Juan's Rainbow Cake

For cake batter

All purpose flour/maida-3cups

Baking powder-3tsp

Eggs-4

Powdered sugar-2cups

Butter -200gms

• Sift flour and baking powder together.
• Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add melted butter and mix well.Add the flour to the mixture and use a wooden spoon to gently fold until just combined.Divide the mixture into 3 portions.keep aside.

For strawberry cake

Fresh strawberries-150gms

Sugar-1tbsp

Milk-1/4cup

Strawberry essence-1/2tsp optional

• Grind strawberries with 1 tbsp sugar until smooth.Add milk if needed.Strain the mixture through a sieve.keep aside.
• Preheat oven to 180 degree C or 350 F.
• Add strawberry puree and essence into the prepared batter and mix well.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.Let cakes rest in pan for about 10 minutes and turn out onto wire racks. Let cakes cool completely (about 45 minutes).

For Pistachio cake

Pistachio-3/4cup

Milk-1/4cup

pistachio essence-1/2tsp (optional)

Green food color-2-3 drops

• Soak pistachio in milk for 2 hours.remove skin and grind it into a thick paste.
• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Add pistachio paste ,essence and food color into the prepared batter and mix well.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.Let cakes rest in pan for about 10 minutes and turn out onto wire racks. Let cakes cool completely (about 45 minutes).

Orange cake

Fresh orange juice-1/2cup

Orange peel (grated)-1tsp

Orange essense-1/2tsp 

orange food color-2-3 drops (optional)

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Add orange juice,essence, grated peel and food color into the prepared batter and mix well.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.Let cakes rest in pan for about 10 minutes and turn out onto wire racks. Let cakes cool completely (about 45 minutes).

Assembling

For Wipped cream layer

Wipped cream powder-2 packets

milk-200ml

Confectioners sugar-3tbsp

• Chill electric beaters and mixing bowl.Beat cream powder and milk until it thickens slightly, gradually add confectioners' sugar and beat until thick enough to hold its shape. 
• place strawberry cake on the cake stand and spread a layer of cream.place pistatio cake and top with another layer of cream.Place orange cake and spread the remaining creme over the sides and top of the cake.Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

For chocolate layer

Baking chocolate-300gms (chopped)

Fresh cream-1/4cup

• Place the chopped chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth.Keep aside to cool.
• Remove cake from the refrigerator and pour chocolate over the cake.Spread evenly over the sides and top.Decorate with chocolate flowers and fresh strawberries

Honey Glazed Baked Chicken

1.Chicken-600gms
2.Honey-3 tbsp
   Soy Sauce-3 tbsp
   Lemon juice-2 tbsp
   Garlic-4 minced
   Freshly ground pepper-1&1/2 tbsp
   Olive oil-2 tbsp
   Salt

• Whisk together the honey,soy sauce, lemon juice,ground pepper, garlic,salt and oil.Take half of the marinade and set it aside.Rub marinade inside and outside the chicken and let stand 1-2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 200 degree C.
• Place chicken pieces on wire rack.Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the juices run clear,baste the chicken with the remaining marinade every 15 minutes.
• Serve hot with rice,chappati,etc

Custard Powder Cookies

1.Custard Powder-3/4cup

   All purpose flour-1cup

   Salt-1/8tsp

   Baking Powder-1tsp

2.Butter-150gms

   Powdered sugar-1cup

3.Egg-1

• Combine dry ingredients together. 
• In a  mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.Add in egg and mix well.
• Add dry ingredients and stir until mixture forms a thick dough.
• Refrigerate  for 30 minutes. 
• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminium foil.
• Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on prepared tray. Using a fork, press dough to flatten slightly

• Bake for 12-16 minutes or until set. 
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack completely.

Sago Vaga / Sabudana Vada

1.Sago-2/3 cup
2.Wheat flour-1/3 cup
   Onion(chopped)-1
   Green chilly(chopped)-2
   Ginger (chopped)-1tsp
   Curry leaves
   Salt
3.Oil

• Wash and drain sago.Keep aside for an hour.
• Mix the sago along with all the other ingredients
• Shape into balls and flatten slightly.
• Deep fry until golden brown in color.
• Serve with tomato sauce.

Nadan Sravu Curry (Shark Curry)

1.Shark/Sravu-1/2kg
2.Pearl Onion(sliced)-3/4cup
  Coconut Pieces(thengakothu)-1/2cup
  Green Chilly(Sliced)-4
  Curry Leaves-3 springs
3.Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
   Chilly powder-2tbsp(adjust according to taste)
   Coriander powder-1tbsp
4.Kudampuli-3-4 small pieces
  (soak in lukewarm water for 10 minutes)
5.Fenugreek powder/uluva podi-a pinch
6.Coconut oil-2tbsp+1tsp
7.Mustard seeds-1tsp

• Make a paste using turmeric powder, chilly powder and coriander powder adding very little water.
• Heat 2tbsp oil in a clay pot (manchatti) and splutter mustard seeds. Add onions, green chillies, curry leaves and coconut pieces.
• When the onions turn brown,reduce heat and add chilly -coriander paste.When oil separates,add 1&1/2 cup water,kudam puli and salt.Allow it to a boil.Add fish pieces and  fenugreek powder.
• Add more water if required, so as to cover the fish pieces.
• Cover and cook until gravy thickens.
• Switch off the flame and add curry leaves and coconut oil.
• Cover and keep aside for sometime.
• Serve with rice.

Tutti frutti cake

Stage-1:Preparation of caramel syrup

Sugar-1/3cup
Water-1/3cup

• In a small pan heat 1/3 cup of sugar .Keep stirring until the color changes to dark brown.Turnoff heat and add 1/3cup water.Mix well and keep it aside.

Stage-2:Preparation of batter
1.All purpose flour-1&1/4cup
   Baking powder-1tsp
   Cardamom-2
   Cinnamon-1small piece
   Nutmeg-1/4tsp
   Cloves-1
Blend flour with baking powder and spices.Strain through a sieve.Keep aside.
2.Powdered Sugar-3/4cup
   Salt-1/8tsp
   Butter-125gms
3.Egg-2
5.Vanilla essence-1tsp
6.Tutti Frutti-1cup

• Preheat oven to 170 degree C.
• In a mixing bowl beat butter,vanilla extract and sugar until light and fluffy.Beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Add flour to the mixture alternately with caramel syrup .Stir until just blended.Gently fold in the tutti frutti with a spoon.
• Fill mold 3/4 full.Bake until dark brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50-60 minutes.