I think Dron is going to have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas  is the most important time of the year 

when it comes to kids  presents. Parents, Grand

 parents, friends and relatives must think of the 

best childrens Christmas gift ideas for to please the 

receivers. There are several routes that one can 

take -


when thinking of kids gift ideas. One could 

choose creative gift ideas children or commercial

 gift ideas for children. The route one decides to go 

will depend on the recipient and his or her

 personality.

 The following are ideas for presents for children that will bring a smile

on Toddler boys are easy to please. They like colorful things that can move 

fast. Therefore, trains, cars and trucks make the very best toddlers  

gifts Xmas for boys. Additionally, toddler boys enjoy building blocks, as they 

like to create things with their hands.

A great idea for a gift for a toddler girl is a doll set or a  cooking set. 

 The sets can help little girls develop their sense of beauty 

and Toddler boys and girls both could benefit from

 Computerized learning games and flash cards as they can begin 

preparing themselves for school.In addition to his gifts ,I will do small 

stocking like I used to do for my daughters with a red lored balloons ,so

I am thinking of getting some red colored balloons to tie on my

grandson's high chair to make 

Christmas morning a little extra special.My grandson love cars and 

pretty pages,the alphabets puzzle and crayons are going to be not only 

fun for him,but educational so he can keep working on his alphabet and 

growing that little creative side.

I think Dron is going to have a very Merry Christmas!!

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAKE

   INGREDIENTS

        250 gms  flour

        5 eggs

       1/2 cup milk (optional)

       1 small cup brandy

         375 gms unsalted butter

       325 gms brown sugar

       4tbs treacle obtained by browning sugar

      2tsp baking powder

       ½ tsp cinnamon powder

     ½ ginger powder or fresh ginger finely grounded

       ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

     ½ tsp salt

     Rind of 1 orange and lemon

     375 gms of dried mixed fruits

METHOD

   Sieve the flour thrice with the baking powder  

     Cream the butter till it become very fluffy and light

    Mix the brown sugar with grated rind of orange, lemon, ginger, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder and salt

     Add the egg one by one with some of the sieved flour

   Beat well when the egg is added

   Add the browned sugar liquid  (take 5tsp of sugar. Fry it into a dark brown and little water. Add to the cake mix. Allow to cool)  

     Beat well with wooden spoon in one direction only

     While beating add the brandy

     The batter should be at the dripping consistency (if necessary add the milk or water at room temperature)

    Bake for 30-35 minutes

TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE PREPARE ALMOND PASTE ICING

INGREDIENTS

·     ¼ cup icing sugar

·     1tbs brandy

·     1 tsp vanilla essence

·     2 tsp lemon juice

·     1 Egg White

·     150 gms blanched and powdered almonds

METHOD

    Mix almond paste, castor sugar, lemon juice and brandy.

    Take an egg white, make a smooth paste and mix with all the ingredients

     Spread the paste in the middle of the cake in a circular design and keep the cake in the oven for 8-10 minutes

CARROT & DATE CAKE IN WHOLE MEAL FLOUR

INGREDIENTS

·     ¼ kg carrot (grated)

·     ¼ kg dates (grated)

·     1 ½ cup sugar

·     3 eggs

·     2 cups whole meal flour

·     1 ½ cup refined oil

·     1tsp vanilla essence

·     1tsp cinnamon powder

·     ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

·     1 ½  tsp soda bicarbonate

METHOD

·     Mix sugar and oil

·     Beat eggs

·     Mix all the other ingredients fold it in a egg mix

·     Bake it in a hot oven for nearly 30 to minutes.

MAWA CUP CAKE

INGREDIENTS

·     ½ cup mawa

·     1 cup all purpose flour

·     1/3 cup milk

·     ¼ cup  butter

·     1 cup sugar

·     3 eggs

·     ½ tsp baking powder

·     ½ tsp nutmeg

·     15 butter paper cups

METHOD

·     Mix mawa, milk & nutmeg. Soak for ½ hour

·     Sift flour and baking powder twice

·     Beat cream, butter and sugar, till it becomes light and fluffy

·     Beat the eggs

·     Mix flour and egg slowly

·     Pour in a butter paper cups and bake for 5-6 minutes

EGGLESS  CAKE

INGREDIENTS

·     2 ½ cup maida

·     1 cup sugar

·     2 cups butter

·     1 cup dates

·     ½ cup nuts

·     ¾ cup curds

·     1 cup milk

·     1 tsp vanila essence

·     ¾ tsp soda bicarbonate

·     ½ tsp salt

METHOD

·     Beat butter and add milk, sugar and rest of the ingredients combined with flour

·     Bake for 30 minutes

THINGS TO REMEMBER

        Always have a correct proportion

     For fluffier cakes, beat the butter & sugar more

      If the batter is too thick, add milk

     For richer cakes, add candid fruits/ peel sprinkled with flour

      Hotter the oven richer the cake is, bake small cake in the top of the oven or hottest part but use the large cake in the middle of the oven

      Keep the utensils & ingredients ready before you start the preparation

      Line the tins carefully

      Prepare oven to the correct temperature

      Do not melt fat (butter, ghee etc), beat it.

     Make sure you obtain proper consistency

11  Do not open oven unnecessarily

12  Allow cake to cool on a rack, where there is circulation of air. This will help in the cake to come out of the tin easily  

A traditional rich Goan dessert, Bebinca

Bebinca is a must have at any celebration be it a birth, wedding, Christmas or Easter! Making Bebinca requires patience - a layer can only be added when the one below it is cooked - but the end result is well worth the effort. Traditional Bebinca has 16 layers, but you can make as many as you like.

Ingredients:

·         250 gms plain flour

·         700 ml coconut milk

·         2 cups sugar

·         2 dozen egg yolks

·         1 1/2 cups ghee (clarified butter)

·         Almond slivers to garnish

Preparation:

·         Mix the coconut milk and sugar together and stir till the sugar is completely dissolved.

·         In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks till creamy.

·         Add the coconut milk and mix well.

·         Add all the flour to this, a little at a time, making sure that no lumps are left.

·         Pre-heat your grill.

·         Put a tablespoonful of ghee in a baking pan (any shape) at least 6" deep. Put this pan under the grill till the ghee melts.

·         Take it out from under the grill and pour some of the prepared batter into it to form a 1/4" thick layer. Put back under the grill and cook till the top is golden. Monitor frequently.

·         Remove from under the grill and immediately add another tablespoonful of ghee on the previous layer. It will melt.

·         Now pour another layer of batter of the same thickness as the previous one. Cook under the grill till golden.

·         Keep repeating the layering process till all the batter is used up.

·         The last layer must be ghee. When it is done, turn the Bebinca over on a flat dish and garnish with almond slivers.

·         Cut into slices and serve warm or cool.

Merry Christmas!