domingo, 17 de junio de 2012

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sBff/~3/R-tHFFR6nJ4/chicken-satay-burger-10.html

Hello from beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, California! Michele and I are here to tour a couple family farms as guests of knowacaliforniafarmer.com. Hopefully, I'll have some photos and more info to share when I return to San Francisco on Sunday evening, but in the meantime I wanted to post this experimental chicken satay burger video.

I've been thinking about how to do a chicken burger using some of the same flavors found in Thai-style chicken satay, and this was my first attempt. I thought it was pretty good, and benefited from some seasoning adjustments, as you'll hear. I think the concept is solid, but I'll continue to try and perfect the execution.

This is one of those videos where I especially hope some are inspired to take the idea and run with it. Then, come back and share your incredible success with the rest of us. This is a fun jumping off point in regards to doing burgers inspired by other classic dishes. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Enjoy!


For the burger (4):
1 pound ground chicken
1 1/2 tbsp coconut milk
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sambal chili sauce
1 tbsp bread crumbs
2 tsp soy sauce
3 cloves minced garlic
pinch of cayenne
For the peanut sauce:
Peanut butter thinned with a squeeze of lime, seasoned with more sambal or hot pepper
For the slaw:
1/2 cup grated or julienne carrot
1/2 cup grated or julienne cucumber
2 tbsp sliced jalapeño
2 tsp Asian fish sauce
1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar

miércoles, 13 de junio de 2012

UPMA URUNDAI

Last weekend i was breaking my head thinking about wat to prepare for dinner.Finally i asked my hubby what he wanted to have. He told me to prepare upma urundai and also he said its been a very long time we prepared this.Yes , I agreed i totally forgot about this dish.Immediately i gave a call to my MIL for the recipe and made it. It was tasting soft  and excellent. Thanks to my hubby for reminding this yummy tiffin.Also i've got a different recipe to share with u all  :)

upma urundai1

INGREDIENTS :

  • Raw rice - 1 cup
  • Toor dal - 1/4 cup
  • Water - 2 cups

To temper :

  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Asafetida /Hing - 1/4 tsp
  • Green chilly - 1 no ( cut into two)
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece ( cut into small pieces)
  • Curry leaves - A few

Salt & water - as needed.

METHOD:

  • Soak the rice and toor dal together for two hours.
  • Coarse grind the rice & dal mixture in a mixie. Run the mixie only once.(Please do not grind for more time) The rice & dal should be just broken.
  • Now in a broad kadai , temper all the items given above in the same order.
  • Add 2 cups of water and the required salt.Allow it to boil.Now add the ground rice mixture.Mix well for sometime without forming lumps.Let it thicken.
  • The rice absorbs all the water and becomes a non sticky dough.
  • Let it cool down. Now grease the idly plate with little oil. Make balls out of the dough and arrange it in the greased idly plate.Steam the balls for 10-15 mins.

Soft , hot upma urundai is ready to serve. We enjoyed with the sambhar i made for lunch. U can have it with any chutney. Sometimes this can be made as a evening snack without any accompaniment.

upma urundai


martes, 12 de junio de 2012

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sBff/~3/R-tHFFR6nJ4/chicken-satay-burger-10.html

Hello from beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, California! Michele and I are here to tour a couple family farms as guests of knowacaliforniafarmer.com. Hopefully, I'll have some photos and more info to share when I return to San Francisco on Sunday evening, but in the meantime I wanted to post this experimental chicken satay burger video.

I've been thinking about how to do a chicken burger using some of the same flavors found in Thai-style chicken satay, and this was my first attempt. I thought it was pretty good, and benefited from some seasoning adjustments, as you'll hear. I think the concept is solid, but I'll continue to try and perfect the execution.

This is one of those videos where I especially hope some are inspired to take the idea and run with it. Then, come back and share your incredible success with the rest of us. This is a fun jumping off point in regards to doing burgers inspired by other classic dishes. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Enjoy!


