Alcohol White Christmas Cake#AlphabetChallenge

This is rich Alcohol White Christmas Cake, delicious and soft. You will love this cake.

Makes two rectangle cake tins of 10.1/2 x 8 inches.
Ingredients 

500 Grams All Purpose Flour
500 Grams Salted Butter
500 Grams Caster Sugar1/2 Teaspoons Salt  
12 Eggs
2 Tablespoons Baking powder
1 Teaspoon Mixed Fruit Essence
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
825 Grams Mixed Fruits

100 grams Each Cashew & Almonds  - chopped
4 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
3 Tablespoon Alcohol
1 Teaspoon Cake Spice - Homemade

Method
These fruits are soaked in alcohol for year, whatever alcohol - can use what alcohol you wish. I soak 800 grams of mix fruits ( cranberries, cherries, mixed peels, black raisins, sultanas and prunes) in alcohol mix of rum, whisky, beer , vodka , bourbon. Pour this in a jar and cover it with alcohol.  If you can,t soak for a year then it should kept in alcohol for at least a month.

Before using this mix I drain all the alcohol and then add 100 grams each of cashew and almonds chopped. Mix it well.
Grease and line 2 baking tins with parchment paper on all sides.
Mix the drained fruits with 4 tablespoons of flour and mix well keep aside.
Sieve the flour, salt, cake spice and baking powder well . Keep aside.

In a bowl break the eggs and keep aside. Add the essence in it and lightly beat them.

Cream the butter till light and fluffy then add the caster sugar in batches and continue beating till the batter turns creamy, add an egg at a time and continue beating till all the eggs are incorporated. Add the sieved flour again in batches and on low speed continue beating. When all the flour is incorporated, add the 3 tablespoons of alcohol, fruits and fold in with a spatula gently till the fruits are well mixed into the batter. 

Pour this into the prepared tins and bake in a pre heated oven at 180 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or till a skewer comes our clean.

When the cake is out of the oven immediately take a tea strainer ( it spreads evenly over the cake) and pour the drained alcohol 2 -3 tablespoons  over cakes (this is optional). I do it since it keeps the cake moist.  

Let them cool completely and then um mold. Enjoy!!

Labels : Cakes, Fruit Cake, Christmas, Alcohol, Homemade

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "W" 

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• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Cream White Bean Pesto Dip 
• Blogghetti: Grilled Buffalo Wings 
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• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Levain-Style Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Pahadi Mooli Ki Kadhi  
• A Messy Kitchen: Vintage Avocado-Orange Fruit Dip 
• Sizzling Tastebuds: Watermelon Quinoa Salad with Lime & Chilli Vinaigrette 
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• Food Lust People Love: Windfall Apple Tart 
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Vrat Ki Aloo Dhaniya Sabzi#Alphabet Challenge

Vrat ki Aloo Dhaniya Sabzi is a quick, flavorful fasting potato dish made with fresh coriander, green chilies and sendha namak. This is the simplest one far more delicious than the normal food.
Ingredients
5 Medium Potatoes - boiled
1 Tablespoon Coriander Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Green Chilly -finely chopped
Sendha Namak to taste
1 Teaspoon Amchur Powder
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander leaves - for garnishing - optional
2 Tablespoons Desi Ghee
Method
Boil the potatoes and remove the skin. Cut the potatoes in large cubes.

In a pan heat ghee, add the cumin seeds and green chilly. Let it sizzle for a minute. Add the coriander powder and roast it for a minute. Add the potatoes and mix well, so that the potatoes get coated with the spices. Season it with salt, red chili powder, and amchur powder. Add some of the chopped coriander leaves, leave a little for garnish. Saute the potatoes on medium to high flame, stirring in between, till a nice reddish brown coat is formed on the potatoes.   

Garnish with coriander and serve.

Labels: Boiled Potato, Coriander Leaves, Vrat, Alphabet Challenge, Indian, Side Dish

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• Varan - Maharashtrian-style Dal from Mayuri’s Jikoni
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Upvasacha Cake#Alphabet Challenge

Upvasacha Cake( Farali/Vrat cake) is an eggless one made using vrat ka atta or farali/falhari flour. These flours are made from non-grain, gluten-free ingredients like buckwheat (kuttu), barnyard millet flour (bhagar/moraiya), water chestnut (singhara), and amaranth (rajgira) that are permitted during religious fasts.

Ingredients
½ Cup Fresh Yogurt
¾ Cup Kesar Milk - divided
½ Cup Caster Sugar
¼ Cup Melted Desi Ghee
1 Cup Singhada Atta (Water Chestnut Flour)
1 Sachet Eno Fruit Salt
⅛ Teaspoon Rasmalai Essence
2 Drops Yellow Food Color
¼ Cup Chopped Dried Fruits
Method
Grease and line a 6" Cake Pan
Preheat the oven 160°C.

