Italian dish -Polenta

Hola mi blog. Como estas?
Happy New Year 2010.
Its been 6 months since I am not touching this blog.Been busy for a while with my new house,and trying to understand my new digital camera. Its only a simple Panasonic Lumix FS 12,not a DSLR camera :)
My house is 80% set. We need only to find a nice kitchen cabinets, IKEA doesnt have branch here, so whether Italian Kitchen is our choice or other shops , no decision yet as its a huge spending:)

SOme pictures from my yellow kithen with a yellow NY cab...





Back to the food,I chose Polenta for the starter of this year. I made this polenta last December,when I wasnt in the mood for rice. And its good,healthy and light..

Polenta- is Nothern Italy´s golden cornmeal porridge which is for me is so interesting to make and to eat. I got the recipe from Italian magazine from Better Homes &Gardens Special Interest Publication,Fall/Winter 2009

And with this recipe, we could choose whether we gonna fry,grill,broil or layer the polenta.



Its easy and tasty, but because I cant find that type of cheese, so instead of cheese, I dropped in garlic powder and more butter. Half I fry and half I baked. Both are nice.

Enjoy..


Soft Polenta
prep: 15 minutes
cooking: 25 mnutes

1 cup coarse-ground yellow cornmeal
1 cup cold water or chicken broth
1 tsp salt( omit if using broth)

In a large saucepan,bring 2 1/2 cups water to boiling. Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir together cornmeal, the 1 cup cold water and the salt.
2. Slowly add cornmeal mixture to boiling water, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until returns to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook for 25-30 minutes or until very thick,stirring frequently and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a very slow boil. Spoon soft polenta into bowls. Makes 6 side-dish servings.

Baked Polenta: prepare as above, except pour the hot polenta into a 9-inch pie plate, spreading evenly. Let stand for 30 minutes. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or until firm. Preheat oven to 350F. Bake,uncovered,about 25 minuted or until heated through. Let stand on a wire rack 5 minutes, Cut into 6 wedges.

Fried Polenta: Prepare as above,except pour the hot polenta into a 71/2x 31/2x2-inch or 8x4x2-inch loaf pan. Cool. Cover and chill for at leat 4 hours or overnight. Run a thin metal spatula around the edges of the pan. remove polenta from pan, cut crosswise into 12 slices. In a large skillet or on a griddle, heat 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. reduce heat to medium. Cook half of the polenta slices 16 to 20 minutes or until brown and crisp, turning once. repeat with remaining slices, adding 1 tbsp butter to skillet before adding polenta. If desired, serve with additional butter and honey or maple-flavored syrup.

My on the way fried polenta..

This basic polenta recipe (above), is just the starting point. Add butter, cheese or a fresh herb and you have a delightfully different side dish. Start with these ideas for stir-ins.
-decrease the salt to 1/2 tsp and stir in 2 tbsp butter after cooking
-decrease the salt to 1/2 tsp and stir in 1/2 cup shredded parmesan, romano or fontina cheese after cooking
-stir in 2 tbsp snipped fresh basil or Italian flat leaf parsley or 1 tsp snipped fresh oregano or thyme after cooking.

Bitter Gourd / Pare in the red sauce

Bitter Gourd/Kerala/ Pare,one of vegetables which is very rare for me to cook.
I started to cooked it when one of my friend,told me that she likes to stir fry bitter gourd with terasi/shrimp paste, so you wont feel the bitter taste from them.
And got another same response from another friend. Since that, I tried to eat them, to get benefits from bitter gourd,(click for wikipedia)




If you want meat inside, just drop whatever you feels wanna eat. Thats the art of cooking, isnt it? For me, to write in a blog is only to share an idea, the rest is depends on the other person whether to following completely or adjusted with the sense of the chef. We are all a chef in the house, arent we?

For this time, I didnt put any meat. I always use LEE KUM KEE CHILI GUILIN PASTE to get spicy flavour, and as chef was in the mood also to taste beans paste / Taoco)
,I dropped 1/2 tbsp only.

