Velvet pudding

It has been so long since my last post! I am finally on holiday and feeling inspired to be blogging again. I will try my best to blog regularly and share easy recipes that I try. I live alone with my dad, its only been two months, and we are both getting the hang of cooking and learning to enjoy it.

This week I was craving something sweet and came across a great recipe on food24. Fluffy, sweet and delicious: that's the three words that best describe this dessert.

ingredients:

250ml milk
125ml sugar
90ml cake flour
2ml salt
3 eggs, separated

45ml butter

3ml vanilla essence

75ml apricot jam

 

method:

 

Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease an ovenproof dish. Heat the milk to just below boiling point. Mix 60 ml of the sugar with the flour and salt and add to the milk, stirring until the mixture thickens. Lightly whisk the egg yolks, add to the milk mixture and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla essence. Spoon the mixture into the greased dish and bake for 15-20 minutes or until pale brown. Spread the apricot jam over the hot pudding. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form, gradually add the remaining sugar and whisk to make meringue. Spread the meringue mixture on top of the pudding and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

prawn chaat

I love this, its my Dadi's (granny) recipe! Everyone that I have made this for love it too! Its similar to butter chicken, but with prawns. Quite spicy, just the way I like it!

ingredients:
2kg prawns (de-veined, clean and drained well)
1 tin tomato puree
1/2 cup yogurt
4 tsp tandoori spice
3 tsp chili powder
2 tsp garlic
1 tsp salt
250ml fresh cream

method:

1. Mix the spices (tandoori spice, chili powder, salt and garlic) to form a paste and put on prawns.
2. Fry prawns in hot oil
3. Add tomato puree to prawns and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add cream and heat through.
5. Garnish with chopped green coriander

serve with garlic naan or puris

caramel popcorn

Home-made Diddle Daddle!

ingredients:
1 brick butter
375ml brown sugar
90ml cold water
6 cups popped popcorn

method:

1. Melt the butter. Add sugar and water.
2. Stir over moderate heat until dissolved, then bring to the boil. Cover with a lid, cook for about 3 minutes or until the steam has washed sugar crystals down from the sides of the pot.
3. Boil until soft ball stage has been reached (when a little syrup is dropped into iced water it forms a ball which flattens of its own accord when picked up with the fingers. About 25-30 min)
4. Remove from heat and pour over popcorn, stirring gently to coat completely.
5. When cool enough to handle, mould into balls

scones

Another recipe from our personal file :)

ingredients:
2 cups sifted self raising flour
pinch salt
1 tbsp castor sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup oil, 1 egg and enough milk to make 1 cup measure when mixed

method:
sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together
add liquid and mix well and turn onto floured board
press down slightly by hand
use a 5-6cm diameter cookie cutter
bake at 230*C for 12 minutes

serve with fresh cream/ cheese and strawberry jam

florentines

Another family favourite! My mom loves this recipe that we got from my aunt! Very easy to make, quick, yummy and crispy!

ingredients:
1 cup sultanas
4 cups cornflakes
3/4 cup almonds
1 cup glazed cherries
4 tbsp dates
300 ml condensed milk
250g dark/milk chocolate

method:
combine all ingredients except the chocolate
drop a spoonful on baking paper-lined oven trays
bake for 10-12min @ 180*C
leave to cool
then spread melted chocolate on the base

Bihari

Let me start by saying I absolutely love Indian food! I'm half Indian so I guess I was born with a bit of "spicyness". I've grown up with indian food and traditions so it is so wonderful to go to a restaurant with an authentic Indian feel and taste. I've eaten a lot of indian food and tried out lots of restaurants but Bihari still comes out on top!

I've been to Bihari on dates, with friends and for Sunday family lunches and if I haven't been for a while I start craving the delicious garlic naan with melted cheese inside and their garlic lamb tikka chops. What I love about Bihari is that they cater to people's different levels of hotness/spiciness. The waiters and waitresses are so knowledgeable and give great advice choosing something off the large menu.

These days restaurants no longer put little things on the table to munch on, such as bread, whilst waiting for the food unless you ask them but at Bihari you are welcomed with good service, paaperdoms, chutney, mint sauce and sambals (chopped tomato, onions and cucumber).

The menu is separated into categories which make it easy to read, might I add that their vegetarian dishes are plentiful. I recommend the mixed meat starter platter, garlic lamb tikka, afghani lamb chops, tandoori garlic prawns, coconut prawn curry and the chicken lababdar.

Bihari full menu

Bihari is situated in Newlands and is part of the Southern Sun. There are other Bihari branches in Milnerton and Fish Hoek.They cater for dinner parties, corporate functions, special events, conferencing or simply a romantic night out.

Average per person: R150
Mon-Sun 12:00-16:00 and 16:00-22:30
Bookings: 021 674 7186

Bihari website

chocolate chip cookies

ingredients:

2 1/4 cup cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla essence

2 cups chocolate chips 

method:

1. preheat oven to 175*C
2. in a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt with a whisk and set aside
3. beat butter and both sugars until blended
4. beat in eggs and vanilla essence
5. combine in dry ingredients
6. stir in chocolate chips
7. use a mini ice cream scoop to drop dough on a baking sheet 5 cm apart

http://www.bakerella.com/milk-cookies/