Comfort Food: Chicken Pie

Who doesn't love chicken pies, perfect comfort food.

I used homemade pastry (recipe at the end) but you can use store-bought, ready to use pie crust also. You will find it in frozen section you can use roll-out puff pastry (short crust pastry or ready to fill pies).

Choose whatever is easily available.

I use a 13x7 oven proof glass dish for the pie I make and it is good enough for 4-6 people.

Ingredients:

2 sheets thawed puff pastry.
Minced Chicken
Carrots, Bell peppers, Mushrooms, Corn, Onions.
1 beaten egg
Butter.
Cheese optional.

How To Make: 

Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees C. 

Grease the dish you will use with butter.

Meanwhile cook your chicken with salt, pepper, veggies and a splash of vinegar and soy-sauce. Do not over-dry the chicken. 

Next line pie plate with one sheet of pastry, fill with chicken mix and top with another pastry.

Press around edges to seal. Also make 6-8 slits with knife, to let steam escape.

Brush with egg and bake for 30 minutes (less or more according to your oven and pastry baking instructions). Until the pie is brown on top. 

Serve immeediately with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.

A good shortcrust pastry recipe is from BBC-food, if you are into baking and want to bake your own homemade pie crust, try this Shortcrust Pastry Recipe and increase ingredients as needed.

• 
  

Easy Lunch. Shrimp & Pasta (Tossed with olive oil & herbs)

The other afternoon was just lazing around at home and noon is the time one feels the hungriest & then end up grabbing a chocolate bar or something full of calories. I had shrimps in my freezer and ended up tossing it up with whole wheat spaghetti. Pretty simple, quick, healthy but delicious recipe.

A winter afternoon & something warm & healthy

This recipe was made for two so you can increase the quantity accordingly.

You will need a cup of washed, cleaned shrimps. Just saute them in a tablepoon of EVOO. Add black pepper, salt, 1-2 tbsp chilli sauce (if you want) and lemon juice few drops.

Boil spaghetti/pasta any shape you like and after it is boiled toss it with 2-3 tbsp EVOO, too.

Now toss them both together, sprinkle thyme & rosemary. I also added mushrooms & cherry tomatoes. You can add corn or bell peppers if you like but keep it simple and light for a lunch time healthy snack.

Enjoy! :)

Chewy, Crumbly, Dark Chocolate Cookies (NESTLÉ®)

When I think of food, I think of childhood... family meals, home cooked with love, baked goodies and best of all "cookie memories" revolving around cookies from my childhood days...chocolate chip cookies, chocolate filled cookies, creamy, buttery, coconutty, chewy and even plain milk ones. How do you like yours? Plain, thin and crisp, soft and chewy, with nuts, double chocolate chip or even triple chocolate ones (My personal favouite)

I always love to try out new cookies-Ben's cookies being one of my favourites out here in the desert. (must try their praline & triple chocolate ones!). But what is better than a home baked, chewy goodness. Iam the one with the mighty sweet tooth (or a sweet jaw if that would be a word). Husband on the other hand is more into dark and bitter ones.

So one fine day after watching (or rather drooling) over Food Network, I went to the kitchen and found a NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®  bag in the fridge and on it, was this recipe. If you're a fan of bitter-sweet dark goodness, this recipe is for you.

As I say, you can always play around with the recipe and add semi-sweet chocolate chips just to give it a sweet kick!

cookies ready to go in the oven

 

Prep: 15 min

Yield: 12 Servings

 

  

     Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) Nestlé® Toll House® Dark Chocolate Morsels, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Nestlé® Toll House® Baking Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

 

 

I got a little carried away and spread the melting chips, you can try that too!

 

 

 

freshly baked

 

      Directions

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease.
• Melt 2/3 cup morsels in microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Set aside.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in remaining 1 cup morsels. Drop dough by level 1/4-cup measure 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs and the tops have a cracked appearance. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Makes: 12 cookies.

hmmmm can let go of all diets for this beauty!

Originally published as Jumbo Dark Chocolate Cookies in NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®

Rainy day & A Creamy Dessert.