Complete recipe:
1 Medium bitter gourd, chopped,remove seeds.
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 onion, cut thin,lengthwise
2 tbsp LEE KUM KEE CHILI GUILIN PASTE
1/2 Tbsp Bean paste
1 tbsp tomato sauce
Water,
Salt, pepper,
Sugar or honey( optional, I used honey 1/2 tsp)
Cashew nuts( optional)
OIl

Heat oil, saute garlic, onion,Drop in chili paste, bean paste and stir in bitter gourd. Add little water, salt, pepper and sugar.

Serve hot, garnish with cashew nuts.

For 1 portion.

Pineapple -Cinnamon eggless cake

 



It is yummy, try this!!
I feel this one also great for Xmas,only need to drop more maraschino cherries.
And its easy to make, no need mixer.

Recipe:

2 1/2 cups flour
200 ml pineapple juice
2 tbsp cinnamon powder
200 ml melted butter, cool it.
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 can condensed milk.
1 tsp vanilla essence
Cherries maraschino (optional)

Method:

IN a big bowl,sift flour, baking powder,cinnamon powder, baking soda & baking powder.
Make a well in the middle, add in all the liquid ingredients.
Mix them well, and last, fold in chopped cherry mix well.
Pour in the prepared mold.
Bake in oven 180C, 50 minutes.

Indian Food- Sai Bhaji- Spinach with Yellow split peas ..

This is a typical Sindhifood.
Its a combination between spinach and yellow split peas( Chana Daal), sometimes people drops chopped potatoes also inside. I usually cook this with pressure cooker to cut the cooking time.

I dont know the meaning of Sai, but Bhaji means a dish. Never know this dish if my hubby is not Indian :),as me & my family not really familiar with kind of lentils except MOong Beans( Kacang Hijau / Moong Daal), Poroto Beans(Red Beans/ Kacang Jogo), and Soya Beans ( Kacang Kedelai).




We enjoy this Sai Bhaji with rice. Its also serves usually with chapati( Indian bread).
Wanna try? Its worth to try, thinking all the nutrition inside.



U only need:
1/2 cup Yellow split peas, wash.
2 3/4 cup water
2 tsp salt
Pinch of turmeric & black pepper
1 green chili
2 cm ginger,chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion ( if the onion is big size, half is enough) chopped.
1 bunch of spinach, removes leaves from stem, and chopped roughly.
If lazy no need to chopped, I also do that..
1 tomato, chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds/ Jeera /Jinten.
4 tbsp oil.

Heat oil.
Fry jeera for awhile and add in garlic,ginger,chili and onion. Fry until fragrant. Add in tomato,fry until tomato soft.
Add in spinach mix it, add in yellow split peas, and water, salt, pepper and turmeric.
Cook with pressure cooker for about 20 minutes, Until the Daal soft.

Serve with rice or chapati.

My first ever pooh cake for Jasmita´s 2nd bday

She loves pooh,
And mom, wants to make her happy.
I chose frozen butter cream technic to get the pooh on her cake.
I did it.
I was too happy, jumping around the kitchen, and my Jasmita following me with smile on her face.
Prepared the base, until decorating done from 3.30pm..then break 40 minutes and continue.. finished around 9pm.


(before I removed the plastic, was totally perfect pooh)


(felt too empty)

( drops dots on the green icing,felt better now)




HAPPY BDAY MY BABY...

Happy Eid Mubarak

Dear friends,
Happy Eid Mubarak..
Minal Aidzin Walfaidzin

Eggplant Ala-me / KBB / Cooking Competition

Another posting for KBB,this time is my task for cooking competition.
I choose my favourite recipe, which created by me
Story behind this eggplant is sometimes I miss Balado terong / Saute Eggplant with red chili but as the difficulty to find the red chili here in Panama a.k.a cabe merah keriting, then I try to find the perfect way to eat this eggplant as my hubby not really happy eating eggplant.

