Many food enthusiasts asked about china grass which I used in making Low Calorie Chocolate Mousse. This gave me the idea to start a new food dictionary. In these blog posts, I would explain the new or uncommon ingredients which I would or I had used in making any dish. Here I start with the first ingredient.
Agar or agar agar is a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweeds like Ceylon moss. Because, gelatin is made from animal tissue, agar agar is used commonly as a vegetarian gelatin substitute for making soups, jellies, desserts, ice creams by vegans. According to Wikipedia, the word "agar" comes from the Malay word agar-agar (meaning jelly). It is one of the main ingredients of Japanese cuisine for making desserts.
Kanten, China grass, or Japanese isinglass are the other names of agar agar. Like ordinary gelatin, agar is flavorless. When dissolved in water, heated and then cooled, it becomes gelatinous. Its is full of protein along with number of minerals and gels more firmly than gelatin.
Agar's gelling power is weakened by acids and would breakdown when exposed to enzymes of raw fruits like kiwi, papaya, pineapple, peach, mango, guava, and fig. So, use canned fruits instead of fresh ones.
Food Ingredients Dictionary - China Grass
Low Calorie Chocolate Mousse For A Perfect Summer Dinner
Weekends are a great way to relax and to hangout with old friends. From the last many weekends I have been relaxing. So this weekend I chose to invite two of our friends, in fact my husband's. But over a period of time I have gelled with the husband and wife so well that it seems we have been friends from years. For a lovely couple like this, with whom I and my husband really love to spend our time, I had to take utmost care in preparing the food to their likes.
After lingering on a lot many dishes, I decided on the menu. Then started for the preparations. I checked on the ingredients. Most of them were there. What were not, I sent hubby dear to pick them from the market. Good music, engrossing chit chats and the warmth of old friends is the quintessential core of perfect entertaining on a superb weekend. And hence, finalizing the menu is not just the end of the worries for the host. Setting the table comes next with deciding on the cutlery, dinnerware and the decor.
Initially I was a bit skeptical about the dishes I chose. But the dinner was delightful, and the conversations we shared from movies to our daily woes over fresh was simply exceptional. I was glad that they enjoyed each of the dishes. It started with garlic vegetable soup followed by pesto pasta and baked garlic mushrooms. Ended with the drooling chocolate mousse. I preferred to make everything quick and light so that I have time to chat with them and not get tied in the kitchen.
Ingredients
4 cup skimmed milk
1½ cup water for china grass
10 grams unflavored china grass (chopped)
2 tbsp sweetener (sugar free)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp low fat milk for cocoa powder
2 tsp coffee powder
2 tbsp warm water for coffee powder
2 tbsp low fat cream
Method
* In a pan combine china grass with water and cook on low heat till it is dissolved, stirring from time to time.
* Strain with a strainer and let it cool.
* Dissolve cocoa powder in 2 tbsp milk and coffee powder in 2 tbsp water, separately.
* Boil milk in a pan.
* Add the china grass mixture, sweetener, cocoa powder paste, coffee powder paste. Mix well and cook over a low flame for around 10 minutes, stirring continuously.
* Remove from heat and let it cool for few minutes.
* Add the cream and mix well.
* Pour the mixture into small cups or bowls.
* Chill them for 4 to 5 hours.
* Garnish with chocolate sprinkles. Serve chilled.
Fresh Fruit Muesli - A 5 Minute Breakfast
There are two infact three things which lead to this breakfast. Although its such an easy one and most of you must be already making this. Still I wanted to add it on my food blog for its simple nature. The first thing that led to this was a morning email from Food Bloggers Unite on How A Single Post Drew Over 20,000 Hits In One Day? The post was How To Make Butter In Under 5 Minutes ? I must say reading it was such an enlightening experience. Second thing was I needed to submit my favorite breakfast recipe for WYF: Breakfast Event. But being a lazy bone I wanted to make only one that could some up my both ideas.
Then late afternoon, when I was going through my daily dose of a science daily on food and nutrients, something caught my attention. A study was mentioned according to which, women who ate breakfast daily were less likely to be overweight although they took in more calories. The reason given was the whole day of work ahead which made them burn all the calories, avoided over eating and reduced snacking.
