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Archive for July, 2015

Easy Mexican Chocolate Cake Recipe

July 18th, 2015

Who doesn’t love cakes? Almost everyone drools over the delicious looking cakes in the bakery. But few of us know they are easy to make at home. You can also get it delivered at your doorstep. Cake delivery in UK and many other parts of the world is now easily done.

Let’s together make an easy and delicious cake. Here is the recipe, it will serve six and takes time of 120 minutes to get ready including preparation time. The recipe is called Mexican Chocolate Cake.

For cake:

  • All-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
  • Sugar 1 cup
  • Unsweetened cocoa 1/2 cup
  • Cinnamon powder 1 teaspoon
  • Baking soda 1 teaspoon
  • Ground Mexican chili powder or cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon
  • Salt 1/4 teaspoon
  • Cold water 1 cup
  • Canola oil 1 cup
  • Vinegar 1 tablespoon
  • Vanilla extract 1 tablespoon

For Glaze:

  • Confectioner sugar 1 cup
  • Cocoa 1/2 cup
  • Water 6 tablespoons
  • Small strawberries 6-10

Dust the baking pan with vegetable oil and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sieve flour, cocoa, soda, cinnamon powder, salt together in a mixing bowl. Add to it sugar, cayenne pepper, canola oil, vinegar and vanilla extract. Slowly add the water and mix well until it is smooth. Pour the batter in the baking pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Insert a toothpick, and if it comes out clean, your cake is done. Let it cool for some 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze for the cake. Mix cocoa, sugar and water, beat until smooth. Dip strawberries in the glaze and put the rest over the cake. Set the glazed strawberries on the top and your cake is ready. It carries 450 calories, 35 mg of calcium, 87 grams carbohydrates, no cholesterol, 12 grams of fat, 6 grams of fibre, 4 mg Iron, 6 mg protein, 2 grams of saturated fat and 312 mg sodium.

Instead of glazing, you can also do the icing on cake. Here is the recipe of basic vanilla icing.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of Confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 tablespoon of butter or margarine
  • 2 tablespoon of milk
  • 1/2 tsp of vanilla

You can either buy the confectioner’s sugar or make it at home. Grind 1 cup sugar to fine powder with 1 1/4 tablespoon of corn flour or cornstarch or similar anti-caking agent. This is to prevent it from lumping. Your confectioner’s sugar is ready for use.

Mix the ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Make a cone of plastic or you can buy the ready-made icing cone. Fill the mixture in the cone and keep it refrigerated for some time. Cut a hole of desired size and make any design over your cake. Let the cake refrigerate so that the icing doesn’t melt.

You can do the variations in the icing recipe. Similarly, you can make the cream icing, cream and cheese icing, orange or lemon frosting, etc. For chocolate icing, melt chocolate in a little milk and butter and then gradually beat in the sugar.

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Explore the myriad purple Flowers

July 15th, 2015

Flowers are one natural gift which can bring an instantaneous smile on one’s face. Its vibrant hues and amazing design textures seem to be the perfect handcraft by the hands of God. Flowers find their ways in almost practically everything. You can adorn them in your garden or gift them to bring a smile on patients. Assorted flowers can be mixed and matched to make a bouquet that be gifted on the occasion of marriage and birthday ceremonies. One can either gift flowers in person or send cheap flowers by post in UK. Whatever, may be the case, flowers surely create an aura of feel good with the unique charm.

The colours of the flowers have a different kind of appeal. While reds and yellows are the usual picks, a colour that is strikingly attractive is the purple colour. This hue gives a tinge, which is envisaging and enticing to the core. Purple comes in myriad variation of shades of which many are named after the names of the flowers such as lilac and lavender. Shades of indigo, fuchsia and mauves are also quite unique levying a surreal appeal.

