Fruity Custard & Ice-Cream Twist

I love fruit custard.  Whenever I see so many fruits lying in the fruit basket the only thing that comes to my mind first is the fruit custard.  Its a very good way to consume different fruits together.  I like the thick consistency of custard.  I love to serve fruit custard with a twist.  This way it gives a visual treat at the same time totally unique taste that is obviously delicious. :)

I always serve it differently and it gives me immense pleasure when it comes out yummy.

So here is one of my experiments with fruit custard that is surely gonna be your favourite too.  Here what you will first notice is the beauty of the whole dessert.. it looks stunning... I lovedddddd it.  Its so easy to make too.  Just assemble the things and dig in straight away.

I was very confused as to what name should I give to this dessert.  Finally decided Fruity Custard & Ice-Cream Twist. nothing better came to my mind :D 

Here again I used my chocolate frosting that is not getting finished up.. huhh :D

I recommend to use sweet n salty biscuits for the base.. they gave it a very nice crunch n flavour.. Icecream should not be any other than vanilla or chocolate.. I used Stracciatella (vanilla icecream with small bits of chocolate). You can decorate the dessert with your choice of things.

So what are you waiting for guys . go n try it out. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients: 

Vanilla custard (prepared in thick consistency)	1 cup (chilled)
Banana	1 (small)
Apple	½ (small)
Black grapes (deseeded)	5-6
Black raisins	10
Vanilla /chocolate icecream	6 scoops
Sweet n salty biscuits	6
Chocolate frosting/sauce	1 tbsp
Sprinkles	½ tsp
Glazed cherry (halved)	1

Method:

• Take the biscuits and crush them coarsely.  Set aside.
• Take all the fruits and chop them.  Set aside,
• Take a bowl and pour chilled custard in it.  Add in all the chopped fruits and black raisins.  Mix well.  Set aside.
• Take two serving glasses and put a layer of crushed biscuits in the bottom of both the glasses.
• Then carefully pour 4 tbsp of fruit custard in each glass without messing the sides of the glasses.
• Top it up with ice cream and finally pour chocolate frosting / sauce over the ice cream.  Decorate with sprinkles and finish it with a glazed cherry on the top.
• Serve immediately.

Easy Christmas fruit cake (Alcohol free)

Hello to all my readers.  This is the last day of this year and I have already started making it special.  As I had promised you to post an easy peasy Christmas fruit cake recipe, here it is for you all.

Its a very easy n no fuss cake.  Everything you would find in your very own kitchen.  No fancy ingredients but the taste is simply divine. Unlike other Christmas fruit cakes this one is completely alcohol free. 

My cake came out so soft and yummy and the aroma had just filled my entire home.  I had again experimented here but this time I was so sure about the success as the ingredients were sure shot :)  Unlike my other bakes, this cake is made with egg but I used only one (as usual) and I can bet you are not gonna smell it due to the aromatic Indian spices.  Its a must try.  I had soaked my fruit mix in orange juice, instead of Rum, for three days but if you dont have much time you can soak for 24 hrs.  Even if you dont have 24 hrs. then also you can make this cake :) Yes you are reading correct YOU CAN MAKE THIS CAKE :)  Now no excuse please :D  If you dont have time for soaking you can add your dried fruits with boiled sugar butter mix that I have used in the recipe.  This cake is gonna rock your parties or you can simply make it to treat yourself.  This is a no fail recipe trust me. So I am leaving you here with the recipe of this awesome fruit cake.  Do try. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

All purpose flour	1 cup
Brown sugar	½ cup
Salted Butter	Little less than ¼ cup
Oil	1 tbsp
Baking soda	Little less than ¾ tsp
Egg	1
Cinnamon powder	Little less than ½ tsp
Nutmeg powder	Little less than ¼ tsp
Clove (powdered)	3 or ¼ tsp
Ginger grated or powdered	¼ tsp
Vanilla essence	¼ tsp
Cashews (chopped)	15
Glazed cherries (optional)	3 (chopped)
Dried fruit mix (raisins, black currant, golden raisins,orange peels)	1 cup
Orange juice (I used store bought orange juice)	1 ½ cups (To soak the dried fruit mix )
water	1/2 cup + 1/8 cup

Method:

• In a mixing bowl, sieve together all purpose flour and baking soda.  Keep aside.
• If you have time, soak dried fruit mix in orange juice atleast for 24 hrs. 
• Take a sauce pan, add sugar, butter, water, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, powdered clove and ginger powder and mix well.  Put on the stove and let it boil till sugar dissolves.  Once its boiled and sugar is dissolved, remove from stove and let it lukewarm.  Beat the egg lightly and add into the prepared sugar butter mix. Also add vanilla essence and mix.  At this stage, separate the soaked dried fruit mix from orange juice and add it to the lukewarm sugar butter mix and give a quick stir.  Discard the orange juice.  ( If you dont get the time to soak the dried fruits you can directly add them to the sugar water mix before boiling).
• Set the oven at 180 degree.  Grease your cake pan with oil or non stick spray and dust the same with flour. Keep it aside.
• In the sugar butter mix, add all purpose flour little by little to avoid the formation of lumps.  Mix well to make it a smooth batter.  Add oil, cashews and chopped glazed cherries.  Mix well.
• Pour the cake batter to the greased cake pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes. 
• Keep checking the cake after 40 minutes by inserting a knife in the center of the cake.  If the knife comes out clean, cake is baked, if not keep increasing the baking time by another 10 minutes.
• Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool down at least for 10 minutes.
• Carefully shift the cake to the serving plate and enjoy.

Notes:

1. You can use white sugar in place of brown sugar.  Brown sugar gives the deep brown color to the cake.
2. I have used 1 cup of dried fruit mix, you can use more.  You can use tutty fruitty as well. You can add almonds instead of cashews or both.  You can use your choice of dried fruits in this cake but do not overload the cake with them.
3. Spice level can be increased or decreased as per your choice.
4. If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 tsp of salt in the batter.
5. My cake took exact 60 minutes to bake but baking time differs according to the oven so keep checking your cake after 40 minutes. Do not over bake the cake.
6. You can soak your dried fruits in rum also.
7. Do not skip egg as it would help in raising the cake and making it fluffy.  You would not get the eggy smell due to the use of spices.
8. You can make the icing for the cake or have it with simple chocolate sauce or vanilla icecream.