SUGAR AND SPICE AND ME

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

My Homemade Coffee Frappe..!!!


I love Iced Coffee which takes me back to the childhood, when we didn't have much choices. Ice coffee was one of my favorite cold drinks and still it is. Weather is getting warmer and I made some yesterday to my own recipe..!! This is my version of homemade Iced Coffee Frappe. It is economical and easy to make. No blender mixer needed for a quick fix..!!!

  






Ingredients for 1 serving

1 coffee capsule or 1 level tsp. instant coffee mixed with 4 tbs. hot water
1/4 cup milk
2-3 scoops of Ice Cream ( or mixture of vanilla/coffee/chocolate)



Brew the coffee in the machine or if using instant coffee mix the coffee with hot water and set aside. 
Place 3 scoops of ice cream (one in each flavour or the flavour of your choice) in a glass.






Pour coffee over it,then the cold milk.




Stir with a long spoon and keep on stirring as you drink with the straw.




















Friday, 21 November 2014

Watalappan


This is very similar to cream caramel in texture and method. Sugar replaces with jaggery and some spices will be added.! 



























450g jaggery finely grated
4 eggs
1 can of coconut cream
1 tsp.vanilla
1 pod of cardamom crushed
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg
handful of cashews(optional)

ps. all these spices and jaggery can be purchased from any Sri Lankan grocer.(for this particular recipe to get the correct taste ned to use Srilankan kitul jaggery not the palm sugar)



Beat the eggs until fluffy. 




Then add the jaggery and mix until jaggery dissolves






pour the can of coconut cream and beat well.












add the vanilla,grated nutmeg and crushed cardamom and mix well. Pour it into a baking dish,  cashews can be scattered on top if using.                      




This can be bake in a moderate oven for 1-11/2 hrs or on a double boiler on the cooktop for 1 hr. or until  skewer comes out clean.!! 


Can be served warm or cold














Sunday, 16 November 2014

YELLOW RICE WITH ACCOMPANIMENT



There are lots of variations and choices..!! In this menu I prepared spicy red pork curry,  chicken curry and  boiled eggs on a green salad. You can serve choice of chutney and pappadams as well.Traditional Mango chutney goes well with this..!!



Here are the recipes.


YELLOW RICE.


4 cups long grain rice(can used any kind of long grain rice and wash them well.)
2 cups of water and 2 cups of coconut milk
1 small onion chopped, some curry leaves, small piece of lemongrass and pandan (rampe) leaves.  

Oil or butter for frying.

Heat oil or butter and add onions, curry leaves,pandan leaves and lemongrass. Let it fry for couple of minutes until onions are brown and aroma release from the leaves. Add two pods of cardamom and cloves and saffron to colour the rice and finally add the rice  and stir well until all well coated in the rice grains. Then add the water and coconut milk and cook until water evaporates.When cooks loosen with a fork or fine skewer.This can be done on the stove or in the rice cooker.














SPICY PORK CURRY




There are lots of versions of curry. This is my tried and tested version. Cooking method of curries are all very similar most of the time. You can get the especially mixed curry powder for the meat, or you can mix to your own taste..! 


1   kilo of pork cut into 11/2" cubes
1   onion finely chopped onion
4   cloves of garlic
1   tsp. chopped ginger
1   tbs. roasted mixed curry powder
1   tbs. unroasted mixed curry powder
1   tsp. chilli powder (you can adjust to your taste)
1   tsp. ground black pepper
1   tsp. tamarind paste or lime juice
1   tsp. tomato paste 
1/2 tsp saffron 
1/2 tsp fenugreek
1/2"stick cinnamon
2   cloves 
2   pods of cardamom 
1   sprig of curry leave
1/2"piece of lemongrass 
4"  piece of rampe(pandan) leaves
1   tsp. mustard seeds
3   tbs. coconut oil or canola oil
11/2 cups water
coconut milk or coconut cream
salt to taste

Cut the onion and chop the garlic. Heat the oil and when it's smoking add the mustard seeds, it will start to splutter, then add the onions, garlic,ginger, curry leaves, lemongrass and rampe leaves(pandan leaves). Let it fry for couple of minutes until onions are slightly brown and add tomato paste, curry powder, saffron, cloves,cardamom and stir it well. Finally add meat, chilli powder, and tamarind paste or lime juice. Keep on stirring until all the meat coated with spices and mix well. Pour the water and cook on medium  heat until meat is tender about 30-40 mts. Add the coconut milk or cream to your taste and cook for another 5 mts.






CHICKEN CURRY


Basically all the ingredients are the same as pork curry, but less curry powder.