Luckyly,with this creation, he could enjoy it. Usually I cooked this eggplant, and serve it with pasta or pita bread. And this is also another option for my lazy weekend, avoiding washing lots plates etc.

If u wish too see the process making this eggplant just click here.

EGGPLANT ALA -ME

Ingredients:

3 tbsp oil

2 eggplant, chopped dice

2 cloves garlic chopped

3 tomato chopped dice

1/2 onion, cut thin slices

1/3 tsp garam masala

Salt & pepper

1/2 tsp coriander powder

A pinch of cumin powder

1/2 tsp parmesan cheese powder

1 slice cheddar cheese / grated mozzarela cheese

2 tbsp Parsley, chopped

Method:

Heat oil,add garlic, then put onion.

Add tomatoes, cook until tomatoes tender,gonna form a thick sauce. Add eggplants, and all the spices. Mix it until eggplant is tender. Drop in the parmesan cheese, mix well, and parsley.

Off the gas, transfer the eggplant to dish. Grate the chedar cheese / mozzarela on top.

Serve hot with pasta or pita bread.

For pasta : Use anykind of pasta u prefer.

Cook & drain.

I use penne-Barilla. 1/2 cup, 1 clove garlic chopped, olive oil, 2 tbsp sour cream, salt & pepper for taste.

After pasta ready, drop 3 tbsp of eggplant on top.

Serve.

Homemade Paneer

Paneer is one of popular Indian Food.The shape similar with tofu,only the taste is different,as paneer made from milk while tofu is made from soy beans.
Please check wikipedia for more info.

1st time I had paneer, while I was travelling to India with Air India. First time I saw paneer,and enjoyed so much,hubby told me that it was paneer.
2nd time was when one auntie in Panama,invited us for a welcome dinner party,she served Paneer with gravy tomato sauce which is so delicious. Ah, it was a perfect dinner for us.

Then a year after,I was so thrilled to make Paneer,curiosity as if I asked how to make paneer and the answer only its complicated,u have to see,if I want to make then I call u to see,but no one call to tell hey im going to make paneer, do come.
For how long I have to wait?? then one day when I was chatting with my friend in msn, I asked her bout paneer, and she told me, u have to boil milk,put vinegar,strain with muslin cloth,put heavy dish on top, and paneer ready.
From her explanation, I thought Its very easy,what looks so complicated? So I asked my hubby to find muslin cloth as I felt ready to make paneer.

Then,one afternoon,
Batch 1 :I boil the milk, and put vinegar,and why its still milk? then i called to this auntie,when my milk still on the stove and she gave me the instruction with phone only.
Batch 2:Boiling milk again, put vinegar, theres crumble. And called her again, auntie, now what should I do? why only crumble i get not a paneer? And she told me, that crumble gonna be a paneer with a process.

And now,here I am, with practice finally I could make a better firmness from the 1st one,(still wondering why difficult to make all in a perfect shape)and want to share it, hopefully it could help you.





You need to prepare:

Milk
Vinegar/lemon juice
Muslin Cloth/Cheese Cloth
Spoon
heavy dish.

1. You have to boil the milk.
2. When milk is rising, DROP IN THE VINEGAR.U COULD STIR WITH SPOON for awhile,cook for 1minute and off the gas. Let it sit on stove for a while.
3. Prepare the muslin cloth in the strainer.
4. Pour the crumble milk in the cloth. Discard the water.
5. Press the crumbs,(cover it)to drain water inside the crumb,while u doing this u could also make a shape.
6. Put something heavy on the paneer. Let it stand for around 20minutes to make it firm.
7. Open the cloth,u could see the firmness.
8. Cut it, and keep in fridge in a tight container until u r ready to cook them. Or, no need to cut just keep together with the cloth.

Paneer goes well with spinach,theres Palak Paneer(spinach puree with paneer),Paneer in gravy tomato sauce,pakoras( paneer fritter),whatever u want. I put paneer in my pasta.

