Melting moments - Some what rustic this time

I have been following Masterchef Australia for quite some years now and this has opened up mind food wise. I used to get amaze and still do by the extent food knowledge contestant and Judges have. There are many long lasting impression on me of Judges, chefs, contestant and off course recipes which inspire me everyday. One of such contestant is Julia Taylor who was the finalist of season 4. She was this super competitive reserved lady who has strived to be at top all her life. Now she was here on Masterchef where she was among best of bests.  It was initially surprising for her that there are people better than her. She struggled to find herself in elimination as she knew and believed the she was just meant to be at top. But she realized, accepted and respected the this fact the competition is really tough and there are far more talented people against her. Then what we saw was real dedication, determination and hard work from Julia. I could relate to her a lot because I have also gone through this challenge in life. She made quite a few stunning dishes in the competition but what left a big impression on me was her “Melting moments” from cookies challenge. 

Melting moments are shortbread-like cookies that rely on butter for their wonderful flavor. I got hooked to these cookie because they look very cute and a very easy to make.

I have baked this cookie I don’t know how many times because they just disappear in jiffy. I have to admit more than half I must be eating alone. This time I have introduced my twist to make them very rustic like any home baker. First, I gave it more rustic look by baking it on bit higher temperature for slightly brownish color and used creamy tangy cheese cream filling with mixed fruit jam. I saved some efforts here by using a store brought jam. Fewhh!!!  So following is my version of melting moments.

180 gm Flour

180gm Butter

60 gm Custard

60 gm Powder Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

Pre-heat the oven at 180 ºC

Line your baking tray with baking paper

Cream butter until light and fluffy

Add custard powder and mix, and then add powder sugar

Sift flour and baking powder together and then add to the dough

Mix until a soft dough come together

Make small balls from the dough and place on baking sheet

Use a fork and press lightly on the dough balls to create impression

Bake for 10-12 mins until golden. For bit more brownish color, I cranked the temperature to 210 and baked for anothe2-3 mins

Let them cool and then remove from the tin

Cream Cheese Frosting 

½ Cup of Cream Cheese, Softened, at room temperature

 ¼ Cup Butter, Softened, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powder sugar

2 cups powder sugar

3 Tbs of Mixed fruit Jam

Beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until creamy

Add in the vanilla extract and beat for another 30 seconds

Now start adding the powder sugar 1 cup at a time and beating in between each addition

You can make this frosting before and refrigerate. At the time of usages can give it a whisk and pipe

Before starting assembling of cookie gently warm the jam in small pan

To assemble the cookie, pip cream cheese on the flatter side of cookie and then smear a small spoon of jam over the cheese. Finally top it with another cookie, flatter side facing the filling to make the sandwich

And now enjoy!! Crunchy, creamy, tangy, fruity bits all at the same time will just melt in your mouth

I, thank Julia every time I make these

For the love….

Baking has always enticed me, though I was a declared bad cook (by everyone who has got to try my culinary outputs). Thanks to my husband, his encouragements and his VERY good luck that I got much better since I started to cook for him ;). With this newly acquired “Ratatouille Magic”, I went back to my eternal calling of Baking.

What really excites me about baking is the drama and suspense around it. With few ingredients, you  first achieve this silky smooth harmless looking  batter which could turn you upside down with its performance after it has been out of the oven. It can reward you by giving you glodenish brown smile or can just sit flat and see you beating your head or maybe it can even ditch you by rising like a star when in the oven and then sink with your hopes when come out.  This winning and losing is so exciting that I am not ready to give up.

I have tried many recipes from the cook books and posts on internet but the issue I have faced is either you don’t get those ingredients or their specifications are not the same. Above all the oven instructions are difficult to follow as most of us don’t use very sophisticated baking equipments. So I have been testing and trying few recipes to adopt then for a basic home baker. Here I will share the recipes which has been easy to make, ingredients readily available and very successful ;)

Keep an eye for the next post….

Have a great day!!!

The Story of many stories

Welcome to my world of anecdotes. I have been a story teller ever since my existence. I like to talk and share the experiences, memories and incidences which get turn into stories as I don’t know how to cut it short.  What I like to talk about……. everything which has made me laugh, giggle, happy and excited.

Join my journey of tales about travel, food, fun and above all love of baking.

Rightly said by Julia child -

“A party without cake is really just a meeting”