Mary Poppins!

Tuppence a bag :(

Date Pecan Bread

This is a sweet quick bread; very rich and very dense.

Date Pecan Bread

Ingredients:

6-8 ounces dates, chopped
1 cup water, boiling
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cups sugar
1/2 tbsp vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1. Place chopped dates in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8" or 9" bread pan. Line the bottom with baking parchment, and grease this as well.
3. Cream together butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in another bowl.
4. Add dates and water to egg mixture.
5. Sift (or simply mix) together the baking soda, powder, and flour. Stir this into the egg mixture just until incorporated.
6. Stir in pecans.
7. Spread into loaf pan.
8. Bake for one hour or until a toothpick or knife inserted into center comes out clean. Optionally, for a less browned top, cover with foil after 20-30 minutes.

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.