Bake Along Challenge #3

Hi all....this is the 3rd Bake Along Challenge...this month it's open for all....and the theme is Berries....the rules :
1. Follow my blog
2. Bake anything using Berries of your choice
3.Add your post to the linky tool provided and link it to this announcement page...
4. Usage of logo is mandatory.
5. Any number of entries are allowed this month.
Linky tool for the month of June will be up by next week...Happy Baking ;)

Chocolate Shortbread

This is the second Bake Along Challenge which started last month...where a group og bloggers bake the same recipe that's emailed to them and link it to the host of the month's page...This month, Surabhi from My Cook Book chose Chocolate Shortbread....from Joy Of Baking.

This is a lovely chocolatey, quite rustic looking shortbread...and my husband took some to work this morning and his collegues truly enjoyed it...I liked it too but realized that I needed to make more glaze than what was given in the recipe and it was a bit crumbly...may be due to my oven (not sure)....I baked it for 20 mins....Overall, a good new bake...not time consuming...will definitely try again ;)

For the original recipe with video, go to Joy of Baking.com.

Only modification I made : I used brown castor sugar and slightly reduced the amount
I used salted pistachios and cashews for the topping... ;)

                       

Linking this to Bake Along Challenge for the month of May hosted by Surabhi of My Cook Book and Family Friendly fridays, guest hosted my The Vegetarian Experience on behalf of Ren at Fabulicious Food.

Event # 4 : Scream Ice Cream

Hi all...it's time for yet another exciting event...Ive been wondering for days on the theme and at last decided upon something desired by young and old....'Ice Cream'....well, who doesn't love ice-cream, rite...may it be a simple cone, a yummylicious sundae with all the colourful toppings, a banana split with your favourite flavours or just sitting in front of the TV with a tub of ice-cream and a spoon...hmm...well, I love all of em....
So, let's make ice-cream....for those who are pros in homemade ice-cream, it's time for u to come up with some exciting new flavours...and for those who always wanted to give it a try, there's no better time than now...and that included me ;)

The rules are as usual :
1. All kinda home made ice-creams accepted.

2. Follow my blog.

3. You may send in as many links as you want but only posts posted from 24th April 2012 onwards...do link it using the linky tool which will be provided at the end of this page and send a pic to my email add...for the round-up ;)

4. Use of above logo is mandatory and your post should link back to this event to help spread the word...

5. To those who do not have a blog, do send your entries to resh_82@hotmail.com Pls include your name, pic, recipe and 'Scream Ice Cream' as the subject.

6. This event ends on 1st of JUNE 2012.

Bergedil Ikan (Indonesian Fish Cutlets)

This is one of my favourite side dish whenever I eat at a Nasi Padang restaurant in Yogyakarta where I was studying.....I knew I have to try this out....so I made em and wow...yummylicious bergedil (thats what they call it in Indonesia)..;)

 

Ingredients :

2 slices of tenggiri fish (mackerel)

3 potatoes (sliced)

some Chinese parsley (chopped)

3-4 shallots (chopped thinly)

some coriander leaves, chopped thinly

ground black pepper

1 red chilli, seeds removed (chopped thinly)

1 egg (beaten)

Method :

Deep fry mackerel slices for a few minutes and let it cool....then remove all bones, mash and keep aside.

 Fry / boil potato slices (I fried them)...let it cool..then mash...keep aside.

Add chopped shallots, chilli, coriander leaves, chinese parsley, salt to taste and ground black pepper...mix well....then make into balls (see picture below)

Close with cling wrap and keep in fridge till ready to fry....

10 mins before frying, take it out from the fridge....

Heat oil in a deep frying pan...dip the 'bergedil' in the beaten egg just to coat then fry till golden brown....serve hot as a side dish for rice or as a snack ;)

Chettinad Style Soy Chunks Curry

Delicious curry with ground masala....:)

 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry soy chunks/Meal Maker
1 tablespoon oil
½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
6 curry leaves

2 green chillies, slit. optional

4 shallots, chopped
3 garlic cloves, grind
2 small tomatoes, chopped
masala powder, see recipe below
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
coconut milk
Salt

coriander leaves

MethodRehydrate the soy chunks (meal maker) or granules according to package instructions.

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add black mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Then add cumin and stir for 30 seconds. Add curry leaves and chillies, stir again. 

Then add onions, and sauté till the onions have softened. Add the garlic and tomatoes. Continue to cook on till the tomatoes are very soft.

Add the ground masala powder (recipe below), turmeric, and salt,fry for a minute.

Add soy chunks/meal maker and pour in 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Continue boiling for about 5 minutes.

Pour in coconut milk according to preference and cook stirring for about 2 minutes. Taste the curry, adjust salt as needed

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

For the masala powder
Ingredients1 tablespoons coriander seeds
1/2 tablespoon cumin seeds
1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 small dried red chili, optional

MethodIn a small pan on low heat, Roast the ingredients till it lightly turns color and gets fragrant. Let the toasted spices cool a little. Then place in a  grinder and grind into a fine powder.

Fried Egg Sambal

Yet another sambal recipe from me...easy to prepare yet flavourful.....this is a spicy dish and goes well with white rice and dall....

