*Christmas Fruitcake ~ Alcohol Free*

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Christmas & New Year Greetings to my fans. 

I will be off blogging much as am off my computer and on my much needed leave. 

Have the best blessed days of Christmas and Happy New Year wishes from me.

Herewith enjoy this recipe till I come back next year full of zest and in good health:)

You can still decorate a special cake for your family by reserving some of the fruit and arranging it on top of the batter. Substitute any type of nut for pistachios, if you prefer. Covering the cake locks in steam as it cooks, keeping it moist. It’s crucial to allow the cake to “cure” for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before eating it; this allows the syrup to soak in and all the flavors to marry.

Ingredients:

• Cooking oil for greesing cake tin
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour - for dusting cake tin
• 1 cup raisins
• 2/3 cup dried currants
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
• 1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup finely chopped dried figs
• 1 1/2 tblspn flour - for coating all the dry fuits
• 4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (brown cake) or white sugar (for white cake)
• 2  eggs
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon grated orange rind

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Coat an 8 x 4–inch loaf pan with cooking oil; dust pan with 2 teaspoons flour. Set aside.
3. Combine raisins, dried currants, pistachios, dried apricots, dried figs, and 1 1/2 tablespoons flour in a medium bowl; toss well to coat.
4. Weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 ounces flour (about 1 cup) into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.
5. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar, beaten eggs, 1/4 cup orange juice, and rind. Add flour mixture to pan, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Gradually fold in fruit mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Cover with foil.
6. Bake at 150 C for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Pierce top of cake several times with a wooden pick, and brush the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice over top of warm cake. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Remove cake from pan. Wrap cake in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil. Refrigerate 24 hours before serving.

Enjoy your Fruit Cake:)

Strawberries Fool & Pie

So,when I got strawberries in the grocery store, I just bought a packet to just eat them sometime in evening, however they were destined to be treated better …I love this fruit…its sweet, like a candy, but at the same time slightly tangy, and sour. they have a grainy but smooth taste….
In fact I can say I am having experiences like strawberries this year… Hmm quite a good metaphor!

So here come my quick Strawberry and Cream Recipe ~ Lets say STRAWBERRY FOOL

I took 1 cup heavy whipping cream - fresh cream,1/3 cup sugar,
then I took some fresh strawberries, washed them, remove the stems, and put them in the food processor to crush them,

Whipped cream until it looks like whipped cream,
Mixed in sugar,
~   Add the crushed strawberries and whip just a little till

all combined and slightly thicker.

~   Divide between pretty glasses and chill till needed.

~ And finally I put a big spoon of dessert in my mouth…hmmmmmm it was heaven… who cares about diet yaar...

~Another good recipe for Strawberry Pie~

Serves 8

1 1/2 cup whole hazelnuts (I have used Nutella spread) (Optional - use Digestive Biscuits)

2 cups whole milk

1 cup Idle Milk

¼ tsp Vannilla Essence

6 extra-large egg yolks

3 tablespoons cornstarch, sifted

1/2 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons butter

1.      Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts (if you are using hazelnut than this applies to you) on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes. Let cool. When cool, put in a clean towel and rub vigorously to remove skins (you can also just use your fingers). It's okay if some skin is left on -- you're going to strain later.

2.      Chop the cooled hazelnuts to a coarse crumb in a food processor (or crumbed Biscuits).  I bake the biscuit layer slightly

3.      Make the hazelnut-infused cream: Put the milk and Idle Milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add vanilla to the milk. Add the hazelnuts (or any nuts you fancy otherwise ignore this portion) and heat to scalding over medium-low heat. Remove from the heat and set aside to infuse for 20 minutes.

4.      In the meantime, whisk the egg yolks, cornstarch, sugar and salt together in a large bowl until thick and pale yellow.

5.      In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool.

6.      Strain the milk-hazelnut mixture into the egg yolk mixture, half a cup at a time, whisking after each addition until you've added about a cup and a half. Then strain and whisk in the rest of the milk. Return to the saucepan over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the custard is thick and starts to bubble, about 3 minutes.

