Chocolate Fudge Cake, Chicken Tikka Bites And Ragout Pasta by Zarnak Sidhwa in Food Diaries

Ingredients for Chocolate Fudge Cake:

• Self raising flour 175 gm
• Cocoa powder 2 tbsp
• Baking powder 1 tsp
• Caster sugar 150 gm
• Eggs beaten 2
• Oil 150 ml
• Milk 150 ml
• Golden syrup 2 tbsp
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Strong coffee 1 tbsp

For Frosting:

• Unsalted butter 200 gm
• Icing Sugar 200 gm
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Melted chocolate 200 gm

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Grease and line two 7" sandwich tins.
3. Sieve the flour, cocoa and baking soda into a bowl.
4. Add the sugar and mix well.
5. Make a well in the cent re and add the syrup, eggs, oil, milk, vanilla and coffee. Beat well until smooth.
6. Spoon the mixture into the two tins and bake for 25-30 minutes until risen and firm to the touch.
7. Remove from oven, leave to cool in tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack and allowing to cool completely before filling and icing.
8. To make the butter icing: place the butter in a bowl and beat until soft. Gradually beat in the  sifted icing sugar.
9. Then add vanilla and finally melted chocolate.
10. Sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more butter icing.

Ingredients for Chicken Tikka Bites:

• Ginger 2 inch piece
• Garlic 4-6 cloves
• Yogurt 6 tbsp
• Tomato paste 2 tbsp
• All spice powder 1 tbsp
• Paprika 2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds 2 tsp
• Salt 1 tsp
• Red chili powder 1 tsp
• Oil 2 tbsp
• Chicken 1/2 kg

Method:

1. Mix all the marinate together and then add the chicken.
2. Grill on a griller or put on skewers and BBQ.

Ingredients for Ragout Pasta:

• Pasta boiled 2 cups
• Olive oil 2 tbsp
• Onion chopped 1 cup
• Tomatoes 4
• Mushrooms 2 cups
• Fresh basil chopped 1/4 cup
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the onion for about 5 minutes, until
2. translucent.
3. Add the tomato wedges and mushrooms, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until the tomatoes and mushrooms are cooked through and the sauce is reduced and thickened.
4. Sprinkle on the basil, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
5. Pour over pasta and serve.