Doodle for your dad !!

Yes, a father’s day post !! I usually encourage people not to get stressed about the mother’s day, father’s day etc etc. These days are simply too much too handle. Especially in my house where no one is emotionally driven to buy gifts for one another for a particular day. It could be lack of planning or we are completely impromptu. I mean I can randomly go and buy something for my mum, but if you ask me to plan a gift days ahead of mother’s day – I suck . So, over the years we have given up on ourselves and just do it only when we happen to remember the occasion. We miss a few and we celebrate a few.We have no family traditions set in stone  – which is sort of a tradition now 🙂

So couple of years ago, I was in the mood and started researching cakes for dads. And I stumbled over this amazing doodle cake idea and it was too pretty to pass it off. It was personal, looked gorgeous, handmade and involves kids. What more does a dad want? I made a chocolate cake, well it’s really my son’s favourite flavour but this was when he was just 4, so thats fine. This year he has kindly agreed to help me make a lemon drizzle which is dad’s favorite:) . Your kids will love making this for the pappa and will also be able to express their feelings better in the pictures. Just get some edible pens from any craft shop or ebay, cover dad’s favourite cake with fondant and get doodling!! It’s  as simple as that. If you are not making the cake then I am sure you can easily find plain fondant cakes in any supermarket and you can personalise it with the pens.

Doodle cake

Chocolate Cake :

I used a simple chocolate sponge recipe. It is a usual tried and tested sort of recipe which everyone seem to like. It’s got a chocolate frosting which is again, everyone’s favourite. Cover it with fondant and doodle away with edble pens which you can easy source from any craft shop like amazon ! !

Father’s day cake !

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Pull Apart Garlic Butter Bread Stuffed With Chedder Cheese

Another amazing baking challenge by Manujla Kanted from Desi Fiesta  via Homebakers Challenge . And I am posting this after months past the challenge deadline. Well I tend to get on the baking bit quiet in time but writing it up and posting take a million years for me because I hardly get those intimate few hours in front of the computer in my typical day when I can concentrate on writing. I am not complaining because, this is because I am slacking but because I am occupied and often that means spending time with my family and spending time with my son. I relish those two precious hours we get to spend together everyday between 6pm to 8PM till it is his bed time. Stories from school, reading books, dinner time and board games makes me content. I wish I could spend more time in the day like that but at the same time I also think, running the rat race all day is what makes these two hours so special. So, again no complaints. Now, coming to the bakers’ challenge, here my take on it…

Bread is something you start relishing even before you start making it. I enjoyed the whole process of baking this particular bread. Kneading the dough with warm melted garlic butter is magic. The aroma lifts you into a fairy tale….until  your hands start cursing you for starting it (if you are not using a fancy kitchen aid appliance) . But, The magic resumes and the fairy tale is back once the bread is in oven and your whole neighbourhood is filled with the aroma. You are sitting there with a  cup of tea eagerly waiting for the bread to rise, turn golden brown and become the spectacular centre piece on your dining table.

I was overwhelmed by all the pictures posted online of stuffed breads or pull breads. They looked very complicated and something which requires craft. But, I soon realised the water roux method to bake the bread is quiet simple. The cheese fan as I am, I had to incorporate some cheese and garlic in the bread which is just AWESOME.

You will need these ingredients:

Water roux:

1/3 cup bread flour
1 cup water

Main Dough:

2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 Tsp. sugar
1/2  Tsp. Salt
1 1/2 Tsp. Dried Thyme
100 ml of water plus 2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 Tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 Tsp. yeast
3 Tbsp. butter melted
1-2 Garlic cloves

For stuffing :

Lots of cheddar cheese chilled and cut in cubes

Method :

Prepare the rough mixture by combining the rough ingredients in a small pan and stir it on medium flame untill  the mixture is bubbling. immediately remove from heat and leave it to cool.
Crush the garlic cloves into the butter, add thyme and leave it aside to mix it to the dough later.
Pre heat the oven to 350F and grease your pan.

In a big bowl add all the ingredients and start mixing them including the garlic butter. knead well untill the dough is soft and easy to handle. Let the dough rest for at least 20 minutes. Knead the dough again and divide the dough into balls.  flatten the dough balls, place a nice big chuck of cheddar cheese in the centre and seal the ball. Repeat for all the balls. Place the balls in a pan of your choice, either a loaf tim or a cake pan and bake for 20 minutes. let the bread slightly cool and it should come of the pan straight away. Share the pull apart bread with the family and enjoy!

With the same dough I also made a sandwich kind of load with mozzarella cheese. Just Roll the dough into a thick rectangle and cut it into slices. Drain the mozzarella pieces well, otherwise  your loaf will be soggy. Seal the sides and place it in a loaf tin and bake for 15 minutes or untill its golden brown. Trust me it was very delicious and was a hit on the table.