Hello helloo....I know I have been away...been busy with in-laws over, and Rayyan is going through the phase of "I need mama 24/7 and I need answers to every question asked...with explanation!"

Just the other day was a beautiful in Riyadh, rain and hail stones,...first it drizzled, then hailstones and then finally it rained...sadly all the laundry I did a day before was soaking wet even before I realized.

I enjoyed the day shopping, a long drive and ended with a warm home cooked meal.

I usually make up quick recipes using the stuff in my pantry. I cooked a nice chicken karhai and some snacks for rain. We usualy make fried pakoras, samosas and other savoury snacks back home but here I just got some from a local shop.

I had to whip up a dessert and didnt have much on my hand so I just made this little beauty which not only tasted good but looks good enough to serve to guests.

The base was crushed mcvities, then poured warm vanilla pudding, pieces of vanilla pound cake, pudding again, top with blueberries, whipped cream, sprinkled with crushed biscuit on top! Ready in minutes, delicious to eat :)

Enjoy!

Oreos & Cream In a Glass.

I had a dinner for few friends, a couple of weeks ago. I had the menu planned and desserts ready. Last minute I felt, I must make one more dessert. That's just me! Have to have a last minute addition to the menu. I am a big fan of quick recipes and very fond of desserts in a glass. You can use a small glass/serving bowl but not very big one, smaller portions look pretty in transparent glasses.

I did a step by step guide on how to make this quick & yummy dessert.

To start off I crushed and grinded Oreos. (put them in a bag and use the rolling pin or just put them in the grinder) Spoon a tablespoon each of crushed oreos in the glasses.




The next step is the filling or the pudding. I used whipped cream mixed with Oreos (crushed pieces) & a little condensed milk. I put the mixture in the fridge for few hours and it thickened. You don't want a runny filling. You can add cream cheese to give it a creamy cheesy flavour and name it Oreo cheescake! ;)

Use anything you like, even icecream! :)

You can spoon it in the glasses, I tried to be neat and piped it.



And here it is all creamy and swirly.



Top it up with more grinded Oreos. (the same, used for the base.)





Top it off with Whipped Cream (I used cream in a can-dreamwhip/reddi whip)



Sadly I didnt take any photos of the chocolate I decorated on top (had no time!). I found this picture on the internet and it is what you can do to decorate your desserts. I used a mould, but I find thise piping chocolate and putting in the fridge to set easier.





Finally it was ready to eat and this was what was left in the morning which my friend & I enjoyed the next day, for lunch! :)



Feedback and comments are most welcome :)

Recipe of the day: Icecream Sundae Pie.

Who said you can only get good looking, mouth watering sundaes and icecream pies at shops? Craving for one? This one is yummylicious and super easy peasy!

Most of the stuff used is in your kitchen pantry and fridge. Make one today! :)


All you need is:

4 cups cereal (grinded)- You can use coco pops, frosties, cheerios, honey and nut or even K bran

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1/2 cup Honey (or Corn syrup)

1/2 to 1 tub vanilla icecream ( you can use any other flavour too)

1/4 cup peanuts/almonds

1/2 cup Hersheys chocolate syup or Hot Fudge.


How to make it:

Grease a deep dish/pie plate (preferrably 9 inch).

Mix together cereal, peanut butter and honey. Press in the pan.

Spread softened icecream on the crust.(not melted, just softened enough to spread easily.)

Garnish with nuts.

Freeze for 4-6 hours.

Serve with syrup/fudge/whipped cream.


Enjoy this sweet, frozen easy to make in minutes sweet treat :)

Recipe of the day: Fruit Tartlets

A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes with custard. Tartlet refers to a miniature tart. (Source: Wikipedia)


I simply adore tarts & tartlets. Especially for breakfast. I made some for friends for a breakfast at my place, few days ago and everyone loved them. They are easy and if you are into baking you will get them perfectly in the first go!

What You Need:


For pastry (makes 12)

200g/7oz plain flour (plus extra for dusting)

85g/3oz icing sugar

55g/2 oz ground almonds

115g/4oz unsalted butter (diced and chilled)

1 egg yolk

1 tbsp milk


For filling:
You can use custard powder (I used foster clark's-vanilla)

If you have a good from scratch custard recipe you can use that. Just make sure its not runny and thin. Make sure to cool and cover custard.