For additional info, in India,Domino Pizza has a spicy paneer pizza which is very delicious.
Paneer pizza from Pizza Hut was so-so for me.

Alright,hopefully its helpful & Have a nice weekend.

Spicy Fettucine & Paneer

Who doesnt love pasta?
Well,pasta,noodles r my favourite one.

I always love to cook them,as it easy, tasty,I could just change the ingredients inside and still satisfied me,thats the reason why they´r the must have item in my kitchen and mostly I cook them at least once in a week,in this case sometimes I could eat twice or more in a week :)


My dinner last night was Simple fettucine in Red Sauce with Paneer & chopped green chili.



For small quantity of this Paneer,u have to prepare

2cups of milk
2tbsp vinegar.

Please click this to see how to make a paneer

I have mood to send this one to Presto pasta nights #79 host by Abby.

Curry Pasta

This one become another favourite style to enjoy pasta.
I had this for my last Wednesday and Thursday dinner, yeahhhhh I was too excited knowing sour cream works well with pasta and NO CHEESE needed.



Found this recipe from Jen The LeftoverQueen
Oh Jen,thanks again for sharing this recipe.

I used thin spaghetti
2 tbsp sour cream, - Jen used Greek Yoghurt
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 1/2tbsp curry powder
Onion,garlic chopped
1/2 Tomato diced
Mushroom
Peas and sweet corn.
1tbsp margarine.
Salt & pepper.
And my fav Panamanian Chili sauce.

ENJOY & HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

Vegan-Marble Cupcakes

Its very messy.



Truly, I need more practice,more peacefullness in the house, and YES, I really need 2 piping bags for this.


Messy as the book mentioned.

Looks better without the paper.

Vegan-Golden Vanilla Cupcakes

I am amazed with the taste, still cannot believe that this cake made from no eggs.
This is my 1st trial from this vegan book.

My hubby & I, felt this cake was very sweet at the beginning (after sometimes cool from the cooling rack), but after I kept in the fridge and had them for breakfast, the sweetness was ok.



I used margarine instead of oil & for the icing, I used only fresh strawberry & blend them together with butter & icing sugar.

GOLDEN VANILLA CUPCAKES
makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

1 cup soy milk - I used natural milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar - I used normal vinegar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt (increase salt to 1/2 tsp if u´re using oil instead of margarine)
1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened,or 1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract,or more vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin pan with cupcake liners
2. Whisk the soy milk and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside a few minutes to get good and curdled
3. If using margarine : Sift the flour,cornstarch,baking powder & baking soda, salt into a large bowl & mix
4. In a separate large bowl, use a handheld mixer at medium speed to cream margarine & sugar for bout 2 minutes until light & fluffy,but dont beat past two minutes.
Beat in the vanila & other extract,if using, then alternate beating in the soy milk mixture & dry ingredients,stopping to scrap the sides of the bowl a few times.
5. If using oil : Beat together the soy milk mixture,oil,sugar,vanilla, and other extracts, if using, in a large bowl. Sift in the flour, cornstarch,baking powder,soda& salt &mix until no large lumps remain.
6. Fill cupcake liners-two thirds of the way and bake for 20-22 minutes till done.
Transfer to cooling rack & let cool completely before frosting.

Carrot Ka Halwa / Carrot Pudding

Halwa is a dessert made from various kinds of fruits, vegetables, grains and lentils. The ingrdients in Halwa are grated finely and fried in ghee and sugar. Nuts and milk may also be added. Halwas have the consistency of a very thick pudding.




First time I had this halwa when I was visiting my hubby´s auntie in India. She served this halwa as a dessert. Its very tasty and a bit surprised for me to knew that this sweet dish is from carrots.

Here is my carrot ka halwa. I made in a little portion.

2 carrots, grated.
1 cup milk
1 cardamom -crushed
9 tsp sugar
1 tsp butter/oil
Chopped nuts for garnish.

