Birthday Greetings with Orange Jaffa Cakes and Vanilla-Chocolate Teddy Bear's !!! Recipe
A walk through the memory lane, I pulled down my glasses to refresh the memories of the final count down for the arrival of my lil' monster to rocking his cradle to the joy of watching him crawl.The very excitement of the first tooth to now-a days loosing teeth and the earnest wait for tooth fairies. The time flew by and today we are celebrating the birthday of a big boy ! Some days are special and they leave a trail of memories like perfect Disney moments in life. I do wish to pause and freeze time to give umpteen blessings to our growing 'Peter Pan'....!!!
Wohooooo, It's my Birthday !!!!!!
He is super excited !!!!!!!
This is the time of the year when I do wish him to be my lil' boy for another couple of years and at the same time bless him to grow up fast. I fondly remember the days spent in sleeping and nights in playing around. The days of learning the art of writing while making the the first scrapbook; to days of discovering the art of photography to capture every precious moment in the camera; and finally learnt to cook food !!! Some were happy hours for me and him and others were challenging moments, for sure. And I realized that though parenting is not an easy task, It is a MEANINGFUL Journey, where I learnt to LIVE Life again! I learnt to be HAPPY in every season! I found a new QUEST for learning! I started enjoying the simple JOYS of life...! I found my best buddy ever...! I learnt the art of Parenting, Cooking, Photography, Writing and Loving the world once again... !
The good old days are rolling up fast. I wish if you could be my little boy for another couple of years so I could hum you rhymes and tell you family fables every night; go for evening strolls and wander at the twinkling stars at night; take out parades of sesame street's Elmo n Cookie Monster at noon; get amazed on flipping the pop up books of superheroes; wait with curiosity for elves and santa; blow bubbles and make sandcastles by the shore of the beach... ! These were definitely holy days but I do wish to see you playing with Lego's and Rubik's. Simply love your handmade 'Love you and Get well soon' cards with 'scrabble signature'. And of course I do feel proud on watching you surfing and skating and let your curious mind doodle its own way... !!!!
I wish I could make caterpillars from your bread and stews for you for another couple of years. But I do enjoy you giving me ideas and spending holidays in baking speciality cakes and monster cookies :))
Last year I baked Pirouettes Pearl Chocolate Cake for My Peter Pan and Mini Bundt Cakes for Little Guests. This year I was wondering if it is a time to bake a big cookie cake for my big boy or still hangup with mini muffins. A vast array of thoughts were crossing my mind back and forth.
Hmmm, I'm going to bake his favorite after school snack -
'Orange Jaffa cakes for my Bundle of Joy - with Love' !
Jaffa cakes were introduced by Mcvitie and Price in 1927 and is named after Jaffa oranges. The standard jaffa cake has three layers - a sponge base, a layer of orange jelly and a chocolate coating. I explored this cake on my first visit to UK and ever since nibbling it in all seasons..... !!!
A Perfect Day and what a great sight at Tower Bridge coming out of Westmister Tube Station..Getting Awesome view of the London City through London Eye !Finally Hopping on the Iconic Red London Bus !at Harrods Knightsbridge
I never thought I shall ever bake Jaffa cakes at home, but did it after so many years and with all my passion... !!!! It's as simple to bake as a pie and you are bound to be obsessed with this cake with a orange twist. It was a good choice as he could also take some cake to share with his friends on his upcoming field trip ! My boy was hopping with joy to find the perfect concoction he was always looking for in his evening snack.
Check out the recipe.
Home baked Jaffa Cakes :
- APF: 1/2 cup
- Vanilla extract: 2 drops
- Orange zest: 1/2tsp
- Orange juice: 2 tsp
- Sugar: 1/4 cup
- Butter: 1/4 cup (melted)
- Egg: 1
- Milk: 2-3 tsp as required
Method:
Preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C.
Lightly spray the muffin pan and dust with flour.
Mix the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, orange rind in a medium bowl.
In another bowl whisk egg until light and fluffy.
Add flour mix, orange juice, milk and butter. Mix well to make smooth consistent batter.
Add a dash of vanilla extract.
Fill the muffin pans with 2/3 rd of the batter.
Bake the cakes for ~15 minutes until they are light golden brown.
Let it cool down on a rack.
For Jelly :
Make jelly as per the instructions on the pack.
Mix the jelly powder with warm and cold water and por in a flat container. Let it cool down for couple of hours and cut into round shapes with a cookie cutter.
Chocolate Mix:
Take a handful of vanilla chocolate wafers in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for around 30 seconds.
Stir the wafers and microwave for another 30 seconds, till the wafers start melting.
Stir with a spoon to get a lump free thick chocolate mix.
Repeat the process for brown chocolate mix.
Arranging the Jaffa cakes:
Line up the muffins in a tray.
Cut the jelly into rounds and place it on top of muffins.
Quickly pour the warm white and brown chocolate mix on the muffins.
Let it cool down.
Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lovely sweet cake with a hint of fresh orange and jelly- IS GOOD FOR SURE !!!!
Homemade Chocolate Teddys Bear's.... !!!!!!
Chocolate Teddy Bear's:
Vanilla white Chocolate Wafers: 1/2 bowl (10-12pcs)
Brown chocolate wafers: 1/2 bowl (10-12pcs)
3 oz. of Teddy Bear candy mold
Recipe:
Take 1/2 bowl approx. of vanilla chocolate wafers in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for around 30 seconds. Stir the wafers and microwave for another 30 seconds, till the wafers start melting.
Stir with a spoon to get a lump free thick chocolate mix.
Swiftly, start filling the mini molds with the chocolate mix.
Repeat the process for brown chocolate wafers too.
Let it cool down a bit and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes.
Gently tap at the back of the mold to get mini chocolate teddy bears !!!!!
Enjoy !!!!!!!
Jaffa cakes were pure delight for my cake lover, orange lover, chocolate lover, lego lover and pinata lover !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do I need something else.... ???
My boy muttered with his mouth full of cake, Brilliant Mom....!!!!
A 'Reward back' Time begins....... !!!!!!!!!!