7.      Strain the thickened custard into a clean bowl. Stir in the melted chocolate-butter mixture.

8.      Optional, but highly recommended: Scrape the entire pudding into a blender or food processor and process for about 30 seconds, until silky-smooth. I learned this from Dorie Greenspan's pudding recipes, and it really gives the pudding a wonderful lightness.

9.      Spoon the pudding into small ramekins or dessert cups, cover with plastic wrap and chill, overnight if possible. DO NOT eat it unchilled -- right after you make it the flavors will not have blended and will taste a little off.

If you don't want to waste those delicious cream-cooked nuts, chop them up with graham crakers in the food processor, press into a square baking dish and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. When the crust is cool, pour the pudding over and top with whip cream!!! Nutella Pudding Pie!

*Melting Moments*

Yahoo Christmas is on the way and ladies dorn your apron and start pre baking to save you time on the day you want to enjoy with your family:)

Melting Moments are easy to make and are perfect for those who like to do their Christmas baking early. They store very well, up to two weeks & are very fragile:)

Incidentally, you may have seen Melting Moments with different looks. Sometimes the dough is placed in a piping bag with a fluted tip and then piped into rosettes. The finishing touch is to top each cookie with a red or green candied cherry. Other times the dough is rolled into a crescent shape with the ends sometimes dipped in melted chocolate.

In a medium sized bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt.  In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate the batter for an hour or two, or until firm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. When batter is firm, form into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls and place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake for about 10 - 14 minutes or until the edges of the cookies just start to brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 3-5 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack that is placed over a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Put the confectioners sugar in a fine strainer or sieve and sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the sugar. These cookies store very well. Place in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper and they will keep a couple of weeks. If desired, just before serving, sprinkle the tops of the cookies with confectioners sugar. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Melting Moments Recipe: 1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour 1/2 cup (60 grams) cornstarch (corn flour) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup (30 grams) confectioners sugar (powdered or icing) 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Topping: 1/2 cup (60 grams) confectioners sugar (powdered or icing)

*The Story of Juda A’aber Hud*

✦●▬▬▬●✦ The Story of Juda A’aber Hud ✦●▬▬▬▬●✦

Many people may be surprised to learn that Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, amongst many others, all figure prominently in the pages of Quran Torah and the (Injeel) Gospels of Jesus.

In the Old Testament reference is made to a descendant of Noah named Eber.  In some traditions, he is called Heber, and known as the father of the Hebrew language.

Sent by God to his brethren, Hud spread the message that God is One and to worship Him alone.  It was the same message spread by all the Prophets of God.  Hud said to his people, “O my people, worship God, you have no other God but Him”(11:50).  Hud belonged to the ancient civilization known asAad, and its capital city is believed to have been the fabled city of Ubar, known in Quran as Iram.  (89:6-7)

Aad is believed to have been situated in the wind swept hills between Oman and Yemen.  The people were known to build lofty towers, and thus the area became known as the land of a thousand pillars.  It was a civilization unlike any other.  God blessed Aad and its people.  He provided them with fertile land and abundant agriculture, many children, an ample supply of livestock and easy access to water resources.  The people themselves were described as tall, strong, and well built. 

In many ways, Aad could be described as a society much like many of the opulent societies that exist today.  There was an excess of wealth and the proud, arrogant people were not satisfied with fulfilling their basic needs.  They began to build towers and dwellings merely to display their wealth and they accumulated worldly possessions as if they were a people destined to live forever.

The rulers and leaders of Aad were powerful tyrants, their wealth did not make them soft, as sometimes happens, but rather they grew strong and dominated the lands around them.  Satan was among them and made their deeds seem fair seeming to them.  Their arrogance and pride grew and the worship of idols became prevalent.

Prophet Hud was also a strong man but he used his strength to confront the problems that abounded in his society, however, the people were too proud to listen.  They did not want Hud to point out their mistakes but he persisted in calling them to righteousness.  He said,

“O my people!  Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as criminals, or  disbelievers in the Oneness of God.”