In a pan,pour milk & Carrot. Make them boil then put sugar and cardamom. And stir them,put inside the butter,and keep stirring until milk is dry but not burnt. It takes around 20 minutes.
Transfer to a dish, keep in a fridge. I prefer to have it cold, and put chopped almond,or pistachios while serving.

Mung Beans Soup

Every Monday I always cook Dal. Whether its a yellow dal, green dal, or anykind of beans.
This food become so familiar to me after married with my hubby.
From food now we know that different country has a different way to cook.
For Indonesian, Mung Beans we prefer to have as sweet dish whether as a filling like Kue khu,makco(no idea the proper way to spell them),Gandasturi,or Mung beans in coconut milk, and even an ice cream.

Lucky me for easily enjoy new food as long as they have a good taste.

So here is my Mung Beans Soup for MFM-16

Toffu-Mushroom Curry

I used Lee Kum Kee curry paste for this dish. Its nice to have this ready made sauce. Helping me a lot while have to cook in a rush.



Always put garlic,ginger, onion and add chili if in the mood for spicy dish.
Mushroom for additional,salt pepper and for me green pepper is the must ingredient for this kind of curry.

Its about soya

I feel this soya texture is very similar as oncom. Oncom is one of the staple foods of Indonesia.
I use this soya to put inside COMBRO, cooked as Indian dish and can be eat with rice,chapati,naan and sometimes Soya Cake.



SOya 1 cup, Boil water and put the soya. Drain and keep aside

2 tomatoes cut diced,2 chilies,3 bay leaves, 1/4 tsp of cumin seed,3 cloves garlic,2 cm ginger,2 tbsp tomato pasta or ketchup, 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp tamarind water,1/2 tsp coriander powder,1/4 tsp cinnamon powder,salt,pepper, chopped of 1 green capsicum chopped of cilantro leaves.



Heat 3 tbsp of oil, saute cumin seed,bay leaves, ginger garlic, onion & chilies.
Put tomatoes, cook till tomatoes soft , then tamarind water and put ketchup.Mix it.
Put all spices, put soya mix nicely.Then add cilantro and capsicum.

Bollywood Cooking- Gobhi Curry,Pulav Rice & Onion Pakoras

Im smiling while reading the title Bollywood Cooking in Arfi´s blog.
She´s participating in monthly mingle Bollywood cooking from Meeta and Im feeling to participate too.
I cook Indian food almost everyday, but I never post any of them to my blog. Well,I guess these gonna be the first entrees.

I choose Gobhi Curry, Pulav Rice and Onion Pakoras to fill the theme.



For me to cooks pulav rice is one of the simplest.



Pulav Rice
Recipe:
125 gr plain yoghurt
1 1/2 cups of rice
1 tomato,chopped
2 green chilis,chopped
1/4 tsp of cumin seed
1 stick of cinnamon
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
2 cloves
2 cm ginger,grated
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp salt
3 bay leaves
Coriander leaves, chopped
Peas 1/4 cup
Water
Oil 4 tbsp

Directions:
Wash rice. Keep separately. Heat oil, put cumin seeds,cloves,bay leaves, ginger garlic and onion till little bit golden. ANd put green chili.
Put tomato, mix well till tomato bit lumpy. Pour yoghurt mix well,put cinnamon stick and all the powders. Last put rice, and water. Boil till rice is cooked.



Gobhi Curry

Oh I love this curry and one of m hubby´s favourite food. I use the same way to cook chicken curry,paneer,aloo or mushroom or sometimes mix vegetables. The cream and capsicum plus coriander leaves makes them perfect. If I want more spicy then I put dried red chili.



