tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45042084231402502022011-12-08T04:14:22.447-05:00MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-45519896540522114062011-12-08T04:14:00.001-05:002011-12-08T04:14:22.450-05:00

either I gotta stop wanting to photograph everything, or I gotta be happy with homey chilled out recipes. Anyway, I have an oven again, and it's cookie season! Recipe recommendations anyone?

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-88872751544476295042011-07-19T07:03:00.002-05:002011-07-19T07:06:06.582-05:00

The first time I heard of carrot cake I was, obviously, revolted. Carrots! Orange vegetables with their very distinct and strong flavour in a cake! Impossible. Gajar ka halwa was made barely palatable only by the addition of obscene amounts of ghee. And raisins. How could you put carrots in cake and expect it to taste nice? Of course, one day, I finally ate some. It was cake, after all, and one

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-71911018933727092042011-04-09T11:10:00.002-05:002011-04-09T11:57:51.334-05:00

Staying at the sister's I was asked to bake. Unfortunately, the large and varied group of people meant that my choices were restricted. So I thought about it and decided it was time to try a caramel cake. I know Deb has one, and Dragon makes it a lot. But somehow it's just not caramel enough for me. So I trawled my other two go to sites, and got the cake from Annie, and the topping from Joe. (Joe

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-63364114087174977492011-04-02T02:59:00.001-05:002011-04-02T03:01:37.771-05:00

I thought of this before Deb posted, I swear. And you'll see it's not like her recipe. I've been very taken with the idea of making up my own recipes lately, especially ones that incorporate fruit and booze. So I thought, how can I turn a piña colada into cake? I thought about fresh coconut, or frosting with coconut, but I don't like coconut, except as milk. So I decided to put pureed pineapple

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-60205624239696511642011-03-27T03:36:00.000-05:002011-03-27T03:36:39.237-05:00

A cousin whose birthday I missed was the perfect excuse for this. She inhaled the tres leches I had left over, and would emerge from her book blinking sleepily to say 'cake? I heard cake!' every time anyone said anything that rhymed with cake, and so, even though she wanted chocolate, I begged her to choose something else for me to make. She graciously allowed me to choose, with this as the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-1614849098305573742011-03-13T23:49:00.003-05:002011-03-13T23:49:42.848-05:00

Lisa from Sweet as Sugar Cookies invited me to link up my sugar cookies! I feel so important...

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-21416878055928319872011-03-09T02:44:00.000-05:002011-03-09T02:44:04.510-05:00

Adapted from Annie's Eats For the party we had to celebrate my job at a place I've always wanted to work at, Dragon and I had a party, themed and everything. So I made sugar cookies, in white, orange and black. (Okay, only the orange ones were orange!) The recipe I used needed icing, so while the chocolate ones turned out delectably chocolate, the plain ones were a bit sad, but the ones covered

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-16180258206213766512011-02-18T09:05:00.001-05:002011-02-18T09:09:00.151-05:00

Or, I'm sick of dal, and I can't be bothered to make veggies. For pre-cooking and background, see this. 1/2 cup uncooked brown lentils (masoor dal), pre-cooked 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp oil 1 tsp garlic paste You can also add any herbs you like, paprika and tomato would be nice, also rosemary or thyme if you like them. Cook the garlic paste in the oil, add the cooked lentils and the spices,

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-27816872540454484722011-02-18T08:59:00.002-05:002011-02-18T09:09:51.571-05:00

For pre-cooking and background, see this. 1/2 cup uncooked dal, pre-cooked. 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp mustard seeds (big black ones) 1/2 tsp jeera powder 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 small tomato finely chopped 5-6 curry leaves (fresh if pos, dried also work) Heat the oil and put the mustard seeds in. When they start to pop, add the rest of the spices, curry leaves (

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-22063762749941467352011-02-18T08:57:00.005-05:002011-02-18T09:10:33.362-05:00

For pre-cooking and other background, see this. This works with any dal actually. 1/2 cup uncooked dal, pre-cooked  1/2 tsp turmeric 1 tsp dhania powder 1/2 tsp jeera powder 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 small tomato finely chopped fresh coriander (optional) Fry the spices in the oil for a couple of minutes. Add the ginger garlic and cook for a minute. Add the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-35438665445580050472011-02-18T08:56:00.003-05:002011-02-18T09:10:43.591-05:00

For pre-cooking and background, see this. 1/2 cup uncooked moong dal, pre-cooked 1 tsp oil  1 tsp jeera powder 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (optional) Fry the jeera, and the turmeric if you're using it, in the oil nicely, so it smells all cooked. Like 2 min or so. Add the dal, and salt to taste, bring to a boil. And ta-DAAAAA(L)!

