Eggless Mango Oreo Cheesecake (or Strawberry)

Do you believe in Signs?

I do. I try not to – but somehow always end up reading moments, songs, and people, as signs of something related to me or my life. I try really hard- but inevitably, something will make me feel that this is that power up there’s way of showing me something- as if someone is trying to tell me something and I must not be naïve, and just get it!

So today morning, when I checked my mail, 3 of the many food bloggers who I follow regularly, had posted about imperfections.

How ironic! This was a sign for me. And this sign comes in the morning after a big disaster in my own kitchen- I dropped a cake dish with a set biscuit base for the cheesecake that I was making for my mom’s birthday yesterday. I was halfway through taking photographs, it was the perfect dish (which I absolutely love), and just the right size- and guess what? While taking it out of the freezer, the usually not so clumsy, ol’ me dropped it. It was truly heart-breaking, just about 4 hours before we had to leave. The filling was about to set, and so, I instantly dropped the idea of making the cake, and called up Ak to buy one instead. Birthdays are just not complete without cakes. And this happened just after I had decided, that I will bake a cake for every single member in our family, no matter what part of the world they are in. (the first in the series is here). There goes my plan.

Anyhow, so while Ak was given the task of getting an eggless cake to compensate for my strawberry cheesecake, I embarked upon the task of rescue. The filling was due to set anytime soon- so I had no time to set another biscuit base. Ak, in his effort to cheer me up decided that he wanted some mini cheesecake shots with an oreo base. That was simple. I made a couple with a digestive biscuit base for my dad, and finally used up the rest as a mousse’ish filling set in ramekins. Turns out, it wasn’t so bad after all, as we all got manageable breakfast dessert.

Of course, imperfections and disasters happen all the time in our kitchen- and they definitely happen a lot in mine. Most often, the rescue task is not even accounted for- but on these moments, I often read it as a bad sign, finding it hard to see the positive. It is only later in the evening, when the mothers proclaimed that breaking a dish on a birthday is supposedly a good sign, and then the posts today morning made me realise something I had been failing to acknowledge- As much as I believe that I give up on failure, Picking up pieces and crafting the best out of what is left is not so much a turmoil after all, leaving me often with a pleasant consequence. I just need to remember that more often.

I had recently made a mango cheesecake for a dinner at home, which was lying in my drafts ready to be posted. I had been caught up with work and had been unable to post it. With the mango cheesecake, I used oreo cookies to heighten the contrast. Both the mango cheesecake and this ‘to be strawberry cheesecake’ were to be separate posts- but in this utter mess of cheesecakes, I am posting them together. For everyone reading this, do try the cheesecake for an egg-less celebration or a light, fruity summer dessert. And for those, out there like me, in case you end up with a broken cheesecake crust, do compensate for the imperfections in your life, with these mini strawberry cheesecake shots.

Kaanji- Guest Post by Shikha Bajaj

So, I have yet another guest post by my gracious SIL who has managed to document a recipe very close to my heart. Traditionally, most Indian people know of kanji as a winter drink. The very mention of the word conjures fond memories of my maternal grandmother, who was the only person I ever knew who would make yummy kanji. Winter vacations, were always associated with yummy gaajar achaar and kanji. She passed away a long time back, the tradition moved on to my mother and when I got married, I found kanji again being made, every winter by my mother-in-law. For the sake of posterity and to honour and continue the tradition, I’m glad that my SIl decide to document this one and that we will have the benefit to carry this custom forward. The best part is: the recipe was tested far away in the US, and the photographs were taken here; a complete cooperative effort.

Kanji is truly a family recipe. One of my earliest and fondest childhood memories is that of my great grandmother and her huge ceramic martabaans (jugs) of kanji.

In the winter afternoons, we would all settle down on the verandah of the ancestral home in Amritsar looking forward to an afternoon of the winter sun. These lazy afternoons were always accompanied by cool glasses of this mildly sour beverage, a bit of gossip and a lot of fun.

Speedy Shrimp - Guest Post by Shikha Bajaj

The blog has been silent for a while. No matter what I try, I am finding it hard to document all the cooking that has been happening. A great Mutton dish, the perfect greek salad recipe, a new way to eat healthy vegetable lasagna and many more recipes, are lying all in the various tummies and in my head. Mystically, To break the silence, and get the action rolling on the blog, my wonderful SIL, decided to send me this shrimp recipe with butter and lime, all the way across the seven seas. And what a wonderful way to start the day with this in your inbox :). Ironically, I never liked shrimp, until I had it on my visit to her place last year. I am a convert for sure, and after testing this recipe- I am sure you will be one too.

p.s Thanks for sharing this Didi. and a special thanks to the Sous Chef- I could see the little hands working hard! 

Nobody doesn't like shrimp.

This recipe to cook Shrimp (with butter and lime) is one of the quickest dishes one can make. It quite literally takes 15 minutes from start to finish.

Prepare your serving dish first. I like to use a bed of mixed greens. I happened to have some Radicchio, Frisee, Chard and Arugula (also known as rocket) mix in the fridge, so that is what I used. I am trying to eat better and recently went overboard in the produce section at whole foods.

Although the shrimp is the star of this show, my personal favorite part is at the end when I get to polish off the salad mixed in with the flavoured sauce.

Thanks Tanya for letting me do a guest post. I love your blog.

The Perfect Chocolate Cake

My search for the perfect dense chocolate cake that can be used for layers has been on forever.

Ive spent the last year or so, attempting many a cakes, from various books and blogs and websites..but have not managed to find that perfect, quick and simple recipe that can be used for a simple cake, which could be dressed up in layers for a fancy occasion cake. Most often, the cake does not rise enough- and no, I don’t have 2 identical pans yet to bake them separately. I follow the traditional technique of slicing up the cake. After this recipe though, I will definitely buy 2 identical pans; the cake was so soft and moist and most importantly- well-risen, that I have decided to have some fun with layered cakes for all occasions this year. People around me should be glad- they may be treated to cakes, maybe often enough.

Anyhow, coming back to this cake, It was my little brother’s birthday –the other Ak in my life (well- not so little actually), who is far away, across the seas, studying hard to become one of the fancy management men, who will hopefully teach me a thing or two about managing a business.  At the moment, it is the husband Ak, who’s constantly teaching me more than just two things. Since the brother and me have been in different cities for the last many birthdays and I have been wanting to bake a cake for my dad for a while as well, I decided to bake a special chocolate cake- celebrating the chocolate lover’s birthday. Often, when I cook, I think of the brother and how much he would have enjoyed it, and then message him a picture. This time, though, I decided to find the perfect recipe, just for him. We all got together, celebrated with nice Punjabi dinner outside, and then came back home- to facetime the cake-cutting ceremony in two different time zones.  

I found the recipe on the Hershey’s website- It’s just BRILLIANT.

For most beginners at baking, I would recommend this website- I don’t think that I have tried anything here that has failed. The recipe was quick, since I didn't have much time before we left for dinner. I dressed up the cake (in the centre and on top) using the traditional frosting that I use- recipe can be found here, and then just garnished with roasted almonds and sprinkles.

The cake took an hour from start to finish- including baking time. Who said baking special birthday cakes was a challenge? Everyone thought the cake was quite pretty- and I already know I am baking it again this week. 

For the recipe, visit the Hersheys Website. (No- they  didn't sponsor this post! I do hope I get a lifetime's supply of cooking chocolate though)

p.s. In the rush, I used 3 eggs instead of 2- Although I am sure, that using 2 would be just fine. Unfortunately, due to the rush, there are no photographs of the process as well. The cake is so simple though- noone would need step-by step photographs.