One thing I just Luv to do :)

About 5 years back, Vinni, maddy, shreyu , sham, deepu, ashi and kuku had been to Sunny's house for the pastry preparation demo from his mom. I missed it as I had to attend my practical exam :( From then, Vinni and shreyu started off preparing pastries and experimenting on us.. lolll!!! I was least interested to learn the procedure.. I would just enjoy the pastries what they made. Maximum I would do was just help them with small small things.. I was never used to even entering the kitchen.

One fine day, I finally made up my mind to try it out all by myself. I'd watched these guys prepare pastry quite a couple of times. I called up Vinni and confirmed the procedure. And I finally started off to prepare my first pastry, the day before my brother's b'day. Wanted to give him a surprise. Believe me it needs hell lot of patience to do it all by yourself!!!I had a tough time that day!!! My first black forest pastry took me about 6 hours.. ufff.. !!! It was not bad at all.. :) It gave me little confidence and from then, not only pastries but i started cooking every dish possible.. !!! It was quite hard to believe myself.. And preparing pastry kind of became my hobby and it was soooooo much in demand that few of my frnz were suggesting me not to look for a technical job after engineering but start a small home-made pastry shop.. hehheee..

One sad thing is that, its been about 10 months since i prepared a pastry. And I really curse my professional life for this :( Cuz pastry takes almost half my day and on weekends, I'm so busy with family and friends that I'm not finding time for it. Have to do something about it.


These are very few of the pastries I've made :) and Vinni will kill me if i don't mention - "The pastry which was made for sham had Vinni's efforts more than mine" .. loll... !!!

Preparing pastry is quite simple.. But needs hell lot of patience :)

PASTRY RECEIPE:

Ingredients:

7eggs,

500g powdered sugar,

160g maida flour,

Vanilla essence,

Strawberry essence for strawberry pastry/pineapple essence for pineapple pastry/chocolate essence for chocolate pastry,

Strawberry fruit for strawberry pastry/pineapple fruit for pineapple pastry/40g cocoa powder and 40g drinking chocolate for chocolate pastry

2 packets fresh cream

How to prepare:

1. Break 7 eggs into a big vessel (atleast 4 liters capacity) without separating white and the yolk.

2. Add one spoon of vanilla essence and one spoon of Strawberry essence for strawberry pastry/pineapple essence for pineapple pastry/chocolate essence for chocolate pastry.

3. Add 250g of finely powdered sugar.

4. Beat the above mixture using an electric beater for 30-40 mins, until the mixture becomes thick (manual beater takes more than 2 hrs!). Keep the mixture covered.

5. Take 160g sieved maida flour in a bowl. [For chocolate/black forest pastry, add 160g of sieved maida + 40g cocoa powder+ 40g drinking chocolate]. Add maida mixture (ONE spoon at a time) to the beaten egg mixture and mix it really well in ONE DIRECTION ONLY, without forming lumps. (This requires lotttt of patience and it takes atleast an hour!)

6. Grease 10liters pressure cooker with 2 spoons of ghee and sprinkle maida flour. Make sure maida is spread properly, otherwise it will be difficult to take out the cake from cooker.

[If using microwave, grease a vessel with ghee and maida. Make sure the vessel has atleast 15cm radius and 20-25cm height]

7. Pour the mixture into the cooker. Cover the cooker with a plate (DO NOT USE cooker lid) and simmer it for 30 mins (until the edges of the cake leave the cooker sides).

[If using microwave, bake the cake for 10 mins]

8. Leave the cooker/ vessel to cool down.

9. Meanwhile boil finely chopped strawberry pieces for strawberry pastry/pineapple pieces for pineapple pastry, in 200g of water. Add 10 spoons of sugar and boil for 5 mins.[For chocolate pastry, just boil the sugar water]. Separate the fruit and water. Allow both to cool and keep it in fridge.

10. Take the fresh cream in a vessel and add 10 spoons of sugar powder. Beat in all direction for 10 mins, UNTIL IT IS SLIGHTLY THICK. [TAKE CARE WHILE BEATING AS THE CREAM MAY TURN BUTTER IF YOU BEAT IT TOO MUCH!]

11. Take out the cake from the cooker/vessel using a knife, slowly.

12. Cut the cake horizontally into two halves using a knife.And keep them seperate

13. For the lower half, sprinkle 150g of water(which was kept in the fridge)

14. Spread the cream evenly and sprinkle the fruits /chocolate pieces for chocolate pastry on it.

15. Place the upper half of cake on this.Sprinkle the remaining water on this.

16. Spread the cream evenly on top and on sides.

17. Decorate with cherries/chocolates/fruits/dry fruits. Anything can be written on the pastry with chocolate sauce.