For the burger (4):
1 pound ground chicken
1 1/2 tbsp coconut milk
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sambal chili sauce
1 tbsp bread crumbs
2 tsp soy sauce
3 cloves minced garlic
pinch of cayenne
For the peanut sauce:
Peanut butter thinned with a squeeze of lime, seasoned with more sambal or hot pepper
For the slaw:
1/2 cup grated or julienne carrot
1/2 cup grated or julienne cucumber
2 tbsp sliced jalapeño
2 tsp Asian fish sauce
1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar

sábado, 9 de junio de 2012

Toast stuffed with chicken recipe

Photo: Toast stuffed with chicken recipe

The Arabic Food Recipes kitchen (The Home of Delicious Arabic Food Recipes) invites you to try Toast stuffed with chicken Recipe. Enjoy the Arabic Cuisine and  learn how to make Toast stuffed with chicken.

Ingredients

Slices of fresh toast
Skinned and boneless pieces of chicken
Slices of fried chopped onion
Sumac
Dry thyme
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Normal flour
Whisked eggs
Bread crumbs
Frying oil

Method

• Cut edges from the toast (can be used in making of bread crumbs). Press them.
• Slice the chicken in thin slices and mix with onion. Add sumac, thyme, olive. Season the filling with salt and pepper.
• Put a suitable amount of the filling on one edge of the toast, roll it to take the shape of a finger, and then press it.
• Roll on the flour and dip it in the whisked egg. Roll it in bread crumbs. Make sure it is covered either with flour or bread crumbs.
• Put in the refrigerator for an hour to stiffen. (They could be put in plastic bags and kept in the freezer to be used later.
• Fry in preheated oil until it becomes brown. Put on kitchen towel paper to absorb excess oil.

More Arabic Food Recipes: 

Cumin pancake with hummus
Red Pepper Hummus with Toasted Pita Triangles
Grilled Veggie Hummus Wrap
Middle Eastern Platter
Harissa lamb & houmous flatbreads
Falafel & halloumi stacks

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miércoles, 30 de mayo de 2012

HEALTHY IDLY PODI / GUN POWDER

When i saw this recipe in Viki's kitchen , i immediately tried it on the same day. It was very flavourful and tasted xcellent for idly / dosa.It tastes like the idly podi we make with sesame seeds.I made some little changes according to my husband's liking. I should say its really a healthy idly podi as it contains horsegram and flax seeds. Wat more to say , lets go on to the recipe ,

healthy idly podi

INGREDIENTS

  • White round Urad dal – 1 handful
  • Channa dal – 1 handful
  • Flax seeds – 1 fistful or 2 tbsp
  • Horsegram – 1 handful
  • Red chillies -  8 - 10 nos or less..
  • Hing / Asafetida – A pinch
  • Garlic cloves – 5 – 7  cloves (Optional , only for garlic lovers )
  • Salt – As needed.
  • Curry leaves – a few

METHOD

  • In a kadai , roast all the ingredients except salt & garlic given above adding a tsp of oil.
  • She told to roast one by one for uniform roasting but i did everything at the same time.
  • Roast till the flaxseeds start to pop. Also u'll get a nice aroma and color change of all the dals.
  • Add the curry leaves at the end and toss for few minutes. Then switch off the flame. Please make sure no ingredient gets burnt. That totally changes the taste.
  • Once it cools down run it in mixie twice .Now add the chopped garlic pieces and the required salt.
  • Grind to make a fine powder or little coarse based on ur taste.

Yummy , healthy idly podi is ready to enjoy with idlis & dosas Smile.Mix with sesame oil or ghee !!

 

NOTES

  • Always make in small batches so that it tastes and smells fresh .
  • It can be carried for travel too. It stays good.
  • If u want to make the same for rice, add more chillies and little pepper corns too.Mix with ghee and plain rice..
  • I've added equal quantity of urad and channa dal as i always want the flavor of urad dal in my idly podi. But the actual recipe dint call for urad dal . She had used only channa dal.
  • My husband loves the garlic flavor in idly podi. So i added garlic cloves at the end , But its optional. U can add 2-3 pinches of hing while roasting instead of garlic..

KITCHEN CLINIC

FLAX SEEDS

It may be tiny, but it's mighty: The flax seed carries one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet. And while it's not technically a grain, it has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids in flax leaves grains in the dust.

