Tag: pie

The Love For Cherry
If life is a bowl full of cherries, then we are all in for a treat…!!!

This bite size stone fruit in its vivid red hue is a summertime favorite- and each little sweet cherry packs a powerful punch of nutrients. Sweet or sour, cherries are bursting with nutrition.

Cherries have a very short fruiting season. In Australia, they are usually at their peak around Christmas time. In many parts of North America, cherry fruit trees are among the first fruit trees that ripen. In addition, to being a delicious fruit, they have attractive flowers and are commonly planted for their flower display in spring.

A handful of fresh cherries in the summertime are a natural gourmet natural. Cherries, along with other berries, are a rich source of anti-oxidants. Queritrin – a flavinoid is rich in cherries, and has been found by researchers to be one of the most potent anti-cancer agents.

More than just a delicious fruit, cherries are low in calories. Eating cherries can help u lose weight and stay trim. A cup of cherries is less than 100 calories and packs only in 3 gm of fiber, which helps you in keeping full for a longer time.

Also, these little beauties contains vitamin B such as- thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B 6, these vitamins are crucial for the body and help in conversion of nutrients to energy.

Cherries are not only healthy and delicious, but versatile also. They can be added to anything to everything from dairy, to pork, eaten raw or cooked down to make a sauce or a shake.

They are a power-pack remedy to a large number of disorders-

1. Lowers down blood pressure-

Cherries are an excellent source of potassium, which helps in lowering of blood pressure by helping the body to get rid out of excess blood pressure. Eating cherries can help you maintain the balance between sodium and potassium.

2. Cherries get good sleep-

Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy. Two tablespoons of little tart juice is used as a tasty bedtime sleep aid.

3. Cherries help fight cancer-

The distinctive red hue of the cherry is due to the flavinoid called cynaidin, which in combination with anti-oxidants of cherry can help fight the free radicals of the body. Also cynaidin, helps to keep cancerous cells in control.

4. Cherries help ease arthritis pain-

For those who suffer from arthritis and gout, eating 2 cup of binge cherries can give a lot of relief. Cherries can also reduce painful inflammation by decreasing the amount of the reactive protein produced.

5. Helps cure migraine-

Cherries help in curing migraine problem, by reducing the inflammation in the body. The cynaidin flavinoid of the cherry can aid in reducing the migraine headaches.

6. prevents premature ageing-

cherries are rich in two important flavinoids- queritrin and isoqueritrin, which act as antioxidants and work by removing the by-products of oxidative stress, thereby slowing down the process of pre-mature ageing.

Some easy cherry recipes:

1. Cherry beer cake-

A. 3/4 cup cherries

B. 2 cup all- purpose flour

C. 2 tbsp baking powder

D. 1/4 tbsp salt

E. 4 eggs

F. 2 cup granulated sugar

G. 2 tbsp vanilla extract

H. 2 tbsp melted butter

I. 1 cup cherry wheat beer

J. 1 tbsp baking soda

K. 1 pack cream cheese

L. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, add butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, flour, baking soda, vanilla extract, baking powder and salt. Add walnuts and cherries to the mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a battered pan, which is greased with oil. Bake the cake in the preheated oven kept at 350` C for 25-30 minutes. Cool it for 10 minutes.

For frosting in a large bowl, beat cream cheese till fluffy. Then add sugar and water, to achieve consistency. Add food coloring, if required. Spread the frosting over and between the cake layers.

Spread walnuts over the top layer.

2. Cherry milkshake-
1. Vanilla ice-cream
2. 2 tbsp milk
3. Fresh cherries
4. Marshmallows for garnishing
Chop the cherries, into small dices by removing the stalk and the seeds. Blend ice-cream, milk and the chopped cherries until smooth. Do not over blend it. Pour the shake into glasses and garnish with stalked cherries and marshmallows.

