Meatballs in Garlic Sauce

Batata Harara

Recipe to follow

Little Chef Cooking Class 2012

It's been more than 3 months...I haven't posted any new recipes on my blog

Have been extremely busy @ work so no time for blogging. Miss cooking and blogging, but stole some time in between the busy schedule to make few Christmas sweets (I made Milk Cream, Jujupes, Besan Laddoos, Baath Cake, Black & White mini Meringues & my signature goan multi layered layered Bebic. Adrian made Christmas Cake, Rum Balls, Baileys & White chocolate fudge. Sabu made the Chocolate Brownies) so we all 3 equally contributed in making the sweets.



It's been Party time since 24th Dec, 2011 & still on the roll. Dec/Jan is the time of the year filled with birthdays, Wedding's, Anniversaries never ending Season full of fun & love. This is the best time of the year. Tired of eating & drinking. This is it I have to get back to my Chemical diet to shed all those pounds piled up gorging on those lovely sweet meats & food galore.

24th Dec. night Party @ home..had a short & sweet time as we all had work the next day... Alll early to bed...




25th Dec. Noon Party @ Rani & Vally's House. Had a rocking time with Cointreau. I was seriously rocking. ;-) Thank you Rani & Vally for all the troubles you take to make us Happy. Rani your Signature Strawberry cheesecake rocks. Cheers ..... BAILEYS..



30th Dec Noon Party @ Raj & Freeda's House. Had a Ball. That was a ball of a time rolling the lemon in our mouth and wishing Michu happy birthday.

Freeda wanted me to decorate Michu's (my godchild)birthday cake. Since I didn't have much time Freeda baked the red velvet cake & cupcakes & I just had to frost it. Decorated it with two tone red & white roses with cream cheese frosting. Roses look awesome isn't it????







Thank you Freeda & Raj for the nice party, Not forgetting the Signature Biryani & Vermicelli Kheer) Oh I forgot the Boondi Laddoos they are mind blowing... Do you have some more... If not make some and send it for me.. Was I saying I'm going back on Diet... Yes Yes I'm going on diet.. Thanks Freeda.. I will let you rest until Christmas for my quota. :-)

It was our 16th Wedding Anniversary on 30th December but since we were invited for Michu's Birthday we didn't celebrate. Thank God for that or else one more party to our list & we would surely explode...

1st January Midnight Party : It's time for some new resolutions... I made a resolution to loose around 10 Kgs more but resolutions are for breaking instead of loosing I gained 5 kgs. But I have got to do it.. So its gonna be 15 kgs of fat shedding. What a difficult task. :( Chemical Diet here I come.

All set to go to Church for Newyear's Mass.





We had a pound party... As Usual loads of delicacies & desserts but not a very happening party as all were gloomy, tired & fedup of eating & drinking. I could see it in everyone's eyes begging for some rest to their bellies. Thank you Rani & Vally once again. We had fun... Parties are just an excuse to be together...

Sorry no pics... Can you believe we didn't click a single pic.

Still not Finished.... This day of the year is a big DAY for me. 6th Jan my birthday.. Adrian (My darling) makes all the preparations way in advance (from marinating to baking) I am just the Sous Chef not allowed to cook & the Master Chef does it all. Adrian also baked a special Opera Cake which was Yummilicous... finger licking delicious.







Made Chinese food (Mangolian Lamb, Schezuan Chicken, Mixed fried rice, Beef Roast with rosemary & wine vinegar, Batata Harara - kick on starter, Meat ball Manchurian plus the signature desert Chocolate Mousse. Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and for coming and making my DAY. Special thank you to Adrian & Sabu. MUAAAAAAH. Loved my birthday gifts....


Resolution seriously gone for a TOSS I must say :( still piling up....

In between lunches,parties & Bbq's happening at work ... OMG !!!!! I need to stop it... but howwwww???? BIG QUESTION MARK?

17th January - Freeda's Birthday & 10th Wedding Anniversary. Raj planned to give her a surprise as she was gonna be away from town on 17th.. We all jammed up at her place but instead she getting the surprise, we were surprised to see she had set up the bar & sitting inside to welcome us for her Surprise party. We had a nice time. The Cheescake from Mr. Baker was yummy... Thank You Freeda for the doggy bag.





22nd January - Vally & Rani's Anniversary...It's a week day but we wanted to give them a surprise too. Freeda out of town so Raj & Adrian decided for a surprise. We just barged in with some food & cake. Great evening but since freeda & kids were not there we have to go for lunch (Post anniversary celebrations) Just another excuse to spend time with loved ones.





Now the last 2 parties yet to come 27th Jan - Vanessa's Birthday & Raj's Birthday 1st Feb.. That's the end of our Partiesssss hopefully.


Updates to follow.


Thank You & Cheers to All for taking the time to pass by and read the happening events..

Lajeej Palak Macchi (Delicious Fish Spinach Gravy)

500 gms Fish Fillet (clean & cut into medium pcs)



3 bunches of Palak (spinach) pick, clean and chopped finely



3 big onions (chopped finely)
1 pkt KDD tomato Paste
3 inch pc of ginger (chopped finely)
8-9plump garlic cloves (chopped finely)
4 green Chillies
4 tbsp Oil
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
3 tsp Mehran Kadai Mutton Masala
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
2 cups of water
1 tsp white vinegar

Heat oil in a pot, Add cumin seeds and let it splutter.

Add the onions, brown them well.

Add Chopped ginger & garlic. Fry well.

Add tomato paste, fry.