How To Make It:

To make the pastry, sift the flour and sugar into a bowl, then stir in the almonds.

Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the egg yolk & milk and mix to form a dough.

Turn out to a lightly floured surface and knead for few minutes.

Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.

Roll out the pastry and use it to line 12 deep tartlet (or even separate tart pans)

Prick the pastry bases with a fork.

Press a piece of foil into each tartlet, covering the edges and bake for 10-15 minutes or until light golden brown.

Remove the foil and bake further 2-3 minutes.

Cool.




Make the custard separately and put a spoonful filling in each pastry case.

Arrange fruits on top (I only used strawberries but you can use kiwis, berries and peaches too!)

Pipe cream to garnish and dust with icing sugar or brush fruits with a little apricot or any flavoured fruit jam to give it a shiny glaze.



Serve immediately.

Enjoy :)

Tweet! Tweet! It's Thursday!

Our weekend in the desert has started. After a very busy trip to Dubai and a hectic week of parties (thanks to all dear friends for the yummy breakfasts and lunches!)

Iam planning to just rest. Had a late breakfast (cinnabons-to be precise-I know bad! bad!). Watched a movie while Rayyan made a mess of his room. The room is full of cars and crayons. I am not even going there! It is "only sit back & relax" day for me. Just the other day cleaned up the whole place and got hold of stuff I didn't even know were in the house. Note to self- no more shopping for mama...(ahem!ahem!)

Lots of stuff lined up including my first Travel Post (the only time I get to type in peace is 12am....sigh!) and few recipes. Soon, Soon.

Hope all of you have a great day with your families, friends & loved ones.

Recipe Of the Day: Kashmiri Chai (Pink Tea)

Kashmiri Chai also known as Pink tea is very famous in Pakistan. Especially in winters. Kashmiri Chai is also prepared by using green tea leaves with a required quantity of milk. It is usually served with coconut, crushed Almonds and Pistachios.

Personally I have tried both recipes below with and without leaves.


Ofcourse the one without leaves is not really tea but it tastes kinda same.

You can say it is simply sweetened milk which we get in bottles in Pakistan at most milkshops. Just add a little pink colour and rose essence in it and it smells and tastes like Kashmiri Chai too.

It is a small cheat when you dont want to add tea leaves or you dont have them at home and I just love easy, shortcut recipes ;) Will share both recipes here.

Kashmiri Chai (with leaves):

Ingredients:

6 tsp. green tea leaves
15-20 seeds of green cardamom plus 1-2 tsp. ground cardamom
1-2 tsp. bicarbonate soda (meetha soda)
1 litre full fat milk
Crushed pistachio/almonds
6 cups water
Sugar and salt to taste.

How to Make:

Pour water in a large pan. Add tea leaves,salt, seeds of green cardamom and soda.

Bring to boil reduce heat and simmer until it reduces to 1/2 of its quantity.

While it is still boiling pour in it about 2-3 cups of cold water.

Beat and bring to boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes.

Remove from heat, strain and keep aside.

Boil the milk with ground cardamom over low heat.

Pour prepared tea water (Qahwa) in the milk.

Bring to boil, add salt and simmer for 3-5 minutes over low heat.

Remove from heat and pour into cups.

Pour 1 tablespoon of cream or malai.

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of pistachio/almonds over it.


Now the next one is "MY" recipe for sweetened milk. (which tastes more or less like Kashmiri Chai especially for us 'Pardesis' who yearn for it)

You need: (you can make it according to your need and adjust ingredients accordingly)

1 litre milk (full fat)
1 can evaporated milk ( I used Almarai Gold-thick)
1/2 to 1 can condensed milk (no need to add sugar but add if needed)
5-10 cardomoms
2 tsp coconut (dessicated)
2 pinch saffron
1-2 drops of Rose essence
A drop of pink color in each cup.
Almonds and Pistachios (crushed) also for garnish.