Additionally, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. And its combination of healthy fat and high fiber content make it a great food for weight loss and maintenance -- many dieters have found that flax seed has been a key to keeping them feeling satisfied.

Flax Seed Nutrition
Yes, flax seed is high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese, but this little seed is just getting started. There are three additional nutrient groups which flax seed has in abundance, and each has many benefits.
Flax Seed is Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are a key force against inflammation in our bodies. Mounting evidence shows that inflammation plays a part in many chronic diseases including heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and even some cancers. This inflammation is enhanced by having too little Omega-3 intake (such as in fish, flax, and walnuts), especially in relation to Omega-6 fatty acid intake (in oils such as soy and corn oil). In the quest to equalize the ratio of these two kinds of oils, flax seed can be a real help.
Most of the oil in flax seeds is alpha linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is an Omega-3 that is a precursor to the fatty acids found in salmon and other fatty cold-water fish (called EPA and DHA). Because not everyone is able to easily convert ALA into EPA and (especially) DHA, it is best not to rely solely on flax for your Omega-3 intake. However, ALA also has good effects of its own, and definitely helps in the Omega 3/6 balance.
Flax Seed is High in Fiber: You'd be hard-pressed to find a food higher in fiber -- both solubleand insoluble -- than flax. This fiber is probably mainly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax. Fiber in the diet also helps stabilize blood sugar, and, of course, promotes proper functioning of the intestines.
Flax Seed is High in Phytochemicals: Flax seed is high in phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. It is perhaps our best source of lignans, which convert in our intestines to substances that tend to balance female hormones. There is evidence that lignans may promote fertility, reduce peri-menopausal symptoms, and possibly help prevent breast cancer. In addition, lignans may help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Note that a) flax seeds need to be ground to make the nutrients available (otherwise they just "pass through") and b) flax seed oil alone contains neither the fiber nor the phytochemicals of whole flax seed meal.
Flax Seed Safety and Side Effects
Concerns about flax seed revolve around four potential issues. However, remember that a lot of research about the wonders of flax show little or no problems from eating it –- to the contrary, it has shown many benefits.

Big Fiber Load: Since flax has such a high fiber content, it's best to start with a small amount and increase slowly; otherwise, cramping and a 'laxative effect' can result. People withirritable bowel syndrome may have an especially strong reaction to it, and should be extra-careful.

Oxidation/Rancidity: The oil in flax is highly unsaturated. This means that it is very prone to oxidation (rancidity) unless it is stored correctly. The very best way is nature's own storage system –- within the seed. Flax seeds not exposed to large amounts of heat stay safe to eat for at least a year. However, flax meal, and especially flax oil, are a different story. The meal, stored away from heat and light, will keep fresh for a few months, and the oil must be protected by refrigeration in dark containers, preferably being consumed within a few weeks of opening.
Actually, the surprising thing about flax is not that the oils go rancid, but that they don't go rancid as quickly as we would think, considering how unsaturated they are. The oils are quite stable when the seeds are used in baked foods, for example. Researchers theorize that this is due to the high levels of antioxidants in the seeds.
Hormonal Effects: Lignans contain phytoestrogens. Although research has shown them to be beneficial so far, it is unknown what effect high doses of phytoestrogens might have.
Cyanide: Like many other foods (cashews, some beans, and others), flax contains very small amounts of cyanide compounds, especially when consumed raw. Heat, especially on dry flax seeds, breaks these compounds down. However, our bodies have a capacity to neutralize a certain amount of these compounds, and the U.S. government agencies say that 2 tablespoons of flaxseed (~3 T of flax meal) is certainly safe and is probably an "effective dose" for health purposes. Various researchers who have used up to 6 daily tablespoons of the seed in different studies indicate that the amount they were using was safe.

Flax Seed Storage
Whole flax seed should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. Many people choose to store it in the refrigerator or freezer to be on the safe side. Flax meal should be stored in the freezer and used up within a few weeks.

