Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Rava Dosa and Red Chilli Chutney

It had to be a different type of dosa this time...tried a version of rava dosa ~ simple and satisfying with chutney.



Ingredients:
Plain Flour - 1cup
Semolina - 1cup
Yogurt - 1cup
Rice Flour - 1cup
Jeera powder - 2 tsp
Green chilies - 3-4 nos chopped
Coriander leaves little chopped
Curry leaves a few
Water for the batter
Oil for cooking
Salt to taste

Mix maida, rava and flour together. Add jeera, green chilies, curd, coriander leaves, curry leaves and salt mix with enough water to make dosa batter. Keep it aside for 2 hrs. And onto a hot tava, spread the batter to make dosa, and serve hot with chilli coconut chutney.  



Red Chilli Chutney

Ingredients:
Dry Red Chillies - 4
Coconut grated - 1cup
Shallots - 2 chopped
Salt to taste
Water
Mustard seeds - 1/2tsp
Curry leaves a few
Shallots - 1/2tsp sliced

Roast the chillies into a frying pan till light brown colour. Grind the chillies, coconut in a dry grinder to a smooth paste and then liquidise it with shallots and water. Temper the mustard seeds, curry leaves and shallots and pour over the chutney.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pancakes with Maple Syrup


It's easy to whip up, no effort involved and yet filling enough for a Valentine day breakfast.


Ingredients:
All purpose Flour - 2cups
Baking Powder - 2 1/2 tsp
Milk - 1 1/2 to 1 3/4cups
Granulated Sugar - 3tbs
Salt - 1/2tsp
Eggs - 2 large
Vegetable Oil - 2tbs


Mix all the ingredients to make a smooth batter. If the batter seems to be too thick add in little more milk. Pour scant 1/4cup batter onto a hot griddle and cook until the bubbles break on the surface and the edges turn dry. Turn and cook on the other side for a minute till golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup, honey, jam,whipped cream, butter and some sliced up fruits.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

My Cuppy cake~Chocolate Cupcakes

A sweet makeover for Valentines day. This was a treat strictly reserved for my family.


Am sending these muddles of love to Divya for her event the 'Best Chocolate Cake'

Ingredients:
All Purpose Flour - 1 1/4cup
Granulated Sugar - 3/4cup
Unsweetened Cocoa powder - 1/4cup
Baking soda - 1tsp
Salt - 1/8tsp
Water - 1/2cup
Plain Yogurt - 1/2cup
Vegetable Oil - 1/4cup
Apple Sauce - 1/4cup
Egg white - 1
Instant Coffee - 1/2tsp dissolved in 2tbs hot water
Vanilla Extract - 1 1/2tsp


Preheat oven to 175 C.Line 8 cups of standard muffin mould and spray with oil. Mix the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl with a fork. Combine water, apple sauce, oil, egg white, coffee and the vanilla extract in a large bowl and beat till well combined and smooth. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake till wooden pick inserted comes clean, which should take about 25-30minutes. Cool completely and serve.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

I waited till my mum tried this dish and said that it worked well with Appa. Thus took the steps to proceed on this same recipe trusting it would do the same wonders to the husband and brother. And it very well did!!


Ingredients:
Packed brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Ketchup - 1/2cup
Lean ground beef - 1 1/2pounds
Milk - 3/4 cup
Eggs - 2
Salt - 1 1/2tsp
Black pepper - 1/4tsp ground
Onion - 1 small, chopped
Ground ginger - 1/4tsp
Ground garlic - 1/4tsp
Finely powdered Marie biscuits

Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar. In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour at 160 C or until juices are clear.(Although I reserved about a quarter cup).

