Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate cake for the June babies


Some of my most favourite people are celebrating their birthdays in June. First of all comes my grandma - She is a go getter, loved to travel, daring and very cool kinda person. Next comes my big Sis, my best friend and the other half of this blog. Well the "About Us" section describes us the best. Then comes my dear husband. We both have often thought that we are just so "perfectly" made for each other. Last but not the least my dear dad. Well he is the rock of the family and phew....no one can win an argument with him!!!
This was my first attempt at icing a cake so I was lil sceptical as to how it would turn out, but I wanted to make something special for these special people in my life. So for all you june babies I've baked this "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake from Hersheys.

Here's the recipe:
HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING(recipe follows)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING.
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
---I also added some Nutties on the top for some special effects ;) ;).


So all of you...dig in!!!

Gita

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Indian Folk Art - Warli

Warli art is a simple folk painting of the Warli tribe which depicts everyday village life, social events, marriages and unlike madhubani do not depict images if dieties or any stories from Hindu mythology.

I personally believe the Warli tribe was a set of very happy people as most of the paintings were themed on weddings, celebrations , harvest and simple household activities. There was no war, greed or bloodshed. I guess these are the blessings of a simple life.
Originally they were done on the walls of the houses in the villages of Western India. Nowadays the art form has evolved and it can be seen on cermaic, mud pots, canvas, glass and fabric.

A lot of online information can be found on Warli art, I found this quite a simple and useful site for anybody wanting to get some basic information on Warli art and also helps if you want to do your own first Warli painting.


Well I did mine too, on fabric. A beige silk yoke piece with dancing warli women in black.






and here's a sneak peek into some of the other yokes I'm doing....






So hope you had some warli fun.

cheers,

gita