Egg Curry!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium onion chopped
• 1 Serrano pepper
• 2 tomatoes chopped
• 1 inch ginger chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• pinch of asofetida
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 4 or 5 hard boiled eggs
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large wok, heat the oil and add chopped onions and chopped serrano pepper to it.
2. Cook the onions on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
3. Add in the spices(fenugreek seeds, turmeric, cumin seeds, garama masala, bay leaf and asofetida) and mix well.
4. Add in the garlic and ginger as well and let them cook for another 5 minutes.
5. Transfer the onion mix to a blender.
6. Add the chopped tomatoes to the blender and blend.
7. In the same large wok, add the blended puree and let cook for 5-10 minutes until the puree thickens and starts to leave some oil.
8. Add water to the puree to achieve desired consistency for the curry and add in the hard boiled eggs(slit into half)
9. Let the curry come to a boil with the eggs in it.
10. Serve hot, garnished with cilantro leaves, with Naan or basmati rice!

Pictured: Chewie and me (shadow) on a sunny day!

Roasted Garlic and Spring onion Wheat Focaccia!

The loaf

Breakfast of the day: buttered Roasted garlic focaccia and Blueberry bread with strawberry syrup.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp active yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 3 cloves of garlic roated and then mashed
• 2 sprigs of spring onions chopped finely
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. Warm 1/2 cup of water to about 110 degrees.
2. Add sugar and yeast to it. Mix well and let stand for 5 minutes or until frothy.
3. Add 1 cup all purpose flour, salt, oregano, pepper and mix well.
4. Add in the mashed garlic and spring onions and mix well.
5. Add the rest of the flour in 1/2 cup batches to make a soft dough.
6. Place dough in a well oiled container, covered, in a warm oven and let rise for an hour.
7. Knead the dough well and pat it down to make an inch thick rectangle.
8. Place the dough on a baking sheet.
9. Brush the olive oil on the dough.
10. Using the back end of a wooden spoon, make dimples in the dough.
    
11. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese.( i dint have parmesan so did not use it this time)
12. Place the baking sheet in the oven on center rack.
13. place a pan of hot water on the bottom rack.
14. Let dough rise for another half an hour or until doubled.
15. Remove water pan and bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or till the top starts to get golden.
16. Remove the bread and cool it on wire rack.
17. Enjoy with olive oil or use to make panini sandwiches!.
18. To make roasted garlic paste: Toss peeled garlic cloves in olive oil and Bake the garlic in foil at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until brown and starts giving the roasted aroma. Remove from oven and let cool before mashing or making paste.

This one is headed for Yeastspotting.

Blueberry Wheat Bread with a tinge of Strawberry!

Breakfast of the day: Blueberry Bread with Strawberry syrup and Toasted and buttered Roasted Garlic Focaccia

I still have tons of strawberry puree left.. and since the Strawberry bread was a hit, i thought of adding some strawberry to another hit.. blueberry bread!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bread flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons active yeast
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup strawberry puree
• 1/2 cup honey or sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Warm the water and mix in the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutrs or until frothy.
2. In a large pan, mix in the bread flour, salt and nutmeg.
3. Add the yeast mixture, honey, strawberry puree and lemon juice and mix well.
4. Add in the whole wheat flour 1 cup at a time and knead into a soft dough. Add milk after the first cup of flour.
5. Add in more milk or flour if needed for kneading into a soft dough.
6. Keep dough in a covered, well oiled container, in a warm oven for an hour or until doubled. I usually warm the oven to a 110-120 and keep in the dough container in it.
7. Knead the dough on a well floured surface.
8. Keep again in a covered, well oiled container for half an hour.
9. Add in the blueberries and knead the dough using flour if it is too sticky,
10. Make a loaf and place in 9 inch bread pan or on baking sheet.
11. Place the bread pan covered with a damp towel in a warm oven for half or hour or until it is almost doubled and the risen dough does not fall flat when pressed.
12. Bake bread at 360 degrees F for 25 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped.
13. Cool on rack before slicing!

