Date and Walnut cake with Marzipan Xmas icing

I wanted to get into the mood of the Christmas season and I thought what better way to start than a Christmasy looking cake. I decided to try this recipe. I used cranberries instead of raisins. It tasted delicious. But there was way too much fruit and I couldn't enjoy the cake as much. I would recommend that you follow the original recipe with the following changes...

80 grams walnuts

30 grams raisins/cranberries

For the decor I used white marzipan* and green and red food colours. Roll out the green marzipan and cut out the leaves. Make small balls from the red marzipan for cherries. Roll out the white marzipan to make two circular sheets with even edges. Place over the cake loaf as shown in the picture. Arrange the leaves and cherries. Just one more step...... EAT THE CAKE! :D

*Marzipan recipe in my next blog.

'Mock' Ragda pattice (serves 4)

So the story of the mock ragda starts here. I was craving to eat some chaat and wanted to treat my husband to something he hadn't tasted before. Now since I didn't have white peas at home, which is the main ingredient in the original ragda I came up with this quick-match-the-original version! I loved the result!!!

For the pattice: (Makes 12)

4 large boiled and mashed potatoes

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp garam masala powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp chilly powder

1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds

11/2 teaspoon chaat masala

1 teaspoon lime juice

salt to taste

handful freshly chopped coriander leaves

handful freshly chopped mint leaves

2 tbsp oil

Add all ingredients to the potatoes and mix well. Divide the dough into 12 equal balls and flatten each to form a patty. Shallow fry in oil. Keep aside.

For the 'mock' ragda:

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp jeera seeds

chopped garlic

pinch of asafoetida/ hing

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp onion powder (optional)

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp jeera powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

1 large bowl green peas

half cup boiled yellow moong dal

2 tbsp besan/ gram flour

For the sweet chutney:

1 handful of tamarind deseeded

50 grms dates deseeded

100 grms jaggery

1 tsp fennel seeds/ saunf

4 cups water

Boil all the ingredients for about 10 minutes or until all the ingredients have melted to form a smooth paste. Remember to stir occasionally. You might need to strain the pulp of any fibre from the tamarind.

For the garnish:

1 large chopped onion

chopped coriander

nylon sev

'sev puri' puris

Place the pattice on a plate. Pour radga over it. Pour some sweet chutney. Sprinkle some chopped onions, sev and crushed puris. And its time to treat the tummy...