Date and Walnut cake

 Dry Ingredients :

150 gm all -purpose flour (maida)

50 gm rava (semolina)

2tsp baking pwdr

2tsp cocoa pwdr

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

8-10 dates chopped

1/4th cup mixed dry fruits n crystallised ginger pieces

1tsp coffee pwdr

Zest of 1 orange (outer orange layer grated)

Wet Ingredients :
 6 eggs
1 cup room temperature butter
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Icecream essence (optional)
175 gm sugar
Assorted fresh fruits for decoration

Note : All ingredients have to be weighed and measured accurately when you are baking or it can make a lot of difference to the texture and taste of the baked product

Directions:
Seive all the dry ingredients thrice to prevent lumps .Add the chopped walnuts and dates to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Whisk the butter ,slowly add sugar and whisk together the butter and sugar .Seperate the yolks from the eggs whites .In a mixing bowl first beat the egg whites on medium speed with a hand mixer and keep removing  the froth from the top of the eggs .This should make it light and airy.Finish frothing  the entire egg white mixture  in this manner.Whisk the egg yolks to a smooth texture .Mix the frothed egg mixture together and add vanilla essence and orange zest to it..Add the dry ingredients to the wet and gently fold in to a smooth batter.Transfer the batter to a cake pan which has been lined with parchment paper.

Preheat oven to 350C .Bake for 35-40 mins on lower rack or  till a knife run through the center of the cake comes clean.Decorate with assorted fruits likes kiwis,strawberries,blueberries,grapes and a chocolate truffle centerpiece.

Serve warm with tea or coffee.