Early morning breakfast really plays a vital role in providing necessary nutrients to kick start the day. So even if you have loads of work or short of time, do not miss the breakfast. You can make some quick healthy breakfast. Fresh Fruit Muesli is just that. It can be made in less than 5 minutes and has loads of nutritional value. You can even get packaged muesli for making it, as it is easily available in the market. Its a loose mixture of rolled oats together with various pieces of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Ingredients
1/2 cup quick rolled cooking oats
1/2 cup cornflakes
2 tbsp chopped mixed nuts (cashewnuts, walnuts, almonds)
1 tsp wheat bran
2 tsp chopped raisins
2 tsp castor sugar
1 cup soya milk (per person)
1 cup fresh assortment of fruits (chopped)
Method
* In a pan warm milk with sugar.
* Take a large bowl. Add all the fruits, oats, cornflakes wheat bran, nuts, raisins, fresh fruits and mix.
* Pour warm soy milk.
* Serve immediately.
Note: If you like it cold, then no need to warm the soy milk.
Frankie Rolls For Kids Evening Snacks
When I read Divya's post on monthly event Cooking For Kids with Healthy Evening Snacks as the theme, started by by Sharmi of Neivedyam, I began thinking what to make which could be healthy as well as kids would love. Snacking is important for growing kids to help meet their energy and nutrient needs, required for proper growth and development.
Most of the children are picky when it comes to food and making them eat is a big task in itself. At times singing, playing, cajoling etc nothing works. Better idea is to make the food tempting yet, in sync with their taste and healthy. Kids will gradually gain interest. One very important thing is variety, so keep experimenting. Try to be creative by using proper garnish, different shapes of molds and food colors. But the golden rule is not to force them to eat.
The best approach is to make food from the five food groups of the Food Guide Pyramid - Milk, Meat, Vegetable, Fruit, and Grain. So what could include all of this? A Frankie. A frankie is an Indian version of wraps or tortillas with a filling of meat, vegetables, cheese, eggs etc. According to the taste buds of your kids, you can make the filling.
Ingredients
4 wheat/flour tortillas
2-3 tbsp cilantro leaves (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
1 tomato (chopped)
2-3 green chilies finely chopped
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt & pepper, to taste
2 tbsp grated cheese
2-3 tbsp olive oil
For different fillings-
Vegetables- 1 cup of assorted vegetables like carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, capsicum, cabbage, green beans etc
Eggs - 1 or 2 eggs as desired with assortment of grated or minutely chopped vegetables
Paneer (cottage cheese)- 2 cup of paneer diced
Chicken- 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts shredded
Method
Preparing Filling
* In a wok heat oil on medium flame.
* Add chopped onion. Fry till they turn golden brow.
* Then, add ginger garlic paste followed by chopped tomatoes. Mix them and cook for few minutes.
* The spices are then added- pepper, salt, turmeric powder, cumin powder and lemon juice.
* Let the spices cook for further few minutes.
* Lastly, you can add vegetables, eggs, chicken or paneer according to the type of frankie you want to have.
* When the filling is cooked, add cilantro leaves and let it cool at room temperature.
** Only chicken frankie will take longer time to cook.
** For eggs, you will have to beat them and make into diced omelet.
Preparing Frankie
* Take a non stick with 1 tbsp oil. Heat it and add a tortilla.
* If you want you can brush a side of tortilla with egg also.
* Flip and cook from both sides, adding the filling on one side.
* Add grated cheese and roll the tortilla.
* Serve hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.
Another Tag Another Reason To Smile
The last few days were hectic. Missed making anything. Reason Teej, an occasion of fasting. No food, so no recipes. Lots of work became pending. Here I am back again with all of my energy back. Parita tagged me but could not answer her tag. Thanks a lot dear. Finally I have answered all of them, from A to Z.
