A Break...

It's been about 20 days since I have even sat in front of the computer. Hundreds of emails greeted me when I signed on - luckily most were junk mail! I have been on a 20 day hiatus for good reason! My mother and sister-in laws are visiting with two little cutest ever niece and nephew to complete the package. I am spending every spare moment with then since this is a a very rare visit and goodness - the kids grow up so fast! I don't want to miss a minute!! It has become very noisy all of a sudden - not just from the constant chatter and running around - the banging and slopping is from the carpenters building new kitchen cabinets (I had none before so Ma-in-law is gifting) and newly painted walls (a gift from sis-in-law since we both love color on our walls!) So today is the first day of rest-rather forced rest since my living room is occupied by the carpenters hurrying to finish the cabinets in the next two days. So, I am jammed in my bedroom with internet to keep me company!

As far as cooking - this is my food blog after all- I have done very very little. No - we don't go hungry! My maid cum cook has been handling a lot of it. (No, I am not extravagantly wealthy, it is the norm in South Asia to have some sort of hired helping hand.) Ma dearest and Sis dearest all chip in especially for breakfast since I am notorious for Not being an early riser.

So please bare with me as I take a little break - they are here till Jan. but I am sure I will write before then. Hopefully have food pics and recipes or more adventurous pics to share since we will be taking a trip to St. Martin's Island sometime in the next 2 weeks!

Here are some pics from Sis's extravagant meal she whipped up for all the Chachis (aunts not Happy Days' Chachi!!)

Seasame Poppy Cauliflower

Hubby and I love cauliflower but was tired of the usual ways of making. A curry or steaming just didn't seem appetizing tonight. I wanted to experiment a little bit using ingredients that I usually don't. I have become a little timid with experimenting since sometimes I tend to over do it or under do it -leaving the food with too much to the point of bitterness or not enough that it is so plain with no difference from natural taste. Last few days I really didn't want to make much using the usual Indian spices of turmeric, cumin, coriander, etc...so tonight I went with Sesame & Poppy. Here is the recipe:



Sesame Poppy Cauliflower

Cauliflower: steamed but still firm: 2 cups of small florets
Sesame: 1 tsp.
Poppy seed: 1 tsp.
Onion: 1/2 a small red, sliced thin
Garlic: 2 cloves, crushed
Salt to taste
Oil: 1-2 tbsp.

Steam the cauliflower till just cooked. Heat a pan with oil, add the sesame and poppy. It will splutter so be careful! Roast few seconds. It will toast light brown very quickly. Add the onion and garlic and sautee. Add the cauliflower and toss till it gets caramelized. I added a pinch of sugar to it. Toss around. taste test and serve! Best eaten warm.

Enjoy with some Kichuri - a rice and lentil dish eaten especially on a rainy day!

Sweet Milky Bread

Hubby and I both have a major sweet tooth! After dinner we must must, nay, he must! have something sweet. Usually he just takes a piece of bread and lathers on some Nocilla (like Nutella, a hazelnut-chocolate spread) and devours it. Last night he was about to the same. He sat down with the bread box and the bottle of Nocilla and I couldn't bare to watch. But what to make in 10 mins? Well, if you have sugar, milk, bread, eggs and flour - anything is possible! I had made some doughnuts a few days back (they were more deep fried cakes!) and I knew that would take a while.

So, he requested Shahi Tukra.

Shahi is usually term used in the South Asian cuisine for anything cooked with milk or yogurt - it connotates richness. Tukra means - pieces. In the old days, milk was reduced to a rich creamy state, hence the name. Today's milk loses so much in the processing that it can hardly be boiled down to a thick cream.

I remember as a child we used to get fresh milk straight from the cow and when it was boiled to purify, it formed a thick layer of cream (we called it shor). We would eat the shor just with some sugar - but it was usually preserved for the special baby of the home - so when little brother was old enough - I no longer got the shor, same with hubby, when his little sister was old enough and then his cousin brothers - he never got that thick layer of delicious cream. *sigh*

So, back to last night. What he wanted was bread in sweetened milk. I have made it several times and by no means is it healthy but - dang - it taste good!!!

