Fırında sütlaç

Fırında sütlaç (scorched Turkish rice pudding)

Ingredients:
1 tbsp rice (heaping)
1 1/8 cups water
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream*
1 tbsp cornstarch**
1/2 tbsp rice flour**
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch salt
Cinnamon and/or pistachios to garnish (optional)

1. Place rice and 2/3 cup water in small saucepan; cook over medium heat until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat
2. Place milk and cream in medium saucepan with cooked rice and salt; bring to a boil over medium heat.***
3. Mix rice flour and cornstarch in a bowl; add 1/2 cup cold water, and stir until smooth.
4. Gradually stir starch mixture into boiling milk; stir constantly for 10 minutes.
5. Add sugar; continue stirring over medium-low-ish heat until desired thickness is achieved.****
6. Remove from heat, and pour into broiler-safe dish(es); place under broiler until surface is browned.
7. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours; if desired add garnish before serving.

* Base recipe calls for 4 cups milk and no cream. I have never gotten the pudding to set up with only milk.
** This can (and probably should) be increased in a manner directly proportional with the desired thickness, and inversely proportional with the preparer's time and patience.
*** If one is going for a long-cooked thick pudding (i.e., one that will properly set up), especially if one isn't going overboard with starches, it may be helpful to use a double broiler to avoid burning the rice and to minimize required stirring.
**** Cook until pudding approaches desired thickness or patience approaches end. Some further setting will occur while cooling, so this is subjective, especially given leeway with starches. Bare minimum is 20 minutes. I usually go 2-3 hours. Seriously. But then, getting baked items to set up properly is the bane of my culinary existence.

Ladies Finger curry

1. grind the following (masala):

coconut- 1tbsp
poppy seeds - 1/2 tsp
Bengal gram- 1/2 tsp
garlic- 1/2 tsp
chopped onion-1
tomato-1
dhanya powder-1 tbsp
chilli powder -1 tsp
coriander leaves (optional)
tamarind(optional)


2. fry ladies finger (10 chopped) (till the stickiness disappears) in hot oil.

3. in a separate pan, fry onion(2tbsp chopped) in hot oil till it turns light brown. Then add the masala into it and cook for 20 mins

4. add the fried ladies finger into the masala and cook for 5 minutes.

Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino

blend the following:

half glass of milk
1 tsp vanilla

ice
3 spoons of Chocolate syrup
3 spoons of chocolate chips 
1 spoon coffee decoction

pour the mixture into a glass and top it with whipped cream.

Masala bun or masala bread

• 2 cups of warm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups bread flour
• coriander leaves
• 2 tsp geera
• 2 onions (chopped)
  
• 10 chillies (the Indian one which is smaller)- you could add more if you want to :)

1. add yeast to warm water and wait till it looks bubbly
2. add flour and knead (just like how you prepare chapathi dough) and keep it untouched for sometime till it doubles in size (app. 1.hr)
3. now add salt, onion, chillies, gera, coriander leaves, turmeric powder into the above dough and knead dough again
4. place it in an oiled pan and bake it at 350 F for 30-40 minutes.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

We saw this movie last night (at 3:00 AM since both of our sleep cycles are screwed up :).

I was expecting a total chick flick :) but it actually wasn't.. We both enjoyed the movie, which was awesomely funny without any of the usual grossness that passes of as humor these days.

Also, the british dude (Russel Brand) was a riot, the girls (Kristen Bell from Veronica Mars and Mila Kunis from that 70's show) were cute and movie drew you in. If we need any more proof, Rashmi didn't fall asleep!

In passing, I would definitely watch a Dracula Rock Ballad with puppets (and people!).

And the fat guy from Superbad was there.

 

Navratan Korma

I am going through a phase - trying to make all the different flavor I can, using large amounts of vegetables :). By different I mean no sambar podi since this seems to dominate the taste all the time.

Yesterday I made a simple curry, i.e no sambar podi, no chilli powder just some flavor. It came out awesome.

Today, feeling more adventurous, I made a version of navratan korma. No Paneer, and butter since I didn't have 'heavy cream'. As a side note, it's a lot easier to cook interesting stuff when the ol' ball and chain stocks the kitchen so well. I don't think I would ever have had 'assorted nuts' or 'cayenne pepper' as a bachelor :).

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1/3 cup mixed nuts (cashews, pistachios, almonds)
• 1 medium onion, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh green beans
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 cup chopped potatoes
• 4 ounces paneer, cubed
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place mixed nuts in the skillet, cook and stir until golden brown, and set aside. Stir onion into the skillet, and cook until tender. Mix in garlic paste and ginger paste, and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce, cayenne pepper, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala. Pour in water, and mix in raisins, carrots, green bell pepper, beans, peas, and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
2. Heat remaining oil in a separate skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the paneer on both sides, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Place in a bowl with enough hot water to cover for about 2 minutes to soften, then stir into the skillet with the vegetables.
3. Stir milk and cream into the skillet with the vegetables and paneer. Bring to a boil, and continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt to taste.