In a bowl add the yogurt, melted ghee, sugar, essence, half of the kesar milk, yellow color and with beat well till blended, then add the sifted Singhada atta and fold it well into smooth batter. Now add in the eno and pour the remaining kesar milk and mix well ( this batter will be thick) add the dry fruits.

Pour it into the prepared pan and again sprinkle chopped nuts.Bake in a preheated oven for 40- 45 minutes. 

Cool then slice and enjoy!!

Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Water Chestnut, Gluten free, Desi Ghee, Yogurt, Indian, Vrat, Cake, Eggless

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• Sourdough Discard Walnut Ginger Cookies from A Messy Kitchen
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• Urchin Butter from Culinary Cam
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• White Urad Dal from Mayuri’s Jikoni

Vrat Siddu With Walnut Chutney#AlphabetChallenge

Siddu is a traditional, stuffed steamed bread from the State of Himachal Pradesh, India. It's made from wheat flour dough, then rolled into thick circles, stuffed and steamed. I have made this for vrat/fasting so used bhagar/sama rice flour ( Barnyard Millet Flour). 

Ingredients
For The Siddu Outer Covering
150 Grams Bhagar/Sama Rice Flour
1 Teaspoon Ghee
¼ Teaspoon Sendhav Namak
For The Walnut Chutney
8 -10 Walnuts
3 Green Chillies
½ Cup Fresh Yogurt
Salt To Taste
For The Filling
2 - 3 Medium Potatoes - boiled & mashed
½ Teaspoon Sendhav Namak
¼ Teaspoon Black pepper
½ Teaspoon Grated Ginger - 1/2 tsp, grated
¼ Teaspoon Crushed Green Chilly
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Lime Juice
For Frying/Tadka
1 Tablespoon Desi Ghee
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Teaspoon Lime Juice
A Pinch Sendhav Namak
A Pinch Black Pepper powder
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
Method
For The Outer Covering

In a pot / kadai add 400ml water, salt & ghee mix well then add the sama rice flour, mix till it form a smooth batter. Then cook on low flame. With this method it require a little effort to knead. If your batter is still wet then spread it a plate and microwave for 2 minutes to dry it a little, then knead to a smooth soft dough. Cover and keep this aside, till we make the filling & Walnut Chutney
To Make The Walnut Chutney

Soak the walnuts in some little water for some time to soften them. Grind the soaked walnuts and green chillies with some salt to a fine paste. Add yogurt into a bowl and whisk well. Then add the walnut green chilli paste to the yoghurt, mix well and refrigerate till the Siddu's are ready to serve.
For The Filling

Heat desi ghee in a pan add the crushed green chilly, ginger and sauté for a minute, then add the mashed potato and mix well, add rest of the ingredients and give it a good mix. Filling is ready, let this cool.
To Make The Siddu

Make lemon sized balls of the dough. 

Place one ball on a lightly oiled plastic sheet/parchment paper. Roll out to a small disc / circle with hand or keep the ball between 2 sheets and roll with the chapatti/puri press. 

Use a cutter to cut it into a small circle. 

Place 2 tablespoons of the filling.

Gently fold it into as show in the above pic. and press the edges to seal it. 

Make all the Siddu's like wise. 

Steam the Siddu in a lightly greased steamer for 15 minutes. 

Insert a knife to check if the siddus are cooked( the knife should come out clean).
For Frying/Tadka

Heat desi ghee in a non stick broad pan, add the cumin seeds when they start to brown sprinkle a pinch salt, pepper and coriander leaves, mix well, then arrange the Siddu's on the pan When just start to change color at the bottom change sides and fry for a minute only. Switch of the flame.

Sprinkle lemon juice and serve with Walnut Chutney & Yogurt.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Steamed, Breads, Vrat, Walnuts, Chutney, Boiled Potato, Healthy, Indian

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• Sneha’s Recipe: Vrat Siddu With Walnut Chutney 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese#Alphabet Challenge

Italian Ricotta Cheese, is easy and a flexible recipe which anyone can make at home. Ricotta is a fabulous component of many Italian dessert's, such as cheese cake, cannoli etc.. It is also used in pasta's, pizza's, lasagna, ravioli and so on. Well In India this is very expensive to buy and making it at home is so easy and delicious. I love to have this as a filling for pancakes.

Makes around 350 Grams
Ingredients
2 Liters Full Fat Milk
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Full Fat Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons White Vinegar - mixed in ¼ cup water

Method 

In a large pan, heat the milk, heavy cream, till it comes the temperature comes to 90°C. Then add in the full fat yogurt, salt, vinegar mixed in water,  gently stir on a low flame and let is heat for 3 -4 minutes, stirring lightly until milk curdles up. Meanwhile take a strainer and cover it with a muslin cloth and place it on top of a deep bowl. 

Once milk curdles up and comes to boil, stir and put off the flame. Strain curdled milk with a strainer having muslin cloth. Do not throw away its water also known as whey (You can use this in soups or to knead dough for making bread), let it drain for 15-20 minutes. Gather muslin cloth and squeeze properly to remove excess water or whey out of it.

