Chocolate Chip & Fruit Rum Cake

A very happy Christmas &  prosperous new year !!!!
Christmas & Fruit cake always reminds me of my old neighbors cum friends, most of  them were Catholics & on Christmas they used to gift us varieties of Christmas goodies all homemade & i used to love their fruit cakes...Today i'm sharing a chocolate fruit rum cake it;s moist & pieces of fruit at each bite try it...

Few years i had Christmas rum cake at a friends party, since then i wanted to make a rum cake...In my house we don't have alcohol i used to make this same recipe with orange juice few months back when i had been to my brother's house i got a hold of  half a bottle of rum took it home  & tried this chocolate fruit rum cake a good combination & i was thrilled with result ...I hate the smell of alcohol but smell of the rum cake & the cinnamon  was gr8 👌👍 & i don't mind having a rum cake & i enjoy it 😁😋 Instead of rum you can add juice of 2 oranges.. 

Ingredients :

• 1&1/2 cup / 200 gm all purpose flour.
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable oil.
• 125 gm brown sugar ( powdered )
• 1 tsp baking powder.
• 4 eggs.
• 30 gm dried cranberries.
• 30 gm dried strawberries.
• 30 gm black currants.
• 30 gm sultanas.
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp rum.
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder.
• 1/8 cup warm water.
• 40 gm chocolate chips.

Pre note : Before you make the cake remember to soak the dry fruits in rum for 2 days or if using orange juice soak it for 9 to 10 hrs.

Method :

1. Soak  the dried cranberries,strawberries,black currants & sultanas in rum close with a lid & keep in cool place for 2 or 3 days.
2. You can see the dried fruits are blotted up.

Let's start mixing the cake:

• Drain the dry fruits in colander (reserve the leftover rum) & dust the fruits  with the flour & dust 30 gm of chocolate chips & keep aside.
• Grease the cake tin 8 inch diameter pan & line it with parchment paper.
• Sieve the flour, baking powder,cinnamon & mix it well.
• Pre heat the oven 200 C. gas oven.

• In a mixing bowl add the eggs,oil,powdered sugar & beat till its well blended.
• Add in flour & mix to combine fold in the dry fruits,the reserved rum & 1/8 cup warm water mix it gently.

• Add the 30 gm chocolate chips & fold till it's well combined pour into the greased cake tin.

• Garnish the remaining 10 gm chocolate chips on top & bake for 45 min or prick with a  knife if it comes out clean it's done..

• Happy Christmas once again & enjoy the rum cake 😋

Vegetable & Fruit Biryani

Those who love flavored rice in any form Eg: pulao,biryani etc & love the the combination of sweet & spicy i share a wonderful veg & fruit biryani .. 

Kaima/ jeersalai rice flavored with exotic spices, vegetables & fresh pineapple or mango papad  & dum cooked in a oven.😁😋

Pre-note :Use fresh pineapple if it's not in season can use mango papad.

Serves: 5

Ingredients :

• 2 cups / 420 gm Kerala kaima rice or basmati rice.
• 4 cup water.
• 250 gm mixed vegetable(  cauliflower, carrot, french beans, potatoes) or can add any vegetables 
• 150 gm fresh pineapple or 50 gm mango papad .
• 2 + 2 +1 large onions thinly sliced.
• 1 large tomato chopped.
• 1/2 cup thick cream milk
• 1/4 tsp saffron soaked in 1/8 cup hot water.
• 1/4 cup oil + 1/8 cup ghee.
• 9 green chilies or according to your taste
• 15 clove garlic.
• 2'' tsp  ginger.
• 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp garam masala powder.
• 1/4 cup of each chopped coriander leaves & mint leaves
• 1 tsp kasuri methi
• 15 cashew nuts,
• 1/4 cup raisins.

Whole garam masala: 1 black cardamom, 2 green cardamom, 2'' cinnamon, 4 cloves & 1 Pandan Leaves

Method:

• Wash & soak the cauliflower in hot salted water for 2 min drain & keep aside.
• Half boil the potatoes & keep aside.
• Wash the rice till the water is clear & keep aside in a colander to drain the water.
• Cut all  pineapple, carrot & potatoes in medium chunks, french beans cut into 2 inches & cauliflower into florets.
• Grind the ginger, garlic & green chilies to a paste.
• Mix the milk & the saffron keep aside.

Lets cook the rice first:

• Add 4 cups water in the electric rice cooker pan & switch on the cooker replace the lid & let the water heat. 
•  Meanwhile heat 1/8 cup ghee in another pan add the whole garam masala 1 large onion sliced & saute till the onions are translucent.
• Add the drained rice & saute them for 5 min. Off the flame & add the rice to the rice cooker pan add salt to taste & stir gently & replace the lid  let it cook..Once it's cooked the switch will automatically get off.Remove the pan gently fluff it gently with a fork remove the
   Pandan Leaves
   & keep aside.

Let's fry the onions for garnishing:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a pan add 2 large thinly sliced onions& fry them,when its's light brown color add the cashew nuts fry 2 min add the raisins when it bloats off the flame & remove all  the fried items to a kitchen tissue paper. Keep aside.  

Let's cook the  masala :

• In a same pan in which you fried the onions( if required add oil) add 2 large sliced onions fry them till brown add the half boiled potatoes & the crushed green chilies,ginger & garlic & saute them for 5 min.
• Next add all the veggies, pineapple,tomatoes,curd, coriander powder,turmeric powder, 1 tsp garam masala powder,1 tsp salt, coriander leaves, mint leaves,kasuri methi & 1 tsp red chilly powder ( according to your taste).

• Mix them all till well combined.add 1/2 cup water & cook on medium flame till you get a thick gravy. Keep aside.

Let's layer the biryani:

• In a thick bottomed pan layer 1 tomato slices ( so the rice won't get burnt)
• Then layer half of the cooked rice Sprinkle half of the fried onion & pour over half of the saffron milk & 1/4 tsp garam masala powder.
• Next layer the veg masala. 
• Last layer the rest of the cooked rice pour all the saffron milk sprinkle 1/4 tsp garam masala powder & coriander leaves 
• Now seal the pot with aluminium foil cover with a lid & place in preheated  oven @ 180c for 30-40 min.

Serve hot with Cucumber & Capsicum Raita & Grilled Paneer 😋