viernes, 31 de agosto de 2012
This week's best drink buys
You might be the kind of person who thinks the beginning of November is FAR too early to start planning what you're going to eat and drink over Christmas (me too) but the supermarkets have decided otherwise.
When I walked into Sainsbury's yesterday the drinks deparment was packed with special offers - and some quite spectacular ones too. Leaving frugal options aside for the moment you can pick up the particularly lush Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or whisky at the moment for just £25 instead of £39.99 (and £42.95 at royalmilewhiskies.com) Aged in Sauternes casks it's a lush cross between a sweet wine and a whisky that would be superb with the Stilton and maybe - though I haven't tried it yet - with mince pies. A terrific gift for any whisky lover.
They also had a couple of good champagne deals: Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top for £14.99 instead of £29.99* and the much improved Lanson Black Label for £21.99 instead of £31.99 - but then Morrisons currently has it for £15 according to The Wine Detective.
In terms of budget buys you probably couldn't do much better than Dow's Trademark port - that's also reduced by 50% in Sainsbury's from £13.43 to £6.71. The style is referred to as Finest Reserve which means it's halfway between a basic ruby port and a Late Bottled Vintage in quality. If you're looking for a sweet, brambly warming Christmas port from a reputable producer it would fit the bill perfectly. (I also like adding a dash of this style of port to a mulled wine).
Rather less good value is the current offer on Baileys cream liqueurs which are reduced in Sainsbury's from £19.79 to £9.89. I know it's a good reduction for a litre bottle but since when did they go up to that kind of price? Asda's regular price for the same size bottle is £14 and they currently have it down to £9 but there are loads of perfectly good own label versions around for a fair amount less.
Marks and Spencer, for instance, has its new Toffee and Pecan Cream liqueur on offer for £6.99 currently. I don't much like cream liqueurs but I must admit I did find it a bit moreish. M & S told me this week that toffee and pecan flavours are HUGE for them.
Anyway if you miss these offers don't panic. There will be plenty more where they came from over the coming weeks but don't leave it until the week before Christmas when I'm pretty sure a lot of the prices will shoot up again
* Asda also has it for £15
Note: this prices applied the day I wrote this post but may well have changed by the time you read it.
miércoles, 29 de agosto de 2012
PIDI KARUNAIKIZHANGU CHOPS / YAM FRY
INGREDIENTS
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METHOD
- Wash & soak the kizhangu in abundant water for sometime to remove all the mud.
- Pressure cook in high flame for 1 whistle.It should be half done.(Skin should be hard to touch)
- Now grind all the items given above adding required salt & water to make a smooth paste.
- Remove the skin of the kizhangu and chop it round.
- Now mix the paste ans marinate for sometime. The kizhangu should be fully coated with the paste.
- Now heat the dosa tawa and sprinkle some oil. Cover Cook the marinated pieces for sometime.Keep the flame low for even cooking. flip the pieces to cook the other side and do the same.
- I Wanted a brown layer to be formed so i kept for a longer time.
- Finally garnish with coriander leaves and add lime juice if necessary.
- Karunai kizhangu Chops is ready !!
NOTE:
- If u want to try kolas , just cook the kizhangu well till it mashes.Mash it with ur hands and add the paste.Mix well. Add finely chopped onions and coriander leaves . Make small balls and deep fry them in batches.
- If u wish to try the same with senai / elephant yam , add little more tamarind paste by avoid the irritation in tongue.Add less tamarind paste to make the same with raw banana.
KITCHEN CLINIC
Description These tender and tropical perennials grow up to a height of 12-18inches (around 30-45cm) in a spacing of 24-36inches (around 60-90cm). The leaves are around 50 cm in length and consist of many oval leaflets. These plants bloom around spring producing mauve or magenta colored flowers with fragrance. 3-4 years are generally required for the corms to be harvested. These evergreen plants can be grown in container as well if the soil is acidic. Elephant yam is an edible tuber. It is one of the oldest plants known to provide food. It is so called because of its huge size and resemblance with the elephant foot. It is widely consumed as a food crop, usually boiled or baked. Buying tips It is preferred to buy elephant yam from the markets where it is available is a fresh condition. It is preferable to wear gloves while handling the elephant yam as the sap of these plants causes skin irritation. Culinary usage Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) can be consumed in many ways safely only after removal of its toxic materials. In scarcity of different staple foods, yam is used. So it is also sometimes referred to as a 'famine food'. Before cooking, the wild forms must be soaked in water and boiled for a long time to remove bitterness. The outer brown skin of Karunai is thoroughly washed and removed. Then they are generally cut into small cubes. It can be boiled in clean water as well as with a pinch of turmeric in water. Delicious recipes are available for cooking elephant yam.