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-28541793553125021712011-02-18T08:55:00.006-05:002011-02-18T09:11:33.517-05:00

For precooking and background, see this. 1 cup uncooked dal, pre-cooked 1 tsp oil 2 tsp dhania powder 1 tsp jeera powder 1 tsp kasoori methi (optional but totally worth it) 1 tsp ginger garlic paste Heat oil in pan. Add ginger garlic and spices and cook for about a minute. Pour dal in, add salt and bring to a boil. Ta-DAAAA(L)!

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-14675774732709610402011-02-18T08:54:00.002-05:002011-02-18T09:06:04.847-05:00

Pre-cooking Lentils I have established a habit of pressure cooking dals on a regular basis. Now, I grew up in a house where we used a cooker whose entire top came off, and you put tiered vessels inside it with carious things in the vessels. This way we would cook rice, dal to go in the sambar, and the potatoes to make into curry all in one go. Many people in India I have learnt do not follow this

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-5197439432731602332011-02-18T08:21:00.001-05:002011-02-18T08:22:11.182-05:00

Looking at the cooking, and talking to people about it recently, I discovered that I had forgotten why I started this blog in the first place. It has become about perfect baking mostly, while it began as a repository for easy and satisfying recipes. To make up for that, I've got my most basic cake recipe here. It's a ratio that is based on eggs, and you can scale it up as much as you like. I

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-989926794626485262011-02-18T08:14:00.000-05:002011-02-18T08:14:03.168-05:00

Telephonic discussion with my cousin, trapped ovenless in Bangalore, resulted in some googlin and some discussion of strange culinary shortcuts. For example, you can use a pressure cooker (prestige not hawkins) as an oven! Simply heat it waterless till its hot, put the batter in a flat bottom steel vessel and put it directly on the bottom of the cooker, close and cook on low flame without the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-46210404168306787522011-02-17T05:17:00.000-05:002011-02-17T05:17:04.949-05:00

This is an adaptation of the first recipe I ever invented all on my ownsome. One day I'll give you that recipe, for now I'm saving it in case there ever is a REAL Itteh Bitteh Kitteh Cafeh someday. However, today I modified it slightly, and here we have Apple Tart. 1.25 C wholewheat flour 1/2 C salted butter, cubed. say 200g. 1/2tsp baking powder about 1/3C ice cold water, use as little as

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-58486663618912312272010-10-06T09:23:00.000-05:002010-10-06T09:23:52.699-05:00

My dad has a birthday last month, so I wanted to bake him a cake. He's mad about coffee and cricket, and since they haven't invented a cricket cake yet, it had to be this one. The problems I had were silly, but problems nonetheless. I couldn't find mascarpone anywhere and simply did not have the time to bake it. I also had no one to eat the cake since I was leaving town the very day of his

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-48340012736400847182010-09-29T12:33:00.000-05:002010-09-29T12:33:32.906-05:00

It's not that I'm not cooking, I just either forget the camera, or lose the recipe, or don't have the time to post. June and July was too much travelling and well work's been hard so here I am finally posting. I finally did it! I've always been intrigued by this cake, the red velvet cake, and was heavily disappointed to discover its a mildly chocolate cake that's red. Until I ate one at the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-76470945867469531902010-04-25T00:31:00.001-05:002010-09-29T12:46:41.683-05:00

My momma turned SIXTY this week, and as the only family representative I wanted to make her a cake she'd love. She's a bit persnickety when it comes to cake, so chocolate was out. Thank god - I'm quite sick of it myself. I found this recipe on teh internets, and it really did look like something she'd like, because of the fruit flavour and the tang of the lemon curd. But I needed to adapt it a

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-86917970625227953622010-04-10T08:12:00.002-05:002010-05-13T03:53:42.371-05:00

All this frantic fancy baking - I was craving something nice and simple. Just, plain cake, you know? Vanilla, and moist, and crusty, and not too sweet; no complicated flavours, no brouhaha to prepare. Just cake. So I scooted over to smitten kitchen, and found these recipes.The second of which I then adapted. I shall babble no more and send you straight to the best cake ever. Makes one huge,

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-50070091748793268022010-04-07T07:02:00.001-05:002010-04-07T07:10:29.789-05:00

Somewhere along the way, one of the Tuesdays with Dorie was these. And I really wanted to make them. Only the original recipe called for lemon, and I didn't have any. I did find wheatgerm at the fancy market so was very happy, and decided to make them just plain honey cookies instead of honey lemon ones. When I ate them though I realised, yummy thought they were, they would really have improved