Tips for Using Flax Seed

  • Drink plenty of water. There is so much soluble fiber in flax that it is important to drink plenty of water when eating flax products, otherwise constipation may result.
  • Remember to start slowly if you aren't used to a high-fiber diet.
  • If you purchase the whole seeds, you need to grind them up to get the benefit.
  • Flax is often used as an egg substitute in baked goods for people who can't or choose not to eat eggs. This is because of the soluble fiber, which adds structure to the food.

Flax Recipes and Serving Suggestions:

  • Raw or toasted: Sprinkle over cottage cheese, ricotta, yogurt, breakfast cereal; put in shakes (thickens them somewhat)
  • Cooked in a hot cereal: For example, try Hot Flax Peanut Butter Cereal or Hot Pumpkin Cereal
  • Cooked into other foods: For example, meatloaf, meatballs, or casseroles.

 


jueves, 24 de mayo de 2012

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving table

Thanksgiving is hand's down, my favorite holiday of the year. I think I even like it better than my birthday, which is really saying something. So here's why:

1. There is nothing you have to do on Thanksgiving, other than share a meal. There are no religious ceremonies or gift giving. You can say a prayer before eating or watch a parade or play football if you want, but you can also take a nap! It's all good.

2. It's inclusive. Anyone who is in America (or outside of America for that matter) can celebrate this holiday if they want to. It's not about race or religion or nationality, in fact, it's about welcoming and helping those who are newcomers and celebrating the harvest.

3. It's about comfort food. I hear a lot of people complaining about traditional Thanksgiving food, they say turkey is boring, pumpkin pie is heavy and stodgy. To them I say, it's comfort food, not fine dining. Get over it. Besides, this holiday is about sharing a meal with friends and family, what you eat is secondary. Go out for Chinese food if you prefer, that is, if you can find a Chinese restaurant that's open.

4. It's two blessed days off. For most people anyway. That is reason enough to be thankful.

5. Leftovers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A few favorite past Thanksgiving posts from the archives:

How Thanksgiving became a national holiday

Brussels sprouts with brown butter and hazelnuts recipe

Cranberry coffeecake recipe

Curried Butternut Squash Soup recipe

Pilgrim onion marmalade recipe

Turkey drumsticks braised in cranberry sauce recipe

lunes, 21 de mayo de 2012

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sBff/~3/uejogF2Jp3Y/gumbo-go-go-duck-andouille-sausage.html

It's not easy to pry gumbo-making secrets from a cook in New Orleans, but you should have better luck if you slip them some truth serum, in the form of several well-made sazeracs. 

This particular gumbo, featuring duck, andouille sausage, smoked pork hock, gulf shrimp, and langoustine, was inspired by my recent trip to New Orleans, where I sampled a half-dozen varieties.

One rye whiskey-induced tip was to cook the famous Cajun roux in some duck fat instead of the more common and mundane vegetable oil. The roux is the soul of the gumbo and one of the challenges of this recipe is giving the fat and flour enough time to turn into that deep brick red-brown color.

My little trick here is to add a couple extra spoons of flour after the roux is browned. The dark roux gives the gumbo its signature flavor, but it doesn't have much thickening power. I just cooked it a couple minutes, and then stirred in the stock.

Another tweak is using pickled okra instead of fresh or frozen. This particular perversion was born out of necessity rather than some brilliant thought on my part. Of course, if this technique catches on, that story will change. The pickled okra gave the gumbo a great flavor and added a little bit of acidity, which is always welcome in something this substantial.

This can be made with hundreds of different combinations of smoked meats, game, poultry, and seafood; and in my opinion, the more the merrier. As usual, I'd love to hear about any variations you may come up with. As you'll see, the procedure is pretty straightforward, although you're talking about a full day's project. This is a dish that takes time, but I still hope you give it a try. Enjoy!



2 duck legs
1 tbsp vegetable oil, more as needed
1 cup flour, plus 2 tbsp for second addition
6 cups chicken broth
1 pound andouille sausage
1 large onion, chopped
4 green onions chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup diced peppers (any combination of sweet and hot)
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 smoked pork hock
2 cups water, or as needed
1 cup sliced okra, fresh, frozen or pickled
1 pound gulf shrimp
1 pound crawfish tail meat or langoustine
rice to garnish