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Chocolate Mousse~ a chocoholic Fav

I have been wanting to make this dessert for quite some time, initially I had freez-ed on Sunitha's recipe which required cream cheese, which still remains a quest for me in Bangalore city. I resorted to this specific recipe from Purple foodies~Shaheen as the muddle of chocolate looked so tempting in her little heart ramekins. I banged on it more than anything as the ingredients were easier to procure. I still haven't given up on Sunitha's recipe. But for now its this version of it. I do not have ramekins and thought of wine glasses of presenting my mousse, because that's how exactly I was served a chocolate mousse at Nithya's (good friend and ex-classmate) place for lunch hosted many a time. The mousse in the wine glass gives it a totally elegant appeal to a perfect dinner party that I'm hosting too.


Ingredients:
Semi sweet chocolate - 225gms chopped
Unsalted Butter - 75gms, cut into 6 pieces
Eggs - 3 large separated
Sugar - 1/4cup
Whipping cream - 1 cup
White chocolate shavings


In a large bowl, set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter and stir until smooth. Beat egg yolks and sugar with your electric mixer until thick enough to form a ribbon that takes a few seconds to dissolve — this will take about two to four minutes to achieve. Whisk yolks into chocolate mixture. Into a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they just hold soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream and beaten whites into the chocolate mixture, gently but thoroughly. Transfer to 8 (4 ounce) ramekins and sprinkle with the white chocolate shavings. Let the mousse set in the fridge for about an hour before serving.


Tip: The mousse will keep for upto two days in the refrigerator.

    Coffee Chocolate Chip Cake


    8 year old Faham was to come to my house for a sleep over, why? because he so fell in love with my three year old hyper active son. He pleaded and begged that he come over. I was instantly touched and delighted at the request and thus baked this cake for adorable little Faham.




    [adapted from Deeba's Blog Passionate about baking]
    Ingredients: 

    Butter - 200gms room temperature 
    Eggs - 4 large
    Granular sugar  -
    1 cup (or vanilla sugar)
    Plain flour -
    1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
    1 tsp baking powder
    A pinch of salt
    1/2 cup chocolate chips
    2 tbs instant coffee
    1 tsp pure vanilla extract 




    Grease and flour a 10" bundt pan. Sift together the two flours flours, baking powder and salt. Cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one by one beating well after each addition. Beat in essence and coffee, and continue beating till the coffee dissolves which would take about 1-2 minutes. On low speed, beat in the flour, bit by bit, till well incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips. Turn into prepared pan and bake into a preheated oven for approximately 1 hour / till done.at 170 C. Leave in pan for 10 minutes, and then turn it out on rack to cool completely.  

    Sunday, January 31, 2010

    Creme Caramel



    For a hot afternoon, there's nothing like the caramelly smoothness of this custard to do you some good. I baked this in the morning before I left for church and then refrigerated it so that we can enjoy a cold dessert right for the afternoon! And by evening the rest of the cream caramel was wasted away because the plate just dropped from the fridge..all over the floor....shattered. Call it a major slip of fingers. But we still had dessert looking at the brighter side of the story....

    Ingredients:
    For the caramel:
    Sugar - 1/4 cup

    For the custard
    Eggs - 3medium
    Sugar - 1/4cup
    A pinch of salt
    Milk - 1 1/2 cups
    Vanilla Essence - 1tsp

    Grease 4 ramekins (I didn't have ramekins instead used an oven proof dish for my custard). Heat the sugar until it becomes a brown caramel and pour this into the prepared dish/ ramekins. Using a beater beat the eggs  and sugar till lemon colored. Add the milk, vanilla and combine well and pour into the dish/ ramekin. Pour hot water into a pan and immerse the baking dish / ramekin and bake in a preheated oven at 150C for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool and then refrigerate. Loosen the custard from the mould/ dish and invert just before serving.

    Friday, January 29, 2010

    Toddler Snack - Banana Fritters aka Ethakappam

    Who doesn't like the these fritters. It's a dish that is popular in every Keralite household. Crispy crunchy on the outside and yet soft and sweet on the inside...


    Ingredients:
    Plantains - 3 ripe cut lengthwise and then halved
    Flour - 1cup
    Sugar - 2tbs
    Salt a pinch
    Soda bi carb - a pinch
    Oil for frying.