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-43310029953148112352010-04-06T09:16:00.002-05:002010-10-25T05:46:41.755-05:00

Ello! No I have not been neglecting you, I just didn't have the camera one week I cooked a lot and then I didn't cook much! However, here is the next in the birthday series, Chocolate Tart, from Deb of course. I must admit I was a tad skeptical, since I made a ton of the tart dough the previous week for a lemon tart and it was just too sweet, and a titch crunchy for my taste - I like em flaky and

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-18837464970522291772010-03-09T06:54:00.000-05:002010-03-09T06:54:16.540-05:00

I promised all my friends I'd bake them cakes in March and April, mainly so I could bake all the delish recipes I've been dying to try, and then not have to eat them. A fellow whiskey-loving friend who periodically ensures there is Cutty Sark in my life recently had a birthday, and having seen these over on smittenkitchen, I decided I'd try them. The first problem was that they're cupcakes and I

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-48900160837216588302010-03-02T08:38:00.000-05:002010-03-02T08:38:36.442-05:00

This one is always in demand when I say pasta. All my friends, especially the little boys, get this glint in their eyes and OOF has burnt his fingers many times trying to taste it too early. This is a combination of a bechamel, and some sort of cheese sauce we used to eat with macaroni as kiddies. It usually serves 4, and is lovely in lasagna or with mushrooms. It also is the base for the veggie

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-48329499786822302622010-03-02T08:16:00.002-05:002010-03-02T08:41:01.544-05:00

Somewhere in my time in the US, I realised that tomato sauce is REALLY easy to make - it just takes time. I usually make a huge batch that lasts for about four meals of two people each. It freezes very well, and lasts in the fridge up to a week (I've never been able to resist it longer.) The basis is tomatoes and onions, with a ton of garlic. After that, toss in whatever you want. Obviously, the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-60248645197881081872010-03-02T07:55:00.004-05:002011-06-17T04:11:12.140-05:00

It took two tries to get this right, and I'd say it still needs work, but I'm SO EXCITED! =) I've been wanting to try pizza dough forever, especially since people tell me it's easy. (Apparently not for me.) So I scooted over to, yup, you guessed it, smitten kitchen, and dug this one out. The first time I tried it I made my usual overestimating-the-power-of-ingredient-mapping error, and tried to

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-36115351521207769542010-03-02T05:48:00.004-05:002010-03-02T05:52:22.216-05:00

I've ALWAYS loved this. Yum. And seriously, don't listen to anyone if they tell you not to put other stuff in, I used to fill em full of mushrooms and paprika and whatnot. I wouldn't advise offering that to a Spaniard though. Especially one far from home. I finally took photos of the process this time, so can remove the unwieldy description of how to cut potatoes! 3 medium potatoes 1 medium

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-79296675695713376862010-02-22T07:40:00.001-05:002010-02-22T07:42:01.459-05:00

After the challah I decided I was feeling brave enough to try for real bread, and surfing the interwebs I found this. Valour might as well be out and out, and since I miss Fairway so much, I decided to try. The result is this luscious, dense almost cake-like bread, that is DIVINE toasted. I never managed to wait the required 40 min, and put butter on it out of the oven so it melts, and then

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-46921371007316351222010-02-22T05:41:00.001-05:002010-03-09T05:57:43.741-05:00

So I quit my job recently and decided to have a party to celebrate. Heck, who'm I kidding, I just wanted an excuse to bake. Hee. I've been dying to try more from smitten kitchen, and it's been a long time since there was chocolate in my life. Therefore, double chocolate cake. As usual, it lived up to everything I am now coming to demand from anything of Deb's, and was inhaled by my friends. Not a

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-50223089289667236562010-02-16T08:10:00.001-05:002010-03-12T04:39:30.541-05:00

Now I know I've posted a Banana Bread recipe already, but hey, when Deb's got a recipe up, I have to try it. And boy was it worth it. I had these bananas left over from the GM, that were black on the outside. I mean, I know I'm OCD about bananas, but even my mother wouldn't have eaten these. I also didn't have bourbon in the house, but the smell of the cinnamon and the bananas made me think of

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-90391827628657781622010-02-16T07:50:00.001-05:002010-02-16T08:11:10.502-05:00

Yay! Potatoes are back! This recipe can be used to make dry alu mutter, and gobi mutter as well. Staple food. Serve with rice/chappatis and dal. 1 small cauliflower, washed and cut to florets. Any size will do, just remember smaller cooks faster, but too small means disintegration. 2 potatoes, scrubbed clean and cubed to match the florets 1 small onion, diced 1/2 tsp turmeric 2 tsp powdered