How to Make:

Boil milk, add evaporated milk, cardomoms and simmer till almost half is left in the pan.

Add condensed milk. Stir & simmer for few more minutes.

Add saffron, coconut, almonds and pistachio.

Cook for 5-10 minutes more. Milk will be yellowish in color.

Milk should be stirred to make it frothy.

Add rose essence. Pour in cups and add just a drop of pink food color in each cup (some people add roohafza but I don't like that)

Garnish with Malai (cream-if you like) and nuts.

Enjoy! :)

Healthy Bites: Munch...Munch

Who said healthy has to be borning & tasteless? If you are really managing your diet and getiing into that "healthy groove", especially in the sit-sleep-eat-sleep again lifesyle of KSA you have a number of options.


1.) You can cook healthy, low calorie food for yourself and keep a check.

2.) You can order pre-cooked, monitered and exact calorie meals at your door step.


Personally I prefer option number One. I love to cook and I like to come up with new yummy healthy recipes all the time. There are times when I am keeping a check and dont want to eat heavy I just get a sandwich or grab something light from one of the diet shops and I like their stuff, it is tasty and guilt-free! But generally I love home cooked meals.


But if you are not fond of cooking and find it a hassle to cook separately for yourself and your family. Also if you are not sure how many calories are going in your mouth then you should opt for option number Two. Hassle free, ready made, diet food, home delivered :)


Below I will cover few options in Riyadh:

(I have not personally tried any but few friends have and gotten good results.)


"Diet World" (Click here to go the website directly)


Diet world is a renowned name and people swear by it. Many have lost and managed with it. They have free consultations to check which diet is best for You. Their food is delicious. The Home Meal Program is a remarkably effective food program based on the well known Zone Diet. They promise & offer freshly cooked, low-fat, calorie-measured meals punctually delivered to your door daily.



WHAT YOU RECEIVE:
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner, 2 Salads, 2 Soups, and 1 Desert arrive at your doorstep, seven days a week. One full day of food is delivered in your meal box. They have a 28-day cycle of gourmet food assuring you of variety.


Delivery: Diet World is available to deliver freshly prepared meals to your doorstep seven days a week, 365 days a year at any time you prefer.


Packaging:
The meals are placed in microwave-safe aluminum disposable containers. Heating instructions are simple, just place container 3 to 5 minutes in the microwave on high, or 10 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees.

You can get the contact details etc from their comprehensive website.



Diet Centre: (click here to go to the website directly)

Diet centre is one of the famous diet shops in Riyadh.Founded in Lebanon in 1990 by dedicated specialists, the Nutrition and Diet Center is the first dedicated diet and weight loss health center in the Middle East.

Their Services Include:

a. Nutritional consultations.
b. Design nutrition & diet programs.
c. Produce and market a variety of light and great-tasting foods.
d. Implement healthy lifestyle principles through education and support.
e. cafés, outside catering and take-out shops and pastry houses.






Their food is also well packed, tasty and home delievered. Catered according to your needs.



Other Diet/Healthy Eating options in Riyadh:
(Now you don't have an excuse to have junk/fast food when eating out!)

From Nature- Riyadh Gallery.

Du Salad - Panorama Mall

Subway- You can choose brown bread, no soda and no chips.

You can always opt & choose healthy option when eating at home or eating out. Just be careful of your portions. Eating healthy does NOT mean 'starving'.

Hope this helped all you ladies who are motivated with the weight loss story! :)

All of you who would prefer to cook at home, will be putting up a few healthy quick ideas that fit in our lifestyle.

If you also know of any other diet/healthy eating outs or have tried & tested any of the above, your comments are most welcome.

Stay healthy-Stay happy.

Sweet Tooth: Thumbprint Jelly Cookies

Butter cookies always bring along fond memories of my past. As kids we used to get these butter cookies with jelly or chocolate on top, they smelled like butter & bakery. My sisters and I used to put these in small pink jars and have them with milk at night before bedtime. These cookies are a childhood favourite, I simply love them so does my son & DH. Now that I bake now & then I decided to cook a small batch at home once and they turned out delicious and really easy to make too!








