Panini's

I made the most divine Panini yesterday. It was actually quite simple really and was devoured in no time. Pity my pic didn't come out too nice - but I posted it anyway.

You will need:

1 French Baguette

1 Sweet Red Pepper

1 Onion

Cut the red pepper in half and take out all the seeds. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle oil over it. Place in oven on grill for a few minutes until the skin is lightly browned and crisped. Once done allow to let cool and than peel off the skin and cut into thin slivers. Leave aside.

Cut the onion into thin rings and place in a non-stick pan together with salt, pepper and fine red chillies and some sugar. Allow to caremelise.

Cut baguette lengthwise and spread garlic butter on the inside. Layer the pepper and the onions. Garnish with chopped coriander and a dash of pepper.

Place on Panini grill for a few minutes to warm.

Divine as a starter of as a main dish.

Chocolate Cake Heaven

I made the most divine chocolate cake this weekend. There is nothing like tasting that rich cocoa flavour swirl in your mouth as you savour each and every morsel. I didnt get a chance to take any pics :( as it was all finished by yesterday. This is really one of the most easiest chocolate cake recipes there are and to be honest it is flop free.....

2 Tbp of Cocoa
1/2 Cup of Water
1/2 Cup Oil
Cup Flour
1 Cup Castor Sugar
4 Eggs
2 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Vanilla

Mix Cocoa, Water and oil well. Than add flour, castor sugar and four slightly beaten egg yolks. Than add the two Tsp of Baking powder. Add 1/2 tsp of Baking Powder to the egg whites and beat until fluffy. Fold this into the first mixture. Add the vanilla. Pour it into two tins and bake at 180 C for 20-25 minutes.For the topping - I took Fresh Cream and added some sugar to it. It has to be really sweet. Beat the cream until creamy and fluffy. Take the one cake and put a layer of Strawberry Jam and a layer of cream. Put the other cake over this and ice the whole cake with the cream and decorate with grated chocolate. I used Flake.

It was truly, utterly, sinfully divine.....

Biscotti

I got this recipe off the Delicious Days website. It was so easy to make and the taste is absolutely divine. I love to bake and I am always on the lookout for delicious biscuits, cakes etc. This biscotti is absolutely divine.

Ingredients:

90g Pine Nuts
100g Butter
150g Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tbp Lemon Juice
Zest of one lemon (I used lemon essence)
300g Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
A pinch of salt


Method:
Preheat oven to 170°C. Toast pine nuts in a shallow pan over medium heat for about 6 minutes or until nuts are fragrant and (lightly) browned. Than set aside to cool.



In a bowl beat soft butter and sugar until light and creamy. Than add eggs, lemon zest and juice. Stir well.


In a separate bowl combine flour, salt and baking powder. Add this to the sugar and butter mixture and blend well. Finally fold in the toasted nuts.

Divide the dough into two equal parts, form thin loafs and place on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper). Make sure they are neither too close to each other nor to the sides of the sheet. My dough was a little sticky, but when I dusted the board and my hands with flour, it worked fine.


Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack, allow to cool for a few minutes.

Biscotti loaves fresh out the oven

Place on a cutting board and carefully slice slantwise into 1/2 - 3/4 inch slices. Lay slices flat on the baking sheet and return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes (same temperature), turning them once after 10 minutes. Then remove from oven and let cool on the wire rack. Store at room temperature in an airtight tin or container

Biscotti cut into slices and placed onto pan to brown

I just couldn't resist - Yumm

Tandoori Chicken

My Picture Quality is not very clear

I love tandoori chicken or chicken tikka. This is a dish that originated in India and is cooked in a tandoor or earthen oven or even on a grill. In South Africa there are a vast variety of shops that sell tandoori chicken with Fordsburg being the haven for delicious Chicken Tikka and fragrant soft Naan.

I have tried this recipe on numerous occasions and every time - it has come out perfect.