    Make the batter with all the ingredients. The consistency shouldn't be too watery, yet thick, Dip the bananas and deep fry in hot oil till golden brown and serve hot

    Monday, January 25, 2010

    Papaya Surprise

    Again its me and the fruit vendor this time, I eye them and they give me the looks that spell 'do you want something, make up your mind'. I just ended up picking up this nice orangey pink papaya. Blitzed the whole thing into the blender with some cold milk and consumed it all!!
    Am sending this across to Madhuri for her event 'Serve me some - Juices, Shakes and Smoothies'


    Ingredients:
    Ripe Papaya - 500gms
    Cold Milk - 1 cup
    Sugar - only if required ( I used just about a 1tbs for the extra sweetness)
    Chocolate Powder to sprinkle


    Peel and dice the papaya and chuck it all into a blender, pour the milk and add sugar and blitz away. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of chocolate powder.

    Chicken in Spicy Coconut Curry and Awards


    Who can resist an appam and chicken curry combination....I mean atleast my husband and I totally love the duet, you serve it to us morning, noon and night we would never ever complain. Also, today is the day I can rejoice, and be glad at the fact my blogger friends have passed me on these awards - I am on cloud nine ladies....

    Ingredients:
    Chicken - 1kg cut into medium pieces
    Coriander Powder -2tbs
    Chilly Pwder - 1tsp
    Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp
    Garam masala - 1/2tsp
    Garlic paste - 1tsp
    Onions - 2 medium finely sliced
    Mustard seeds  - 1tsp
    Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
    Potatoes - 2 peeled, boiled and quartered.
    Peas - 1/4cup
    Green chillies - 2 finely chopped
    Ginger - 1tsp julienned
    Coconut milk - 2cups (1/2 cup thick and 1 1/2 cup light)
    Lemon juice - 1tsp
    Salt to taste

    Mix the masala powders and garlic paste and make it into a thick paste along with water. Heat oil into a large pan, splutter the mustard seeds and and then fry the curry leaves. Saute the onions, green chilly and ginger till nice and tender and then fry the masala for about three minutes. Pour in the light coconut milk, lemon juice and salt and bring to a boil. Then add the chicken and simmer for about 25minutes. When the chicken is almost done, add the potatoes, peas and thick coconut milk and simmer for about 5minutes. Do not allow the curry to boil. Serve hot with appams.


    Once again thankyou Sarah Naveen from Vaazhayila and Maria from Maria's Menu for the awards. I'd like pass these on to TinaFaiza Ali, Latha Biju, Divya Kudua, and Padhu.

    Thursday, January 21, 2010

    Sponge Layer Cake

    While me and my little one went on an adventure trip in search of cream cheese, my husband waited for us till we were done at a bookstore and bought me a book with some nice cake recipes. In return for what he got me, I baked the very first recipe that he liked as per the first photo in the book. And did I achieve the same...? I indeed did..at least I think I did..

    Ingredients:
    Unsalted Butter - 3/4cup plus extra for greasing
    Castor sugar - 1cup
    Eggs - 3
    Flour - 1 1/2cups
    Baking Powder - 1tsp
    Strawberry Jam/ Raspberry Jam - 3tbs
    Icing sugar to sprinkle


    Grease a 20cm cake pan. Cream the sugar and butter together for 5-6minutes till light pale yellow and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one and beat well after each addition. Sift the flour and baking powder and carefully add it to the creamed butter and sugar.  Fold the flour in using a spatula. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth with a spatula. Bake for 25-30minutes in a preheated at 325F/ 180C. Test the cake with a skewer and if it comes out clean, remove the cake from the oven and using a spatula loosen the sides of the cake from the edge and turn over to a rack to cool. Leave to cool completely and then halve the cake across. Sandwich the cake with the jam. Sprinkle icing sugar on top and serve.

    Sunday, January 17, 2010

    Brinjal Bake

    Not that Brinjal is our favorite vegetable, but after this bake, we have quite acquired the taste for this purple veggie..


