"Custard & Cookie Sundae"

"Dessert is probably the most important stage of the meal, since it will be the last thing your guests remember before they pass out all over the table"

Guests arriving for dinner tonight and you have only few hours to prepare that wonderful meal to please them. Its good to panic for a few seconds and let your mind wander about things to do but get over with it as fast as you can and start cooking ... At the end of the day what really matters is simple and good food. 

Simple dishes prepared well will please your guests more than dozens of complicated dishes. 

Today, ill share a very simple yet beautiful recipe of a custard and cookie sundae. I am sure all of you have custard powder and cookies at home. Honestly, its good to stock few flavours of both as they always come handy in these situations. So dont fret and just make this dessert once and i can guarantee your guests will leave with a big Smile :)

Time Taken : Less than 30 minutes 

"Custard & Cookie Sundae"

Ingredients : 

4 tsp vanilla custard powder

4 tsp raspberry custard powder

1 litre milk

8-9 tsp sugar 

10-12 digestive biscuits or cookies

2 tsp butter

1 bar plain or dark chocolate

For topping - sugar pearls, cherries, dry fruits

Preparation :

For Vanilla Custard : 

•  In a saucepan, heat 1/2 litre milk. 
• In a small bowl mix 4 tsp custard powder with little milk to form a smooth paste
• once the milk comes to boil, add this custard liquid and stir well to avoid any lumps.
• Add 4-5 tsp sugar and stir till it forms little thick.
• Remove from heat and let it cool

For Raspberry Custard :

• In a suacepan, heat 1/2 litre milk. 
• In a small bowl mix 4 tsp custard powder with little milk to form a smooth paste
• once the milk comes to boil, add this custard liquid and stir well to avoid any lumps.
• Add 4-5 tsp sugar and stir till it forms little thick.
• Remove from heat and let it cool

Arranging the dish :

•  Crush the cookies and mix them with butter to make a bread crumb type mixture. 
•  Grate half chocolate and mix with the cookie mix.
• Take any square or round glasses or bowls of your choice
• Make a bottom layer with cookie mix.
• Pour a layer of vanilla custard 
• Pour a layer of raspberry custard
• Pour another layer of vanilla custard
• Spread little cookie mix on top
• Top it up remaining grated chocolate shavings 
• Decorate it with sugar pearls , dry fruits or cherries
• Chill for an hour and serve once set

Note :- You can try this recipe with different flavours of custard and cookies to make it look more vibrant and delicious. 

"Melting Moments Mango Icecream"

"We love Mangoes"

From the time the summer season arrived, I have been waiting for mangoes to hit the market. The taste and smell of these yellow delicacies is so amazing that you cant stop with just one. 

There are so many varied type of mangoes available everywhere with that perfect unique taste.

There are so many recipes which you can try with this kingfruit. Pies, icecreams, shakes,smoothies,salads, curries,rice,pudding,custard,tart,pastry,cake,etc etc. There seems to be no end to the list when it comes to mango.

I have already shared a mango cheese pie recipe before and hope all of you have tried and enjoyed it. Today I am sharing a rich and silken smooth Mango icecream recipe. I made this yesterday and we absolutely loved it. Usually when you make icecreams at home, they tend to get hard and icey and do not possess that smooth finish which melts in your mouth. So, I gave it a twist and I can assure you that this recipe will give you a beautiful silky smooth icecream with mango flavour in every spoon. 

Do share your experiences or feedback . Enjoy the Mango Season !!!!

 " Melting Moments Mango Icecream"

Ingredients :

2 cups milk

4 tsp milk powder/ dairy whitener

1 tsp vanilla custard powder

200 ml fresh cream / double cream

5-6 tsp sugar / 4 sachets sugarfree ( as per taste ) 

2 big ripe mangoes - pulp

honey to drizzle

pinenuts or almonds

Preparation :

• Heat milk in a saucepan. Once it comes to boil, add milk powder and sugar. Stir well
• Mix custard with 1 tsp milk in a small bowl. Add it to the boiled milk and whisk well to avoid any lumps
• Remove from the heat. Add cream and stir well. Leave it to cool for sometime
• In a blender, blend the mangoes to form a pulp. Pour little cooled milk mixture and blend well.
• Pour the remaining milk mixture in the blender and blend till it becomes smooth and thick.
• Take a icecream tin or mould and line it with cling film. 
• Pour the icecream mixture in the tin and seal it with cling film.
• Freeze for 2 hours 
• Remove from tin and blend it again in the mixer till it becomes smooth and thick
• Pour back in the tin ( lined with cling film). Seal it again with the cling film and put it back in the freezer for 4-5 hours or till set. 
• Cut slices and drizzle honey and pinenuts or almonds on top and serve

Note - cling film is used to help retain the smoothness of icecream without forming any ice or water on the top. 

"Brownie Monday"

" Can it be a mistake that STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards ????"

With time and experience I have concluded that its not. For times when mood swings are on and the temperature inside the brain is soaring high,what comes handy and soothes is Sweets ... A slice of cake, a scoop of icecream or even a cream roll helps in getting back to the normal state .... Tell me what you like to dig in when you're bored or angry .. Would love to read ur thoughts and experiences .. Please do post in your comments and lets share our experience ... 

For now, Its time to beat the Monday Blues with this Quick Brownie Recipe

"Brownie Monday"

Ingredients : 

1 cup self raising flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 bar of plain chocolate

50 gms butter

1 cup sugar ( powdered) 

2 eggs

1 cup walnuts

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven at 180*C for ten minutes before baking
• Seive flour,salt and baking powder in a bowl. 
• Heat a double boiler ( put a pan with water on the gas and on top of it put another heat resistant bowl for whisking)
• Melt chocolate and butter in the double boiler till it becomes smooth and let it cool.
• In another bowl whip sugar and eggs together till soft and fluffy. Add the chocolate mixture when cool and keep whisking to avoid cooking the eggs
• Add flour and keep whisking till it forms a smooth batter
• Add some walnut pieces and mix well
• Grease a brownie tin/ mould with little butter and flour. 
• Pour the batter and garnish with remaining walnut pieces on top.
• Bake in the oven for 30 minutes till its brown on top and done when checked with knife or toothpick
• cut in square slices and serve with tea or coffee

Note -- if you dont intend to use the double boiler method then just melt the chocolate and butter in microwave for 2 mins and mix it to make a smooth paste.