Doll Cake

I made this cake for a friends one year old's birthday. I had made a doll cake before, so I had the basic idea of how the cake needs to be done, but wanted this to be one of my best works, so put in the extra work of making the dress. As usual. I used the starburst candy to make the halter dress, but the dress stuck to the doll and it looked like a glam doll, so made the stole with the handmade rose broach. Now my doll was more fit for a one year's birthday.

For the crowd I use the boxed cake mix, as it never fails and cuts the work in half. I added mango puree instead of water to add in the Mango Flavor. The icing is whipped cream pudding icing.

** Whipped Cream icing can be made by using simply Heavy Whipping Cream and Conf Sugar,, The Rec is as

Follows..

One Cup heavy Whipping Cream

Half Cup Conf Sugar

**One packet Instant pudding mix. OR

IF desired One Packet Unflavored Gelatin dissolved in water.

Take a bigger bowl and keep some ice cubes in that.. Over the cubes place anr bowl. Take one cup cream and add sugar and Pudding mix( if needed )... and beat with electric mixer for about 5-7 mins on medium till soft peaks are on the blade. The icing is ready.

Pictoral is as follows;

I had no clue of making any hairstyles, I guess having short hair has made me incompetent of making any hairstyles, and having 2 boys does no help in this department, yet I tried and it looked okay.

The skirt was the most that made me happy. I wanted to perfect the rosettes and it was on my mind long enough to put them on the cake, and my friend gave me the opportunity. She gave me absolutely no conditions or terms of how she wanted the cake to be, all she said was make a doll cake as and like your wish. I am very thankful to her for this opportunity, and would love making cakes for her doll as many times as I can.

One last look at the doll. I apologize for the final picture. But it was only in the evening that I was able to take the picture of the doll cake all assembled and ready to shine at the party. Hope you all also appreciate my efforts.

Whole Wheat Chutney Pizza

Who does not love Pizza. It has become the universal food, you can go to any corner of the earth and you will find Pizza. The toppings and seasonings are widely changed and localized, but some form of pizzjhaa( Yes that's what we called when we were young and relatively new to pizza) is always found. Pizza was introduced to the Indian counterparts somewhere in the 1987-1990. Believe it or not there were no Pizza-huts or domino's churning out the pizzas but local restaurants mostly south Indian Udipi owned were making them in their unique style. Monginis bakers were the local bakeries in Mumbai, where we all went to when we had birthdays and got our cake, sometimes if we got lucky a puff pattice to satisfy the bottomless pit we called tummy. Monginis always had the pizza bases and they sold it in packs of 4. Perfect for pan size pizzas, only if we had the know how... The local udipi guy always knew hoe to make the pizza we had..so we just went in and ordered the fix.. the sauce was regular ketchup, and he would have beat us if we dared says pizza had different sauce. he slathered the ketchup on the base, had cut discs of capsicum, tomato and onions and the good old Amul cheese grated and baked till cheese melts. My mom tried the same version many a times, somehow the outside pizza by that udipi chef was always cherished in our little minds.

The way he makes the pizzajah is same till recently, when I went to Mumbai and my mom promised my kids the pizzajah their mom loved. TO her horror my kids refused to call it a pizza, then even refused that it belonged to any pizza family. Finally, she gave in and took them to the nearest Dominos and treated them to  a cheese pizza the one they are familiar with. She even remarked that she got lucky with us as we ate the good old pizzajah that cost her Rs, 60 instead of the Domino pizza she spend double the amount on. 

We now have regular pizza parties at home in US. MY son and his friends who love their pizza enjoy making their own pizzas and eating them. At times their mom say they eat the veggies that they do not at their homes, just coz it's on the pizza they made themselves. My Indian twist to the regular American pizza is spreading my green chutney on it. The chutney gives a different twist and tang to the whole pizza and it does taste superb.

For the dough,

Prep Time; 10 mins to mix the dough

2-3 hours for the dough to rise

10-12 mins for first bake 

Makes 2 Thin crust Pan pizzas and 1 Thin crust medium  pizza.

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup All Purpose flour

1 Tbspn dry active Yeast 

1 Tbspn Sugar and 1/2 cup warm water to bloom the yeast

1 Tsp Dried Rosemary

1/2 tsp Dried Basil

1 Tsp Garlic powder

1 Tsp Oregano

 1 Tsp red Chili Flakes

2-3 Tbspn Olive Oil and 

Salt for taste

water as needed to make the dough

In a bowl, take the dry active yeast, sugar and warm water and mix well. Keep it aside to bloom for 10 minutes. The mixture will be frothy, if the yeast is active. If the yeast is old discard the mixture and get fresh yeast. I always prefer to check the yeast then move on to the dough.

In a mixing bowl, take the flour, add the seasonings, garlic powder, rosemary, basil, oregano and little oil to start the mixing, as you move along making the dough, add the oil and knead into a soft dough. Cover with the plastic wrap and let it sit in  a warm place. I preheat the oven to 200 Degree F and then shut it off. Then place the bowl with the dough to rest and rise for a good 2-3 hours. I have never experienced problems with dough rising not enough and I only poof the bread once.

When the dough doubles in size, it is ready to be baked into some yummy pizzas. Punch out the air from the dough and take small balls and roll it into small discs. I usually bake these pizzas for 10-15 mins in a pre-heated oven at 350degrees F. Once the base is baked, spread the chutney on it, then spread the pizza sauce(I use the store brought kind), then add the toppings of your choice.

We like red and green peppers, broccoli, onions and at times even pineapple. Spread mozerralla cheese as much or as little as you want and bake at 350 degrees for another 10-12 minutes, till the cheese melts. You can steam the broccoli for 3-4 minutes, it tastes great.

Enjoy the home made pizzas and cherish the memories with your kids. Today is Women's Day, so this is my gift to all the busy, idle, working or home making women. We Rock!!!!

Sending this to Sizzilings Tastebuds Bake Fest event originally started by Vardhini's Bake Fest

and Julie's EP Series

And Yay..what a surprise, thanks Julie... u r the best!!!