EVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: GARLIC LOVERS RECIPE: GARLIC PARMESAN HASSELBACK POTATOES Garlic Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes, so crispy from the outside, the middle is tender and soft like mashed potato. Coupled with the flavors of butter, garlic, olive oil, parmesan and chilli flakes these potatoes are to die for! What are Hasselback Potatoes? Hasselback Potatoes, Potato à la hasselbacken or Hasselbackspotatis are baked potatoes that are sliced till the middle and open up like a fan on baking. These were invented by a trainee chef Leif Ellison who worked at Hasselbacken Restaurant in Stockholm. Though pretty popular nowadays this side dish, starter was invented in 1953. They also go by name of Accordion Potatoes or Pillbug Potatoes. I know I’m pretty late in trying out this awesome addictive…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER W RECIPE: WHOLEWHEAT & BANANA PANCAKES Wholewheat & Banana Pancakes so soft, fluffy and delicious without refined sugar makes a healthy and nutritious breakfast or brunch for the whole family. Serve it topped with homemade chocolate sauce, fresh fruits and nuts. What are Pancakes? Pancake is a popular breakfast option in many parts of the world, be it sweet or savory. So what is pancake? Basically, its a batter of flour, liquid, a raising agent(leavening agent) mixed together and cooked on a griddle or frying pan. Known also as flapjack, griddlecake or hotcake, there are so many different kinds of pancakes all over the world. Which kind of flour is…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: EASTER BREADS RECIPE: OSTERBROT, GERMAN EASTER BREAD Osterbrot, German Easter Bread is soft, fragrant, sweet and rich. Its the German version of Jewish Challah or the Italian Easter Bread. Enjoy the bread for breakfast or at teatime. Leftover bread can be made into a bread pudding or French Toast. Actually, didn’t have any leftover as we toasted the slices lightly and finished it off slathered with butter and marmalade. The bread stayed fresh at room temperature for 2 days. The remaining I stored in the fridge in an airtight container. A Bit About Easter Breads Many European Countries have a tradition of baking bread that is connected to Easter and Good Friday. The practise of eating sweetened bread as communion…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER V RECIPE: VANILLA PUDDING, EGG FREE What is Vanilla Pudding? So creamy, silky, delectable and easy to make. Dress Vanilla Pudding up with fruits, ginger snaps, chocolates or enjoy on its own. And so much better than ready made or prepackaged ones. Vanilla Pudding is a traditional dessert made from egg yolks, cornstarch, milk, sugar and vanilla. Some add a bit of butter, some don’t. For the egg free version, I’ve omitted eggs and instead added some cream. How is it different from Custard? Here, the reference is to the actual homemade custard and not the ones we make from flavored powder. Generally custard is made using egg yolks which is…
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Continue ReadingRECIPE: BRAZILIAN CARROT CAKE Brazilian Carrot Cake is not only beautifully bright but so soft, moist, fluffy and divine. Drizzled with melted dark chocolate, it makes a perfect dessert or enjoy some with coffee. I’d come across the recipe years ago and had jotted it down. Then, had forgotten all about it. Generally, if I’m not with family for my birthday, it does not occur to my hubby to order a cake! I’d actually been dropping hints that there are quite a few ladies in our apartment complex who bake and sell cakes, one is my neighbor. However, come 20th Feb there is no cake! So the hunt for an easy peasy cake began as I knew my other neighbor’s kid would be expecting a…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: BREAKFAST FOR SUPPER RECIPE: ZEGE/CHIPSI MAYAI What is Zege/Chipsi Mayai? Zege/Chipsi Mayai is an unusual omelette which is not only tasty but its a meal on its own. Zege/ Chips Mayai is a famous Tanzanian Street Food. Mayai in Kiswahili is egg and chipsi is chips or French Fries. Chopped onions, tomatoes, green pepper and coriander (cilantro) are added to the omelette mixture. Fried chips or French Fries are layered in the frying pan and the omelette mixture is added on top. The omelette is cooked till done and served with a local salad called Kachumbari. The word Zege means Cement in Kiswahili. To make a ‘solid’ meal, cooked minced meat is also added. Served as a breakfast or any time…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: ROMANCE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY RECIPE: WATERMELON MOUSSE Watermelon Mousse Watermelon Mousse is a very light, refreshing, fruity, delicious dessert. Easy to make, its a perfect dessert to celebrate Valentine’s Day or to enjoy for a romantic evening. The first time I tried this recipe was sometime in Nov 2013. I prepared Watermelon Mousse for a family Sunday lunch. The best part of preparing this mousse, was that it was easy, had no eggs and different. Generally mousse is prepared with the more familiar fruits like mango, strawberry, raspberry, pineapple, etc. Hardly ever anyone thinks of using watermelon to prepare a dessert. My guests couldn’t believe that the mousse was made with watermelon. I posted the recipe on 12/11/2013 but the one…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: ONE POT WONDERS RECIPE: MUJADDARA – LENTIL & RICE PILAF What is Mujaddara? Mujaddara is an inexpensive, gluten free, vegan, healthy, flavorful and filling main dish. The main flavour of this rice dish comes from the caramelized onions. It is usually served with a salad and some yogurt, hummus or tahini sauce. Mujaddara is a lentil and rice preparation or dish that is usually enjoyed as a main meal. Mujaddara in Arabic means “pockmarked” as the pilaf resembles pockmarks. Without meat, it’s considered as a poor man’s meal. Meat was added to the pilaf only during celebrations. Mujaddara is a popular dish all over the Middle East. However, there are variations depending on the area or region. The variations can range…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER T RECIPE: ROASTED TOMATO & RICOTTA TOAST Roasted Tomato & Ricotta Toast is warm toast slathered with ricotta cheese and topped with garlicky roasted tomatoes. Perfectly enjoyable as breakfast, or served with some soup as a light meal option. Roasted Tomato & Ricotta Toast This one one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh seasonal tomatoes. The first time I tasted roasted tomato & ricotta toast was as a brunch option in Montreal. On the side had poached eggs, some salad greens and roasted potato chunks. That brunch sat happily in my tummy till evening! I’ve tried this recipe with the normal big tomatoes roasted but it doesn’t taste the same. Got…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #279 SESAME SEEDS RECIPE: ITALIAN SESAME SEED COOKIES/BISCOTTI REGINA Italian Sesame Seed Cookies Italian Sesame Seed Cookies/ Biscotti Regina, a classic Italian treat, so crunchy and lemony. These authentic Italian cookies are so easy to make. Originally called Biscotti Regina these cookies from the Sicily region make a good snack option. They can be served as dessert or with coffee. Translated, the name Biscotti Regina means Queen’s Biscuits. Crunchy outer because of the sesame seeds and a slightly soft center, these cookies are best enjoyed dunked in coffee, milk or tea. Biscotti Regina Unlike the more famous biscotti we know which are twice baked, Biscotti Regina are baked only once. How they originated is debatable. In this case, it is believed…
