Perfect Fresh Cream Frosting Recipe, Topped On Helen's Chocolate Cupcake Mix

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!! No doubt I am in Christmas mood. Despite being an Indian, I know a lot about Christmas -all thanks to my Convent schooling. My friends here in the UK are shock when I sing Christmas carols like silent night, we three kings and tell them I know the story about shepherds, angels and Jesus birth. In our school back in India, we celebrated all the festivals be it Hindu’s Diwali or Muslim’s Eid, or Sikhs’ Baishaki or Christian’s Christmas. Come November and we would start practicing for Christmas skit showcasing Jesus birth and finally reading the prayer-our father, in heaven. You won’t believe but even after 10 years, I still remember this prayer by heart. Okay, I don’t know if I am making any sense or not, but Christmas right from childhood, is very exciting for me, no not for Santa or gifts but for the spirit or joy and happiness.

One of my friends (Indian catholic) has invited us over for Christmas dinner and just as a thank you and Christmas gift I wanted to bake some home goodies for her. I have so much to do right now, packing and shopping as I am flying to India on 1^st Jan. I am in mood to slave myself in the kitchen beating sugar and butter, basically preparing the batter. Suddenly the Jesus miracle happened, I saw Helen’s Chocolate Cupcake Mix lying in the kitchen pantry and the joy of Christmas was back. If you remember the post on Hummus, you would know that I used Helen’s Bread Mix to make delicious bread that was a huge hit.

Helen’s cupcake mix was so easy to use and in 10 minutes I had perfectly baked, soft and gooey cupcakes ready. Like me if you are struggling for last minute Christmas recipes, edible gift ideas –look no further and try this cupcake mix. My friend and her kids love it and within minutes it was all finished. For interesting icing and frosting ideas for these cupcakes, see this post.

Fresh cream and chocolate is match made in heaven. Ideally I use heavy cream to make fresh cream icing but that takes lot of time and patience. To cut down the time on whole process I used whipping cream-all you need is a small tub of whipping cream and sugar, beat for literally one minute or so and the perfectly creamy and velvety icing is ready. This Whipped Cream Frosting makes the perfect whipped cream that will keep in the refrigerator several hours without separating. Use this on a Christmas night as an accompaniment to a slice of pie, a bowl of fresh fruit, or to garnish a pudding.

So here is how to make thick and creamy and oh so good Perfect Fresh Cream Frosting:

Ingredients:

300 ml whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla essence

1 cup ice cubes

Method:

Take 2 bowls. Put ice cubes in one bowl and keep the second bowl on top of the ice bowl.

Mix sugar, whipping cream and vanilla essence. On a slow speed, beat the cream.

Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

Notes:

Make sure to keep an eye on the cream, if you beat longer the fat will get separate.

You can use any sugar; however castor sugar works the best.

It is not so sweet recipe, so adjust the sweetness as per your taste.

Make sure to use ice cold (chilled) cream. Never keep out the cream at room temperature.

This frosting keeps well in the fridge for 1 week. Keep it tightly covered.

Serving suggestions:

Frost on cakes and cupcakes-indeed the best.

Goes well with warm brownies or Indian gulab jamuns.

Mix or top it up on milkshakes, cold coffee or hot cocoa.

Serve with chopped fruits and nuts.

Decoration ideas:
When in hurry, rose swirls works amazing. They look very festive and are very easy to do. You have to use Wilton 1M nozzle for this style. 
Use sprinkles, candies or simply dust cocoa powder.
You can also add colours of your choice to have coloured icing. As you can see, I added pink colour (just a little).

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking Helens for sending Cupcake Mix for review.

Hummus-The Easiest One, Served With Rustic Bread Made With Helen's Brilliant Bread Mix

Can you imagine your pasta without bread, or breakfast without toasted slice of bread? How boring the tea-time will be without sandwiches? Would you like to have you favourite tomato soup without toasted bread? Bread- brown or white, with or without nuts, sweet or savoury, soft or rough- whatever- but it is the only perfect partner for any main course.

Baking bread from starch is a tedious task and I generally stay away from the recipes that have tons of steps to follow and lots of ingredients to use. But no one can deny the fact that -home cooked bread is the best- the texture, the colour, and the aroma-all blissful and satisfying. Thus recently when I was sent Helen’s Bread Mix for review, I was so excited to use it- all you needed was 2 minutes to mix and 3 ingredients to add. The recipe called to use loaf tin, but I am not a huge fan of loaf breads, I like the ones that has rustic and rural feel to it; hence I baked in rough oval shape; but I am sure it will be awesome if baked in a loaf pan. The instructions were easy to follow and the overall process was so much fun -it took 40 minutes for the bread to bake. Soft from inside and hard crust outside- perfect!!

Next time when you are having a party or a get-together, keep few packets of Helen’s bread mix in your kitchen pantry. The process is simple and saves lot of time; you can serve the bread with roasted cherry tomatoes as bruchettas; or accompany with red wine pasta; or toast and serve with burnt chilli tomato soup. Or if like me you are in summery mood, pair it up with hummus- the classic Mediterranean dip.

When you think of summer, what comes in your mind? How about a quick dip with splash of olive oil and dash of lemon juice? Hummus has it all- the flavours, the zing and the touch of sunshine. It is the most popular dip in the Middle East (and now in the world) and is prepared using chickpeas/garbanzo beans and is served with bread.  The authentic hummus recipe needs tahini (paste of sesame seeds and olive oil) but I did not use it and it was still smooth, velvety and tasty- just like authentic ones.

Everyone have their own way and recipe for making hummus- with our without garlic, with or without thaini, with or without olive oil. This is my way- with lots of olive oil, green chilli, garlic, roasted cumin powder, sea salt and lemon juice- all blended to rich and silky dip. For the perfect finish serve with roughly broken toasted bread.

Ingredients:

2 cups boiled chickpeas/garbanzo beans/chole

2 cloves garlic/lehsun

1 green chilli/hari mirchi

1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder/kali mirch

1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder/bhuna jeera powder

Juice from 1 lemon

Sea salt to taste

5 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon water

Method:

In the grinder/food processor add in chickpeas, 1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin powder, lemon juice, garlic, 4 tablespoons olive oil, water, green chilli, salt and black pepper powder. Blend to smooth paste.

Take a wide bowl and spread the grinded paste in it. Make swirls with spoon and drizzle remaining olive oil and roasted cumin powder. Serve.

Notes:

You can also use canned chickpeas. Make sure to wash and drain well.

Use any salt, but sea salt does give the best taste.

Always use good quality olive oil. I used this one . If in India, you can use this one.

Serving ideas:

I served with roughly broken toasted bread, to do the same- put in the preheated oven at 180C for 10 minutes.

For health conscious people- serve with carrot and/or cucumber sticks.

You can also serve with crackers or biscuits.

Moreover you can make the whole serving platter. Serve on a large tray with vegetables kebabs, baked salted crackers and some salad.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking Helen's for sending Brilliant Bread Mix to review.