Dal Makhani

The king of Dal...

I always thought Dal Makhani was made using a lot of butter... (makhan means butter) and that it got its rich and creamy texture from the butter.  I was also of the opinion that Dal Makhani was a dish reserved for the kings of India and was served in palaces only. When I first had Dal Makhani at Hotel Crowne Plaza, I thought it was a dish served in 5 star hotels only, and yes after eating it I was convinced that its a dish meant for kings and only chef's of 5 star hotels could prepare it.

Little did I know that Dal Makhani is a staple dish of Punjab, and that butter is not the ingredient that gives it its rich and creamy texture and taste. A couple of days ago a member on Chef at Large FB group posted a very tempting  picture of Dal Makhani which she had prepared for her guest, and posted the recipe link too.

Now was my chance to make Dal Makhani at home. So I went to the link 

http://triedandtestedhere.blogspot.sg/2013/11/dal-makhani.html?spref=fb&m=1

and read the recipe for the first time. Oh, what is black urad dal, never heard of it, never seen it.... for a person like me who loves dal. Okay, I needed to find this main ingredient and I was right in going to an Indian bakala (grocery shop) where I picked up all the other ingredients too and headed home to soak the dal and kidney beans. I felt like royalty while preparing the Dal Makhani. I learnt that it is the tomato puree and thick cream that gives it its rich and creamy texture and I learnt that it can be prepared at home by almost anyone.

Here's my take on the Dal Makhani.  I made some rotis to go with the it, though it can be served with rice, jeera rice and naan.

Everyone enjoyed it. It was lip smacking, finger licking Dal Makhani. 

While still researching on Dal Makhani, I learnt that though a staple food of Punjab it is a dish prepared at weddings, birthdays and important events, and what makes its special is its traditional way of cooking the dish. 

Dal Makhani, King of Dal.

The Nikon Cake

I always wanted to make a camera cake for my hubby,  a professional photographer, but feared it would not be my best ever cake, as I don't like to work with black fondant, besides having to carve the cake to look like a camera. 

Reena Martins a good friend, had sent me a tutorial on making the camera cake which I had saved for reference knowing that one day I would make the cake. 

The day came and weeks before that I started preparing myself to build the cake. I figured out that a dense cake would work best for the carving needed and hence baked a marbled mud cake, a favorite  of Cajie's. I baked an 8" square for the body of the camera and a small 2" round for the lens. 

While the cakes were cooling on the kitchen counter, the house was filled with the aroma from the cakes. Later that day I found one fourth of the small round cake eaten. Oh!!!! Now what, looks like the birthday boy wanted to sample his birthday cake... And we had no choice but to keep quiet so as not to let out our surprise.  I had to bake the 2" round cake for the lens which I did while baking another cake.  

I got to putting the cake together, cutting  and carving; 

And then covering it with dark chocolate ganache, yummy!!!  Decided on using ganache against buttercream as ganache  is heavy and dense which would help covering the cake with fondant. 

Working quickly on the lens,  I covered the body with black fondant which looked grey and did not make the cake look like a camer. Now you see why I don't like black fondant. I then painted the fondant black. 

After securing the lens in place I worked on the details which took more time than expected. 

Finished the cake just in time.... I nearly spent the whole day decorating this cake for the love of my life.  Guess what, he loved it. 

After taking pictures of the cake, singing,wishing, hugs n kisses he cut his Nikon Cake and helped himself to a big slice... Afteralll it was his birthday!!!! 

I was happy with the way the cake had turned out. Also want to thank Erika for encouraging me all the way and for keeping the surprise a surprise.   

Bravo!!!! Have a Nikon Cake. 

 

June Wedding

Yeah!!! I did it. The June wedding cake 

Last month I did my first official wedding cake http://priscillamakes.blogspot.com/2014/05/small-wedding-cake-white-and-gold.html?m=1   

and the very next day I got an order for another wedding cake. This is the cake. 

The theme color was apple green. The calla lilies were a perfect match and this bride definitely knew what she wanted. The couple wanted to serve their guest three different flavours and so the bottom  tier was plain vanilla sponge, the middle tier was red velvet and the top tier was dark chocolate, all filled with yummy buttercream and covered with fondant. 

I got down to making the flowers a week before the D day and could not wait until the cake was ready to decorate it with the flowers. 

After spending a couple of hours decorating the cake, I sat admiring my creation.. Now transporting this beauty was going to be a nightmare in broad day light.  

But before that, I missed hubby, my professional photography who was somewhere in Orlando photographing a lake full of alligators. I must have taken more than a dozen pictures of the cake from all angles and directions, in natural light and spot light,,, whatever you call it, iPhone and a samsung galaxy, Panasonic and an olympus camera; all the cameras lying around the house... No, I did not touch the Nikon... It's untouchable. 

After the photo session I boxed the cake

and chalked out the route I would take to deliver the cake, taking into consideration  all the curves, corners, roundabouts and speed breakers, uphill and downhill. I placed the cake box on a fleece blanket at the rear of my RAV4. The fleece blanket acts as an anti skid sheet and holds the box in place. 

Now for the ride, I got behind the wheel, accompanied with Erika and we drove the car at snail pace, with Erika checking on the cake at every turn and bump. After the longest short distance ride of my life we arrived at the Crowne Plaza hotel. 

We surveyed the Al Andalous ballroom which was beautiful decorated in the theme color for the nuptials ceremony and reception of Amir and Nory.  Spotting the beautifully decorated cake table we centered the cake on the table and gave it the finishing touches. 

Oh what a beauty!!! Could not, but help admire it. The couple are on their honeymoon and I am waiting for a feedback from them.

Now I am all for wedding cakes.. Bring it on!!!!!