In seed bank vaults, the dried and packed seeds are stored at a sub zero temperature. The seeds resemble a flat lens. The light brown, apical seeds of diameter 5mm have membranous wings which are usually 10mm long and about 7mm wide. Medicinal values It has been proved that Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) has many medical benefits as its root is highly stomachic, restorative, carminative and tonic.
Nutritional and dietary information Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) has a rich nutritional profile. It provides energy about 330KJ/100g (approximately). Potassium, Phosphorous and Magnesium are the key minerals found in elephant yam. It also contains trace minerals like zinc, copper and selenium.
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martes, 28 de agosto de 2012
ULUTHANKALI / URAD DAL KALI
I hope u all would have tasted this at the time of puberty. Generally grannys used to give this for the teen age girls to make the bones strong.When my paati gave this for me, i hesitated a lot to eat this .But now i know its importance. Nowadays at this early age, we get pains in joints and back very often.We are not able to bend continuously for sometime.We get pain in spine.This shows the weakness of our bones. So its better to have urad dal in our regular diet to avoid all these problems.Apart from eating idly/dosas and vadas , i feel this is also a good choice of including urad dal in our daily diet..
Now coming to the recipe,
INGREDIENTS:
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METHOD:
- In a kadai ,roast the urad dal till golden yellow. Powder it in a mixie adding cardamom seeds. Store it in an air tight container.
- Now take 4 tbsp of urad dal powder in a bowl and mix 2 cups of water.
- Cook the urad dal for 7-8 mins. It thickens . Stir well for sometime and make sure there are no lumps formed.
- Now add the powdered jaggery and mix well . Keep the fire in low flame. Allow it to boil till the raw smell of jaggery emanates.
- Add the gingely oil and stir well.U'll get a glossy , sliding non sticky kali is ready to njoy ..
Delicious , healthy uluthankali is ready to eat !!
NOTE :
- If u use palm jaggery instead of jaggery , dissolve in water and make a syrup. Strain and use.
KITCHEN CLINIC
URAD DAL Urad, also referred to as the urad bean, urad, urid, black gram, black lentil or white lentil (Vigna mungo) is a bean grown in southern Asia. It is largely used to make dal from the whole or split, dehusked seeds. Black gram originated in India where it has been in cultivation from ancient times and is one of the most highly prized pulses of India. It has also been introduced to other tropical areas mainly by Indian immigrants. HEALTH BENEFITS & NUTRITION |
jueves, 23 de agosto de 2012
Toast stuffed with chicken recipe
Photo: Toast stuffed with chicken recipe |
The Arabic Food Recipes kitchen (The Home of Delicious Arabic Food Recipes) invites you to try Toast stuffed with chicken Recipe. Enjoy the Arabic Cuisine and learn how to make Toast stuffed with chicken.
Ingredients
Slices of fresh toast
Skinned and boneless pieces of chicken
Slices of fried chopped onion
Sumac
Dry thyme
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Normal flour
Whisked eggs
Bread crumbs
Frying oil
Method
• Cut edges from the toast (can be used in making of bread crumbs). Press them.
• Slice the chicken in thin slices and mix with onion. Add sumac, thyme, olive. Season the filling with salt and pepper.
• Put a suitable amount of the filling on one edge of the toast, roll it to take the shape of a finger, and then press it.
• Roll on the flour and dip it in the whisked egg. Roll it in bread crumbs. Make sure it is covered either with flour or bread crumbs.
• Put in the refrigerator for an hour to stiffen. (They could be put in plastic bags and kept in the freezer to be used later.
• Fry in preheated oil until it becomes brown. Put on kitchen towel paper to absorb excess oil.