1   large chicken (11/2 to 2 kilos)
1   onion finely chopped onion
1   tomato chopped
4   cloves of garlic
1   tsp. chopped ginger
1   tsp. roasted mixed curry powder
1   tsp. unroasted mixed curry powder
1   tsp. chilli powder (you can adjust to your taste)
1   tsp. ground black pepper
1   tsp. lime juice
1   tsp. tomato paste 
1/2 tsp. saffron 
1/2 tsp fenugreek
1/2"stick cinnamon
2   cloves 
2   pods of cardamom 
1   sprig of curry leave
1/2"piece of lemongrass 
4"  piece of rampe(pandan) leaves
1   tsp. mustard seeds
3   tbs. coconut oil or canola oil
1   cup water
coconut milk or coconut cream
salt to taste 


Cut the onion and chop the garlic. Heat the oil and when it's smoking add the mustard seeds, it will start to splutter, then add the onions, garlic,ginger, curry leaves, lemongrass and rampe leaves(pandan leaves). Let it fry for couple of minutes until onions are slightly brown and add tomato paste, curry powder, saffron, cloves,cardamom and stir it well. Finally add meat, chilli powder, tomato and lime juice. Keep on stirring until meat covered with spices and mix well. Pour the water and cook on medium  heat until meat is tender about 30-40 mts. Add the coconut milk or cream to your taste and cook for another 5 mts.(you can replace the coconut milk with fresh cream or thickened cream or use mixture of both if you prefer creamier curry)



SALAD

1 large lettuce ( iceberg or cos)
1 purple onion sliced into rounds
2 cucumbers sliced
4 slices of pineapple cut into cubes
2 tomatoes cut into cubes
1 green chilli cut into small pieces
4 hard boiled eggs cut into cubes or slices
salt and pepper to taste

Arrange the lettuce on the bottom of the platter.Just roughly scatter the salad ingredients and arranged the eggs on top. Season with pepper and salt.










Monday, 3 November 2014

OX TAIL SOUP








This is one of our family favourite winter soups. Even Though we are in mid spring we had very cold weather last few days. So I made this couple of  weekends ago.


INGREDIENTS




Oxtail cut into pieces (about 750g)
6 cups of water
1  brown or purple onion
2 tbs butter

1 stalk of leek (I prefer the white part)
1 can of tomato
1 carrot
1 potato
1/4 cup of lentils
1 bay leaf, 5/6 curry leaves







Oxtail has  to be cut into pieces. Fry the oxtail in butter for couple of minutes then add the sliced onions,bay leaf and curry leaves continue to fry until onions are slightly brown.


















Then add the leeks and fry for another minute. When the leeks are softened add the carrots, potato, lentils and can of tomato.



























 Add six cups of water and cook for about 50 mts.in pressurecooker,if you are cooking on top of a  stove top cook for about 11/2 rs or until soup is thick and gelatinous.




































































Friday, 26 September 2014

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE COOKIES

COOKIES

250 butter

250 sugar


2 large eggs


450 plain flour sifted with 2 tsp baking powder ( can be used self raising flour)


1 tsp vanilla


Oven 180c



Cream filling


75 g butter

200 g icing sugar


1/4 tsp vanilla essence



In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Then add the flour. It should be a soft dough not a runny or dry and crumbly. If the eggs are small add three eggs. 


Make in to balls with hands into desired size. you can make about 30 medium size cookies.


Arrange in a  lined baking tray 2 inches  apart. Bake until edges about to set ang golden colour about 25-30 mts. Leave on the tray until cool.






















You can add 120g dark, white or milk chocolate pieces for chocolate chip cookies.

For cream filled cookies spread with the cream filling when they are completely cool.








To make the cream filling cream the butter and then add the icing sugar and vanilla. If the icing is dry add a couple of drops of water.












Saturday, 20 September 2014

BANANA BREAD



 



We love banana bread. I love making quick banana bread for Sunday Breakfast/ Morning tea.!!! Aroma of freshly baked banana bread is irresistible..!! This is one of my favourite breakfast banana bread versions.




Oven 180c

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups self raising wholemeal flour.
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup linseed meal
1 cup of mashed banana (two large or 3 small bananas)
1/4 tsp powdered cinnamon
1tbs. golden syrup
pinch of salt
1/4 cups pecan nuts or walnuts




Beat the eggs and pinch of salt with hand held whisk until light and airy. Add the sugar and keep on whiking. Mix through golden syrup. Then add oil and whisk it thoroughly.


 











Finally fold  the linseed meal, cinnamon and flour.
pour it into a it in to 23-25 cm/ 9-10 inch pan. Bake about 45 -50mts. or until skewer comes out clean.








Let it cool in the tray and cut and serve with butter. Yummy...!!!!


Monday, 15 September 2014

RED VELVET CAKE

My Fantasy with Red Velvet.., but I was always concerned with the amount of red food coloring in the cake. So  tried to colour with beetroot and raspberry extract, and this is what I got..!!


Ingredients


250 g. butter

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1tsp. white vinegar
1tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
pinch salt

Beetroot and raspberry extract enough to colour (I pureed one small beetroot and handful of raspberries in the blender)


Preheat oven to 350/180


In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat  vinegar and vanilla. Add the beetroot and raspberry extract to the desired colour. I pushed it through a fine sieve. Sift  flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt, add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Pour it into a one 23-25cm /9-10 inch baking tray or divided in between two trays. Bake 25-30 mts for two trays or 45-50 mts if using one baking tray until skewer comes out clean. Leave it until cool.  








For the filling I used white chocolate icing instead of traditional filling or cream cheese frosting..!!


White chocolate icing.


200 g butter

375 g. icing sugar
100 white chocolate

Beat the butter until fluffy and add the icing sugar gradually. Melt the chocolate and add to the icing mixture gradually.