Basic Chocolate Cake... :-)

It has been claimed that the scent of fresh baked goods lifts the mood and makes people nicer.

Well not to overlook such a strong motivator..I believe investing in baking goes beyond just making you nice... it kinda makes me happy..feeding yummy food to loved one's & seeing the joy in their faces sure makes my day. Below is my recipe for Basic Chocolate Cake. You would need a Microwave with Convection mode facility for same..and off you go..

Basic Chocolate Cake

4 Eggs

1 Cup Flour (Maida..ensure you keep it in Sun for some time so that it looses all moisture)

2 tsp Banking Powder

4 tbsp Cocoa Powder

1 Cup & 4 Tbsp Powdered Sugar (this is important, if you don't have powdered sugar, just grind regular sugar to make some)

1/2 Cup Milk

1 Cup Oil

2 Tsp Vanilla Essence

Handful of Cashews (broken) and Raisins

1. Sift Flour with Baking Powder and Cocoa powder and keep aside (Use a sieve/channi for same)

2. Beak eggs & sugar till the eggs turn fluffy and more than double of their initial volume. Add essence. (Ensure you don't beat the the mixture too much either...if using an electric hand mixer..usually 2-3 minutes is enough)

3. Add Oil tot he beaten mixture and mix well (beat for 30 seconds with the electric hand mixer)

4. Now gently fold in the flour gradually till all flour has been used (You would need to be careful at the this step...for folding, put a little flour i the mixture and always move the spatula only in circular motion clock-wise till it is dissolved..continue the process till all is mixed)

5. Once mixed..add Milk to the mixture to get a slightly thinner consistency.

6. Pre-heat the oven at this time by keeping your Microwave in Convection mode at 200 degrees Celsius.

7. Grease a deep bowl (I use Borosil's baking dish) by spraying/ spreading a little oil in it and coat it lightly with loose Flour. Ensure you don't let excess Flour stick to the baking dish.

8. Pour the mixture into the bowl and top it with the cashews and raisin.

9. Now bake it in Convection mode for 45 Minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Ensure you place the dish on a low rise grill inside the oven so that heat reaches the center of the dish as well.

10. After cooking and 15 minutes cooling inside the oven..remove the cake from the Microwave using baker gloves.

11. To remove the cake from the dish..place a plate on-top of the dish and invert it. The cake with fall onto the plate upside down. Move away the baking dish and by using another plate at bottom of the cake, invert the cake upside.

Easy chocolate cake is ready to be served... enjoy with family and friends :-)