Spiderman Cake

This Spiderman Cake was made for my son's 4 th B'day.It Turned out Really Good as i Expected.I used a Box Cake Mix and a 9 inch round cake pan.After i let it cool completely i trimmed the edges off to get the spiderman face.I then filled the cake and Crumb coated the cake with Buttercream Icing.I used Marshmallow fondant which i made a day before to cover the cake.Then i painted the face with red gel food coloring.With the help of a Toothpick i just drew the spider lines.The End Result was REally Amazing.Overall My Son was so excited to see the SPIDERMAN Cake.The Recipe For the Marshmallow Fondant is Listed Below:

Marshmallow Fondant:
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1 (16 ounce) package miniature marshmallows
2 pounds confectioners' sugar, divided
1/4 cup water
Vegetable Shortening To Grease your Hands from sticking

Method:
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Place the marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for 30 seconds to 1 minute to start melting the marshmallows. Carefully stir the water into the hot marshmallows, and stir until the mixture is smooth. Slowly beat in the confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, until you have a sticky dough. Reserve 1 cup of powdered sugar for kneading. The dough will be very stiff.

Rub your hands thoroughly with Shortening, and begin kneading the sticky dough. As you knead, the dough will become workable and pliable. Turn the dough out onto a working surface dusted with confectioners' sugar and continue kneading until the fondant is smooth and no longer sticky to the touch, 5 to 10 minutes.

Form the fondant into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. To use, allow the fondant to come to room temperature, and roll it out onto a flat surface dusted with confectioners' sugar.

Singapore Rice Noodles

Ingredients:
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fine noodles or rice sticks or vermicelli
3 large eggs
2 tbsp curry powder
2 tsp oriental sesame oil
5 tbsp peanut oil or vegetable oil
5 or 6 shrimp, shelled and deveined(opt)
4 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts,cut 1/4 inch julienne
1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 -2 fresh hot chili pepper seeded and chopped
1/2 (red bell pepper and green pepper)julienne
4 whole scallions, cut diagonally into 1-1/2 inch lengths
1-1/2 cups shredded cabbage

SAUCE:
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1/2 cup chicken broth
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp dry sherry
pinch of salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil.Drop the rice noodles and boil until firm to the touch 1 to 2 minutes.Drain and rinse under cold water.Let the noodle air-dry and firm up in a colander for at least 30 minutes ,toss occasionally.

whisk together the eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of the curry powder,sesame oil until blended.
Heat a wok,Spoon 1/2 tbsp of peanut or vegetable oil over moderately high heat.Pour the egg mixture and reduce the heat to low.Scramble the eggs just until set,Remove to a plate.Keep aside

Return the wok,spoon 1/2 tbsp oil,add the shrimp and stir fry about 1 minute.Remove the shrimp and reserve in a small bowl.
Return the wok to high heat and spoon in 1 tbsp of oil,add the chicken and stir fry until just cooked, about 1 minute. Remove and keep aside.

Heat the wok back ,when hot, spoon in 2 tbsp of oil,add ginger, garlic, chilies, and the remaining curry powder.Stir fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds,add red and green bell peppers and stir fry for 30 seconds.Sprinkle 1 to 2 tbsp of water and cook until it evaporates.Add the scallion whites,cabbage and noodles and toss over high heat until very hot, about 30 seconds.

Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.Return the shrimp and chicken to the wok and add the soy sauce and sherry.Toss well and add salt and the reserved scrambled eggs.Garnish with scallion green parts and cilantro.Serve hot.

Mini Idli Powder Fried Idlis

This is another great way to spice up your idlis.This is a very easy recipe especially if you have any leftover idlis.Guess!you dont really have to make any chutney for this as it tastes amazingly delicious.

Ingredients:
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Mini Idlis
Idli Powder(i used shakthi brand)
Pure Coconut Oil

Seasonings:
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1 tsp-Mustard
1 tsp-cumin
1/2 tsp-urad dhal
1/4 tsp-Hing or Asafoetida
Curry leaves

Method:
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Heat a pan,Add a tbsp of pure coconut oil,when hot add the seasonings one by one and then add the Idli Powder,mix for 5 secs and then add the mini idlis and fry for a minute.Serve.

Mini Sambhar Idlis

This is my all time favorite lipsmacking dish.It tastes absolutely delicious especially when you add a drop of ghee to the dish.

For the mini Idlis:
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Grease the Mini Idli Molds and Pour a tbsp of idli batter in each mold.Steam 5-10 mins.