Recipe:
4 Chicken Quarters
Plain Yoghurt
1 Tsp of Garam Masala
Ginger Garlic Masala (This is made in large quantities and stored in the fridge)
Garlic
1/2 Tsp ground coriander
Lemon Juice
Salt
Few drops of red colouring
Oil

Marinade the chicken quarters with the above ingredients. I made slits in the chicken so the marinade infuses right to the bone. Leave to marinade for 3 hours or overnight. Place chicken pieces in roasting pan and grill on 240 C for 20 - 25 minutes.

Serve with Chips and Salad....

Tortilla's - Indian Style

Tortillas....

Even though I love cooking, I always try and make dishes that are simple and easy otherwise I end up slogging for hours and I don't enjoy it. Cooking must be enjoyed and should not be seen as a chore. I made these tortilla's on Saturday for lunch and by the looks of pure contentment on everyone's faces I knew I had a winner.

Ingredients:

Mini Roti's or Tortilla's (which you can buy at any store, I made the roti's from scratch)
Cooked Chicken
Onions and Peppers cut up in cubes. You can add some tomato as well, but I was out
Grated Cheese.


Roti Dough:
3 Cups Flour (Makes about 12 mini Rotis)
A pinch of salt
A few Tablespoons of Ghee
Warm Milk and Water to make the dough


Proceed to make the dough with the above ingredients. It was be soft and pliable but not sticky. Knead the dough thouroughly. Thereafter take small pieces of dough and make them into little rounds. On a floured surface roll out the dough until it resembles a small plate. Spread some Ghee on the rolled out dough, sprinkle a little flour and proceed to close the dough by closing by flapping all the sides over until you get a square. This must be done for all the little ball of doughs as it ensures that your Roti is fluffy and light. Once the balls are spead with ghee, you are ready to roll your roti. On a floured surface, roll out the roti in a round shape as below.

Proceed to fry the Roti, on a hot pan or griddle. Put the roti top side down on the pan. As it bubbles flip over to the other side. Move the roti around in the pan a few times so that it cooks evenly. As the dough starts to bubble and fluff up, put a spoonful of ghee and flip over. The roti will sizzle and cook. Move it again round in the pan. Put a small amount of ghee on the side that is now facing up and flip over. Leave for a few seconds in the pan moving the roti around and than place it on a plate. Continue to fry all the roti's like this and place on a plate and leave aside.

Chicken:

Cube chicken and place in pot.
Salt
Green chillies (this is a mixture of green chillies and garlic that is ground together in large quantities and mixed with a little oil and stored in the fridge)


I love experimenting with different sauces when I make fillings. It gives off different flavours. I threw in some Mayonnaise, some garlic sauce, peri-peri sauce and some sweet chilli sauce. I mixed this altogether in a pot and put it to cook with a tablespoon of ghee.


Once the chicken was done, I placed spoonfuls of chicken filling onto one side of the tortilla / Roti. I than rolled each one up and placed into a casserole dish.

Garnish with the grated cheese, cut onions and peppers and place in the oven just until the cheese melts.

Food Blogging

I have decided to start my own Food Blog. I love to cook and create little food fantasies (hence the name). I think its all about being creative and creating little masterpieces and watching the look of pure delight on a person's face as they savour one's culinary endeavours. I must admit that there have been times when I have created little masterpieces but there have been times as well when things have turned disastrously wrong.

I only ever cook over weekends. I have mum during the week, who prepares the most divine dishes. On weekends, I will attempt to cook and make little dishes, with her help and guidance obviously. I think I have one weakness, I love food, good food that is. I love to experiment with spices and sauces and condiments. I come from a traditional Indian family where days are planned around meal times and what to cook. I think my mother is my inspiration when it comes to cooking. She is absolutely the best and has all sorts of ways of doing things...So here's to food blogging. I hope I will be able to tantalise some tastebuds and share my culinary adventures while having tons of fun.....