Alcohol White Christmas Cake

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

Cream of Mushroom Soup With DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix#Soupswappers

This is excellent for a party. Place this in a large bowl and keep small individual soup bowls at the side. Let each one serve themselves.

This is so delicious and easy to make from start to finish it take just 30 minutes and you are done with a quick meal.

Serves 3 as a meal and 4 -5 as an appetizer
Ingredients

1/2 Cup Level Cream Of Soup Mix -DIY/Homemade 

1 Big Vegetable Stock Cube
4 - 5 Cups Water
1 Cup Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
2 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Small Onion - finely chopped
A Dash of Black Pepper powder
Salt to taste¼ Teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg - optional
1 Tablespoon Butter

Method

In a sauce pan add the butter , garlic and on medium low flame saute till it start to turn brown, immediately add the onions and saute till its translucent. Add the cream of soup mix and stir it with a whisk for a minute or two. Now add the chopped mushrooms and saute them for 2 minutes. Add the stock cube and water and whisk till it is lump free. Continue to whisk on medium low flame till it comes to a boil.

Continue to whisk till it thickens, taste for salt and pepper, if you like nutmeg add at this stage . Give the soup a good mix. Remove half of the mushrooms and puree it in a blender. Add this puree back into the soup and again give it good whisk and heat it if necessary. 

Serve this into big bowls, garnish with a dash of pepper powder and few fresh basil leaves. Enjoy it as a meal.

Labels : Mushroom, Vegetarian, Creamy, Healthy, Preservatives free, Main course, Appetizer, Soup, Soup  Swappers, Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix

Check the other recipes for Soup Swappers this month, our host is Camilla M. Mann.  Thank you dear for hosting this event.

• Cream of Mushroom Soup With DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix by Sneha's Recipe
• Italian Wedding Soup by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• New Year's Soup by Making Miracles
• Pear and Sweet Potato Soup by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Potato Leek Soup with Herbes de Provence by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Trinidadian Corn Soup by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Velouté de Châtaignes by Palatable Pastime

DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix / Condensed Soup Mix

This is a super delicious and easy way to make your quick creamy soup.  Just mix this in milk or water and you will have creamy soup ready in minutes.

250 Ml Cup measurement

Ingredients 
1 Cup Level Dry Milk Powder - I used Full Cream
3/4 Cup Level All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion Flakes -Homemade

¼ Cup Level Potato Starch 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Herbs 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Thyme
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Parsley

 ¼ Teaspoon Heaped Black Pepper powder 

Method

In a blender add all the ingredients and just pulse it once or twice.

When you are ready to make your condensed soup mix 1/2 Cup level of the mix  for Cream of Mushroom Soup

My Notes

 Label and store this in the refrigerator.  It stay's good for months.

To Make it Gluten free use Gluten Free All Purpose Flour.
To Make this Vegan / Dairy Free, use Coconut Milk Powder instead of Milk Powder,
If you do not have Potato Starch Powder then use Corn Flour Powder

Labels : Full Cream, Milk powder, Potato Starch, Soup, Dehydrated, Onion Flakes, Dried Herbs, Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Vegan, Gluten free

Creamy Mackerel Tulip Salad For Two#FishFriday

These are so beautiful , make very good appetizer or salad. When you have a party surprise to your guests with these tulips. they are one bite and delicious too!

Ingredients 

1.1/2 Tablespoons Mackerel Paste
1.1/2 Tablespoons Cream cheese
A Dash of Dried Basil and Smoked Paprika
A Sprinkle of finely chopped Scallion greens

Method

In a bowl, combine the mackerel paste, cream cheese, dried basil and smoked powder and scallion green.

Wash cherry tomatoes, wipe and cut a cross on top (not all the way through). 

Scoop out the seeds and with kitchen shears 

snip off any inner tough membranes. 

Insert a skewer  at the bottom of each tomato.

And cover it with scallion green.

They are so pretty and  ready to be filled. 

Fill each tomato with the mixture.

Place tomatoes in the serving plate.. ready .... 