Recipe
1 medium gobhi/cauliflower cuts florets
1 green capsicum,cut dices or how u want to.
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp coriander seeds
3 cloves
3 cloves garlic
2 cm ginger
1/2 onion,chopped
2 green chili
4 tomato,chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste,sometimes I use Ketchup instead.
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1 1/2 tsp salt, pinch of pepper and turmeric powder
2 tsp Whipped Cream
Coriander Leaves
2 tbsp water
OIl 4 tbsp



Method
Heat oil, put cumin seeds,coriander seeds,cinnamon stick,cloves, then ginger garlic and onion till golden.Then put chili,and tomatoes. Put the lid on,small flame till all tomatoes soft and makes gravy, put kechup/tomato paste.And all the powder and cauliflower. Cover again medium flame,until cauliflower soft. Check oftenly makes sure it not dry, u can put water at that time.
After you get the softness of cauliflower, put the cream and green capsicum ( just cooked this capsicum max.2 minutes) and the last is coriander leaves.
I usually serve with rice and chapati.

Onion Pakoras

I love them for starter or sometimes to accompany my rice. As Indonesian, no problem for me to eat pakoras only with rice.





1 whole onion chopped small dice
coriander leaves chopped
2 green chili (if u want)or replace with red chili powder
salt & pepper
Pinch of coriander powder
pinch of garam masala
4 tbsp gram flour /besan flour
little water to make the batter( make sure the batter is thick not too watery)
OIl to fry

Mix all ingredients till making a thick batter. heat oil, deep fry till golden brown
Serve with spicy sauce or eat just like that.

Falafel

One of my favourite food. I tried to make it by mixing the green lentil with chickpeas.


Salt&Pepper.
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
Fresh Cilantro and parsley leaves
3/4 cup lentil,
1/3 cup Chickpeas,
3 cloves garlic,
1/2 of 1 onion
Chili( kalau mau ada rasa pedes),fresh Parsley, 1tspcornflour, Oil for frying
1 tsp cornflour
1/2 tsp garam masala(Indian spices,if have)
Oil for frying
Soak lentil & chickpeas overnight, cook cheekpeas till tender, and put everything in grinder... taste it...

Heat oil, and put batter with spoon, fry till golden brown... garnish with salad or tahini paste on top of falafel. Serve with hommus and pita bread.

Hommus( deeping )

Chik peas/gorbonzos (1/4 cup soak overnite and cook till tender), garlic( 1 clove), salt, 1tsp olive oil,4 tbsp sesame paste(tahini), juice of lemon. Grind all ingredients..for garnish put little olive oil, and parsley

Fritter eggplant mix

Actually these 2 vegetables are the most vegetables that hubby doesnt like.But I sometimes buy for variety of dishes.I tried to mixed them both become a fritter.Its come very nice and hubby ate without complaint.

1 big Eggplant
1 corn
2 chilies
Bread crumbs
Corn flour
Little garam masala
Little salt
Little pepper
2 cloves garlic
Shallot
OIl to fry

Boil the eggplant& corn till tender
WIth a blender, grind together all ingredients
Make a circles, and deep fry till golden brown.

SImple and tasty

Eggless cake

Im in the mood to make a cake.
Yesterday, from forum I saw a question bout how to make an eggless cake, and its remind me that lst year I made it for Diwali Day.
First time I made and it comes good.
This time, I dont have a mixer as I havent buy a new one,and also got a new recipe for eggless cake and so simple as I can mix it with the wooden spoon only.
SO I gave it a try,modified little as usual and the result..mmm yummy...


2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 can of sweet condensed milk
200 ml orange juice
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp milk powder
3 tbsp sugar
100 ml butter(melted)
100 ml margarine(melted)
Raisins

Heat the oven.
Brush the baking mold with margarine & little flour
Sift flour,baking powder & baking soda
ADd vanilla essence, sugar, raisins & powder milk.
Add the condensed milk,mix it well.
Then add the melted butter&margarine,and orange juice.
MIx it till truly blended.

Put in the baking mold, I used 24x6,5cm(in original recipe 18x18cm) as it the only round baking mold I have hehe..

Bake for bout 30-45 minutes or till the tooth pick comes out clean.

Original recipe doesnt use milk powder,raisins,and sugar,& 1 tsp baking soda.