More Arabic Food Recipes:
Cumin pancake with hummus
Red Pepper Hummus with Toasted Pita Triangles
Grilled Veggie Hummus Wrap
Middle Eastern Platter
Harissa lamb & houmous flatbreads
Falafel & halloumi stacks
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lunes, 20 de agosto de 2012
Favorite Foods of Hawaii
Everyone has their 'must try' things to eat in Hawaii. Here are just a few of mine and where to find them on Oahu. Each one of these dishes tells you a little something about the culinary history of Hawaii.
Poke (pronouned po-kay)
Where to find:
Everywhere, but Alicia's Market has a big selection
This is perhaps one of the most 'authentic' dishes from Hawaii. It's primarily raw fish and it comes in many varieties such as wasabi, tobiko, and Maui onion, but traditionally it was just chunks of fish such as ahi, salt, seaweed and a bit of toasted kukui nut, all native ingredients.
Manapua
Where to find:
Royal Kitchen in Chinatown
These filled buns look like cha siu bao, but the version you find in Hawaii is larger and a little sweeter and much lighter. The dough seems a bit more Portuguese than traditional Chinese. You can also get it filled with Kalua pork which you definitely won't find outside of Hawaii.
While at Royal Kitchen don't miss the 'pork hash' Hawaii's version of siu mai. It's unique and succulent with less ingredients than siu mai, but it's very tasty all the same. Both the manapua and the pork hash are very inexpensive.
Taro Chips
Where to find:
Everywhere but for freshly made chips go the Hawaiian Chip Factory Outlet
You may or may not appreciate poi, but you are sure to enjoy taro chips. The Hawaiian Chip Company opened in 1999 and makes very popular vegetable chips served at restaurants, on Hawaiian Airlines and they are widely available in stores. But at the factory shop you can get a freshly made hot bag of chips and season them yourself. You can also get a snack, like the killer sliders they serve on Saturdays.
Malasadas
Where to find:
Leonard's Bakery
These Portuguese donuts are a must. The big neon sign at Leonard's letting you know when they are fresh will lure you in. I don't know anyone who doesn't love these hot, yeasty, moist-in-the-middle pillows of love, better than any Krispy Kreme, that's for sure.
Shave Ice
Where to find:
Many places, but I like Tats the best
Better than a snow cone, more like a snowball, the best shaved ice is super fluffy. Shave ice first appeared as a cooling treat on the plantations, and was brought to Hawaii by the Japanese. Get it flavored with something tropical like lilikoi. It's sweet and cooling which is the perfect combination when temperatures rise. Favorite spots are widely debated. It's often said the older the shave ice machine, the better the shave ice.
My thanks to the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and especially local girl and Oahu writer Catherine Toth for introducing me to some (but not all) of the items featured here
sábado, 18 de agosto de 2012
Moroccan-spiced chicken recipe
The Arabic Food Recipes kitchen (The Home of Delicious Arabic Food Recipes) invites you to try Moroccan-spiced chicken Recipe. Enjoy the Arabic Cuisine and learn how to make Moroccan-spiced chicken.
Served with roast vegies and mint couscous, this Moroccan chicken dish is as colourful as it is tasty.
Preparation Time 25 - 145 minutes
Cooking Time 50 minutes
Ingredients (serves 4)
1 lime
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbs chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 tbs Moroccan seasoning
60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
4 (about 800g) chicken thigh cutlets (skin on), excess fat trimmed
2 (about 350g) red Delight potatoes, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
1 (about 600g) sweet potato (kumara), peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
2 carrots, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
2 red capsicums, seeded, cut into 1.5cm pieces
2 large zucchini, cut into 1.5cm pieces
2 red onions, cut into 8 thick wedges
240g (1 1/4 cups) couscous
375ml (1 1/2 cups) boiling water
30g butter
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
Method
Preheat oven to 220°C. place a baking tray in oven. Use a zester, or a vegetable peeler and a small sharp knife, to cut lime rind into thin strips. Juice the lime and reserve juice.
Combine lime rind, garlic, chopped mint, Moroccan seasoning and 2 tablespoons of oil in a glass bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Place chicken in a large glass bowl. Pour over three-quarters of the marinade and rub over chicken to evenly coat. Cover and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to marinate.
Combine the potato, sweet potato, carrot, remaining marinade and remaining oil in a glass bowl. Place on the baking tray. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables. Bake for 25 minutes. Add capsicum, zucchini and onion to tray and toss to combine. Roast for 25 minutes or until juices run clear when the thickest part of the chicken is pierced with a skewer and vegetables are tender.
