Ultimate Moist chocolate cake recipe in Microwave!!tried and tested!!!

Ultimate Moist chocolate cake recipe in Microwave!!tried and tested!!!

      Hi All!!It has been almost 6 yrs since i started baking cakes.I am still not an expert at baking and i am still learning.It was back in the year 2007 ,when i got to taste one of the cakes brought by one of my colleagues that she had made for her birthday and I just couldn't believe it was homemade.It tasted beyond delicious and back then I had an impression that home made bakes wouldn't taste that great compared to the bakery bought ones.That was the day I was determined to try it out myself.
     Over the years, I have tried different recipes online ,had my own times of trials and errors  and this is One recipe that has always worked out well and has never failed to impress the people who tasted my cakes.Not only is it easy to put together but it only requires a Microwave to bake your delicious moist chocolate cake.Please do try this recipe and get compliments from all the lucky ones who get to taste your cake.This particular post is in response to a request by one of my friends who is new to the baking language and really wanted to learn to make the chocolate cake herself,so here goes the recipe....


Ingredients:

Dry ingredients 

                                                                            

1 and 3/4 cups of Maida(All purpose Flour)      

2 cups of sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 and 1/2 teaspoon Baking powder
1 and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
2 pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients

2 eggs
1 cup of milk(boiled and cooled)
1 cup of instant coffee(made by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee powder in                                                                                               1 cup of water)
1/2 cup of oil
1 and 1/2 tsp of vanilla essence






Method

Butter the bottom and sides of a microwave safe baking tray(glass or microwave safe plastic/ceramic/Silicone tray)
To avoid mess you can even line the buttered surfaces with butter paper and further butter on the top surface of the butter paper.
If you don't have butter paper you can leave out the butter paper and sprinkle a little flour in the bottom and sides of the baking tray.

Mixing all the dry ingredients
In a large bowl,
Sift in the flour,baking powder,baking powder,cocoa powder and salt and mix with a wire whisk till all are combined and smooth.

Mixing all wet ingredients
In a large bowl,
Add the two eggs,sugar and mix well with a whisk,till all the sugar is incorporated and dissolved.Now add milk,oil,instant coffee and vanilla essence and continue mixing with the whisk,till everything is combined into one mixture.

Now add all the wet mixture  into the dry mixture bowl and continue mixing till the batter is smooth and lump free,make sure no dry ingredient sticks to the side of the bowl.
Now pour the batter into the baking tray filling it up to half the height or only a little more than half the height.Do not pour it till the brim as it will rise in the process of getting baked and will overflow and spill.
   After pouring the batter, place it on  the rotating glass plate. Take another small microwavable plastic or glass cup filled with water and place it close to the baking tray on the rotating plate ,this ensures that the cake does not dry out as it bakes.This particular step is optional.
       If you have a microwavable safe lid with vents(This particular one comes along with the microwave when you buy it,they provide it in some Brands,along with the microwave idly maker)
  Microwave on high power for 3 minutes and 10 seconds and remove it if a tooth -pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   Allow the tray to cool down completely before removing CAKE  from the tray
Now invert the cake tray onto a plate and remove all the butter paper lining from the cake.


Icing for the cake

2 Tablespoons of cooking butter
4 Tablespoons of powdered sugar(Grind the sugar separately in the dry  chutney jar of the mixer beforehand)
1 to 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of cocoa powder(depending of the intensity of chocolaty taste of your preference)
2-3 tablespoons of milk( depending on how thick or runny you want the icing to be)
You can even use whipped cream as icing or it is even better with a scoop of Arun Ice-cream by the side!!!!!

Method
Add the butter,powdered sugar and cocoa powder and milk(add little by little milk,tablespoon by tablespoon ) in the small jar of the mixer and blend until smooth till it reaches the consistency you require.Now spread the icing on the top and sides of the completely cooled cake.You can even layer the cake by adding icing in between the layers.

   And Now Enjoy the Ultimate Moist dreamy Chocolate cake that you successfully made!!!!

An Awesome face moisturizer that tends to be overlooked!!!

Are you looking for a Good everyday moisturizer for your face?

     Many a times we are carried away by the awesome advertisements on the TV on skin care stuff.But when we actually buy them and try, they might always not be up to the mark or won't cover all the claims given.I have tried out a ton of face moisturizers but this one proved to be the best this far.If you are a very orthodox person in following up your skin care regime and using a regular face moisturizer,this particular product might prove amazing!!!!

   Most of the face moisturizers are way too pricey and we tend to run out of the product so quickly.The way it wears on the skin is different for different skin types.Not only the skin type, it also depends on the weather of the place you live in.Even If you are living in a humid climatic situation,you must give this product a try, I bet you will never be disappointed.I really wish I had known about this product earlier.

Lotus Herbals Aloe Hydra Aloe Vera moisturizing gel( all Skin types)

Benefits of the product

-Huge Quantity 100g

-The moisturizer bottle takes very long to finish,Mine lasted for almost six months

-Affordable Price  -Rs 245/-

-Bottle is transparent so that you can see the level of the gel as you use up the product.