 

All you need :

2 eggs

1 large onion

3 shallots

3 cloves garlic

a handful of cleaned anchovies (soaked for about 10 mins)

1-2 tbsp chilli powder (according to your preference for spiciness)

oil

salt to taste

water

The few easy steps :

1. Heat oil in a pan.Beat egg one by one with a pinch of salt and fry. Keep aside.

2. Grind together soaked anchovies, shallots and garlic...

2. In the same pan, heat oil...fry onions till soft..Add ground anchovies paste and chilli powder..Fry for about 2-3 minutes..Add some water and let it boil (do not pour too much water)...till chilli smell goes and it's like a thick gravy...Add some salt...

Pour sambal gravy over fried eggs and serve hot ;)

Spicy Potatoes Dry Fry

This is a really easy dish to make and tastes yummy...good with curd rice...;)

Ingredients :

3 potatoes (diced small)

1 large Bombay onion (sliced thinly)

some mustard seeds

2 sprigs of curry leaves

1 tbsp garlic-ginger paste

oil

3/4 tbsp dry chilli flakes

salt

Method :

Heat enough oil in a pan and deep fry potatoes till slightly golden and keep aside.

In another pan, heat a little oil, fry the mustard seeds and add onions,saute.. add in curry leaves and garlic-ginger paste...once well corporated and fragrant, add in the potatoes,chilli flakes and salt...

Mix well and Saute till potatoes are well cooked..Serve hot ;)

Green Curry Prawns

 

I love Thai food....and thai curries...one of my favourites...especially Thai Green curry....usually it's Thai Chicken Curry....but this time, in an attempt to try something new...I made it with prawns...yummilicious I would say ;)

Ingredients :

10 big size prawns...cleaned and deveined...leaving only the tail on

4 tbsp green curry paste (this must be according to the paste you use- I used store bought paste by Thai Heritage and it is not very spicy)..if u are using a spicy paste, do reduce the amount to 2-3 tbsp

150-200 ml coconut milk (this depends on the thickness of the milk that you use)

1 brinjal (sliced)

4-5 long beans (sliced about 2inch lengths)

100 gms of baby spinach leaves (cleaned)

rind of 1 lime

juice of 1 lime

1 1/2 tsp fish sauce

salt to taste

Heat oil in a pan and fry brinjal and long beans till half cooked....Add in the curry paste fry for a few minutes...pour coconut milk, little by little and stirring always, to get the right colour...u can always adjust the amount of the paste and milk...bring it to a boil...Add in the prawns and spinach....let it simmer for about 5-8 mins...Add in fish sauce and salt to taste.Add also the lime rind and juice..mix well..turn off heat. Serve hot with rice ;)

Eggless Durian Ice Cream

Durian, known as the King of Fruits.....there are those who just love em....that includes me...and some who tries to stay as far away as possible.....and for all those durian lovers out there...this is one amazing ice cream that brings out all the durian flavour,..plus it's eggless and so easy to do...

Ingredients :
300 gm durian flesh
50 gm granulated sugar
125gm Greek style yogurt
200gm thickened cream

 

1. Puree durian flesh and sugar.

2. Pour into a bowl and add in and mix the yogurt.

3. Whip cream in another bowl and fold into the durian mixture.

4. Start your ice cream maker and pour in your durian mixture and let it to process...mine took about 20 minutes..Later pour it into an airtight container and freeze....

5. take it out of the freezer about 20 mins before serving :)

This is a wonderful, creamy ice cream....so delicious and im so proud as it's my first attempt at ice cream ;)

 

linked to my ongoing event Scream 'Ice Cream'

Let's Cook #15 - with Fruits

Ice Cream Recipes

Showcase - Desserts

Bon Vivant #4 - Fruit Recipes

Fragrant Coriander Rice

 

Ingredients :

 2s cup Basmathi rise (soaked for about 1/2 hour)

a bunch of fresh coriander (chopped)

2 green chillies (sliced)

1 onion (sliced)

4 cloves garlic (chopped)

1/2 inch ginger

a handful of fresh coconut

2 tomatoes

1 clove

1/2 inch cinnamon

1 bay leaf

ghee

salt

Heat ghee in a pan and saute coriander and green chillies till raw smell goes off.

Let it cool. Then blend coriander, chilli, coconut, garlic and ginger to a paste with some water.

Heat a pan with some ghee. Saute onion, cinnamon, clove and bay leaf. Add the blended masala...Add tomatoes and salt..Cook till it's nearly dry and tomatoes are soft....Add the mixture to the washed rice, mix well...add enough water and cook in a rice cooker..Fluff rice once ready....Serve with raita, papadam and any fav veg....;)

Bake Along Challenge #2

Hi all...it's time for a new baking challenge....this month, it will be hosted by Surabhi from My Cook Book
For all the members, she will send a recipe to ur email and once you baked ur goodies you may link it to her page....do use the logo in your post as it helps spread the word....
For those who want to join in, do comment and provide your email add either in this post or to Surabhi's page ;)

The round up for Bake Along Challenge #1 will be up soon..Happy Baking....