she knew, she had grown up..!

In between hiding her tears and faking a smile, she grew up.

As an independent woman that she was,

She knew she could cry like a kid but choose to keep silent,

Patiently waiting to see what life has got to offer.

In between full filing everyone expectations,

To loosing on her high dreams, she grew up.

All she ever wanted was to conquer the world,

But she could feel her wings being tied with chains, she never knew existed.

In between getting judged for things she had no control over,

To making them realize their mistake, she grew up.

In between trying to adjust with the societal definition of pretty,

To being comfortable in her own skin, she grew up.

Pretty or not, she knew she was beautiful indeed.

In between being an innocent, weak kid

To raising a voice against all the wrongs she observed around, she grew up.

 She has conquered her fears slowly but steadily.

In between reading a thousand quotes to inspire her,

To trying to implement all those, she grew up.

She thought her life would be a happy one, following those quotes

But what she didn’t realize was, ‘ceteris-paribus’ cannot be taken for granted.

 In between going alone for movies and restaurants, she grew up.

Oh no, she wasn’t lonely, but she didn’t choose to be alone either.

 She was just another ‘happy go lucky girl’ who started enjoying her own company.

She realized the only person who will be there for her always is herself.

In between cribbing for toys, chocolates and icecreams,

To managing all her finances, she grew up.

Materialistic things don’t seem to impress her now, real emotions still do.

In between trying to please everyone,

To turning a deaf ear to “log kya kahenge”, she grew up.

People who matter don’t judge and people who judge no longer matters.

A thousand incidents made her grow, but the day she choose to fight against all odds,

To be optimistic and to take full control of her life, she knew she had grown up.

All geared up to be an example setter for the world to follow.   

                                                                                              -RITU

Chocolate mickey mouse cake

Preparation time- 30 mins

Cooking time-40 mins

Frosting time-10 mins

Servings-12

Cals-680

Ingredients

·         1 cup all-purpose flour

·         1 cup powdered sugar

·         3 tablespoon cocoa powder

·         ½  teaspoon baking powder

·         ½ teaspoon baking soda

·         1 pinch salt

·         2 eggs

·         ¼  cup vegetable oil/softened butter

·         1 cup milk

·         ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For frosting

Ø  1 cup heavy cream

Ø  1 cup+4 tablespoon icing sugar

Ø  4 tablespoon cocoa powder

Ø  2 tablespoon butter

Ø  3 tablespoon milk

Ø  10 cherries

Method

v  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a mickey mouse shaped cake pan well.

v  In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

v  In another bowl, mix butter and sugar. Add eggs (one by one), and continue mixing it in the mixture. Add milk as required followed by vanilla essence.

v  Add the sieved dry ingredients slowly into the wet mixture and beat until well blended. Pour it in the pre greased cake pan.

v  Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.

Frosting:

      Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. Pour it in piping bag.

      Melt 2 tablespoon butter in the saucepan, add 4 tablespoon sugar to it. when sugar dissolves add 4 tbsp cocoa powder to it followed by 3 tbsp milk to get a thick frosting. Spread this frosting evenly on the cake with the help of a spatula. I have even cut the cake in two halves to spread it in the center.

      Outline the mickey mouse with whipped cream and top it with cherries. let the frosting set for a while. I kept it overnight. your cake is ready to serve.