Add kadai masala, turmeric, green chillies, salt fry for another minute.

Add chopped palak (spinach) & water. Close the lid & leave it on slow flame for 15-20 minutes untill spinach is nicely cooked and saucy. (If you want more gravy add another 1/2 cup of water.)



Now sprinkle crushed kasuri methi. Add Vinegar & adjust salt if required.

Add the pcs of fish, mix and leave it to cook on slow flame for another 2-3 minutes.



Serve it with hot piping boiled rice or enjoy it with chapattis.

Prawns Biryani

Biryani - Adrian's all time favorite. He can eat Biryani 7 days a week but it's only that I don't make it. Heee heee heeeeeee.

If I ask Adrian what should I cook today and with a big smile there will be a quick demand for "BIRYANI". If I have a fight with Adrian and wanna patch up all I have to do is make some Biryani and all the anger is fumed away with the pleasant Biryani aroma..

Sabrina (sabu) my daughter is another foodie who loves rice and cannot live with out it. She is banned from eating rice. It's been more than a month I haven't made rice and she is like literally dying to eat rice. I'm gonna surprise her today with this yummy Prawns Biryani.

Check out my hoggers expresions :) she is a darling monster of mine. Love u Sabu.





Ingredients :

750 gms Prawns (shelled & deveined)


750 gms of Basmati rice (wash & let it soak for 1 hour)
whole garam Masala (1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 " cinnamon sticks, 7-8 cloves, 2 black cardamom, 3-4 green cardamom)

3 medium Onions (thinly sliced)
4 big tomatoes (roughly chopped)
5 green chillies
1 cup full fat yoghurt (170 gms)
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp red chilly powder
3/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp garam masala powder
2 tsp kewra essence
1 big lemon juice
1/4 cup milk
few drops of yellow food colour
few sprigs of chopped mint & coriander leaves
Salt to taste.


Wash the rice 4-5 times and remove all the starch. Keep it aside to soak for 1 hour.

Grind the tomatoes, green chillies & yoghurt to a smooth paste in a blender and leave it aside.



In a big casserole take 1/2 cup oil, heat the oil... Add the sliced onions and let it brown.

Now add the ground puree, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder & turmeric powder.

Fry the above puree & spices till it starts leaving oil.



Add 1 cup of water, add salt to taste.

Add the prawns, mix and let it cook on slow flame for 2-3 minutes. Don't over cook the prawns. Put off the flame and leave it aside.



In another big vessel take water and let it boil. Add the whole garam masala.

Just few minutes before the water starts boiling add the soaked rice, add 3 tbsp salt. Stir.

As soon as the water starts boiling. Remove 7-8 big serving spoons of rice, strain. Now layer that rice over the prawns gravy. sprinkle some chopped coriander, chopped mint, 1/4 tsp garam masala powder.


Let the remaining rice cook a little longer for another 2 minutes. Strain & put it over the one boil cooked rice. Sprinkle chopped coriander & mint leaves, 1/2 tsp garam masala powder.

In a bowl take milk, add kewra essence & few drops of yellow colour., Sprinkle it over the top rice layer.



Add 4-5 tsp of ghee or oil over the rice.




Seal the handi with an alluminium foil.




Take an old frying pan or tava heat it. Now keep your handi over the tava and let the biryani cook in its own steam (dum) for 25 minutes on very slow flame.




ENJOY THE YUMMY PRAWNS BIRYANI WITH YOUR OWN CHOICE OF RAITA

Cinnarolls

Cinnamon Rolls have been on my mind from a very long time but Adrian is not very fond of cinnamon thus I avoided making it.

Whenever I pass by Cinnabon, I keep drooling over the frosted cinnarolls. The aroma is so very enticing that it makes me feel hungry.

So finally today I decided to make it. I reduced the cinnamon but I don't suggest you to do so. I was quiet happy with the outcome, they were super soft, perfectly sweet. I didn't frost them either as I didn't want it too sweet.

I'm glad Adrian and Sabu liked it and both of them ate two each.

Final verdict they were superb. Sabu gave thumbs up. :)


INGREDIENTS :

1 1/3 cup KDD Milk (full cream)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
2 2/3 cups plain flour + 1/3 cup
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
100g unsalted melted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 tsp Cinnamon powder
1/4 cup Sultanas (optional)
1/4 cup walnuts chopped roughly (optional)




Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan.

Heat the milk just before the boiling point, turn off heat and leave to cool for about 30 mins.



When the milk mixture is lukewarm, add the yeast. Leave it to froth for 3-4 minutes.



Add 2 2/3 cups of flour, mix well. Cover and let it rise for one hour.



Now to the above risen dough mixture add 1/3 cup of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir the mixture nicely and you will have a very sticky dough.



Leave it for another 30 minutes to rise. Punch the dough.



Sprinkle the rolling board or the surface with flour. Roll the dough thinly into a long rectangle shape.



Now drizzle the melted butter over the rolled dough.



Mix cinnamon & sugar so it can be easily sprinkled on the rolled dough.



Sprinkle the cinnamon & sugar.




Then sprinkle the cinnamon powder, sultanas & walnuts.



Now start rolling the dough slowly making sure both end are equally rolled . Roll it tightly. Finally pinch the ends to seal it.



Cut the roll to 2 inch thick and lay them in a greased baking tray leaving space in between for the rolls to rise.



Let the rolls rise for 30 mins.



Bake at a 180℃ in a pre-heated oven until light golden brown, for 25 minutes.



Enjoy it with hot cup of coffee or simply eat them plain.