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-21659181524073549012010-02-12T06:58:00.003-05:002010-03-12T04:40:49.763-05:00

There's a pub I love to go to, that has the most AWESOME bake. It's cheap too, and soooo yummy. But the pub is very far. So laziness, and of course, the buying of my staples spinach and mushrooms, resulted in this for dinner. 2 packets mushrooms, sliced 2 bunches of spinach, coarsely chopped The kernels from 1 ear of corn 1 onion, sliced about 300ml milk (depends on how thick you want your

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-34358618067359682712010-02-12T06:32:00.002-05:002010-02-12T06:40:18.699-05:00

Yeah, nothing to write home on the face of it, innit? Until, one day, at a Mexican restaurant in Montclair NJ, my uncle made me try some. Holy. Mother. Of. All. That. Is. Sacred. And. Tastes. Good. Take a sponge cake, and soak it with condensed milk and cream - bleurgh you say. I don't like condensed milk you say. That really doesn't sound very appetising you say. And then you eat two pieces. (

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-35743371848821237642010-02-08T04:29:00.001-05:002010-03-12T04:45:54.366-05:00

Is so important to me. Living the US made me just so happy, because they take breakfast almost as seriously as we do down south. There are pancakes, and waffles, and eggs, and toast, and lordy lordy, home fries! Never been so happy in my life. Whenever I have the time, I like to make sure I have a nice cooked breakfast, otherwise i make do with cereal or porridge or something. This morning, I

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-53226516203232819292010-02-06T05:04:00.000-05:002010-02-06T05:04:23.870-05:00

But you're vegetarian you protest. Tis true,but this won't be the first time stew's been adapted. My dear friend Mungi will also shriek in horror to hear of green chillies, cinnamon AND a bay leaf all being used at the same time. However, much like sambar, I think everyone has their own recipe. Et voila. Traditionally, this stew is made with mutton. I make it with root vegetables and tubers.

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-29480493648920547712010-02-06T04:42:00.001-05:002010-02-06T04:53:12.254-05:00

This one is out of Nigella. I wasn't very convinced when I found out what pavlova is, but, despite the disastrous ending, it was quite yum. FAR too sweet. I'll use about 2/3rd the sugar when I make it again. Halfway through the meringue, my electric beater died. We were far too tired by then to beat it by hand. So we just baked it half beaten, and topped with very tart kiwis, and skipped the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-84669040178784051002010-02-06T01:24:00.005-05:002010-02-06T04:44:31.506-05:00

When I went to diners on the Upper West Side, especially, EJ's on 81st and Amsterdam, They used to make Challah French toast. I always wondered what it was. One day our water was a cute jewish boy who bantered a lot, and he talked me into trying challah. I loved it. He also taught me to pronounce it heh. I had no idea why it was special etc, but I had to learn to make it. So when Israeli friend

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-86423139936061036622010-02-06T00:50:00.008-05:002010-02-06T05:04:58.923-05:00

I've adored cheesecake ever since the first time I ate a real one, not the eggy, gelatinous ones we get here in India as a rule. When I was in college, we discovered this bakery in Khan Market (I can't even remember the name, but it doesn't exist anymore so it doesn't matter I guess) that had divine blueberry cheesecake for the decadent sum of seventy rupees. (My daily budget was about 50), and

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-28673926960162200442010-02-03T03:56:00.009-05:002011-01-06T07:53:43.535-05:00

Now, it's been a while since the sistah introducted me to smitten kitchen, and I have been DYING for a chance to try out some of her stuff, especially the non chocolate desserts. It being the gramma's eighty-sixth, I decided to make her lemon cake. But there aren't enough lemons around, and deffy not nice ones. It is also orange season, and we have these that I think are clementines, but we call

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-12489533369440518872010-02-01T07:48:00.014-05:002010-02-06T04:44:07.384-05:00

On my first non jetlagged day living in New York, my cousin's girlfriend, just done with law school, was kind enough to babysit me all over town. She took me a bakery somewhere on Columbus (never went back cos I'm too lazy to walk TWO avenue blocks) in the 80s, and fed me this amazing Jewish thing, Knish. I swear it was like the samosa made for me, because it has no spices, only delicate flavours

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-20505509507253411822010-01-29T04:54:00.005-05:002010-02-06T04:45:39.619-05:00