Serve as an appetizer or salad. Enjoy !!

Labels : Fish, Mackerel, Cream Cheese, Smoked Paprika, Dried Basil, Cherry Tomatoes, Fish Friday, Salads, Appetizer

Welcome to the Feast of the Seven Fishes, hosted by Karen of Karen’s Kitchen’s Stories for Fish Friday Foodies. 

• Artichoke Crab Dip Pasta Bake from Food Lust People Love
• Baccala Soup from Palatable Pastime
• Baked Mussels from Caroline's Cooking
• Creamy Clam Dip from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Creamy Mackerel Salad for Two from Sneha's Recipes
• Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare) from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• La Vigilia di Natali from Culinary Adventures with Camilla, who made new dishes for all of the courses for this Italian Christmas Eve dinner! Fun fact: She once spent a year in Rome and learned the food traditions of Italy. You need to check out her menu! 

Sorrel/Hibiscus Fruit Bundt#BundtBakers

Sorrel /Hibiscus, also known as Flor De Jamaica (pronounced HA-maica), sorrel, Ambadi flowers, karkade and other names in different countries is an edible flower sold most often in dehydrated form abroad, here we get fresh flowers and only in this season. 

To make this cake, I soaked the flowers by steeping them in boiling water, honey,  for about 2 - 3 hours. 

Once soaked, I removed the petals of the flowers, strained the liquid and then just pulsed the petals it in the blender.  

The flowers were vibrant and saturated with not so  deep "ruby red" liquid as the flowers looked.  Dried flowers impart more red color than the fresh ones.

This cake was  delicious and  when I took this for our breakfast party no one believed that this was made of the flowers that we see every day in the forest. 

This cake did not have the color, that I, wanted , however, it was  delicious as any cake could be!

Ingredients 
30 Sorrel/ hibiscus flowers (see notes)
½  Cup Boiling Water
3 Tablespoons honey
200 Grams All-purpose flour
1 Teaspoons Baking powder 
½ Teaspoon Baking soda
150 Grams Salted Butter, at room temperature
150 Grams Caster sugar
3 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla essence
125 Grams Mixed Fruits

Method

Combine the flowers, boiling water, honey, in small bowl, mashing with fork to ensure flowers absorb liquid evenly. Allow flowers to steep until softened and liquid has been almost completely absorbed, about 2 to 3 hours.  

Once soaked, I removed the petals of the flowers, strained the liquid and then just pulsed the petals it in the blender. 

I had 275 Ml sorrel Puree with the Honey.

In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda,  set aside. 

In large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar, continue to beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, continue to beat until completely incorporated. 

Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the puree. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula. Fold the mixture well. Add vanilla and mixed fruits,  mix just to combine.

Pour batter into prepared 10" bundt pan. Bake  in a preheated oven at 170°C for 35 to 40 minutes or until, cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean. 

Transfer cake to cooling and cool in pan overnight.  Invert cake onto plate . 

Slice the cake,

Enjoy!!

My Notes

Dried flowers impart more red color then fresh. Next time I, am going to make this with dried flowers and double the quantity. 
For the mixed fruits , I used candied cherries, mixed peels, raisins and nuts.

See what our other bakers have baked this month , the theme is "Fruit Bundt" our host is Stacy Thank you for hosting this event.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.


Applejack Bundt Cake from Palatable Pastime
Cake aux Fruit Bundt from Patyco Candybar
Cranberry and Apricot Fruit Bundt Cake from Making Miracles
Dried Fruit and Pecan Bundt Cake from I Love Bundts
Dried Fruit Bundt Cake from Living the Gourmet
Gram's Famous Fruit Cake from Food Lust People Love
Macadamia and Tropical Fruit Bundt Cake from All That's Left Are The Crumbs
Sorrel/Hibiscus Fruit Cake from Sneha's Recipe
Spiced Rum Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

#BundtBakers is a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all of our lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.
Labels: Sorrel Flowers, Candied Fruits, Bundt, Bundt Bakers, Honey