Strawberry Syrup:

Bring to a boil, 1 cup strawberry puree, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Keep stirring. Simmer for another 5 minutes and the syrup is ready!.

This one is headed for Yeastspotting.

Baked Garlic Cajun Fries

Baked potatoes.. nothing fried about it!

Ingredients:

• 2 potatoes cut length wise , 1/4 inch width
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cloves of garlic mashed
• 1/2 teaspoon cajun spice

Directions:

1. Cut the potatoes and boil them for 5 mins or until tender.
2. Strain and keep for 10 minutes on a paper towel
3. In a small bowl, mash teh garlic.
4. Add olive oil  and mix well.
5. Add in the potatoes, cajun spice and salt and toss well to coat.
6. Place potatoes on a baking sheet, individually.
7. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F and then broil for 2-3 minutes. You can broil longer for crispier and browner potatoes.

Ciabatta!

Ahh, the rustic italian slightly sour Ciabatta! Look at those big air bubbles!

Adapted from the allrecipes ciabatta

Ingredients:

Starter/Sponge:

• 1/4 teaspoon active yeast
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1 cup bread flour

Bread:

• 1 teaspoon yeast
• 1/3 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• oil for greasing

Directions:

1. For the sponge, heat the water to a warm 110 degrees. 
2. Add yeast to it and let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
3. Add bread flour and make a soft sticky dough. Keep this dough covered at room temperature for 12-15 hours.
4. For the bread, Warm the milk and add yeast to it.
5. Let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
6. Add the sponge, bread flour, salt and water and use a hand mixer to mix everything.
7. Let this dough rise in a warm oven for about an hour. (keep a damp towel over the dough)
8. Dough will be sticky and full of air bubbles. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface and cut in half. 
9. Transfer each half to a parchment sheet and form into an irregular oval about 9 inches long. Dimple loaves with floured fingers and dust tops with flour. 
10. Cover loaves with a damp kitchen towel. Let loaves rise at room temperature until almost doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
    
11. Bake at 350 degrees F  for about 30 minutes or until golden.
12. In the first 10 minutes, spray water over the bread every 3 minutes, for a softer crust.
13. Cool on rack
14. Enjoy with soups and sandwiches!

Pictured: My breakfast sandwich. Scrambled egg with grilled veggies in grilled Ciabatta!

White Bread! and spring clicks

    

     

Vivek: Nothing can really replace the plain white bread to use in sandwiches, breakfast toasts etc. 

Though I have acquired a liking for the wheat bread, hubby is still in the process of acquiring it. So I decided to make the white white bread. 

Heres some clicks of the bread and spring in the community p-patch

Ingredients:

• 2 bread flour
• 1 cup all purpose flour( or more for kneading)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoons oil ( for greasing containers)
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 teaspoons active yeast

Directions:

1. Warm the water to about 110 degrees F and mix in the yeast and sugar in it
2. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes till it is frothy.
3. In a large pan, add the all purpose flour and salt and mix well.
4. Add in the yeast mixture  and olive oil and blend well.
5. Add in the bread flour 1 cup at a time to knead into a soft dough.
6. Place dough in a well oiled container, covered( with a towel or plastic wrap) , in a warm oven for about an hour. or until doubled.
7. Take the dough and knead it well on a well floured surface for about 5 minutes.
8. Place dough again in a well oiled container, covered and in a warm oven, to rise for about half an hour.
9. Knead again for 5 minutes and let rise(in the bread pan) for another half hour. Multiple kneadings releases and aligns the gluten and gives a nice stranded bread.
10. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until golden brown and  hollow to touch.
11. Brush melted butter on top.
12. Cool on rack before slicing!

Strawberry cake! Sinful

     

This is sinful version of the Strawberry cake i made earlier. I made this one for Arthi's baby shower! The earlier version had less butter and half whole wheat flour.  This one turned out much fluffier and sinfully yummy!

