Mocha cupcakes with espresso buttercream frosting -

Ingredients -

A :

1. All purpose flour - 1 1/3rd Cup

2. Coco powder - 1/3rd Cup

3. Baking powder - 1 T-spoon

4. Baking soda - 1/2 T-spoon

B:

1.  Milk - 1/2 Cup

Strong coffee - 1/2 Cup

Vanilla - 1 T-spoon

C:

Butter, soft - 100 grams

Caster sugar - 1/2 Cup

Light brown sugar - 1/2 Cup

Egg - 1 Large

Frosting -

Butter, soft - 250 grams

Icing sugar - 250 grams

Vanilla essence - 1 1/2 T-spoon

Instant coffee powder - 1 1/2 T-spoon

Procedure -

1. Mix all ingredients written under 'A'

2. Mix all ingredients written under 'B'

3. Beat butter and both the sugars together on medium speed for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add egg and beat well.

4. Add ingredients under A and B alternately to the mixture C.

5. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 170 degree C and cool.

6. For frosting beat the butter for 5 minutes.

7. Add icing sugar and beat till mixted.

8. Add coffee vanilla mixture and beat till light and fluffy for 5 minutes.

Tiramisu cupcakes with coffee mascarpone frosting –

Here is one lovely cupcake recipe for new year's eve. Try this out.

Ingredients –

1. Self raising flour – 1 ½ cup

2. Eggs – 3

3. Butter, soft – 125 grams

4. Caster sugar – 2/3^rd cup

5. Vanilla essence – 1 T-spoon

Syrup –

1. strong coffee – ½ cup

2. caster sugar – 1/3^rd cup

3. Coffee liqueur – 1-2 Tb-spoons (optional)

Frosting –

1. Mascarpone cheese, cool (not cold and not room temperature)

2. Whipping cream – 1 Cup (This will give you 2 cups whipped cream)

3. Icing sugar – ½ cup

4. Extra strong coffee – 1 Tb-spoon

Procedure –

1. Preheat oven to 180 degree C.

2. Beat self raising flour, eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla essence together on medium

speed for 3 minutes.

3. Bake for 20 minutes or until cup cakes become golden brown.

4. Take the cakes out and poke a few holes on the top of each cake.

5. Mix all the ingredients for the syrup.

6. Brush the cupcakes with syrup and let them cool down completely.

7. Beat whipping cream till stiff peaks form.

8. In another bowl beat the mascarpone till fluffy. (Don’t overbeat)

9. Add sugar and beat for a minute.

10. Add coffee and beat till mixed.

11. Fold in the whipped cream. Pipe on cupcakes and dust with instant coffee.

Red chillies chutney/ Thecha–

 Now winter is here and I just love to eat hot and spicy during this season. So also the season is of fresh hot red chillies. Have this spicy chutney/Thecha (in Marathi) when temperatures are low, I bet you will enjoy the fire of red chillies.

Ingredients -

Fresh red chillies – 1 bowl (approximately 12-15 fresh red chillies)

Garlic pods – ½ bowl

Lime/lemon juice – 2 tb-spoons

Oil – 2 tb-spoons

Mustard seeds – ½ T-spoon

Asafoetida – 1/4^th T-spoon

Salt to taste

Procedure –

1.  Take off the stems of chillies.

2.  Add in a mixer grinder red chillies, garlic, lemon/lime juice  and salt.

3.  Take out the pulp in a glass bowl.

4. Heat oil in a small skillet.  Add mustard seeds and asafoetida and turn off the stove.

5. Add seasoning to paste and mix well.

6. Adjust salt and serve with roti, jowar bhakri or white bread.

Note :

You can add curd if you feel this chutney is too hot and can serve as an Indian dip with fries or stir fried vegetables or even for Idli or dosas.