While choices are umpteen here are some of the purple flowers which are a great pick:

  • Tulips– With a bulb kind of structure, tulips are one unique flower. With the lighter shades of lavender, the tulips look even more beautiful. The bulbs are its main attraction vouching for a mesmerizing appeal.
  • Hyacinth– A very different appeal is granted with the deep coloured hyacinth that are known for its elegant shape and culture. Clubbing together a number of hyacinths gives a glamorous look aptly describing the beauty of nature
  • Blackberry Bells– Available in the subtle shades of violet, blackberry bells spell out a beautiful creation with the rods nicely emerging from the bulbs that flatter the petals in a swaying motion. They are ideal pieces for decoration under the breeze.
  • Cyanaracardunculus Plant– A perfect blend of cactus species and thin flowery strands is levied by the Cyaracardunculus plant. The thorn like base is crowned with streaks of purple flowers that spring out in the form of thin strands. The view is simply breathtaking.
  • Crocus Jumbo Bulbs– A bulb like flower with the mouth open to showcase the interior can be very well known as the Crocus Jumbo Bulbs. Dipped in regal purple, the flowers look marvellous. The interiors spin out dash of autumn shades which are a feast for the eyes.
  • Blackberry wine– Inspired by the shape of Blackberry, this tubular shaped flower covered in dusky and shaded purple, is simply amazing. The tubular structures are the reason behind its long and appeasing appeal which can be nicely constituted as part of the bouquet.
  • Lavender– Oozing an entirely different shade of purple, Lavender stands as a unique flower with the combination of petals and bulbs splurging out for the perfect appeal. Undoubtedly, it is considered as plant of the year

With these amazing purple flowers, one is sure to fall in love with them.

 

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Explore myriad types of yellow flowers!

July 15th, 2015

Flowers are the beautiful gift from God dotting the globe with its natural beauty. Flowers are special in so many ways. They give vibrant hues to the greenery against the green backdrop and bring an instant smile on anyone’s face. Flowers form a part of the gifts and bouquets are thought to be an ideal item in anyone list of presents. Amongst all kinds of flowers, yellow ones hold a special significance owing to the bright yellow aura that they exhibit. All the more yellow flowers stand as a symbol of friendship and hence are considered to be universal gifting flower option. In the present scenario, there is plethora of options of sending  online flowers in UK thanks to the umpteen online portals that process request for a particular colour of flower delivery.

If yellow is your colour, there are diverse types of yellow flowers, which are available offering myriad choices to choose from. Here is a list of some of them:

  • Aquilegia Plant– Also known as yellow star, this plant looks really unique in form. With a combination of bud forming and fully bloomed petals, the entire ensemble looks simply amazing. The centre of the plant has thin files of strands that conspicuously add glamour to the entire set up. If you want a unique yellow flower, this can be your pick.
  • Corydalis Plant– Canary like feather forming plant, Corydalis looks stunning occurring in a clamp form. The flower has a different kind of petals, which portray a bell like form with curvaceous structure. Teamed up with leafy greens, it forms the apt option for a bouquet.
  • Calendula Plant– Resembling the porcupine like structure, the Calendula looks amazing in its yellowish orange tinge. Thin petals flare out to create a bundle that is a feast for the eyes. It can be gifted along with other flowers or a single one can be presented. This can also be planted in gardens for a surreal appeal
  • Crocus Bulbs– With the vertical petals conglomerating to form a flower that is dipped in dash of vibrant colours, to ooze out a breeze of natural aura. These require very less maintenance and are available during the early spring season. The best ones are those that have yellow petals with a thin red hue marking the border.
  • Daffodil– Daffodil flowers are one of a kind with the lighter shade yellow petals encompassing a heavy shade interior to get an appeal that is marvellous. Daffodils are usually available in the month of January and they are best known for their haunting smell which entices one and all
  • Alyssum Montanum– A clustered form with tiny petals and buds which look best when a bunch of them are struck together is the Alyssum Montanum. It forms a kind of foliage, with the striking yellow colour, enhancing the green leaves to exemplify nature’s beauty

These are some of the amazing yellow flowers which can be gifted, planted or just looked at for their serene beauty. Bright sunshine yellow creates a dazzling effect which is surely remarkable, so go and get your yellow flower today!

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Collection of exotic fruits worth tasting

July 15th, 2015

A popular trend of today is to gift hampers and baskets that contain assorted items. Such gifts give the flexibility of packaging myriad kinds of items satiating one’s appetite. One such popular item is fruits baskets. Pronouncing a healthy gifting option, fruit baskets are quickly catching up in the gifting world. One can add in simple ordinary fruits with exotic range that have a different tinge, getup and taste, exciting the very taste buds. Exotic fruits are unique in appeal and add an extra charm to the fruit basket. While one can add in the usual apples, oranges and banana, here is a list of some exotic fruits, which are sure to allure the minds of the receivers.