Sambhar Ingredients:
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1/4 cup =(1 tbsp Toor dhal+remaining Moong dhal)
1 small Onion
1 large tomato or 2 small
1 inch chopped ginger
1 or 2 green chilies
1/4 tsp Hing or Asafoetida
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tbsp Sambhar Powder or chili powder
coriander leaves

Seasonings:
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1 tsp-Mustard
1 tsp-cumin
1/2 tsp-urad dhal
curry leaves
2 or 3 dry red chilies

Method:
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In a Pressure Cooker,Add toor dhal,chopped onion,green chilies,chopped ginger,tomato,turmeric powder,hing and chili powder.Pressure cook for 3 whistles.Cool and quickly run through the Blender(use a hand Blender to make it easy).
In a separate Pan,Add a tbsp of oil,when hot add the seasonings one by one and add the Blended dhal.Add salt and a tsp of ghee.Garnish with coriander leaves.Serve over the mini Idlis.

Cucumber Cups

This is a very cool and Refreshing Starter.English Cucumber is Generally Prefered for this recipe.You can make variety of stuffings and fill the cucucumber cups.
Ingredients:
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1 small red onion.finely chopped
1 red bell pepper,finely chopped
1 vine ripe tomatoes seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tbsp dried oregano
Fresh Parsley Chopped
salt & Pepper
1 Jalapeno seeded and chopped finely
Juice of 1 lemon and zest
1 Avacado Mashed roughly
2 tbsp EVOO
2 English Cucumber

Method:
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In a Mixing Bowl,mix together onion,peppers,chopped tomatoes,herbs,avacado,Lemon juice and zest.Season with salt and pepper.Add EVOO and Combine thoroughly.Keep aside.

Peel the cucumbers partially, so it has stripes of skin going down the entire length of the cucumber. Trim the ends of the cucumbers and cut each cucumber into slices 3/4 of an inch thick.Scoop out the center of each slice with a melon baler, leaving a shell of flesh at the Bottom.

Scoop 1-2 tbsp Salad into Cucumber Cups.Serve Immediately as a starter.

Thomas The Tank Engine Sheet Cake

This is a Half sheet Chocolate cake.It was made for one of my friends son's Birthday.I used cake toppers on this one which was purchased from a local store.The Cake turned out really great.I used Box cake mix and made Butter cream icing From scratch to fill and decorate the cake.The recipe for the Butter cream icing is listed below.Overall the Cake was a hit at the Party.Everyone Loved it.

Butter Cream Icing Recipe:
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3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 to 2 tbsp milk or whipping cream

Method:
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Cream Butter and sugar together with an electric mixer.Add Vanilla Extract.When all the sugar is mixed,the icing will appear dry.Add milk 1 tbsp at a time at medium speed until fluffy.

Add more milk or cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Kuzhi Panniyaram with Idli Batter

Kuzhi paniyarams can be made sweet or spicy.This is a spicy version and a great alternative if your bored of eating the regular idlis.The spicy version is made by sauted onions and spices mixed in the batter.You can have this as a Breakfast or as a snack in the evening.

Ingredients:
3 cups-Idli Batter
1 tsp-Mustard
1 tsp-Cumin seeds
1/2 tsp-Urad dal
1 small chopped onion
1 inch piece finely chopped ginger
2 or 3 finely chopped green chilies
few chopped curry leaves
chopped coriander leaves
Oil as required

Utensil used:
Paniyaram pan

Method:
Heat a pan,add a tbsp of oil when hot,add all the seasonings(mustard,cumin,urad dal and curry leaves).
Then add the chopped onion,green chilies and chopped ginger.saute until onions turn soft.
Add the above seasoning and coriander leaves to the idli batter.Mix Thoroughly.Keep aside.
Heat the paniyaram pan,add few drops of oil in each hole then pour about a tbsp of Batter in each hole.Cover and cook for 2 mins in low flame.Once the edges are slightly crispy turn using a wooden skewer and leave it to cook on the other side for 2 mins.
Remove and serve with your favorite chutney.

Mysore Bonda

Mysore Bonda is a Fried Dumpling made with Flour,Buttermilk and Spices.It has a spongy,airy like texture inside and makes a wonderful evening snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Rice Flour
1 cup Buttermilk
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Finely Chopped Ginger
3 Finely Chopped green Chillies
1 tsp Broken or whole Pepper corns
Salt to taste
Few Coconut Pieces
Oil for Deep Frying

Method:

In a Bowl,Combine All Purpose Flour,Rice Flour,Baking Soda and salt.
Slowly Pour in the Buttermilk to a Idli Batter Consistency.
Now add Cumin seeds,coconut pieces,Pepper corns,chopped ginger and green chillies.Set aside for an 1 hr.
After an hr,Heat oil for deep frying.Slowly Drop the batter using your hand.Fry in a medium flame until golden Brown.Remove to a paper Towel.Serve Hot with Coconut chutney.