Almond Cookies

We started a family Alphabet game. Once a week, we pick an alphabet and do things that correspond with that. Last friday, we did "A". We ate Almond Cookies, watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and read "Aladdin". You would be seeing more posts in my blog now. So, here's the Almond Cookies that I made which became an instant hit. (I wouldn't be surprised if my kids want to repeat an "A" twice a month...

Ingredients:

Butter - 1 cup
Almond extract - 1/2 tsp
Powdered sugar - 3/4 Cup
Flour - 2 Cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Oats, uncooked - 1 Cup
Almonds, finely chopped - 1/2 Cup

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Beat butter and almond extract until fluffy; gradually beat in sugar.

3. Add combined flour and salt; mix well.

4. Stir in oats and almonds.

5. Shape to form round balls and press them firmly till they are flat.

6. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 15-18 minutes or until light golden brown.

Carrot and Pineapple Muffins

These are yummy, nutritious and serve as breakfast too. I love them with my coffee.

Ingredients
All Purpose Flour - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Baking Powder - 2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon - 2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Slightly beaten Eggs - 3
Cooking Oil - 2/3 Cup
Milk - 1/3 Cup
Vanilla - 2 tsp
Finely shredded carrot - 1 1/2 cups
Crushed, drained pineapple - 1 8oz can
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Chopped walnuts or pecans - 1/2 cup

Procedure
1) Pre heat the oven to 35o degrees
2) Line a muffin pan of 24 cups capacity with paper bake cups or grease them.
3) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and soda.
4) In another bowl, combine eggs, oil, milk and vanilla
5) Stir in carrot, pineapple, raisins and nuts.
6) Add the egg and carrot mixture to the flour mixture. Stir well until moistened.
7) Spoon the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
8) Bake for 18-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
9) Cool the muffin pan for 5 minutes and remove the cups
10) Makes 24 muffins.

Mango Ice cream

This is utterly delicious. In fact, my kids love it so much that we have reduced the buying of ice creams from outside.

Ingredients :
Mango Pulp - 1 tin
Condensed Milk - 1 tin
Evaporated Milk - 1 tin

Method
1) Combine all the above
2) Freeze
3) While serving, add some cut fruits (mango, pine apple, cherries etc) to the bowl, scoop the ice cream and top with honey and cashews
4) Enjoy!!!!

Chocolate Cake

This is heavenly and very easy to make. At my home, the time for baking is longer than for the cake to vanish.

Ingredients
All Purpose Flour - 1 1/3 Cup
Unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 Tbsp
Baking Powder - 2 Tsp
Salt - 1 pinch
Sugar - 1 Cup
Vanilla Essence - 1 Tbsp
Milk - 1/2 Cup
Oil - 1/2 Cup
Eggs - 2

Ingredients for frosting
Heavy Cream - 2/3 Cup
Semi sweet chocolate - 9oz

Method
1) Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
2) Grease two 9 inch cake tins
3) Mix Flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt and vanilla essence in a bowl
4) Add milk, oil and well beaten eggs
5) Mix everything together with an electric mixer on low for about 2-3 minutes until everything is well blended
6) Transfer the mixture to the cake tins and bake for about 35-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7) If using 1 cake tin, slice thru' the middle of the cake to make it two layers.

Method of Frosting
1) Heat the heavy cream in a sauce pan.
2) Remove from heat, add finely chopped semi sweet chocolate and stir until it melts and the mixture becomes thick. Let it cool
3) Use 1/3 of the frosting between the cake layers, 1/3 on top and the rest around the cake.
4) I decorated with Hersheys to give it an extra zing!!!