  • Prickly Pears– Commonly known as cactus pears, this exotic fruit comes in myriad and vibrant hues which is the basic attraction. The pulpy fruit has golden tinge which has a bit of tangy taste. Rich in magnesium, prickly pears can be had with their skin removed to enjoy the pulp and the crunchy seeds. This surely will add to bring in a dash of colors to the fruit basket
  • Longans– If you love lychee, this will be one of your favorites. Long-ans- the brown to reddish skin fruit comes with a translucent skin and a black single seed inside covered in sweetish pulp. Has a different kind of taste, but well that’s what makes it exotic in the first place.
  • Star Fruit– Enunciating a wow shape, star fruits are one of the best items of assortment. Their glossy skin, appeasing taste and crunchy texture seem a feast for the eyes and golden for the taste buds. They are highly rich in Vitamin C and dietary fibres. So apart from the look, star fruits are also power packed with nutritional value. Apart from the seeds, the entire fruit can be had and it truly forms of the best exotic fruits.
  • Kumquats– Resembling small sized oranges, kumquats is an exotic fruit, which is a good source of Vitamin C. Having a single serve of kumquats, can be really useful since it helps to fight infections, and its antioxidant properties keep the skin pure while fighting for germs. This unique exotic fruit can be had along with the skin.
  • Physalis– A typical lantern type of shape can be seen with this exotic fruit that comes in shades of yellow and green. It tastes somewhat like a tomato with a tangy sour flavor. It can definitely enhance the look of your fruit basket by addition of one or two of them.
  • Jabuticaba– This exotic fruit has a different tinge of purple which all it takes to make it look stunning. The fruits can be seen lined in the branch of the trees, covered with wart like symbols. Though it looks similar to that of plum, there is a huge variation in terms of taste
  • African Horned Cucumber– Native to Africa, this beautiful fruit has a prickly yellow exterior and a green interior resembling that of cucumber. Rich in fiber and vitamin C and great in appeal, this is one unique exotic fruit

So, add some of these exotic fruit collection and make your fruit basket a unique one.

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Gift Ideas for Friendship Day

July 15th, 2015

Friendship Day is just around the corner. Although a strong bond of friendship doesn’t require gifts to prove its strength, it is always sweet to surprise your loved ones with a present. The gift need not be very precious or costly, but it should exude the warmth, love and care that you feel for your beloved friend. Just in case you are breaking your head over what to gift your friend this Friendship Day, here are some low budget ideas to help you out. Always remember, your love should be costlier than the price tag on the gift!

1) Melt your friends heart with Chocolates– Chocolates are favorite of almost everyone, and we all have that one chocoholic friend. You could make a hamper of an assortment of your friend’s favorite chocolates to plaster a smile on his/her face. To make it look beautiful, you could make a basket carrying your friend’s most liked chocolates, candies and cookies and decorate the basket with their favourite flowers.

2) Strengthen the knot of your friendship with Friendship Bands– The most common of all gifts is the friendship band, available in all colors and shapes much ahead of friendship day. If you think that the conventional bands are too common for your unique friend, you could opt for friendship bracelets available in beautiful designs for both genders. Share the token of love.

3) Touch your friend’s heart with flowers– Flowers are the best carriers of love and emotions and hence make for a perfect gift for your friend. Choose your friend’s favorite flowers, make a bouquet and attach a hand written note of friendship with it. In case, you are not aware of your friend’s choice of flowers, you can settle for yellow roses which are globally recognized as Friendship Day flowers.

4) Make memories with photo frames and albums– Place a picture of you two on a customized photo frame or gift an entire album of photos of you two. Pictures speak a thousand words!

5) Spread a smile with soft toys– The cutest of all gifts are soft toys. We would advise you do not gift your male friend a soft toy as it is mostly girls who decorate their rooms with these. A large teddy is heartily welcomed by all girls, all ages!

6) Go in for show pieces– Show pieces are very popular friendship day gifts available in infinite variety to choose from. Depending upon your budget and choice, you could choose from wood, paper mach, glass, metal or crystal show pieces.

7) Relive the good old days with a CD– This is the cheapest yet the most beautiful of all the gifts. Transfer all those pictures and videos from childhood, school or college days into the CD along with a background music of your friend’s favorite track. You could also add a video of yourself expressing love for your friend. Also, you may purchase your friend’s favorite game online and transfer it to the CD.

And now if you are worried about the means to send across the gift, hamper delivery is always at your service. So this Friendship Day, make it special and large for your BFF!

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