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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Quick Thin n Crispy Mexican Pizza











MOM...what is for lunch..this is what hear every day when kids are home....and being a mom I feel bad that when they are away from home..they have to make their own lunch.. so I give in and make something for them...Although once in while I wish to hear...MOM we made lunch for you today..but I know it is only a wishful thinking..

However I do have to come up with something quick and easy to fix that can keep them going for few hours at least before I hear..MOM what's for dinner.
Here is an easy quick light lunch/snack that you can prepare in 10 min.


Ingredients:

You will need following to make this delicious pizza: here is the recipe for one and you can make as many as you like.
1 Tortilla any kind wheat,white, tomato, spinach or whatever you have in your fridge
1/4 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
2 table spoon Ortega taco sauce: mild, medium or hot..whatever your taste bud desire or rather whatever you have in your fridge
1 Chopped green onion
1 Chopped Roma tomato or any kind would do
1 Chopped small yellow onion
1/4 tablespoon of chopped cilantro (optional)
3-4 slices of pickled Jalapeno


Method:


• Place the tortilla on a on griddle/skillet on med to low flame.
• Make the tortilla slightly brown on both sides by flipping it and putting some pressure on it, I use this special tool that I have, but you can use spatula for same results.
• Make one side more done than other.
• Now flip the tortilla with more done side facing up and turn the heat to low.
• Spread taco sauce on the tortilla.
• Sprinkle the cheddar cheese on it followed by all the chopped veggies.
• Cook for about 1 min on low till it becomes crispy but does not burn.
• Now transfer the pizza to a microwave safe dish and microwave it for 30-40 sec till all the cheese is melted.
• Leave the griddle on stove on low heat.
• Take it out of microwave and place it back on hot griddle fo 30-45 sec.
• Transfer it on serving plate and make slices with pizza cutter.
• Serve immediately.

It is the thinnest and most delicious pizza with all the scrumptious topping.
You can add or delete any toppings to your own taste and can substitute cheddar cheese with shredded Mozzarella or pepper jack cheese. You will not go wrong with this quick recipe.

Enjoy :)

Recipe and Photographs by Surekha

Friday, October 29, 2010

Mango Mousse


















Ingredients:


• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream

• 16-20 oz of Mango pulp from can of Mango pulp (I like Ratna, Alfonso mango pulp available at local Indian grocers if comes in 30 oz can, you can use any brand, but I like this one) or you can use 6 fresh mangoes to make pulp, will have to add some sugar (about 1/2 cup) to this if using fresh mangoes)

• ½ cup lime juice or lemon juice (I prefer fresh lime juice)

• 2 small packets of unflavored gelatin from Knorr box of gelatin

• 4 eggs

• One cup milk

• ½ cup hot water

• 1/2 cup sugar (can use 3/4 cup if mango pulp is not too sweet)

• Pinch of salt



Method:


• Soak the gelatin in hot water keep it aside.

• Separate egg yolk and whites.

• Beat egg white and keep it aside.

• Mix lime juice and mango pulp.

• Whisk the whipping cream until thick.

• Fold in mango pulp and lime juice mix.

• Heat egg yolk + sugar + milk in container kept in big container full of water with constant stirring for about 25 min till it become thick.

• Add gelatin to this and mix it well and let it cool.

• Once cool add this to mango pulp, whipping cream mix and add pinch of salt.
• Add egg whites (beaten) and mix well.

• Mix well until everything is well incorporated.

• Pour into a big size serving bowl or dish, or into individual dishes, and chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours, or until set.

• Decorate with the chopped pistachios or sliced mango, kiwi slices or strawberries slices for color.

• Serve chilled.


For variation and to make exotic Saffron Mango Mousse you may dissolve few desired amount of strands of saffron in 1 table spoon of milk (crushing it well) and pour the extract in to mango pulp and mix well.

Hint: if using fresh mangoes, make sure they are of smooth texture and NOT fibrous.

You may substitute whipping cream with 8 ounces of cool whip or any whipped cream, if don't have heavy whipping cream.





































Recipe modified by Surekha from a recipe given to her by her good friend Bhadra K.


Photographs by Surekha.




Mango

Roasted Corn Salsa






Ingredients:

4 cups roasted corn kernels, just shave off the kernels after you roast the 6 corn on the cob grill or open flame. (if you don't want to make roasted corn salsa, you can make it with regular corn by using 2 15 oz can of corn kernel or 4 cups of frozen corn thawed)

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh jalapeno peppers or to taste

1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper

¼ cup sliced green onion

1 small chopped Spanish red onion

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon of paprika

1 teaspoon cumin powder (I prefer roasted cumin seeds powder for more flavor)

3-4 tablespoons fresh lime juice or to taste

2-3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon salt or to taste



Method:


Mix all ingredients.

Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled. Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to 2-3 weeks.

Recipe by Surekha





photograph by following sources:
by oomni
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37007021@N00/3721737187/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

by jacqueline sweetbeetandgreenbean
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29285241@N03/3583890822/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

by sizeofguam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76055991@N00/2759027020/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

by Ed Yourdon
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72098626@N00/4019257496/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Eggless Turtle Brownies


These brownies are eggless, very delicious, but just a word of caution, these are very, very rich.


Ingredients:


• 1 box German chocolate cake mix

• 2/3 cup evaporated milk, divided

• one 6-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

• 1 bag caramels (10 oz)

• 3/4 cup melted butter



Method:



• Combine dry cake mix with 1/3 cup evaporated milk, melted butter.

• Press half of mixture into greased 9x13-inch pan.

• Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

• Melt caramel squares and melt remaining 1/3 evaporated milk over low heat.

• Sprinkle chocolate chips over partially-baked brownie base. (You don't have to let this partially baked brownie base cool before adding chocolate chips.)

• Sprinkle walnuts on top.

• Pour caramel mixture over top.

• Pat reserved cake mixture into flat pieces with your hands.

• Lay them randomly on top of caramel.

• Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes.

• Let cool, cut and enjoy!


Photograph by seelensturm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61404197@N00/4555006143/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Recipe source: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mjw/recipes/cookies/turtle-brownies.html

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dal Makhni






Dal makhani is a treasured staple food, originally from Punjab in North India. This dish is a type of daal (boiled lentils or other dried legume/pulse) eaten in India (in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and the Bhojpuri area of Bihar) and Pakistan. As well as with roti or rice, it is also commonly eaten with either naan or chapatis.

Dal Makhani is one of Punjabi cuisine's most characteristic signature dishes, and is high in protein--an important attribute in primarily vegetarian cultures. Traditionally this dal is cooked on low flame, for hours, on charcoal, which gives it a rich creamy texture.

When cooked at home today, more moderate amounts of cream or butter are often used. When prepared in restaurants in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom or United States, it is cooked slowly on low heat and usually has a large amount of cream and/or butter added.

To make it last min you may want to use the pressure cooker, if you plan it ahead of time you can used slow cooker to cook this.


Ingredients:


1 cup black urad sabut (black lentils)
½ cup of round masoor sabut (lentils 50g rajma (red kidney beans)
¼ cup of kidney beans (I used one can of Kidney beans)
¼ cup of Channa dal (Bengal gram dal)
¼ cup of Kasoori Methi (dried fenugreek leaves available at local Indian grocers)
2” piece of ginger (divide it in half)
6 cloves of garlic (divide them in half)
2 green chilies or 1 Jalapeno pepper
2 small onions finely chopped in food processor along with above green chilies/jalapeno pepper
Salt to taste
½ stick of butter or ghee of equivalent amount, you can use oil if preferred
2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
2” cinnamon stick
2 pods of dry red chili
¼ teaspoon of asafetida
1 cup of tomato puree
1 table spoon of cumin powder
1 table spoon of coriander powder
½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or to taste)
½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 teaspoon of paprika powder
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
¼ cup of ketchup
1 teaspoon of garam masala or all spice
1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream and ½ stick of butter for finish
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves

Method:

• Wash all the lentils (urad, masoor, rajma and channa dal) in water 3 -4 x changing water every time.

• Soak them in water for 4-6 hours or overnight.

• Boil all of the lentils with salt, the half of ginger and garlic, and kasoori methi, in pressure cooker. (I usually add one teaspoon of baking soda if did not have time to soak the lentils I also add 2 tea bags for nice brown color.

• If you don’t have pressure cooker, you can cook them on stove and simmer until tender and well cooked.

• Drain off excess water and mash the lentils lightly with the back of a ladle.

• Heat the butter or ghee in a heavy pan until hot.

• Add the cumin seeds when they crackle, add bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and red chili pods.

• Stir in asafetida; add garlic and ginger paste, sauté until light brown.

• Add onions and green chili paste and sauté until light brown.

• Add tomato puree and stir and cook for 2 min.

• Add all the powdered spices except garam masala and cook for 1-2 min.

• Add cooked dal, mixing well, add ketchup and mix well.

• Bring the dal to the boil again, add butter and cream.

• Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes with occasional stirring to make sure it does not stick to the bottom of pan.