I know, I know, I need a better name. This morning I found a packet of mushrooms that had to be cooked. I also needed something for lunch. The only other vegetable (yes yes) in the house was potatoes. Much googling came up with lovely, drool-inducing things like potato mushroom gratin and so on, but they really were pushing the trying to eat healthy boundaries. Plus I simply didn't have the time

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-83675060847604478632010-01-27T12:14:00.005-05:002010-02-06T04:46:13.807-05:00

So the supermarket had the most GORGEOUS mushrooms and spinach yesterday. Of course, I bought too much. The joys of having a maid meant that when i got home from work I had me a big pile of chopped veggies! I figure it's time I made something here that's mildly healthy! 1 onion, chopped in chunks (doesn't matter because it's going to stew and then go in the blender) 2 bunches of spinach (I'd say

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-70441280737215921272009-12-22T08:06:00.007-05:002010-02-06T04:50:14.606-05:00

This was formerly, Mint Chocolate Cake with Strawberries and whipped cream. After moving here, the recipe had to be adapted to unavailability of fresh strawberries and dark chocolate. The result. For the cake:2 bars Bournville plain dark chocolate, broken up into little pieces 6 eggs, separated, whites beaten stiff 125g butter 2 tbs milk 1/2 cup sugar 4 tbs flour For the ganache topping1/2

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-33499511586290556212009-12-22T06:59:00.006-05:002010-02-06T04:52:22.214-05:00

Yes. Really. Like Gerald Durrell and Enid Blyton. I grew up hearing/reading about these things, and never et a one, even when I visited old Blighty. This week a friend got me into a baking mood, so I made Mushroom and Potato Quiche, and now tried scones. No idea if this is what they should be like, but melikes! also, SUPREMELY unhealthy! 2.5 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-79100474320466005542009-12-14T10:57:00.004-05:002009-12-14T12:20:42.470-05:00

Random recipe I keep making up as I go along, but figure I should write it down. Pasta2 bundles of spinach, shredded10-15 cloves of garlic, depending on how you like it, crushed100 g cheese of choice (you can tone it down or up), grated1 tsp basil1/2 tsp oregano1 bag mushrooms, sliced2 small peppers (I like red and yellow), diced1 medium onion, diced300-500 ml milk, depending on how you want the

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-83330770878457614112009-12-07T03:36:00.004-05:002010-02-06T04:53:25.795-05:00

The sister brought me a bundt pan, so I've been going a leeeetle nuts. Heh.2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into pieces1 tsp powdered cinnamon4 eggs200g flour (wholewheat always works best)100g melted butter1 tsp baking powder200 ml milk150g sugar (brown for preference)1 tbs sugar for caramelHeat over to 250C. Beat eggs and sugar together. Add melted butter. Add milk, and then flour, cinnamon and

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-14372234478804136662009-12-07T03:18:00.002-05:002009-12-07T03:36:05.442-05:00

For the cake2 eggs3 cups wholewheat flour1.5 tsp baking powder2 tsp ground cinnamon (toss 2 cloves in when you grind if you can)1 cup milk2 tbs butter (salted)1 tbs orange zest1/2 cup brown sugar1/2 cup honeyPreheat oven to 250C. Combine butter and zest in a saucepan over medium heat, until butter sizzles. Beat eggs and sugar together till fluffy. Add honey and then butter-zest mixture. Keep

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-12932694035991901612009-11-02T01:10:00.004-05:002010-11-08T10:04:57.942-05:00

Every year this barfi was the highlight of our lives. Seriously. Bouncing around the kitchen in unbearable excitement so we could eat the scraping and poke the goo before it set. This year I got her to direct me to make it and voila! Le recipe. I am told it is also called 3 cups barfi, and you can replace the cocoa with ground almonds, cashews, anything you want. 1 cup besan (chickpea flour)2-

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-28153474542128963612009-09-07T02:24:00.007-05:002009-12-22T08:39:06.286-05:00

Wow long time.Serves 4For the Crust:1 1/2 cups flour (I used wholewheat, but use whatever)1/2 - 3/4 cup butter (the more the butter, the flakier the crust)Ice cold water as neededFor the filling:1 packet mushrooms (in india now so those be the measures)2 bunches spinach1 medium onion3 eggs1 cup milkgrated cheese to tastegarlic, salt and spices to taste (I used oregano and basil, but paprika would

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-81653316722309645382008-12-15T09:22:00.002-05:002009-11-03T08:03:28.733-05:00

4 eggs1 cup brown/white sugar125g melted butter (I like it salted)1 cup milk2 cups whole-wheat flour1 tsp baking powder3 or 4 cups grated carrots (how carroty do you want to be? :D)1 cup raisinsBeat eggs till fluffy. Add sugar. Beat. Add melted butter. Beat. Add milk. Mix. Add baking powder and flour. Mix. Ad cinnamon. Mix. Add carrots and raisins. Mix. Bake in greased tin at 200C for 30-40 min.

