"FLAWLESS' X'mas / Fruit Cake ( Kerala Style ) From Jes Kitchen ! RECIPE: 331

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FOR EASIER  UNDERSTANDING I DIVIDED THE WHOLE PROCESS OF MAKING  A FLAWLESS X MAS CAKE INTO  5 MAJOR STEPS .

I. PREPARE  THE "SUGAR SYRUP" 

II. "SOAK"  THE  DRY FRUITS 

III . PREPARE THE  "CAKE BATTER"

IV . BAKE THE CAKE 

V. 'PREPARE'   THE  SECOND SYRUP AND "BRUSH" IT ON  THE  CAKE .

I. PREPARE THE "SUGAR SYRUP" 

STEP 1 :-  Combine   sugar( 3/4 cups ) and water ( 1/4 cup ) , and caramelize  it  ( it will 

 take  around 12-13 minutes on medium flame , and its color should be dark brown !!) . Then allow to cool it .

Then  carefully add hot water ( 1/3 cup) , combine well and set aside .

And its consistency should be like this as in the pic below .And set aside .

II. "SOAK" THE  DRY FRUITS 

STEP 2 :- Chop dry fruits   (  total of 3 cups , I  used  raisins  ( golden) , dates  , fig fruits , cranberries  

 candied  ginger ,  candied pineapple , fruit medley,  dried kiwi  slices ) 

 into small pieces as in the pic below  .

and soak them in grape juice ( 100 % juice , 5-8 cups ) , in a glass bottle ,  and refrigerate them  for 24 hours to 30  days .

STEP 3:- Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit . And prepare ( line with parchment paper / butter and dust with flour  )  two, oven proof , 8 inch round pans  and set aside 

III . PREPARE THE "CAKE BATTER"

STEP 4 :- Beat egg white ( whites from 4 eggs  , until it forms soft peaks  ) and set aside .

STEP 5 :- Beat butter  ( one stick, 1/2 cup  ) , oil ( canola , 1/2- 3/4  cups )  and  sugar  ( 2  1/2 cups , brown sugar preferred),   

for 3-5 minutes ( until it becomes 'soft  smooth' ) 

now add egg yolks ( 4 nos ) beat  them again for 2- 4 minutes on high .

Now add step1  sugar syrup , beat  / combine again 

Now add vanilla essence( 2 teaspoons)  , ground cloves  (  3/4 teaspoons )  , nutmeg powder ( 3/4 teaspoons )  ,  cardamom powder( 3/4  teaspoons ) , cinnamon powder( 3/4 teaspoons )  , COMBINE .

 And  add  jam/preserves  (I used  apricot ,  3 table spoons ) and orange marmalade( 4 table spoons ) , 

 orange zest ( 1 teaspoons), honey ( OPTIONAL , 2 tablespoons) ,

 and orange juice (  freshly squeezed , from 1/2 of an orange) , combine and add

salt ( 2 pinches)  . COMBINE WELL.

 Now add all purpose flour ( 3 1/2 cups ) ,

baking powder ( 2 1/4 teaspoons ) , baking soda ( 1 1/4 teaspoons ) ,combine/

 beat them for 3-4 minutes on medium speed .

STEP 6:-  Now add step 2 soaked fruits ( 3 cups )  on a big mixing bowl , 

 COMBINE step 5 batter  and the soaked  fruits 

 combine well ( with a spatula or a spoon DO NOT USE BEATER OR HAND MIXER AT THIS POINT  ) .

Now add the step 3 egg white and fold it well .

STEP 7:- Pour the batter onto the prepared pans  ( two 8 inch pans ) .

IV . BAKE THE CAKE

STEP 8:- Bake for 45- 60 minutes  ( until  a tooth pick comes out clean ,when we insert into the cake ) 

V. 'PREPARE'   THE  SECOND SYRUP AND "BRUSH" IT  ON  THE  CAKE .

STEP 9:- Boil the grape juice ( leftover from ''soaked fruits'' ' if any 'or 3/4 cup fresh ) , jam ( strawberry , 2 table spoons ) 

orange marmalade  ( 2 table spoons ) 

and sugar ( 1/3 cup, brown sugar )  for 3-4 minutes  and 

strain   and set aside .

STEP 10:-   Line a  round plate ( 8 inch - 9 inch ) with aluminium foil ( heavy duty , preferred ) and  the line it with a parchment paper ,  and set aside .  Invert the cake  onto the prepared  plate ,   

and remove its parchment linings ( that we used for baking ) .

STEP 11:- Brush the step 9 special syrup on the cake (  while its still its hot ) . 

STEP 12:- Now cover its sides as in the pic below and allow to cool it . Once its cool,   place some  dried fruit pieces on its top  and cover it and store in refrigerator .

STEP 13:-  "FLAWLESS' X'mas Fruit Cake / 'Plum' Cake From Jes Kitchen  is ready ...... ENJOY............ Happy Christmas ......LOVE and  a blessed NEW year  - J A - Mathew -

Chicken Sukka/ Chukka From Jes Kitchen ! RECIPE: 332

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STEP 1 :- Cut chicken ( 2 lb~ 1 kg ) into small cube  pieces and set aside . 

STEP 2:- Grind  cilantro ( 1/2 cup ) , green chillies  ( 2 nos  ) ,  ginger  (  3 inch piece  )  and garlic  ( 5-6 cloves  ) , into a smooth paste and set aside .

STEP 3 :- Marinate  Step 1 chicken pieces with step 2 paste , salt , turmeric powder ( 1 teaspoon) , chilli powder ( 3/4 teaspoons) , cinnamon powder ( 3/4 teaspoon) , cardamom powder ( 3/4 teaspoon) , cumin powder ( 3/4 teaspoon)  ,  fennel powder ( 3/4 teaspoon )   coriander powder ( 2  teaspoons ) and   clove powder ( 3/4 teaspoon)  . COMBINE WELL and  refrigerate for 20 minutes to 1 hour.

STEP 4 :- Heat a wok and add  oil ( coconut oil , 2 tablespoons) , and splutter 

cumin seeds ( 1 teaspoon) , dried red chillies ( 4-5 nos)  and mustard seeds ( 1 teaspoon) .

 Now add onion ( 3/4 of a big one OR 2 medium sized ones ) , saute until the onion becomes soft and transparent and changes its color . 

Now add tomato puree or tomato ( tomato puree- 3 table spoons OR tomato  - 2 medium sized , chopped ) , saute for 3- 4 minutes , 

 Now add  STEP 3 chicken , 

 saute for 3-4 minutes , ( until the raw smell of ginger and garlic goes  ) , 

 and add curry leaves ( 3-4 twigs ) , combine and  close the wok with a lid and cook for 30 minutes on medium flame . DO NOT ADD WATER . 

 Now add coriander leaves ( 1/2 cup ) , cook for another 4-5 minutes , until the gravy becomes thick .

 

STEP 5 :-  Chicken Sukka/ Chukka From Jes Kitchen is ready .......: -) Enjoy with basmati rice / chapthi/ fulkas/ tortillas .....  .... Enjoy :) J A  Mathew .