The Tag
1. A – Available/Single? I Wish ;)
2. B – Best friend? Ekta
3. C – Cake or Pie? Cake
4. D – Drink of choice? Mocha Shake
5. E – Essential item you use every day? PC, Mobile Phone
6. F – Favorite color? White
7. G – Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy Bear
8. H – Hometown? Allahabad
9. I – Indulgence? Novels, Sweets, Potato Snacks
10. J – January or February? February- Spring Time
11. K – Kids & their names? May be next year
12. L – Life is incomplete without? My Family
13. M – Marriage date? A Memorable Date
14. N – Number of siblings? 1 brother
15. O – Oranges or Apples? Oranges
16. P – Phobias/Fears? Locks- I always feel that I have left the lock open
17. Q – Quote for today? "I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it." (Charles Schulz)
18. R – Reason to smile? When any of my effort gets paid
19. S – Season? Monsoon
20. T – Tag 3 People? 4 Anncoo, Purva, Somoo, MBC
21. U – Unknown fact about me? Someone else will have to discover
22. V – Vegetable you don't like? Bitter Gourd
23. W – Worst habit? To repeat the same mistake time after time
24. X – X-rays you've had? Don't Remember
25. Y – Your favorite food? Alu Paranthas (Indian Potato Bread)
26. Z – Zodiac sign? Pisces
The Rules
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share the ABCs of you.
4. Tag 4 people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let the 4 tagged people know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so that there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag.
Almond Milk - A Beauty Drink
Childhood memories are so beautiful. Just thinking about those times gives so much of happiness. I wish I could be a small girl again and indulge myself in the natural pleasures of doing small things. Without a care in the world I could imagine things, create, play, laugh, smile and cry. But not anymore.
Almond Milk is a special part of my childhood memories. When I was a small girl, my mother used to make me almond milk because of its varied benefits. I used to have it before sleeping. Still whenever I am home, she makes it. In those growing years I used to hate milk both plain or with any of the mixes. But I loved warm almond milk. And still do, specially in winters.
Full of health and beauty benefits, you could use almonds to make face scrub or moisturizer to soften your skin and prevent aging. Drinking warm almond milk before you go to bed would improve your sleep. For growing children it helps in increasing energy levels and memory. Almonds are an incredible nutritional resource.
Ingredients
10 almonds (blanched and chopped)
4-5 cup milk
pinch of cardamom powder
pinch of nutmeg powder
3-4 tbsp sugar
few saffron strands
Method
* Boil milk in a thick bottomed pan.
* Add sugar and almonds and lower the heat. Keep on stirring till the water evaporates and somewhat thicker consistency is achieved.
* Just before removing from heat, add cardamom and nutmeg powder. Stir and boil for further 2-3 minutes.
* Serve hot in glasses garnished with saffron strands.
* If you want it cold in summers, then chill it for few hours.
Simple & Healthy Pesto Pasta
A couple of spoons of pesto is all you need to make your pasta delicious. Pesto is a classic Italian sauce made with a blend of basil leaves, olive oil, garlic, hard cheese and pine nuts. Low in fiber but high in fat, so use only in limited amount. I used only two spoons of it, to make a healthy pasta.
Just after finishing all my pending tasks when I glanced at the clock, it confirmed that I was past my regular dinner time. I was tired, still not in a mood to eat anything. I had to act fast. So, on the very first night of my extended weekend, I made pesto pasta for dinner along with baked garlic mushrooms. The pasta smelled lovely, filled my kitchen with a natural aroma and gave back all my energy. If you have pesto sauce, then you too can make your pasta just in few minutes. And its great for evening snacking.
Ingredients
200gm fettuccine Pasta
2 tbsp pesto sauce
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp parsley
4 blanched almonds
2 tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon black pepper powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
Method
* Cook the pasta in a pan of water for 7-8 minutes.
* In a blender add garlic cloves, almonds, parsley, 1 tbsp olive oil, black pepper, salt and blend to form a paste.
* Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan.
* Add the paste earlier made and pesto sauce. Heat for few minutes.
* Then add pasta, mix well and cook for few minutes. Do take care not to overheat it.
* Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and lemon wedges.
* Serve hot with Baked Garlic Mushrooms.
Note: As the ribbons of fettuccine pasta have a tendency to catch and stick together, add butter or olive oil for lubrication
Baked Garlic Mushrooms - Love For Baking
An extended weekend of 3 days is not always you get. I was lucky to get this after a long long time. Previously I was planning to go somewhere. But a few things were pending from a long time, for which usually I don't get time in weekdays. So, I decided to be at home make good use of time, try new recipes and enjoy a lazy weekend just lying and roaming in the house and doing whatever I love to do.