Ingredients:

• 2.75 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups fresh strawberries pureed.( frozen can also be used)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 package (1.5 ounce) strawberry flavored gelatin

Directions:

1. Chop strawberries and add 2 teaspoons sugar. Keep them for an  hour before pureeing.
2. Sift the flour and baking powder together.  Sift 2-3 times for good results.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and both types of sugar. 
4. Blend in the eggs. 
5. Add in the pureed strawberries and gelatin.
6. Blend in the flour mix to form thick consistency using 1/2 cup milk at a time.
7. Pour batter in a 9 inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or till inserted toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool on rack before slicing.
9. Serve with fresh sliced strawberries or frosted as a birthday cake!

Oat Wheat Bread with candied Papaya, Mango and Pineapple!

I know it looks like a fruit cake:). I got these candied papaya, mango and pineapple mix from uwajimaya and wanted to ofcourse make a bread with it. This bread has a tinge of sweetness coz of the honey and an awesome candied sweetness from the fruit pieces.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/3 cup honey ( add 1 cup if you want a sweet bread)
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats cooked in 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup candied papaya, mango and pineapple
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Warm the water and add sugar and yeast to it. Mix well and keep aside for 10 minutes till it starts getting some bubbles.
2. In a large pan, mix the all purpose flour, salt and nutmeg.
3. Add the yeast mixture and mix well.
4. Cook the oats in milk and let sit till they cool down to a warm state.
5. Add oats to the flour mix.
6. Add whole wheat flour one cup at a time to make into a soft smooth dough.
7. Place dough in a well oiled container. Cover it and place in warm oven for an hour or till it doubles.
8. Knead dough on a floured surface and flatten into a thick rectangle. 
9. Sprinkle candied papaya, pineapple and mango on it. Roll it up and knead again.
10. Place dough in a bread pan lightly covered with a wet towel in a warm oven for half an hour.
11. Remove towel and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.
12. Cool on rack before slicing!

Ginger Paneer chilli!!

Heres my recipe of Ginger Paneer chilli!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cubed paneer
• 1 green bell pepper chopped  into long slices
• 1/2 medium onion sliced thin
• 3 green chillies sliced thin
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 inch ginger sliced thin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cornflour mixed into 2 teaspoons water(optional)
• spring onion sliced for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large wok, heat oil.
2. Add sliced onion, chillies, ginger and bell pepper and saute on medium heat for 5-10 minutes. If you like it partly raw and crispy then 5 minutes, and if almost well done, then 10 minutes.
3. Add the soy sauce, salt, pepper, sugar and paneer cubes and mix well.
4. Add the cornflour mix or just 2 teaspoons of water and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
5. Garnish with sliced spring onion.
6. Other variations: Add 4 teaspoons of tomato sauce and one tomato chopped along with the paneer and cook for 5 minutes to get a sweet and sour type version!

Strawberry Wheat Bread!

I know this week has been a overwhelmingly strawberry week. Cakes, shakes and Bread! I have pureed the rest of the strawberries and frozen them.. so now i dont have to cook too many things to use them up!

This bread had pureed strawberry and had the distinct sweet and sour taste to it. I dint think the bread would take so much of the tangy taste, but it did! Nice, soft, moist, and tangy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons active yeast
• 1.5 cups strawberries puree
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar or honey (or 1 cup for a sweeter bread)
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 Tablespoons oil

Directions:

1. Warm 2 Tablespoons water and add yeast to it. Mix well and let sit for 10 minutes or until it gets frothy.
2. In a large pan, mix the puree, honey, salt and milk. (My puree was quite thick. If the puree has a lot of water then adjust quantity of milk accordingly)
3. Add in the all purpose flour and yeast mixture and mix well.
4. Add in the whole wheat flour one cup at a time and knead into a soft dough. Use more milk if needed.
5. Keep dough in a well oiled container covered, in a warm oven for an hour or until it doubles.
6. Knead dough again and place in a bread pan.
7. Place bread pan in warm oven with a pan of boiling water.
8. Let dough rise for half an hour or till it dough doubles, and when pressed, does not collapse.
9. Remove water pan, place the bread pan on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. The baking sheet or tray under the pan helps with a softer bottom crust.
10. Cool on rack before slicing!

Sending this one to Yeastspotting