I got this recipe from one of the cooking shows a few years ago. It is pretty simple and no-fail too! If you're a fan of butter & jelly cookies this one is for you. I made these with Strawberrey jam BUT you can also substitute with a chocolate, raspberry, cherry or peanut butter thumbprint filling!


Ingredients:

1 egg yolk
1/2 cup butter
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp strawberry jam (I used Smuckers)
1 cup all purpose flour
1-2 drops of strawberry essence


How To Make:

Mix all the ingredients one by one with hand/hand whisk/spatula.

Cover the dough & keep in the fridge to cool for few hours.

With hands make 8 balls from the dough.

Shape into small cookies by pressing lightly with the palm.

Press your thumb in the middle of the cookies.

Preheat the oven at 190C and bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes (do not over bake).

Cookies will be little cracked on the sides, that's normal.

Fill the thumbprint (Spoon or use a piping to pipe Jelly)

Serve Warm.

Choco-nana Shake :)

Chocolate and Banana Shake:


‎Very simple, quick recipe. You need:

2 bananas,
2 tbsp condensed milk,
1 tbsp chocolate powder,
ice & blend.
Top off with chocolate whipped cream (spray can-Cool whip)

Perfetto Pasta!!

I love cooking & eating pasta. It is a perfect comfort food. There are thousands of recipes out there many use homemade sauces and others with ready to use ones which are equally good. My favourite pasta sauces I use in my lasagnas and pastas are the red and white sauces.
























There are many kinds of sauces out there and you can try them out with different kinds of pasta.

Noodle - a ribbonlike strip of pasta

Orzo - pasta shaped like pearls of barley; frequently prepared with lamb in Greek cuisine

Spaghetti - pasta in the form of long strings

Tortellini - small ring-shaped stuffed pasta

Rigatoni - tubular pasta in short ribbed pieces

Fedelline - extremely fine pasta thinner than vermicelli

Linguine, linguini - pasta in long slender flat strips

Fettuccine, fettuccini - pasta in flat strips wider than linguine

Vermicelli - pasta in strings thinner than spaghetti

Macaroni - pasta in the form of slender tubes

Lasagna, lasagne - very wide flat strips of pasta

Penne - pasta in short tubes with diagonally cut ends

Cappelletti, ravioli - small circular or square cases of dough with savory fillings.




This is a quick fix will be doing a homemade pasta sauce very soon too, for now this is a very easy recipe for busy moms :)



"Perfetto Pasta"



Boil Pasta according to teh package instructions. I used thick spaghetti which works well with sauces.















In another pan stir fry chicken with spices & vegetables (optional). Layer the pasta in a serving dish, layer generously with white sauce (alfredo) or red sauce. Sprinkle black pepper. Layer with more pasta and repeat.










Put on top of the layered pasta the chicken and veggies mix. You can top with soysauce or chilli sauce if you like. You can also add mozarella cheese and bake the pasta for few minutes if you want a cheesy pasta.












Serve Hot :)

*Banana Cupcakes*

Cupcakes are everyones' favourites. They are light and yummy! If you dont want to eat a big slice of banana cake, loaded with calories you can always opt for a small cuppie cake with light frosting.


Today I'm going to blog about "Banana Cupcakes With Frosting:"

(I made a light/thin frosting but you can opt for only banana garnish on top or cream cheese/thick frostings with these cupcakes, too.)



Ingredients:

1 + 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted melted butter
1 + 1/2 cups mashed bananas plus 1 whole banana, for garnish (optional)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract



Directions:


1.Preheat oven to 180 degrees Centigrade. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper cups. In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2.Make a well in center of flour mixture. In well, mix together butter, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Stir (do not overmix). Dividing evenly, spoon batter into muffin cups.

3.Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean, approx. 25 to 30 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely before frosting. Spread with Frosting. Just before serving, peel and slice banana into rounds, and place one on each cupcake, if desired.


Frosting:

Combine 500g icing sugar + 5 tablespoon water, combine and whisk till smooth. Yellow food color can also be added.






----End Notes---

A few tips & tricks I follow for perfect cupcakes:

Never over-bake or overmix cupcakes they will become dry & chewy instead of moist & and spongy.