-Dispenser is a pump head dispenser,that ensures a non-messy application to the face.It is in a way definitely hygienic,as you don't have to touch the product with your hands each time you apply, as in the case of cream tub containers.

-you can simply use it all up without wasting the product like in tube pack cream moisturizers.

-The formula is a gel,so sinks into the skin easily and quickly without making you look greasy.

- Suits both oily,dry and combination skin types, only dry skin requires a little more quantity to be applied each time.

-Scent is mild,clean and fresh without having an overwhelming scent.

-Can be used as a night moisturizer as well.

-Natural, herbal product(try it to feel it)

-An awesome base(primer) below makeup.

- Suitable both during summer and winter.

-Available in many supermarkets in India.

Metti (Toe Ring) Facts!!!

                            

                            Facts about the toe Ring!!

 We often see toe rings on the second toe of married women in India,Some chose to wear them even on the third toe.I have seen even some college going (unmarried)girls in Chennai wear them .They are made in silver,Gold and even fancy enameled ones with designs and stones embedded.
     As a child I have seen my Mum and aunts wear them, but never questioned them as to why they wore them.
      Out of my own curiosity, i did  a little bit of a research online and found these facts.After knowing about their benefits i started wearing them myself.Been wearing them since three years and will continue to do so...These facts,I just wanted to share with all my friends.
 
              In the olden days, Toe Rings wear worn by married men and later on women started wearing it after their marriage.In the olden days,people were used to walking bare- footed and thus wearing a silver toe ring was believed to transmit the energy absorbed(from the earth) by the silver metal directly to the body.
   
              The toe rings were usually made of silver in the olden days as Gold was considered By the Hindus as a Godly metal so Gold was not worn on foot.
           

              According to the Vedas and reflexology texts,applying pressure to these points on the toes, helps in regulating the menstrual cycle in women and thereby increasing the chances of conception after marriage.It also keeps the uterus healthy by ensuring better blood circulation.
    
                In south India when a woman wears a toe ring,it signifies that she is married and thus prevents unnecessary attention from other men.
           
    The toe ring,in my opinion definitely adds an extra feminine touch to your foot.
     
        Wearing a toe ring Isn't just traditional .... it has the above mentioned benefits so married women try wearing them and you ll never want to remove them at all!!!

   

   
 

Organizing your dressing table!!!

    Organizing your dressing table!!!

When it comes to keeping all your stuff like facecreams,foundations,deodorants, perfumes, nail polishes, lipsticks ...etc... Well protected and separated, we are left with less options, here is how you can make use of the cup and saucer thermocol package to organize your goodies!!Another Organization Tip that will help keep your stuff neat and organized!!

This is not a DIY project, it is just a thinking- out- of -the -box  tip/ idea whatever you want to call it!

This is how I've been keeping my stuff, better organized.

     When we receive Gifts like tea cup/cup n saucer sets we tend to throw away the thermocol boxes, not knowing the use for it, the thermocol box itself will have separators and it will also protect our precious cosmetics from recurrent falls and damage as it provides best cushioning! You can even paint it in a colour of your choice.So next time you receive a set like that, keep the thermocol pack safe, it will definitely come in handy later.

   Here are a few pics of how i have arranged my stuff!!!

DIY Hook earrings hanger/organizer!!!

     


         Do you own a lot of hook earrings and Frustrated with finding the earring pairs in your collection when you are in a hurry?Here's a way to keep them organized!!
       I own a lot of hook earrings, Studs and Dangly stud earrings.There are some which date back to 10 years or more,the reason for them being with me for so long is the way i keep them, safe and organized.Many of my earrings come as gifts from some of my lovely friends and Relatives,because they know Accessories, specially earrings are my favorite kind of jewellery.That's how I ended up with such a big collection. It is often a pain to pick up the right pairs when you have loads of them that lay tangled on your dresser, sometimes many could go missing and in the process of searching them ,many stones on them could fall off in a long run,so here is what i came up with,an easy DIY(do it yourself) Hook Earring organizer/hanger!! It is free of cost to make.You can make it with what you have lying at home and believe me,it is a breeze to get your hook earrings in order.When they are better organized you can find them easy and you'll be even using them more often ,when you can see them all laid out neatly and there is no way they'd go missing.This hanger\organizer even doubles up as a beautiful decor in your room near your dressing table,Here's what you ll need to make it.

1. A cardboard box(the ones which comes with our Sarees or children dresses here in India) choose the cardboard according to the desired size,you can use shoe boxes too if you have a smaller collection of earrings.
2.Gift wrapping paper or craft paper of your choice to cover up the cardboard.I chose to leave mine plain as it was of the same colour without any writing on it.
3. A pen with a sharp tip or you can use push pins to make holes on the card board
4.A ruler
5.Ribbon/string to hang the organizer
6.Sticky wall hooks-2 in number
                                                        Step 1

Place the cardboard and choose the side you want to use,i chose the back side as it was plain
                                                           

                                                       Step 2

With the help of a ruler and a pen's tip make small holes on the cardboard, making sure to keep the points in a straight line and make them Even in number to hang the pairs.You can even use push pins to make small holes. First hang the Earrings in the first row of holes and then make the next row to leave enough space for the earrings to hang freely.Repeat the process till you get to the final row.