    Ingredients:
    Brinjal - 500gms
    Potatoes - 500gms
    Onions - 3 large finely chopped
    Tomatoes - 4 large blanched and pureed
    Spring Onions - 2tbs finely chopped
    Green chillies - 2 finely chopped
    Garlic paste -1tsp
    Corn flour - 2tsp dissolved in a little water
    White pepper - 1tsp
    Soya Sauce - 1tsp
    Tomato Chilly Sauce - 3tbs
    Butter - 1tbs
    Milk - 1/4cup
    Sugar - 1tsp
    Processed Cheese - 2cubes (Amul)
    Salt to taste

    Into a pot of boiling water, boil the potatoes till soft. Peel and then mash using milk and butter to get a spreadable consistency. Slice the brinjal into thin roundrels, shallow fry them and keep aside. Into a wok, saute the garlic paste, onions and chillies for 2-3minutes. Also add the sugar while sauteeing the onions. Then add tomato chilly sauce, soya sauce,white pepper powder and tomato puree and bring to a light simmer. Tip in the corn flour mixture and cook for a minute or two. Then add the spring onions, lightly toss them in the sauce. Taste and check for seasoning, add salt only if required.Remove from the flame and keep aside. Into a greased baking dish, firstly layer the potato, then arrange the fried brinjals and then top with tomato sauce. Repeat the layers and lastly grate the processed cheese and bake for 20minutes at 120C.

    Friday, January 15, 2010

    Chiratta Puttu and Egg Roast!!

    When your conscious of what you eat, it sometimes gets to you, and this time it did for both me and my husband. We were bored of rotis/ or of any any indian flat bread and my husband says, 'could you make egg roast?'. I liked the idea and instantly thought of Puttu, its a deadly combination of course teamed with bananas or plantains.



    Chiratta Puttu


    Ingredients:
    Double Horse Wheat Puttu Powder - 2cups
    Grated Cocout - 1 1/2cups
    Salt to taste
    Water

    Into a bowl, empty the puttu powder, add salt to taste and add about 4-5tbs of coconut gratings. With your hand pour water little by little to wet the puttu to get a coarse wet sand like mixture. Keep the puttu mixture aside for about 10minutes. Into the puttu maker, first put a little coconut and then add the mixed puttu powder, when the puttu maker is almost full top the puttu powder with more coconut gratings, close with the lid and place onto the steamer. Use a coconut shell steel replica known as Chiratta Puttu maker and steam the puttu for 7 minutes. Unmould and serve. Below is a picture of the Chiratta Puttu Maker.


    Egg Roast


    Ingredients:
    Eggs - 5 hardboiled
    Coriander Powder - 2tbs
    Chilly Powder - 1tsp
    Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp
    Cumin Powder - 1/4tsp
    Ginger garlic paste - 1tsp
    Onion - 2 medium finely sliced
    Tomatoes - 2 blanched and chopped
    Coriander leaves - 2tbs chopped finely
    Salt to taste
    Sugar to sprinkle

    Saute the onions till browned, while sauteing the onions sprinkle a pinch of sugar. Tip in the ginger garlic paste and then saute for a minute, then add all the powders and saute till the fat separation starts to happen add, in the roughly chopped up tomatoes and saute till the tomatoes are well integrated into the masala. Add about quarter of a cup of warm water and let the masala simmer. Once the masala is cooked well add in the chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Make a couple of  knife slashes around the eggs and toss in the eggs into the masala and give the eggs a good mix. Serve hot with puttu.


    Tip: To make puttu you could use any ready made Puttu powder available in other leading brands from Nirapara or Double Horse. The types of Puttu Powder available are aplenty. Note that the method to make any puttu remains the same.

    Tuesday, January 12, 2010

    Orange Cake in Coffee Icing

    I had my Best friend and husband come over after their work, well apart from a cup of chai, I knew I had to treat them to a sweet tooth owing to the fact that they are newly weds. Here's what I had in store for them. I'm also sending this across to Divya for her event 'Show me Your cake'.



