This one goes out to a dear friend. The same friend, for whom exactly 12 years ago this day, i attempted to bake my very first cheesecake … the memory is still so clear in my head … i was in my sweet sixteen yrs, didn’t even know how to crack an egg well and I’d set of to accomplish a cheesecake … got together with a couple of girlfriends, one looked up a recipe, another lent me her kitchen, we got all the ingredients, made a mess of the place, chucked things at each other, got yelled at by her mom, almost burnt the cheesecake n almost dropped it on the floor while trying to get it out – n oh by the way i used square pasta dish for it! lol and what a disaster the cake was, i was so embarrassed to bring it out n serve it, my friends elder sister was so kicked by the fact that i baked, that inspite of me begging and pleading her not to, she took the warm cake and served it to all the guests in the house right away. At that point i was hoping the earth would split open n eat me up … Hahaha, it was more like a pudding rather than a cake ! But i think everyone just appreciated the effort more than the cake or whatever it was. Ah well, that was then … over the years we went different ways, … education, relationships, work, marriage, … lost touch, got involved in our own worlds. I thought I’d lost a good friend, but somehow through some force of nature we’re back in touch. And at this point nothing makes me happier. And so I’m making a special cake to celebrate both, our friendship and a Birthday! On asking what is your most favourite sweet, i was told ” Kaju Kati ” n “Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate”. Kaju Katli, is a Indian sweet made from ground Cashews and sugar syrup. Since I’d never attempted to make these before, i jumped at the opportunity to make these, realizing that this was my chance to redeem myself after the cheesecake disaster. My neighbour back in Bombay, whose house i was practically bought up in makes the best Kaju Katli’s in the world. And she was kind enough to mail me her trademark recipe. I’m telling you, after eating these , its a shame if you ever think of buying some from the store again. They turned out so good, i couldn’t believe i made them for the first time. And then to turn the traditional sweet into something more appropriate for a (mini)birthday cake, i made Cadbury Chocolate Mousse and sandwiched between two layers of Kaju Katli. So there you go, both your favourite flavours in one cake. And i promise you this, you must’ve never had a cake like this before. Happy Birthday !!!

Kaju Katli 2

And beginning Monday, its Ramadan, and i would like to wish all my readers Ramadan Mubarakh, may you have a beautiful month of fasting and may Allah answer all you prayers.

Kaju Katli 3

Kaju Katli 1



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