Once done keep cheese covered with the cloth and keep a heavy object on top to give it shape of your choice.
Refrigerate and use this within 3-4 days. 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese is ready for which we would pay a hefty sum to buy it.
Labels: Cheese, Homemade, Ricotta, Italian, International Cuisine, Keto, Low Carb

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "R"

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Ginger Grilled Chicken and Radishes
Sneha’s Recipe: Homemade Ricotta Cheese
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Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Mild Curry Chicken Salad with Diced Red Apple
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Qabuli Biryani#Alphabet Challenge

Qabuli Biryani is a vegetarian layered rice dish from Andhra, this biryani has layers of basmati rice, chana dal in a yogurt gravy and saffron milk & kewra water! I made this for our friends get together and they all were amazed with the flavor and taste.
Serves 6
Ingredients
For The Chana Dal Gravy
150 grams Chana Dal / Bengal Gram Lentil - soaked
1½ Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Cup Oil
1 Cup Thick Yogurt - whisked
3 Green Chilies - slit
3 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
½ Cup + ½ Cup Brown Onion - crushed
1 Teaspoon Salt
A Juice of One Lemon juice
1 Large Potato - boiled and fried
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Bay Leaf
2 Cloves
4 Whole Black Peppercorns
1" Stick Cinnamon
1 Brown Cardamom
2 Green Cardamoms
For The Rice
300 Grams Basmati Rice
2 Tablespoons Sea Salt
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1" Stick Cinnamon
3 Cardamoms
5 Cloves
8 Black Peppercorns
1 Brown Cardamom
Method
To Boil The Rice

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 15 minutes
Boil 6 -8 cups of water and salt. Add the whole spices. Drain the excess water from the soaked rice. When the water comes to roll boil,add the rice and boil for about 10 minutes on medium flame. Remove the rice when it is just cooked but the grains should be firm. Drain the water, let it cool completely.
For The Chana Dal Gravy
Wash and soak the chana dal for 2 hours.

Heat oil in a kadai / pot fry add all the whole spices and sauté for a minute then add ginger garlic paste, and sauté till the raw aroma vanishes. Switch off the flame, add then ½ cup room temperature water and then the whisked yogurt mix well. Place the pot back on to the flame and on high flame stirring continuously with a whisk, whisk this till it comes to a rolling boil, then reduce the flame ( the yogurt will not curdle if you try this method, this is a tried and tested method). Now add the dal mix well, ½ cup crushed brown onions and place this on the flame and cook covered on low flame till the dal is just done but still whole. Add green chilies and half the coriander leaves, give it a stir. 

This gravy should be thick, do not dry this completely. Switch off the flame add lemon juice. Keep aside. 

Assemble The Biryani 

In a heavy bottom pan add ¼ cup water, & ¼ cup oil mix well and then half of the boiled rice with a sprinkle of pinch of salt and then add all of the cooked dal mixture. 

A sprinkle coriander leaves, potatoes cubes and brown onions.

Then the remaining rice top it with yellow color, fried onions, coriander leaves, slices of tomatoes and few drops of kewra and a few dollops of butter all over. Cover it with a foil tightly and leave it on dum on high flame for 5 minutes then very low flame for 15 minutes. Switch off the flame. 

Let it rest for 10 minutes. 

Lightly mix the rice and serve hot. We enjoyed this with raita.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Chana Dal, Biryani, Rice, Indian, Andhra Pradesh,Main course, Vegetarian

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• Cauliflower, Onion, and Pancetta Quiche from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
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• Quatre Quarts from Culinary Cam
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Ribbon Pakoda/Ola Pakoda#Alphabet Challenge

This is another addictive savory snack. Ribbon Pakoda is a snack that I enjoyed in my young age and still love eating it. When my daughter was schooling this was a regular snack that was in her tiffin. This is also called Ola Pakoda in Tamil. During festival eating to many sweets one gets tried, you want something spicy and this snack balances that sweetness. Try this addictive and super easy snack.

Ingredients
2 Cups Chickpea flour / Besan
1 Cup Rice flour
A Pinch Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Red chilly powder - adjust to taste
1 Tablespoon White butter
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
Oil for deep frying
Method
Sieve the rice flour and besan thrice.
In a bowl mix all the above ingredients together, add water little at a time and knead it into the soft dough.

Make the dough a little soft so that the it can be squeezed easily from the murukku maker. This is plate that is used to make the ribbon / ola pakoda.

Heat oil in a kadai.
Grease the inside of murukku press with oil. Make a ball and put in the murukku press and press it directly in the oil. When they turn light golden brown, flip the side and cook till light golden. Remove pakoda and place it on a tissue paper to drain the excess oil.

Let it cool completely and then store it in an airtight container. Repeat the same for the remaining dough too. You can keep this for a month and enjoy this as a tea time or tiffin snack.

Labels: Savory Snacks, Festival Sweets, Chickpea flour, South Indian, Tamil Nadu, Alphabet Challenge

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