These weekends are such a joy. Just one day and I watched a movie, slept, cleaned the house and cooked. With working women cleaning becomes a weekend task only. Washing of clothes and then readying them for the week ahead and finally organizing the cupboard. I can do all this on a weekend only. At times a weekend day even seems to be a working day. But still the joy is there in doing these small tasks too. And we women enjoy this.
After all this what I managed to cook was something very easy. Baked garlic mushrooms and Pesto Pasta. From the week my tongue was longing for a taste of herbs. I included this in both the recipes. First comes the recipe of baked garlic mushrooms and then I will share the Pesto Pasta. May be some dessert too, as the occasion is Janmashtmi.
Ingredients
12 large mushrooms
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup coarse dry bread crumbs, preferably from Italian bread
2 garlic cloves (minced with a garlic press)
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, (1/4 tsp dried)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter. Add breadcrumbs.
* Cook them stirring continuosly on medium heat till the moisture evaporates and they are brown.
* Wash the mushrooms properly and slice them length wise.
* In another pan heat another tbsp of oil. Ass lengthwise sliced garlic, thyme, salt, black pepper, and mushrooms.
* Heat for few minutes. Take care not to overheat.
* Grease a baking dish with butter or oil and add mushrooms.
* Sprinkle all the breadcrumbs over the mushrooms and bake in a preheated oven at 100 degrees for 15-20 minutes, till the mushrooms are tender and the breadcrumbs are from brown to dark brown in color.
Hot 'n' Spicy Watermelon Drink Recipe
During summer, melons are at their best. And to beat the heat of summers, nothing cools as much as the chilled melon salad, soup or drink. But when showers happen, thirst for something cold gives way to something hot. This watermelon drink is hot and spicy and just right for the Monthly Mingle Event, hosted by Chew On That.
This is my first submission for Meeta's Monthly Mingle. I look forward to it in the future too. Its a great idea to unite with other food bloggers and share recipes.
Watermelon Drink is an easy drink to make. Although I have made a hot watermelon drink. If you want to have it cold, you can chill it for few hours.
Ingredients
2 small ginger roots
4-5 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cup watermelon cubes (seeded)
1 cup water
5 cup sugar
3 lemon slices
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method
* Place ginger, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a double layer of cheesecloth. Tie ends into a spice bag. Set aside.
* Peel the dark green skin. Coarsely chop watermelon and place in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until the watermelon reaches the consistency of coarse
applesauce.
* Place processed watermelon and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 30 minutes, until watermelon is soft.
* Add spice bag, sugar, lemon, and salt to the watermelon. Simmer and cook for an hour, .
* Pour into glasses.
Another Award For Cooking Pleasures
Time to celebrate again. My food efforts have won me another award from Parita of Parita's Kitchen. Do check her blog for some of the tastiest treasures. I thank her from the bottom of my heart. Through this food blog, I have made many food friends and a lot of admirers. This gives a great feeling.
Every single appreciation matters a lot. Its just like cooking. Whenever we cook
something special, there is always a feeling of anticipation. Anticipation to be appreciated by others, anticipation to expect rewards for it at times. These rewards in a way are a pat on your back, to encourage you further. Another award has boost up my energy and my love for food. I promise to work harder and make recipes tastier for my food blog lovers.
Find the Answers below for the tag - I have answered all the questions, adding my own question in the end.
1. What is your current obsession?
Blogging
2. What are you wearing today?
Shirt and Trousers
3. What’s for dinner?
Chicken Curry with plain rice
4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Monthly food products
5. What are you listening to right now?
My Inner Voice
6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Parita is one beautiful food blogger with a great love for 2 Bs- baking & blogging
7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
India
8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Capri, T shirts, Cotton frocks and suits
9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Paris, London, Switzerland, New York
10. Which language do you want to learn?
Oriya
11. Who do you want to meet right now?
My Mom
12. What is your favorite color?
White
13. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My new yellow suit
14. What is your dream job?
Would love to be an Interior Decorator
15. What’s your favorite magazine?
None but I do love to reading magazines
16. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Probably, a custom made blog template for my blog
17. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Backless
18. Who are your style icons?
None
19. Describe your personal style?
Something classy and chic
21. What are your favorite movies?
Jab We Met, Love Actually
22. Give us three styling tips that always work for you
Combed open hair, a comfortable dress and light makeup
23. Coffee or tea?
Tea
24. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Eat chocolates, go for shopping, bake a cake, read a novel, basically try to divert my mind.