Sweet Milky Bread

Bread: about 3-4 slices
Milk: 1 cup
Sweetened Condensed Milk: 2-3 tbsp.
Cardamom Whole: 2
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Nutmeg: garnish
Pistachios or almonds or raisins

1. Heat the milk. Bring it to a boil and then let it simmer. Add the cardamom, cinnamon and stir in the condensed milk. Let it simmer for about 10 mins or so. You can do it till its thickened, especially if it full cream milk but, not necessary.

2. Have a deep dish ready or a bowl, tear the bread into big chunks and layer it. If you want to make it look pretty, cut into triangles and lay it out neatly overlapping.

3. Check for desired sweetness - add honey or sugar if needs to be sweeter. Pour slowly over the bread. Garnish with nutmeg shavings or swirl some honey on top or spread out raisins or nuts.

Let it cool and enjoy!

*Tip: this is a very versatile dish, you can do anything you want with it! Powder milk can be used. If you don't want condensed milk - palm sugar, jaggery, brown sugar, honey - any natural sweetener can be substituted. Saffron can be used in the milk for a sophisticated taste or Vanilla. If eggs mixed in the milk then perhaps can be baked even? (don't know abt that one - have to test t out).

Easy Simple Tilapia

Hubby has been requesting food that is 'different'. Haven't cooked in a while and the maid cooks with so much spices, so I understand. But what to make? I have been in such a slump that even if I cook anything, it tastes like I feel! He had bought a whole bunch of fish - Tilapia and Hilsa. Decided to cook the Tilapia. After a quick surf on the net for a simple recipe, came up with an easy pan fry dish with veggies and side sauces. He enjoyed it and it certainly was different from our regular menu especially because there was almost no spices at all! So, without writing anymore, here is the recipe along with the side dishes. There are quite a few, but hope you try them out :)

Pan Fried Tilapia

Tilapia: 1 med. size
Whole coriander seeds: 1 tsp.
Lime juice: 4 tsp.
Onion: 1 small thinly sliced
Garlic: 2 cloves, chopped
Green serrano chili: split in half
Little flour
Salt and black pepper to taste
Oil

1. Clean the fish and gut it. Score the skin with diagonal cuts to help the marination.

2. Marinate the fish in salt, pepper, coriander seeds (I pushed it through the slits) and lime juice. About 20-25 mins.

3. Pat dry. Cover fish lightly wth flour - will make it crispy and give a nice color.

4. Heat oil till smoky add the onion, garlic and chili to flavor the oil then place the fish. Should take about 5-6 mins to cook. About 2-3 mins on each side.

*Tip: The coriander seeds can be lightly dry roasted before adding to the fish, that way the natural oils and flavors come out or grind it after lightly dry roasting and then marinating the fish with it.

The fish has a very mild fresh flavor so it was tastier with these sides...

Garlicky Lime Butter

Lime zest: 1 med lime
Onion: thinly sliced, 1 tbsp.
Garlic: 4 cloves, pan roasted
Green chili: chopped
Butter (unsalted): 4-5 tbsp.

Bring butter to room temperature and mix all together. Spread on fish right off the stove. Its delicious!

Parmesan Sauce

Mayonnaise: 2-4 tbsp.
Parmesan cheese: 2-3 tsp.
Black pepper: to taste
Lime juice: 2-3 tsp.

Mix all together, taste along the way to suit your taste buds. I had to add lime juice little by little because the Parmesan was overpowering. Hubby loved this sauce and ate the fish and veggies with it! Its great for just a salad or plain dip for chips or carrots snacks.

Tomato Relish

Tomatoes: 2 med, chopped
Onion: 1/2 med, sliced/shopped
Fresh coriander leaves: 1 tsp. chopped
Green chili: 1 chopped
Lime juice: 3-4 tbsp.
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Just mix then all together and its a great side salad or relish!

Cauliflower & Peas

Cauliflower: 1 med. head
Peas: 1 cup
Onion: 1 med, chopped
Garlic: 2-3 cloves, chopped
Fenugreek: 1/2 tsp.
Oil
Water
Salt to taste

Steam the cauliflower and peas till cooked but still crunchy and firm. I add salt to the water while it steams. Heat a little oil, about 1-2tbsp., add the onion, garlic and fenugreek and sautée till onions transparent. Add the veggies and lightly toss, add salt if needed. Take of stove and serve!

All this with an accompaniment of Rice and Daal! It was light dinner but healthy and satisfying. Oh, there was a dessert too, thats coming soon....