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-59124685636357077572008-12-15T09:19:00.002-05:002008-12-15T09:22:21.156-05:00

No tahini but we did it anyway!8-10 cloves garlic2 and a half to three cups of boiled chana/garbanzos/chick peas3 tbs olive oil1 tbs sesame seedssalt to tastelemon juicewater to get consistencyToss the garlic and sesame seeds in 1 tbs oil for about 5 minutes. Put everything in a blender. Whizz. Add water to ger desired consistency. Remove, drizzle with lemon juice. Eat.

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-77311058330955453402008-12-15T09:17:00.002-05:002008-12-15T09:19:49.041-05:00

Strange pesto it is too.2 cups of basil leaves - pack them in as tight as possible1/2 cup of whole cashews4 cloves of garlicsaltroughly 4 tbs olive oil (I just put it in to keep the consistency)Stick in blender/food processor. Whizz till you get the consistency you want. Eat.

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-84606669854664098432008-04-12T09:18:00.003-05:002009-11-03T08:13:15.753-05:00

When I was a kid this was my FAVOURITE cake, which amazed the parents since I was also pathologically addicted to cream and icing. Hee. Imagine my joy when I grew up and invented a recipe!Prep time: 20 minCooking time: 40 min with some watching4 eggs250g flour150g butter, salted (well I like the salty touch, use unsalted if you like)150ml milk250g sugar1 heaped tsp baking powder1 1/2 tsp

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-65607765970790044922008-03-23T09:25:00.003-05:002009-11-03T08:03:14.675-05:00

There are many kinds of empanadas, fried, baked, corn, wheat, samosas, big flat pies.... This here is snucked from the Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant cookbook. If you're ever in a secondhand bookstore and find one of their books, don't think, just buy it. I'm still too cheap to recommend firsthand cookbooks. Hee. Invent your filling, this here is what they use in the book. I think this is a

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-86950343383016258672008-03-23T09:19:00.003-05:002009-11-03T08:20:24.375-05:00

And no, I don't mean raita. But it would work very well as raita I think.A dear friend of mine produced this at a dinner party a long time ago, and after much naggging she sent me the recipe. Seriously YUM, especially in the summer.6 cups low fat plain yogurt3 cups chopped and peeled cucumbers2 green onions chopped1/4 cup fresh mint1/4 cup fresh cilantro2 tbls. chopped and seeded jalepeno

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-85071337679094143702008-02-13T12:10:00.004-05:002008-03-23T09:25:32.332-05:00

There are two ways to do this, the cheating shortcut way and the good-'ol-start-start-from-scratch way. Comin up first, the shortcut.Prep time: 10 minCooking time: 10 minServes: 48 corn tortillas1 12oz bottle of tomatillo salsa (Trader Joe's for preference!). This should have tomatillos, onions, chiles and other minor ingredients.1 handful fresh cilantro leaves4 cloves of garlic, peeled6 tbs sour

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-67941095865262495172007-09-14T21:58:00.000-05:002009-11-03T08:03:45.040-05:00

I'm back!Apologies for the lonnnnnnnng absence, it was travel and generally not cooking.Here's something I stole from the back of the lid of a tin of oats, and the end result was fabulous! Though I must say, who says oatmeal raisin cookies are healthy???1 cup butter, I prefer salted cos I like the salted taste. Softened.1 1/2 cups sugar. The original calls for 1 brown and 1/2 white. I find it

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-9300624341254895612007-06-06T11:46:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:05:49.037-05:00

There are some seven billion versions of this, and here is MinCat's very own special hybrid!1/2 medium onion, chopped fine1 large clove garlic, crushed1/4 medium pepper [the first time I used green and yellow and a lot more than 1/4th, so improvise], diced1 cup rice1 1/2 cups vegetable broth1/2 cup water [or more depending on how soft you want it]1/4 tsp turmeric powderless than 1/4 tsp cumin

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-47997303667471857612007-06-06T11:44:00.004-05:002009-12-22T08:24:34.849-05:00

Madness has resulted in the extremely belated post. Sorry. I haven't cooked in AGES. But I'm back! With two recipes today.2 bars dark chocolate (60% cacao, 43g)1 bar mint chocolate (43g)125g butter6 eggs, separated, with whites beaten stiff250g sugar2 tbs milk4 tbs flourSweetened whipped cream to put between layers and cover cakeStrawberries to decorateMelt the chocolate and milk in a saucepan.