Hud tried to explain to his people that seeking God’s forgiveness for their rebelliousness and arrogance would only cause an increase in their strength and wealth.  God, he said, would reward their repentance with abundant rain and an increase in strength.  In the manner of arrogant people throughout time the people of Aad looked at Hud with disdain, they then looked around and found that they were the most powerful nation in existence.

The wealthy arrogant people of Aad argued with Hud about the nature of the Day of Judgment.  They believed that after death the body turned to dust and was swept away by the wind.  The people of Aad, much like many people today, believed that the purpose of life was to accumulate wealth, prestige, and possessions.  When Hud made them confront the reality of their lives and pointed out that they were far away from the One God, their arrogant chests swelled with pride and they accused him of being crazy.  They wondered why a man who ate and drank, just like them could have such a different view of life.  With their eyes firmly fixed on wealth and luxury the people of Aad convinced themselves that following Hud would mean that they to were crazy.

“There is nothing but our life of this world!  We die and we live!  We are not going to be resurrected!  He is only a man who has invented a lie against God, but we are not going to believe in him.” (23:33-3)

Eventually the people of Aad looked at Hud and said, “We understand why you are crazy, our god’s (idols) have harmed you because you insulted them”.  (11:53)  Hud turned to God and renounced his people.  He knew that God’s punishment would be swift and severe.  A drought spread throughout the once fertile and abundant land.  The people looked to the sky hoping to see signs of rain.  The punishment was obvious but still the people of Aad mocked and ridiculed Hud.

One fateful day the weather changed.  The burning heat changed to biting cold and the wind began to howl.  The savage wind increased with each new day and the people began to seek shelter.  The windstorm raged for more than a week.  It ripped apart tents and dwellings, it whipped away clothing and tore the skin from the body.

They were destroyed by a furious violent wind which God imposed on them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so that you could see men lying overthrown (destroyed) as if they were hollow trunks of date palms! (69:6-7)

Ibn Kathir tells us that the violent gale did not stop until the entire region, once lush and green was reduced to ruins and swallowed by the sands of the desert.  Only Hud and his small band of followers were saved and are believed to have migrated to the Hadramaut area of what is today known as Yemen.

Epilogue[3]

Ubar, was said to be a remote desert oasis and a major trading centre inhabited by powerful and wealthy people.  Legend said it was lost in a major sand storm that buried the entire area.  In 1992, the fabled lost city was discovered using remote sensing data.  Satellite imagery exposed a large area of sand dunes, under which lie a major wadi or dry streambed.  Ubar is currently under excavation and evidence has revealed an octagonal fortified city with 30-foot towers and thick walls.

And Allah SWT knows best.

The Grandfather’s Table and the Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather’ s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in- law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about Grandfather, ” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” Therefore, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’ s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?”

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.

If they see us patiently, provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child’s future. Let us be wise builders and role models.

~Pan Cakes~

Enjoy Pancakes

~Story of Milk~

One day a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.  He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?”

You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”

He said … “Then I thank you from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Many years’ later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case…

After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ….

”Paid in full with one glass of milk”
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, God, that your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.”
MORAL: There’s a saying which goes something like this:” Bread cast on the water comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn’t that what life is all about?”

~Chocolate Mousse~

Ingredients for the Same:

60g dark chocolate
60g unsalted butter
1 teaspoons orange essence (optional as you can use your own taste creation)
2 eggs, separated
A pinch of salt
1 tablespoon fine sugar
Cocoa powder, to garnish

Place chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes (please be carful not to overhead and burn the chocolate), keep stirring it continuously until melted and smooth. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the egg yolks and orange essence into the chocolate mixture.

Beat egg whites and salt with a cake mixture until mixed well. Then add sugar. Fold the egg white into chocolate mixture.

Pour the mixture into the small ramekins or any serving glasses of your choice. Cover them well with plastic wraps. Now let them stay in the freeze for more than 3 hrs to chill and set.

When serving remove the plastic wrap and turn the ramekins onto a plate if you want the mousse on the plate. If serving Direct from the ramekins sprinkle some grated chocolate on top.  Sprinkle cocoa on the plate and on the mousse with some grated choco and your delicious recipe is ready for the go!