                                                   
                                                          Step 3

Hang all your hook earrings ,you can even hang them colour coded (like similar colours together in a row)


                                                             Step 4

Make two holes in the upper portion of the cardboard, thread a string or ribbon through the holes.

                                                           Step 5

  Hang them where you want to, by attaching the sticky hooks to the wall.

And here you have all your hook earrings organized so easily with 0 cost  involved!! hope this post was useful for all the hook earring girls!!!

DIY(Do it yourself )necklace organizer dedicated to all girls!!!

  If you are a costume jewellery junkie like me and are very frustrated to see your necklaces all tangled up when you want to quickly pick them up and wear them on the go, here is a DIY(DO IT YOURSELF) Necklace organizer for you all!
    It is a simple Diy that will leave your necklaces completely organized and will protect them for a long time from the damage and wear-out due to tangling and pulling.I am sure It'll make you feel very happy and self satisfied at the end result.
                Here are the thing that you will require
1.A wooden plank
2.Spray paint (colour of your choice)
3.J hooks (number as required,i used about 22)
4.2 stand hardware to attach the jewellery  hanger to the wall
5.Screws(6 totally) 4 short ones for screwing stand hardware to the plank and           two bigger ones for the wall
6.An electric drill to make holes on the plank and on the wall to attach the organizer to the wall
7. Inch tape
8.pencil to mark
                                                      Step 1
Take the wooden plank,measure with an inch tape and mark the desired length and breadth of the plank that you want to cut.It purely depends on the space you have on the wall to hang the organizer!Mine was 22" in length and 3'' in breadth.

                                                         Step 2
Spray- paint the plank with two or three coats on all sides ,allowing each coat to dry completely before spray painting the next coat or the next side.

Step 3

Make marks on the wood with a pencil as to how many rows and columns you need.Make sure the points are diagonal so that they are not one on top of the other in a straight vertical line, to prevent the top hook necklace from getting on the way of the hook below!

                                                       Step 4 
 Using an electric drill, make holes on the plank and screw the J hooks in the holes,using hands initially and using pliers for the last few turns ,as it will get too tight in the end.
         

                                                         Step 5
Make holes for the stand hardware and screw them to the plank

Step 6

Using the drill make holes on the wall (on pre-marked points with inch tape and pencil )and insert screws on the wall .

Step 7

Hang the organizer to the wall and hang your valuable necklaces on the organizer with pride!!!your necklaces will stay safe and happy!!

Make your Baby Diaper-rash free!!!(Dedicated to mums of babies and going-to-be mums)

                         Make your Baby Diaper-rash free!!!(Dedicated to mums of                                     babies and going-to-be mums)

Has anyone of you been facing this problem of your baby getting diaper rashes frequently and keep wondering how to get rid of the issue completely off your baby?I am sure this post will be very useful to you!

    Now-a-days many of the mothers are working moms and are forced to leave the baby in a creche or in the hands of a care taker.Most of the time you have no choice but  to use only the diapers that are available in the market leaving out the choice of using a cloth nappy.Cloth nappies need to be changed every time the baby pees or poops and can be washed  and re-used and hence it is very hygienic. But the easier ones to use and dispose are the baby diapers.I can proudly say that my son Ben,1 and half yrs old, has never gotten rashes due to diapers.The main reason is ,i never put him on diapers in the day time and use only washable cloth nappies during the day.Only in the night when i put him to bed I put him on pampers.After doing a thorough research on the best diaper to use for my baby,i decided on the pampers regular diapers.I prefer the regular ones to the pant style ones due to the ease in applying and removing them.

         This is what i do to keep away Diaper rash .....

Every night  before putting pampers on my son ,i wash his butt area with plain tap water ,dab it dry with a towel and then apply coconut oil generously to the areas(front and back) that would come in contact with the diapers and then apply the diaper.Some elders advice using baby powder ,But with my experience i realised that it is the last thing that you want to do as it might not do anything to prevent nappy rash but can even contribute to it by absorbing baby's urine and sticking to the skin,making it wet ,thereby making the skin even more prone to rashes.But the coconut oil application helps 100% to prevent rashes by providing complete moisture and the oiliness prevents the edges of the diaper from irritating the baby's skin. It can be even used as an overall body moisturiser if your baby has dry skin like mine does.You can use baby oil or even olive oil if you have them at home.I am aware that there are a lot of nappy rash creams available but i never wanted to use them constantly on my babies skin as it contains chemicals.In my opinion those creams can be used only as a treatment after the rash has come up and not as a preventive care.I feel coconut oil gives maximum moisture and prevents the elastic edges of the diaper from irritating the soft skin of the baby.Be at any time of the day, morning or evening when we go out,before putting him on the diaper,i follow this procedure and this has helped me from keeping him diaper rash free!I hope this post will be very useful for the moms and going to be mums!!!