Rich chocolate cake

Ingredients:
Chocolate 200gms
Unsalted butter 140gms
8 Eggs(yolks and whites seperated)
Castor sugar 140gms
salt 2gms
Orange zest 5gms

Method:
Preheat oven to 180C

Lightly butter and dust a round cake mould.
Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler to get a smooth mixture.
In another bowl mix the egg yolks, salt, sugar well again place this in a double boiler till mixture becomes pale yellow and the sugar and egg yolks have blended well. Remove from double boiler.

Add greated orange rind to the egg mixture and mix well and fold this mixture into the chocolate mix

Bake at 180C for 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick which when inserted should come out clean.

Creme brulee

Ingredients:
1 teacup cream
2 egg yolks
2tbsp sugar
2tsp golden brown sugar
1 vanilla pod/vanilla extract/essence

Method
Pour the cream into a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Scrap the vanilla beans into it, also drop in the pod. Beat the yolks with the sugar. Now bring the cream  to a boil on a low flame, when it's barely simmering slowly pour in the yolks. it is important to keep the flame low and stir continously. when the custard is fairly thick(this should not take more than 5 mins of cooking), take off the fire. Have ready two small ovenproof ramekins. Strain the custard into the bowls. Now place the bowls in a pan of water and bake at 175 deg for about 20 mins. The custard should be still wobbly. Once done, allow to chill in the refrigerator.
  When ready to eat, sprinkle the tops of the ccustard with the brown sugar and place under a hot grill  for about five mins for the surface to caramelise. Chill again briefly or serve right away

Vanilla Bean

Crackling Spinach

Wash the spinach and dry completely. Then shred finely and deep fry in batches. Put the spinach on absorbent paper. Move the spinach around and change the paper till as much oil as possible is removed . To serve sprinkle with salt, a little sugar, toasted sesame seeds and finely chopped green chillies.

Spiced Cafe Au Lait

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3 cinnamom sticks
20 whole cloves
150g good quality milk chocolate, chopped
60g bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
3 cups freshly brewed strong coffee
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
pinch of nutmeg

Method:

Place the milk, cinnamom sticks, and whole cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat  and add all the chocolate and whisk until melted. Cover and let stand for 15minutes.
Then, bring milk mixture back to a simmer and add coffee, 2tbsp of sugar and vanilla. Stir over medium-low heat for five minutes. Do not boil.
Meanwhile, beat the cream, pinch of nutmeg, and remaining sugar until soft peaks form.
Pour coffee mixture into mugs and top with cream. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Festive special eggnog

Ingredients:
1 fresh egg
Sugar to taste
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp premium whisky or brandy
1 cup full fat milk
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of grated nutmeg

Method:
Seperate the egg, beating the yolk and the white seperately. Add the sugar and salt to the yolk, then the whisky or brandy, milk and vanilla. Lastly add the white of the egg. Mix and strain into a tall glass and serve cold. Top with grated nutmeg. This makes one eggnog.

Choux pastry

Ingredients:

250ml water
125g butter
150g flour
4 eggs


Method:
Boil water and butter. Shoot in the flour, stir till flour cooks to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of the cooking pan. Remove from heat and beat in the eggs one at a time. It should end up smooth, satiny paste. Pipe into desired shape.
Bake at 200C for 20 minutes and lower it 180C continue for 8 to 10 minutes.

Kindness cookies

I found this recipe in cooks.com, the reason I like it is


1.minimum use of oil

2.use of honey instead of sugar and

3.absence of baking powder



KINDNESS COOKIES



1/3 c. honey

1 tsp. oil

2 eggs

1 tsp. grated orange rind

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 c. oatmeal

1 cookie sheet

You may also add 1/2 c. raisins or other dried fruit, 1/2 c. chopped nuts, or 1/2 c. grated carrots or zucchini



Mix the honey, oil, and eggs. Add the grated orange rind, salt, and oatmeal. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough on the oiled cookie sheet.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes.



Serves 8. Be kind! Share your cookies!