    Ingredients:
    Plain Flour - 4oz
    Eggs - 3 separated
    Castor sugar - 4oz
    Butter - 1dsp
    Orange juice - 3dsp
    Cream of tartar - 1tsp
    Soda bicarb - 1/2tsp

    Sift the flour with cream of tartar and soda bicarb and keep aside. Whisk the egg whites till stiff. Beat the yolk separately till lemon coloured. Add sugar little by little and beat well. To this add the sifted flour little by little and continue to beat. Boil the orange juice. Place the butter into the boiled orange juice. Once the butter has melted add this to the batter and mix well. Lastly fold in the whisked egg whites to the batter. Pour the batter into a greased pan of  6" x 2" and bake for 35- 40minutes into a preheated oven of 160C


    For the Coffee Icing
    Instant coffee- 1dsp
    Egg white - 1
    Water - 4dsp
    Icing sugar - 1/2lb

    Once the cake has cooled, cut the cake into two equal halves across. Beat egg whites till stiff. Dilute the coffee powder into the water and then add the icing sugar. Add this to the whisked egg whites and whisk. Place this bowl over a vessel of boiling water so that the icing gets steam. Beat the mixture till it gets thick and turns into a nice, light brown creamy texture. Using a spatula spread some of the icing over one half of the cake, cover with the other half and and using a piping bag pipe the remaining icing onto the top half of the cake. You could also decorate the cake with chocolate sprinkles or grated chocolate and serve cold.

    Monday, January 11, 2010

    Fried Fish in Coconut Gravy


    This is such a versatile dish that it can be accompanied with anything and is sumptuous down to the last bite.


    Ingredients:
    Seer Fish fillets - 500gms
    For the marinade
    Chilli Powder - 1tbs
    Ginger garlic paste - 1tbs
    Coriander Powder - 1tsp
    Black pepper Powder-1/2tsp
    Turmeric Powder- 1/4tsp
    Salt to taste

    For the gravy
    Ginger garlic paste - 1tbs
    Coriander Powder - 2tbs
    Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp
    Chilli Powder - 1/2tsp
    Onions - 2 thinly sliced
    Tomatoes - 1 finely chopped
    Curry leaves - a sprig
    Coconut milk - 1cup



    Combine all the powders to smear onto the fish. Allow the fish to be marinated for an hour. In the meantime heat oil into a pan and saute the onions till transparent, then add the curry leaves and fry for a minute. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute. Then add the coriander powder, turmeric powder and chilli powder and saute till the masala powders are well combined and the fat separation happens. Then add salt to taste, add the tomatoes and fry till the tomatoes are softened a bit before adding the coconut milk. Bring the gravy to a light simmer. Take it off the flame and keep aside.
    Into a another frying heat oil enough to immerse the fish and fry till evenly brown on both sides of the fish. Once the fish is fried, carefully place each fish back into the coconut gravy and put the pan back onto the flame and let the fish simmer for 15minutes. If one desires more coconut milk could be added. Serve with dinner rolls/ bread/ rotis/ parathas/ steamed rice and a fresh salad.

    Sunday, January 10, 2010

    Spinach Thoran

    I left my son at school and I was driving by, my eyes stopped at this lady with a large basket selling fresh spinach of all types and colours. I bought three bunches of green spinach and had it cooked in no time. It had been long since we've had some greens at home.

    Ingredients:
    Spinach - 3 bunches
    Onion - 1 large finely chopped
    Garlic - 5-6 pods finely chopped
    Green chilly - 1 finely chopped
    Coconut grated - 3tbs
    Salt to taste

    Thoroughly wash the spinach in water to get rid of the dirt and sand particles. Finely chop the spinach or to speeden the process, put the leaves into a food processor and process in batches to get them chopped evenly. Saute the chopped onion, garlic and chilly till a fragrant aroma is released. The onions need not be browned at all. Tip in the spinach, add salt to taste. Cover and cook for about 5-7 minutes on low flame. Once the spinach is cooked, tip in the grated coconut, give it a good mix and take the spinach off the flame.