Use a good baking pan/muffin tray (if you're into baking, then you must invest in good kitchen utensils)

Bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing your cupcake batter. Cold eggs & cold butter can never make good cakes.

Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean so keep close watch of teh oven temperature and time. It's all about the timing.


Hope you enjoy these with your family and I'm sure kids would love it! :)

Product Review: Ramekins & Fondue Set.

Hey! Hey! Blog readers....hope all is well at your end of the world and all you Riyadhi-ians hope you guys are enjoying the SALES!!! Yum! Yum! :D

I shopped for some home stuff before going on vacation but didnt get time to blog so here is a detailed review along with recipes you can try out with the products.

My shopping was for home stuff and got these two beauties. Both for my weakness-my sweet tooth-my love for desserts :)


Ramekins:


A ramekin or ramequin, also known as a bouillon bowl, is a small glazed ceramic or glass serving bowl used for the preparation and serving of various food dishes.
(source-Wikipedia)



I got four of these ramekins from Homecentre at Centre Point and they are just perfect for baking, easy to wash, dishwasher & oven-safe.




Using a ramekin for cooking and baking is an easy way to decorate great dishes, such as creme brulee and many others. You can also use ramekins to make a beautiful plate to present to dinner guests. Just like I used in the molten lava recipe




The ones I used were from IKEA but these I got from Homecentre and if you make the lava cakes in these ramekins you will get the same flower shaped lava cakes like we usually get in Chilis.











Fondue Set:

The second buy is a 6 pieces Fondue set from Homecentre again. Don't confuse Fondue with fondant.


Before I write about the description of fondue sets let's begin by describing a fondue meal. I had my first fondue when I was a teenager and I instantly fell in love with it...! The fondue method of cooking is different than most because you are doing most of the cooking yourself right at your table. You can start with a good quality cheese fondue with bread & vegetables and then switch to grilling for meats, poultry, and fish. End the dinner with the heavenly chocolate fondue with fruits, marshmallows, candy, icecream etc.









In fondue cooking, you have a fondue pot which has melted cheese or chocolate in which you dip your food items with fondue forks. If you have never had a fondue dinner at a restaurant, you need to experience it at least once in your life. Keep reading to find out about home fondue sets.







Home Fondue sets make it easy to cook up a great tasting classic cheese fondue for bread or vegetable, at home, right at your dinner table. Even the meat fondues that are cooked in hot oil or broth are not hard to prepare but the most popular type of home fondues are ofcourse 'Chocolate'.

A chocolate fondue can be a romantic dessert just for two or you can share it with friends and family. If you're intrested in entertaining a big gathering and plan to cook up meat (fish, chicken) look for a fondue pot that can handle high heat while cheese or chocolate fondues can easily cook in thicker pots that don't scorch/burn the contents but still hold heat. Because as we know cheese and chocolate have to melt on very low heat and burn easily.

Chocolate/Cheese fondue sets often are heated by candles only, but meat fondues will never cook with just a candle. You will also find some fondue sets which are electric powered. Fondue sets are made from cast iron, ceramic, enamel, stainless steel, copper and aluminum. They are usually coated with non-stick, glazed, or enamel surfaces. Now it depends on your taste. choice & preference which type you want and what you plan on cooking.



This particular set that I purchased is light and can be used for light cooking such as cheese & chocolate which are easily melted by candle. It also consists of 4 fondue forks to pick and dip fruits/bread/vegetable etc.



Below are Two Recipes if you plan on buying or already have a fondue set. Enjoy over a light meal, romantic dinner for two or a large gathering.


Bon Appétit :)






Caramel Apple Fondue recipe:

Sliced apples
Chopped peanuts
2 pounds caramels
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Unwrap caramels and melt in microwave. When melted, add sliced cream cheese. Cook for 1 minute in microwave. Stir until cream cheese is melted. Add vanilla extract; stir. Pour caramel into fondue pot. Dip sliced apples in caramel, then into chopped peanuts.