25. What is the meaning of your name?
Part of a part
26. Which other blogs you love visiting?
food, photography, traveling and personal blogs
27. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Custard Trifle
28. Favorite Season?
Monsoon
29.Which is your dream destination?
Whole World
30: Which is your favorite international cuisine ?
Chinese
Parita's Question
Your favorite kitchen tool?
A good Knife
My Question
Which kitchen tool or equipment, you have wanted from a long time?
The Rules
Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.
I want to pass the awards and tags to the below friends. Please accept these awards and pass on!
TracieMoo
Amy Ong
Anncoo
Donna-FFW
A2ZVegetarian Cuisine
Diva
Evening Madness - Fried Cheese Balls
It is a misconception that eating snacks leads to weight gain. If you eat healthy snacks, then there is a benefit of it. Evening snack will prevent you from feeling too hungry at dinner and overeating. You will prefer something light like soup or lentils and bread, giving you a sound sleep at night.
As soon as I get back home from work, I am hungry. I had to have snacks. Usually I try to have healthy snacks like a quick chickpea salad or slices of brown bread with peanut butter during weekdays. But at times I am unable to resist myself on gorging more calories than that is justifiable with some fried snacks. This mostly happens on weekends, when I have plenty of time and I have been through a lot of food blogs. Cheese balls are yummy. Melted cheese will give you a gooey feeling and the aroma is just wonderful. Eat them hot only, dipped in green chutney or sauce with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Ingredients
1 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup bread crumbs
oil for frying
salt to taste
Method
* In a large bowl mix cheese, flour, eggs, black pepper, chili powder, baking powder and salt to taste making a thick consistency.
* Beat it into a fluffy batter. Take care in beating, as a proper batter makes cheese balls tastier.
* Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
* Make round balls from the batter and brush them with breadcrumbs.
* In a wok, heat oil and deep fry them, till golden in color.
Blueberry Soy Pancakes
Every morning when I wake up, the first tension that arises in my mind is what to make in the breakfast. Knowing what to make is half the battle won. I am a big lazybones so, I prefer making elaborate dishes on weekends. Week days are for something quick yet tasty. This morning I oped for Blueberry pancakes. Remember I had got a box of frozen blueberries, a few days back from a friend. Other than having it and making blueberry smoothie, I had saved the rest for trying some other blueberry recipes.
In pancake recipes, usually everyone uses all purpose flour for making pancakes. Instead I used soya or soy flour which is gluten free and has low fat. Soy flour is made from roasted soybeans that have been ground into a powder and is easily available in supermarkets and food store. Buy it and store in a refrigerator. You can make numerous healthy low fat dishes with it, replacing flour.
Ingredients
1/2 cup soy flour
3 tbsp soy milk or milk
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp superfine sugar
3-4 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup canned blueberry
1-2 tbsp oil
1 egg
Method
* Mix soya flour, milk, baking powder, sugar and one egg yolk to make the thick batter of dropping consistency.
* Leave it for 10-15 minutes.
* Meanwhile whisk the egg white until fluffy. Add it into the batter.
* Take a nonstick pan, brush it with oil and heat it.
* Pour the batter into the pan in a circular manner. As soon as the lower side is done at blueberries on top.
* Then flip and let the other side also cook.
* Serve hot with maple syrup, blueberries.
* For garnishing sprinkle with sugar.
Green Gourd Juice
While surfing around the net, I came across a superb concept of raw food diet. A diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, juices, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit, coconut milk etc. And the results Increased energy, Better skin, Improved digestion, Weight loss, Reduced risk of heart disease and many more.
The best thing about this whole concept is that if you follow a raw food diet you can eat almost as much as you can and still maintain a healthy weight. I found this whole idea just amazing. I am sure all of you would too and many must be knowing this already, even some must have tried it out. In synch with this I found Raw Divas, a website which is offering a free 7-Day Raw Food Detox Program for Women.
This green juice which I have made is the result of my inspiration from this whole concept of raw food diet. I am yet take the program. But I will try it for a day, if all goes well. May be I get going for more. Best idea would be to take a week off and then enjoy the program doing everything you were wanting to do from a long time. Anyone who wants to lose weight, I will suggest any this great concept for losing weight in a healthy way. My juice will help you in that. Easy to make, green and very nutritious.