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-15589531909613471242007-06-04T11:33:00.001-05:002007-06-04T11:42:20.394-05:00

Okay I was hungry and I found corn in the fridge, so I made"THE CORN THING"Corn (frozen or fresh) : 1 cupSpring Onions : 2Cajun Pepper Powder : To tasteSalt : To tasteLemon Juice : 1 tablepoonOlive Oil : 1 tablepoonHeat oil in a pan, and add onions, sliced finely. Fry until softened and then add corn. Fry for

TheDragonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-71779433275311920972007-05-08T13:58:00.000-05:002007-05-08T14:07:37.097-05:00

So this is a recipe I concocted based on the amount of peppers and goat cheese in my fridge that could go to waste...You need:Baby spinachGoat cheese, crumbledOnion, sliced fine, can use green onions tooBell pepper, I used red, you can use any, sliced fineOlive oilGarlic clovesSaltBreadPreheat toaster oven to 400F.Crush two or three cloves of garlic into the olive oil. I used three cloves for 1/3

Food Alchemistnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-87299461799572038232007-05-03T20:14:00.000-05:002007-05-06T08:16:15.997-05:00

Oh sweet jesus. I was watching this movie, L'Auberge Espagnole, sert in barcelona and i was reminded of this delightful thing, one of many many many, that the Spaniards do to potatoes. A regular tapas, its the first Spanish food I ate. And I sit here with a plateful.For the Patatas:4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced to about 1cm cubesOilFor the salsa brava:4 cloves garlic, crushed and minced1/2

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-4390269776651919042007-05-03T15:04:00.000-05:002009-11-03T08:04:25.186-05:00

This is a recipe from the New York Times! Yes really.They have a fantastic texture, not chocolatey enough for me, though as Minkie will testify I like my cake really really chocolatey.I used Ghirardelli's semisweet baking chocolate. Definitely microwave melted the butter and chocolate, very convenient! I would start with the chocolate and add in the butter later cos it melts faster. I used wax

Food Alchemistnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-62683989708078554182007-04-25T07:24:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:05:49.038-05:00

I *love* cauliflower. And this is the BEST way to eat it! (Those who disagree can treat themselves to a big bowl of cole-slaw...) Ingredients:Cauliflower-1 Cornflour-3 tbsp Capsicum/ green bell pepper - 1 small cut into tiny stripsOnion- I prefer green onions, but suit yourself - 1 cut into crescents Tomato sauce- 1 ½ tsp Soya sauce- 1 tsp Chilli powder- 1 tsp haldi/ turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Raphnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-90355644664793781852007-04-24T15:57:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:05:49.038-05:00

Quick-fix lunch for all us in Ye Forn Lands.Shredded cheese [You can grate if you're enthu enough. Trader Joe's Mexican blend for preference. Cheddar, queso blanco and Monterrey Jack]Tortillas [Trader Joe's sundried tomato and basil flour in this case]Veggies of choice, chopped long and thin [Onions and peppers are a good staple]Heat oil in frying pan. Toss veggies in with salt, let them cook

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-7369225485409448202007-04-24T10:02:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:06:50.978-05:00

YUM!Serves: 2-3Preparation time: 10 minCooking time: 30 min1 16 oz can chole/chana/garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed1 medium onion, chopped fine2 medium potatoes, diced to about 1 cm cubes, peeled if you wish1 tsp ginger paste1 tsp haldi1 1/2 tsp dhania1/2 tsp jeera1 tsp chana masala5 tbs tomato paste or 2 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped fine2 tsp oilsalt to tasteHeat oil in pot. Fry ginger paste

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-3170792188130731752007-04-22T12:12:00.000-05:002007-10-10T14:36:34.232-05:00

This is my favourite Latin American food. Period.Serves: 4Preparation time: 20 minCooking time: 30 minFor the beans:2 16oz cans black beans [Goya rules]1 medium onion, chopped [fine or coarse, it doesnt matter because it cooks so long]5 cloves garlic, crushed or finely minced1/2 large pepper diced small [I've used green and red both, it depends on how strong you want the pepper flavour to be]1

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-66541347133642605812007-04-21T05:57:00.000-05:002007-04-21T06:13:39.324-05:00

