dry clean mixing bowl and put in the egg whites.Add a pinch of salt and beat them on high speed until they become frothy.

6.Now slowly add the castor sugar little bit at a time and blend till the egg white mixture is nice and creamy.
7.Sift the flour and the baking powder three times.

8.Add the sifted flour-baking mixture to the egg yolk mixture.Add in little warm milk to ease the mixing.

9.When all the flour is mix well,fold in the egg white mixture with a plastic/wooden spatula.

10.Keep the above batter in different bowls and add color to it.

11.Grease the cake pan with butter and then sprinkle some flour.
12.Transfer all the colored batter in the baking dish like shown below.

13.Take a fork and swirl the mixture in the cake pan to create the marble effect.

14.Put the cake in the lower rack in the preheated oven and bake it for 35 mins.

15.Once the cake is done,take it out on a cooling rack and leave it to cool.

For the Frosting:

Pouring Cream-400ml

Castor Sugar-4 Tbsp

Vanilla Essence-1Tsp

Liquid orange food color-2 drops

Method:

1.Whip the cream,sugar and vanilla until frothy.

2.Keep half of the whipped cream in a separate bowl and add orange food color to it.

3.Use an icing bag/tube decorate the cake as you wish.

Note:
1.You can add more drops of color to get a darker shade or little less than mentioned to get vice verse.
2.Make sure the eggs are at room temperature.
3.Use a chilled glass bowl and whisker to whip the cream.

Happy Holi

Wishing everyone a very happy and colorful Holi.Play safe :-)

Love
Direct Dil Se

Moong dal Halwa

My husband was complaining since few days that i have stopped preparing sweets.And whenever i prepare there has to be some occasion associated to it. So here is an yummy and irresistible Halwa for him in today's dinner.

Ingredients:

Moong Dal-1/2 Cup

Sugar-1/2 Cup

Ghee-1/4 Cup+2 Tbsp for frying Nuts

Milk/Water-1/4 Cup

Saffron(Optional)-A pinch

Elaichi(Cardamom) Powder-1/2 Tsp

Cashew+Kismis(Raisins)-1/8 Cup

Method:

1.Clean the dal and then soak it in enough water for at least 4-5 hours.

2.Heat 2 Tbsp of Ghee and fry the nuts till golden brown.

3.Heat 1/8 cup(half of what is mentioned) of ghee and add the moong dal paste to it.Start stirring immediately.

4.Mean while add sugar and water to make the syrup.

5.Add saffron to the prepared syrup.(Optional Step)

6.After frying the Halwa for around 9-10 mins add the remaining ghee and fry for another 2-3 mins.

7.This is how it should look.

8.Now add the sugar syrup and immediately start mixing.

9.Finally,the thickened halwa should look like this.Add the elaichi powder and garnish with fried nuts.

Serve Hot...

Notes:

1.Dry roast the dal in a kadhai till a nice aroma comes.It enhance the flavour.

2.Preferably use milk instead of water.