Ingredients
1 calabash or bottle gourd peeled , seeded, chopped
bunch of cilantro
2-3 Indian gooseberry chopped
small ginger chopped 2
black salt to taste
2 tbsp lemon juice
ice cubes as requiredsalt to taste
Method
* Leaving water, add everything in a blender and blend for few minutes.
* Add water and again blen for few minutes.
* Using a strainer, pour the juice in chilled glasses.
* Add ice cubes and serve chilled.
Wheat Biscuits For Healthy Snacking
According to a survey by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the majority of working people eat lunch (67%) and snack (61%) at their desks and over one-third eat breakfast there. So, we know now most of us have a habit of munching something after every few hours (workplace snacking habit) and specially when stressed, under pressure, or bored. And don't even realize the amount of intake but can go for something or anything within reach. If what we are munching is unhealthy and full of calories like chips, cookies, chocolates, pizzas, pastries leads to a lot of fat gain. Avoiding snacks is not the answer as snacking helps you in overeating at meals and also in keeping up your energy levels.
I take my own lunch still the craving is there. I am able to resist it in first half but around 4 or 5, I am starving. As I am one of those and I just can't change this habit, I opted for something which is healthy and nutritious like fruits or low carb biscuits. I buy a stock of fruits and bring 1-2 each day or on weekends I make some low calorie cookies or biscuits which will be enough for a week. If you are working and love baking, you can easily make these for you and store in air tight containers. Trick is to eat with a full glass of water to feel more fuller faster and not coffee or tea. Munch away your office hours with these low fat, low calorie whole wheat biscuits.
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 tbsp Bran
1/2 cup all purpose flour
150 gm chilled butter
1 cup caster sugar
milk as required
Method
* In a large bowl mix wheat flour, bran and all purpose flour.
* Add butter cut into small cubes and mix with the tips of your finger slowly till the mixture starts looking like breadcrumbs.
* Then add the superfine sugar followed by cold milk.
* Knead the mixture into a smooth dough.
* Using some flour, roll out the dough into biscuit like thickness.
* Using cutters, cut the dough rolled out into shapes you want.
* On a baking tray, apply some butter and place the biscuits.
* Bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 160°C, till done.
* Let them cool and then store in airtight containers.
Custard Trifle - A Sweet Celebration
The occasion was Rakshabandhan, a festival for brothers and sisters. My brother came. Its been a month since I last met him. Hence, the time was indeed special and so I had to make something special too to match up with the occasion and taste buds of my brother, who is a great foodie and had a sweet tooth like me. So what best came to my mind was a Trifle, excellent for a summer dessert with layers of cream custard , fruits, mass of sponge cake and juice of fruits.
Custard Trifle is more easy, if you could get a ready made sponge cake from the market. It is one of the typical desserts of the English cuisine. The ingredients are distributed in layers by the sponge cake as separation with cream or custard as the last layer. I wanted a break from chocolate, so i opted for a custard one. With small variations, you could make a chocolate, lemon, or strawberry trifle. Although making a trifle is very easy but to make the best trifle you should star preparations a day before.
Ingredients
1/2 kg sponge cake
3-4 tbsp orange juice
1 apple chopped
2-3 bananas chopped
5-6 strawberries chopped
5-6 raspberries
1/2 cup pineapple chopped
2-3 vanilla custard powder
2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whipped cream
few nuts chopped
Method
Making Custard
* Boil milk in a heavy bottom saucepan.
* Lower the heat and add 2-3 tbsp of sugar according to your taste
* Meanwhile dissolve custard powder in 2-3 tbsp milk.
* Add this in the milk. Keep on stirring till it becomes thick.
* Remove from heat and let it cool.
Making Trifle
* Mix all the fruits and sprinkle some sugar on them. Refrigerate them for around one hour.
* Slice the cake in 2-3 layers horizontally. Place one layer in the base of a deep large glass bowl.
* Pour 1 tbsp of orange juice on the cake layer.
* Spoon the fruits over the sponge. Spread the custard over the fruit. Then add another layer of cake following the same process.
* Leave the flavor to develop overnight in the fridge.
* Whip the cream until it is firm, fold in sugar to taste, and spoon on top of the custard.
* Sprinkle chopped nuts and some fresh fruits to decorate.
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