Place couscous in a heatproof bowl. Pour over the boiling water. cover. Set aside for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Add butter. Use a fork to separate grains and stir to combine. Stir in mint leaves and reserved lime juice. Serve with chicken and vegetables.
Notes
Make-ahead tips: To freeze: Cool at end of step 4. Wrap chicken in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 of foil. Place vegetables in a sealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw: Thaw overnight in the fridge.
To reheat: Preheat oven to 150C. Unwrap chicken. Transfer vegetables to a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Place chicken on vegetables. Cover with foil and cook for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Continue from step 5.
Source
Good Taste - November 2011, Page 77
Recipe by Brett Sargent
More Arabic Food Recipes:
Harira: Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Chicken and Lentils
Moroccan rissoles
Broad bean dip & Moroccan mezze platter
Moroccan potato salad
Chicken tagine with apricots
Authentic Moroccan lamb tagine
Save and share Moroccan-spiced chicken recipe
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jueves, 16 de agosto de 2012
SPROUTS PULAO AND MIXED VEGETABLE RAITA
I made this for my hubby' lunch box today . I got these recipes from Tarla dalal's website.Both the recipes were given under Protein rich , low calorie , healthy food category. So i chose these recipes for our lunch.I made some slight changes to the actual recipe according to our tastebuds.It was nice & filling too.. Thanks to tarla dalal…About the raita , i should have named this as beetroot raita because the color of beetroot is predominant here. I've added carrots and cucumber to the raita. But its not visible .So adding beetroot is purely optional. If u want a nice color , please omit or add less beetroot pieces.Please find the raita recipe below.
INGREDIENTS
To temper
Lime juice – few drops Coriander leaves – to garnish |
METHOD
ENJOY EATING HOT WITH RAITA !! |
MIXED VEGETABLE RAITA
INGREDIENTS
- Cooked carrot and beetroot cubes – 1/2 cup
- Cucumber pieces - few
- Fresh curd – 1/2 cup
- Green chilly – 1/2 no (Chopped finely)
- Roasted jeera powder – to sprinkle
- Water – as needed to dilute the curd
- Salt – as reqd
METHOD
- Cube cut carrot and beetroot into small pieces.Cook them for 1 whistle adding little water.
- Mix the fresh cucumber pieces with the cooked vegetables.
- Add the thick curd , reqd water and salt.( sometimes water may not be needed as the water in the cooked vegetables may be enough)
- Finally sprinkle the roasted jeera powder..
Serve with parathas and pulao !!
KITCHEN CLINIC
Green gram arose in North-eastern India and there is a long history of its use throughout Asia. Its popularity stems not just from its medicinal and nutritional properties, but also from its adaptability to drought conditions and inferior soils. The nitrogen fixing bacteria in the plant's root help replenish the nitrogen content of the soil, which makes it a valuable inter-crop in rice and sugar cane cultivation. Nutritional value of Green Gram (Per 100 grams) Energy : 30 caloriesHealth benefits Unlike other pulses, green gram is free of flatulence-causing agents. This makes it an acceptable food for convalescents and pleasant weaning food for babies. The protein is especially rich in the amino acid, lysine, but it is somewhat deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids. The seeds are rich in calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, folate and other B Vitamins. They also contain appreciable amounts of Vitamin C. Raw seeds are rich in trypsin-inhibitors that block the effects of protein digesting enzymes in the gut. Sprouted green gram has lower amounts of these inhibitors, but the best method to eliminate trypsin inhibitors is boiling. Cooking does not affect the protein profile of this seed. Food Uses Green gram's use in creating dishes is widely prevalent all over India. It is eaither used whole or split into dal. Whole green gram is the most popular sprout worldwide. Green gram in its split form is used to make khichdi, dal, barfi, payasam (a sweet dish) and other sweets. Deep fried and salted moong dal (green gram) is a popular Indian snack. Processed green gram is a common soup base, and gram flour is a common ingredient in many fried snacks. Medicinal Uses Chinese medicine uses green gram as a remedy for oedema, fever, headache and generalised anxiety, and as a diuretic. It is also a folk remedy for arsenic poisoning and other mineral toxins. |