    Peanut Butter and Jam the French Way!



    Who doesn't love hot toast with peanut butter and jam? That was our Saturday morning breakfast, but peanut butter and jam toast dunked in milk and egg?! See for yourself.

    Ingredients:
    White Bread - 10slices
    Milk - 1cup (warm)
    Honey -1-2tbs
    Peanut butter
    Mixed fruit jam/ Raspberry Jam/ Strawberry Jam


    Spread peanut butter on one bread slice and on the other jam. Place them together to make a sandwich. Do the same with the remaining bread slices to make 5 sandwiches. Into a shallow dish beat the eggs, milk and honey. Soak each side of the sandwich into the mixture and fry each side till golden brown onto a hot tava/ griddle. Cut them into halves and enjoy with your cup of chai/ coffee.

    Tuesday, January 5, 2010

    Egg Fu Yung~Egg Foo Yung


    Egg Foo yung is an authentic Chinese dish filled with vegetables, meat or prawns and pan fried. It's easy to cook up, add whatever you have at stock from tofu to crab meat and better you needn't worry about the appearance.

    Ingredients:
    Eggs - 4 separated from yolk
    Carrots - 4 thinly julienned
    Potato - 2 thinly julienned
    Celery - 1dsp chopped
    Green Bell Pepper -  diced into small cubes
    Onion - 1 large finely chopped
    Cooked Chicken/ Mutton/ Prawns - 1/4cup
    Soya Sauce - 1tsp
    White pepper
    Salt to taste


    Saute the onions for a minute and then add all the vegetables except celery and saute till the potatoes are cooked. When the vegetables are done add the chopped celery and saute for a minute or two.In the meantime beat the egg whites till stiff, add the yolks, soya sauce pepper and salt only if required and whip well. Add in the cooked vegetables to the egg mixture and mix well. Onto a flat griddle/ tava coat a thin film of olive oil and drop spoonfuls of the egg mixture, flip and cook the other side as well. Serve hot with some steamed jasmine rice.



    Saturday, January 2, 2010

    Raspberry Souffle


    If you go by tradition, then it must and rightfully by all means be a cake ~ to be cut for a birthday. So we broke it this year and went in for a dessert to be cut for the husband's birthday, that too I ensured it was one of his favorite flavours.

    Ingredients:
    Digestive biscuits - 200gms
    Melted butter - 3oz 
    Sugar - 2tbs
    Raspberry jelly - 1 big packet
    Hot water - 2cups
    Sugar - 2tbs
    Lemon juice - 1tsp
    Whipping cream - 250ml

    Powder biscuits along with sugar and butter. Mix well and line the bottom of 9 1/2 "greased spring form pan. And then keep in the fridge.
    Dissolve jelly crystals in hot water. Add sugar and lemon juice. Cool and keep in refrigerator till just wobbly. Whip cream  till nice and stiff and then fold into jelly mixture. Pour into biscuit base and allow to set for a couple of hours.

    Decoration
    Strawberries or any fruit of choice - 1 box or 1 can 
    Gelatin - 11/2 tsp
    Juice from the tin - 1cup

    Drain the fruits and reserve the juice. Dissolve gelatin into a little hot water and mix with the rest of the juice. Allow to set till the mixture mounts & spoon over the fruits arranged over the dessert. Let it remain in the fridge for a couple of hours before unmoulding.
    Alternatively if you are using fresh strawberries then slice them and arrange them on the souffle and glaze the gelatin mixture (gelatin mixed in a little bit of hot water till it is completely dissolved, let it cool before glazing) over the strawberries to let the strawberries set.


    Note: I did not find time to put fruits on my dessert, as my souffle took time to set, so I resorted to putting coloured sprinkles randomly for the presentation.