You can add any gravy you like to these, from spaghetti sause to szechuan sauce. Just be careful not to overdo them or they will be rubbery and dry.Chicken mince (I use lean) - 1/2 kgGarlic paste/minced fresh - 3 tspGinger paste/minced fresh - 3tspGreen chillies finely chopped(you can seed them too if you want) - 2 medium sizedPaprika - 1tspsalt/pepper - to tastelemon jiuce - 1 tsporegano -

TheDragonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-55203783067942563032007-04-20T10:12:00.000-05:002009-11-03T08:04:40.219-05:00

What to do when they get spotty all over and leave the faintly sickly sweet aftertaste and make you gag from the squishiness? [Yes I have banana perfection issues]Preparation time: 30 min [if you, like moi, are sadly bereft of an electric beater. Otherwise I'd say 10]Baking time: 50 min or so4 ripe to overripe bananas2 1/2 cups wholewheat flour2/3 cup milk1 tsp baking powder1 tsp vanilla extract/

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-11819351307934413402007-04-19T20:20:00.000-05:002010-03-09T06:57:37.205-05:00

*hic*So I decided I wanted some, googled about 70 million recipes which all have a dizzying variety of requirements and made up one. So far I like it. It's also very pretty, if the camera were here I'd post a picture.Serves: 22 shot glasses vodka (grey goose)1 shot glass apple schnapps (puckers)1 shot glass dry vermouth (martini & rossi)1 shot glass apple juice (red jacket orchard's fuji apple

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-91415340721187514902007-04-17T16:04:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:05:49.039-05:00

In delight at the success of this blog so far [snh snh] I've been cooking up a storm. This is the result of a pasta craving and a zucchini in the fridge. I'd say use what you have in the fridge, but I reccomend atleast some peppers, green beans and zucchini.Serves: 2 and a bitCooking time: 30 min6 cloves garlic1 medium onion, chopped fine1 medium red bell pepper*1/2 cup green french beans *1

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-36169505015012477912007-04-17T15:03:00.000-05:002007-04-17T15:12:25.613-05:00

My first recipe here...In keeping with the green onions and 10 minutes or less meme, here is my quesadilla recipe. Minkie, thou remeberest?NeedWholewheat tortillas, burrito size (I recommend Trader Joe's, but I usually do)Shredded CheeseSalsa, made according to following recipe,2 tomatoes, chopped into small pieces2 green onions1 clove garlicA small fistful of coriander/cilantro, chopped well1

Food Alchemistnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-87342216224529808282007-04-17T11:15:00.000-05:002007-04-17T11:56:22.146-05:00

Alritey then! I 'invented' this dish a few weeks ago, and it really does come out lovely. Its also ridiculously easy and very quick.Prep time (including chopping) - 10 MinsBoneless Chicken Breasts - as many as you want, either dice them or cut them into strips. I usually dice, but whatever shape is cool.Green Onions - 2 for every chicken breast, sliced small right upto the ends.Garlic - Either

TheDragonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-90991352317470947492007-04-16T11:57:00.000-05:002008-07-03T01:05:49.039-05:00

Saturday morning I awoke with the Greatgrandmother of all hangovers. And all I wanted was पूरी आलू। Of course I couldn't get at any, but here's what I came up with. Serves: 3-4Cooking time: 30-40 min4 medium potatoes, washed and diced into small cubes. I like the peel, but it's optional1/2 medium onion, chopped fine4 oz tomato paste1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed1 tsp धनीया (coriander) powder1/2 tsp

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-73041363858577999192007-04-16T07:15:00.000-05:002010-03-09T06:57:18.705-05:00

Assuming kitty's allowed to get a wee bit tizzy in the kitchen, here's me favorite *fruity* cocktail.IngredientsHalf a glass o white rum3-4 fresh strawberries (save half a wedge to stick on side of glass in the end to make it look pretty before u destroy it)4 tbsp lime juice1/2 tsp sugar (the brown variety tastes nicer)1/2 cup crushed ice - if you want a frozen strawberry daiquiriTo make :Dump

Raphnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504208423140250202.post-77953484162121022002007-04-15T15:55:00.000-05:002007-04-16T12:14:45.158-05:00

Serves: 2 Cooking time: 1 hr1 medium onion, chopped fine3 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed and chopped1 16 oz can kidney beans, washed and drained1 cup rice1/2 red bell pepper, diced4 oz tomato paste1/2 tsp ground cumin1 tsp ground coriander seeds1 1/2 tsp paprika1/2 tsp dried oregano1 bay leaf1/s tsp chilli powdersalt to tastewater as per rice instructions, plus 1/2 cup1 tbs olive

MinCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535698803359528391noreply@blogger.com8