Birthday Cake, Date & Banana Squares And Spaghetti In Meaty Sauce by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients for Birthday Cake:

• Butter 125 gm
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Caster sugar 1-1/4 cups
• Eggs, separated 3
• Cocoa powder 2/3 cup
• Water 1/3 cup
• Milk 3/4 cup
• Flour 1-1/2 cups
• Baking powder 1 tsp

For Frosting:

• Chocolate 60 gm
• Butter 125 gm
• Icing sugar 1-1/2 cups

Method:

1. Beat butter and sugar, add essence, beat in egg yolks, in another bowl mix cocoa
2. powder, water and milk with a whisk so no lumps remain.
3. Add sifted flour.
4. Beat egg  whites in another bowl till soft peaks forms, fold in the mixture slowly, pour into a  greased and lined pan and bake at 180 degrees C for 20-25 minutes or till a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool and frost.
6. For the frosting melt chocolate and let cool, beat butter in another bowl till fluffy and add in the chocolate, add the icing sugar and mix till a spreadable frosting is achieved.
7. Sprinkle some 10s and 1000s or sprinkles or put sweets to decorate.

Ingredients for Date & Banana Squares:

• Butter 250 gm
• Caster sugar 200 ml
• Eggs 2
• Flour 500 ml
• Salt a pinch
• Baking powder 1 tsp
• Bananas 4
• Dates 250 gm
• Melted butter 15 ml
• Cinnamon 1 tsp
• Caster sugar 30 ml

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degree C.
2. Cream butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat the eggs in one at a time.
4. Add the flour, salt and baking powder and mix well.
5. Place half the mixture onto a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
6. Cover the dough with bananas sliced and chopped date pieces.
7. Place the remaining dough over as a topping.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Brush the melted butter over the top while still hot.
11. Mix cinnamon and caster sugar and sprinkle over the top.
12. Cut into squares and cool on wire rack n then serve.

Ingredients for Spaghetti In Meaty Sauce:

• Beef mince 250 gm
• Sausages 2
• Pepperonis 2
• Capsicum 1
• Garlic 1 clove
• Onion 1
• Carrot 1
• Mushrooms 1 cup
• Tomato paste 1 cup
• Tomatoes 1 cup
• Tomato ketchup 1/2 cup
• Beef stock cube 1
• Bay leaves 2
• Dried thyme 1/2 tsp
• Dried oregano 1/2 tsp
• Dried basil 1/8 tsp
• Red pepper 1/8 tsp
• Black pepper 1/8 tsp
• Sugar 1/4 tsp
• Boiled spaghetti  1 packet

Method:

1. In a large pan cook the beef mince, sausage, pepperonis, capsicum, garlic,
2. onion, carrot.
3. Cook until beef is no longer pink.
4. Drain into a large colander to drain extra grease.
5. In another pan, add the mushrooms, tomato ketchup,
6. tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock cube, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, basil,
7. crushed red pepper, black pepper, sugar and stir well.
8. Pour the meat mixture into the pan.
9. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover and simmer for 30 minutes.