• Add the garam masala, taste and adjust salt and seasonings.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot.


This recipe yields about 8 serving.


Description of Dal Makni source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal_makhani

Photographs and recipe by Surekha.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Greek /Mediterranean Kataifi Bird Nests


























I love this pastry, it is Mediterranean pastry made with a special form of shredded dough which is also called kataifi. Most forms of kataifi are sweets, typically with nuts and honey which make them flavorful, crunchy, and very sweet.

You can find them at Greek or Middle Eastern stores or restaurants.  You can make them in to small cylinder like 3" rolls, or squares, I made them like small nest roll filled with nuts and I also tried out the squares which came out pretty good too and somewhat are easier to make than the bird nest.

Pictures that you see here are of double recipe, I doubled all the ingredients.


Ingredients:


• 1 pound of kataifi dough, defrosted per package instructions

• 1/2 pound of butter, melted



For the filling:


• 1 cup unsalted pistachios coarsely chopped

• 1 cup of walnuts, coarsely chopped

• 1 cup of almonds, coarsely ground

• 1 cup of unsalted cashews, coarsely chopped

• ¼ cup of fine granulated sugar

• ¼ cup of brown sugar

• ½ cup of orange marmalade

• ¼ cup of Honey

• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon of ground cloves

• 1 teaspoon of cardamom seeds ground

• 1 tablespoon of brandy or red wine

• Some extra pistachios for garnish



For the syrup:


• 3 cups of sugar

• 2 1/2 cups of water

• 5 table spoon of lemon juice

• 2 table spoon of thin strip of orange peels

• 8 whole cloves

• 4 sticks of 2” cinnamon

• 1/2 cup of thin honey

• 10 drops of Rose essence (optional)


Method:

Filling:

* In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the filling and blend well with a wooden spoon.

Syrup:

* Heat the water in a saucepan over low heat.

* Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.

* Add the lemon juice, orange peels, and cloves, cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil.

* Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

* Stir in the honey.

* Remove from the heat, strain, and set aside to cool.

* Once it is cool add drops of rose essence. Keep it aside.



How to Prepare the pastry with Kataifi dough:


* This dough comes commercially packaged in a long strip, about 3 inches wide in 16 oz box, I double the recipe and made the Kataifi out of 2 pounds of dough. It looks like fine white hair strands twisted in figure eight manner.

* To prepare it for this recipe, undo the figure eight twist and lay the long strip out on a parchment paper and have the melted butter with pastry brush, a wet cloth and the baking sheet next to it.

* Divide it into 18-24 pieces, gently spreading the strands out a bit if they clump together.

* Based of how long of the roll you want, divide the dough in that size strips.

* I chose to make very small rolls, like a bird nest shape.

* Brush butter on strip while working with the dough.

* Each piece will be used to create an individual kataïfi roll.

* Keep unused dough covered a damp towel on top of that to keep it from drying out.

* Brush a strip with melted butter.

* Place a tablespoon of the filling at one end of the strip and roll up into a
cylinder, or small roll like I did, tucking in any stray pieces of dough.

* Take care to roll the pastry tightly so that the filling is securely enclosed.

* Place the rolls seam side down in a lightly buttered baking dish, close together but not squashed, and brush well with remaining butter.

Believe me when you first open the box, you will say, how the heck I am going to work with this…. It does get easier. make sure you are not going to do anything else, because once you start this process you have to finish.

One box makes about 18-25 pieces of pastry depending on the size of rolls you make.

Since I doubled the recipe, I made the pastries in shape of small rolls until the baking sheet was full.

For the remainder of the dough and nuts I just took a 8x8 pan, greased it with butter and divided the remaining dough in to half and on the bottom of the pan spread this half and then I put all the nut mix on it and pressed it followed by the remainder of the dough and pressed the dough evenly. Brushed it with butter.

However, I did bake the sheet or rolls and one with 8x8 pan separately.

Also if you don't want to fuss with individual roll you can make few big rolls with nut filling inside, bake them then pour the syrup and cut them in to slices when they are soaked with syrup and cold.

Baking the pastry:

* Preheat oven to 350F.

* Bake the rolls for 60 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy looking. (The 8x 8 pan took only 35 min to bake)

* Remove from oven, pour cool syrup over the hot pastry and cover with a clean towel.

* Let it cool about 3-4 hours as it absorbs the syrup.

* Roast the pistachio nut of a frying pan, crush them and sprinkle them on the pasty rolls for garnish.


Recipe modified by Surekha from a recipe at http://greekfood.about.com

Photographs by Surekha.