Chocolate Fondue recipe:

milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate or sweet cooking chocolate
milk (to thicken or thin)
dry instant coffee or
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Dippers*

Heat chocolate and milk in heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Pour into fondue pot or chafing dish with water bath; keep warm over very low heat. (NOTE: A crock pot set on LOW does a great job of keeping the fondue warm.) Stir in a small amount of cream if fondue becomes too thick while guests are dipping.

Dippers:
Strawberries, banana slices*, pineapple chunks, mandarin orange segments, fresh orange slices, apple wedges*, grapes, melon balls, papaya wedges*, maraschino cherries, fresh pitted Bing cherries, kiwifruit slices, fresh coconut chunks, pound cake cubes, ladyfingers, miniature cream puffs, miniature doughnuts, marshmallows, pretzels, angel food cake cubes and vanilla wafers.

All the fruits followed by a * should be dipped in lemon juice after cutting to prevent blackening of fruits.

Winter Recipe: Hot & Sour Soup.

Brrr...Brrr! What better than a warm bowl of soup in winters. Nothing beats chicken soup for me but for a change I like to enjoy minestrone, lentil, veggies and seafood in my soup.

Hot and sour soup is one of my favourite soups and I prefer it with shrimps/prawns. But you can add chicken too if you like. Here's my easy peasy recipe and as always you can add or subtract ingredients according to your own taste & preference.





this Recipe makes for 2.


Ingredients:

3 cups water
1/2 cup chicken (boiled and shredded-if you like)
1 cup shrimps/prawns (stir fried and fully cooked)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chinese salt
3 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup cabbage (thinly chopped)
2 carrots (thinly chopped)
1 spring onion (thinle sliced)
1 tsp black pepper
1 eggwhite
3-4 tbsp cornflour
1 knorr chicken cube
2 tbsp ketchup
chilli sauce


How to make it:

Boil water and add chickn cube in it, bring it to a boil then add ALL ingredients EXCEPT egg and cornflour.

Cook for 8-10 minutes.

Dissolve cornflour in cold water and add to soup. Add more if needed to thicken.

Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add eggwhite and cook for 3-5 minutes more-Keep stirring.

In the end add 2 tbsp ketchup and chilli sauce to taste.

Enjoy hot with prawn/fish crackers :)

Bon Appétit!

Recipe Of The Day: Molten Lava Cakes

And my lovely blog readers one of the most awaited recipes is Finally here! :D

Molten chocolate cake or lava cake, is a popular dessert that combines the elements of a flourless chocolate cake (sometimes called a chocolate decadence cake) and a soufflé. Some other names used are chocolate fondant pudding and chocolate lava cake.

Who can say No to molten lava? Not me! ;)

Moist chocolate cake with a core of rich creamy chocolate filling. A delicious delight. I prefer to make it at home as one of my favorite desserts and now You can too! :)

They’re the kind of thing that you usually only find in restaurants because they look as though they are difficult to make. And there are a million recipes on how to make them and I have tried half a dozen recipes & find this one the easiest and quickest!

Once again this recipe is a step by step guide with each and every step with pictures.

Don't over bake or you will get a brownie-like dessert without the creamy-molten chocolate center-the 'Lava'. They are a little tricky because of the cooking temperature and the baking time but once you master that art...Viola!

This Recipe Makes 4 Cakes.

Ingredients:

4 squares chocolate (bitter or sweet-as you like)
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar (if using sweet chocolate) and 1.5 cups (if using bitter chocolate)
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
Baking Spray
whipped cream/icecream/sauce/nuts for Garnish.


How To Make:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Centigrade. Spray to Grease the cups with butter, four 3/4 cup ramekins.




Heat chocolate on a water bath. When melted add butter on very low heat. Until Smooth.




Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs first then egg yolks. Until Glossy. Cook for few more minutes.

Take off heat and Stir in flour.



Spoon In Cups:



Bake for 12-15 minutes or until sides are firm. Centre will be soft.




Loosen with knife and serve immediately warm on a dessert plate with cream/icecream/sauce & nuts. (turning the cakes on the plate is tricky so be careful)

Cut it to get the beautiful molten chocolate lava :)




Bon Appétit!