Break due to Heavy Workload!!!

I will not be able to post any of my recipes and bore you guys till April 2011 due to extensively heavy workload... I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause... :(

-Az

Picture Credits: Google Image Search on "Heavy workload".

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Chocolate Cake

Hello Friends,

In my first post for the Year 2011, I had promised to give you all a recipe for chocolate cake. Before I go on with the recipe, I would like to tell you that this is my second cake that I have baked which came out really good! This is really motivating!! My first cake was Carrot Cake that I made for my niece's first birthday.

So, we were invited over for dinner on Christmas day by a really good friend of mine. Given that it was a long weekend and all, I had decided to clean up my room (much overdue). Less did I knew that it would take up six hours of my entire day!! We were suppose to leave around 5:30, and with all the cleaning, I didn't even realized the time till my mom yelled and said that it was 4:00 already and when was I planning to bake the cake. Well you see I still had enough time to bake it but before that I had to take a shower and we were going to a Desi Party, so I had doll myself up!! :)..

Anyways, I rushed with the shower (very unlikely of me) and started baking. I got dressed while the cake was cooling down and then when everyone was getting ready to leave, I started decorating the cake. By the time we left it was 6:15 or so... Well Indian Time IS Standard Time anyways :)

I told my dear Hubby to take some pictures so that I can post it on the blog and he did so from his phone, as a result not so great picture in quality.

Ingredients:

For Cake:

1. One and a half cup all purpose flour
2. Two cups sugar
3. Six tblsp Hershey's Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
4. Two eggs
5. One cup milk
6. Two tblsp oil
7. One tsp vanilla extract
8. One tblsp baking soda
9. Half tblsp baking powder
10. Salt - half tsp
11. Butter and flour for greasing the pan.

For frosting/decoration

1. 16 oz Cool Whip
2. Sugar - half cup or per taste (Cool Whip may be sweet enough for you)
3. Shredded chocolate
4. Cherries for decoration.

Process:

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. In a big bowl mix together flour, cocoa powder, and salt
3. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, milk, and sugar.
4. Mix well till sugar dissolves.
5. Combine the liquid mixture to the flour mixer in #1.
6. Add baking powder, baking soda, oil, and vanilla extract.
7. Mix well.
8. Grease the baking pan with flour and butter.
9. Pour the mixture in the pan.
10. Bake for about 45 mins. Insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean then its done.
11. Let it cool completely.

For Frosting:

1. Mix together cool whip and sugar.
2. Spread it evenly on the cake with a spatula.
3. Decorate with shaved chocolate and cherries.

ENJOY!!!

PS: Recently we have had a BIG SNOW STORM and my younger brother JK ended up taking some really nice pictures. I thought of sharing it with you all!! The snow was mesmerizing when it was falling but after that it was a nightmare and unfortunately it still is.

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Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to all of my bloggers and non-bloggers friends!!

It has been an eventful year for me - personally and professionally. I was able to work on some of my resolutions but not all. I was able to blog a little bit better in 2010 compared to 2009.

2011 will be a very busy year for me!! I will be completing my 30 credits this year so I can get CPA certified in MA (inshaAllah). I am planning to buy a condo (inshaAllah). I am planning to start a family (inshaAllah). My hubby will become citizen (inshaAllah). We will put in a file for my in-laws this year (inshaAllah). Uff... so much to do... too little time... coming back to my own self - I need to get into a regular exercise mode soon... with me being a moderate blogger but a successful cook at home. I have been cooking a lot and stuffing myself up and am literally out of shape.. :(.. I also need to get into a mode of regularly updating my blog space!

I haven't really achieve much in blogging world in the past year but I have met (virtually) some great bloggers out there! Some very talented ladies who dedicate so much of their time to their families even though they are twice much busier than I am. I also got some great followers who appreciate my work and I appreciate them for encouraging me and commenting and advising on my recipes. I wouldn't have been able to update this blog and make it so much better without your help!! I appreciate every single comment and I Thank You for your time!!

I wish that 2011 brings peace to everyone lives; 2011 brings joy to everyone lives;

2011 removes sorrow from everyone lives; and last but not least - 2011 brings healthiness to everyone lives!!!

Happy New Year My Friends!! Here is a chocolate cake for you (recipe coming soon)!!!

ENJOY!!!

PS: Sorry for not so great picture. I had to use my phone - I will write the detail story with the recipe in my next post. :)

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