    Tip: I made the whipped cream by chilling a clean stainless steel bowl, a whisk, and the cream in the refrigerator or freezer for 10 or 20 minutes. Let them get nice and cold, but don't freeze the cream. (Cream is easier to whip when cold.).Pour the cream, when chilled, in the bowl and start whisking. It will take 3 or 4 minutes to whip a cup of cream. At first bubbles will appear on the surface of the cream, then it will start to become foamy, then volume will begin to build. As volume builds, the cream will pass through several degrees of stiffness. Light and foamy is best for topping cakes and desserts as an accompaniment; stiff and firm is best to use as a cake frosting or to make mousse.

    Friday, January 1, 2010

    Late Night Party Snacks

    It was my Husband's birthday two days back and my brother and me immediately thought of  a plan to make his day special. We invited about 12 of his friends over and decided on a late night gathering at our home. Since all of them confirmed on a late arrival, which is as late as 10.30pm...I could only think of some snacks to keep us all alert and awake for the night. My snack menu for the party comprised of Chiken Tikka Cocktail, Stuffed Eggs, Green chutney and Carrot Sandwiches, Cocktail Sausages, Potato chips with garlic and chilly dip, Mushroom and Potato pie, Warm Orange Tea and Raspberry Souffle.

    Chicken Tikka Cocktail

    Ingredients:
    Chicken Tikka - 24 pieces (I ordered this from a local tandoori restaurant and had them home delivered)
    Thousand Island Dressing - 1/2cup
    Half a Green Bell pepper - diced into cubes

    Chop the chiken tikka into small pieces and plop in the thousand island dressing and diced pepper and mix well. Serve immediately. This can be refrigerated and used for a sandwich filling for the next day as well.

    Stuffed Eggs

    Ingredients:
    Hardboiled Eggs - 24 halved lengthwise
    Cheese spread - 4-5tbs
    Mayonnaise - 1/4cup
    Tobasco Sauce - a couple of dabs
    White pepper - a pinch
    Onion - one small finely chopped
    Small green pepper - finely chopped (reserve some for garnish)
    Prawns  - 200gms (I used frozen prawns)
    Lemon juice - 1-2tsp
    Salt to taste
    Lettuce leaves

    Thaw the prawns. Into a pot, pour water enough to cover the prawns and bring the water toa boil. Once the water the starts to boil, put in some pepper and salt to season. Take the prawns out in 2-3minutes, or else the prawns would become rubbery. After they have cooled a bit, chop them up.
    Into a another bowl, using a teaspoon scoop out the egg yolks and add the mayonnaise and mix well. Add the tobasco sauce and white pepper and combine well. Then add in the chopped pepper, onion and prawns and combine again. Taste and adjust the seasoning and then add the lemon juice. Fill each egg white with the filling and garnish with a green pepper and arrange the eggs on to a bed of lettuce leaves.

    Mushroom and Potato Pie

    Ingredients:
    Mushroom - 250gms
    Potato - 5-6 diced into cubes
    Carrot - 2-3 diced into cubes
    Green chilly - 2 finely chopped
    Onion - 2 medium sized finely chopped
    Garlic - 3-4pods finely chopped
    Hot and sweet tomato sauce - 4-5tbs
    Salt to taste

    For the Bechamel Sauce
    Flour - 4tbs
    Milk - 2cups
    Butter  - 2tbs
    Cheddar Cheese grated - 1/2cup
    Nutmeg grated - 1/4 tsp
    Pepper - 1/4tsp
    Salt to taste

    Fry the potatoes and carrot and remove onto absorbent paper. Then saute the garlic, onion and chilly. When the onion becomes transparent, add the Hot and sweet tomato sauce and fry for a minute. Tip in the mushrooms and fry till it becomes nice and soft. Add the fried potatoes and carrot and mix well. Check on the seasoning. Empty into a greased pie dish and top with bechamal sauce and grated cheddar cheese and bake for 35minutes at 120C.

    For the roux [White sauce/ Bechamel Sauce]
    Into a heavy bottomed saucepan melt the butter, add in the flour and stir continuously till it forms a soft paste and bubbles. Careful not to brown the roux. Mix in the milk and keep stirring till the roux thickens. Add salt to taste, pepper and grated nutmeg and mix well.

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