3. Vegan cherry pie-

A. 1 1/4 cup dark cherries

B. 1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

C. 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

D. 1 tbsp baking soda

E. 1/2 tbsp salt

F. 1 cup sugar

G. 1/2 cup oil

H. 1 tsp vanilla extract

I. 1 cup coffee powder

J. 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Preheat the oven to 375` C and in a medium bowl mix together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and whisk them. In another bowl, add coffee powder with cold water, oil and vanilla extract. Now mix both of them together. Now, add the apple cider vinegar and mix till it is evenly distributed in mixture. Add cherries to the mixture, and do not whisk now. Bake for 35 minutes and then let it cool.

Garnish with chocolate chip and stalked cherries.
June 26, 2014
Eat Well All Week

Health is Wealth. In this generation, where we literally swim in our love for fast food, it is pretty difficult to keep our health in check. The bulges keep peeping out. The health scares keep revisiting. But somehow, we still take the back seat. I’ll exercise later. I’ll eat healthy food from tomorrow.

“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

-William Shakespeare, Macbeth (Act 5 Scene v )

Well, tomorrow never comes.

It is quite understandable that, at first, the thought of “change” seems like a lot of work but with time, it will only do YOU good. It’s your choice, basically.

Make one change per day. Eat one healthy meal.

For a better you. For a better tomorrow.

7 DAYS. 7 RECIPES.

Monday Delights:

Paprika Pork

Time- 30 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients-1 tbsp olive oil, 2 onions, finely sliced, 400g pork fillets, trimmed of any fat, cut into thick strips, 250g pack mushrooms( sliced), 1½ tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp tomato purée, 200ml chicken stock, 100ml soured cream, egg noodles (tagliatelle or rice, to serve)

Directions- Heat the oil in a large pan, tip in the onions and cook for 10 mins until soft and golden. Add the pork and mushrooms and cook on a high heat for 3-4 mins until browned. Add the paprika and cook for 1 min more.Stir in the tomato purée, then pour on the stock and simmer for 5-8 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Finally, mix in the soured cream and some seasoning. Serve with egg noodles.

Tuesday Bonanza:

Basque Style Salmon Stew

Time- 35 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 1tbsp olive oil, 3 mixed peppers (deseeded and sliced), 1 large onion (thinly sliced), 400g baby potatoes (unpeeled and halved), 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 garlic cloves ( sliced), 2 tsp dried thyme, 400g can chopped tomatoes, 4 salmon fillets, 1 tbsp chopped parsley

Directions- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the peppers, onion and potatoes. Cook, stirring regularly for 5-8 mins until golden. Then add the paprika, garlic, thyme and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, stir and cover, then turn down heat and simmer for 12 mins. Add a splash of water if the sauce becomes too thick.Season the stew and lay the salmon on top, skin side down. Place the lid back on and simmer for another 8 mins until the salmon is cooked through. Scatter with parsley, if you like, and serve.

Wednesday Treat:

Super healthy Singapore Noodles

Time- 30 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 3 nests medium egg noodles, 2 tbsp sunflower oil, 100g tenderstem broccoli (stems sliced at an angle), 1 red peppe (deseeded, quartered then cut into strips), 85g baby corn (quartered lengthways), 2 garlic cloves (shredded), 1 red chilli (deseeded and chopped), thumb-sized piece fresh ginger (peeled and finely chopped), 2 skinless chicken breasts (sliced), 100g shelled raw king prawns, 1 heaped tbsp madras curry paste, 2 tsp soy sauce, 100g beansprouts, 15g pack coriander (chopped),4 spring onions (shredded), lime wedges

Directions- Pour boiling water over the noodles and leave to soften. Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a large non-stick wok and stir-fry all the vegetables, except the beansprouts and onions, with the garlic, chilli and ginger until softened. If the broccoli won’t soften, add a splash of water to the wok and cover to create some steam.Tip the veg on to a plate, add the rest of the oil to the wok then briefly stir-fry the chicken and prawns until just cooked. Set aside with the vegetables and add the curry paste to the pan. Stir-fry for a few secs then add 150ml water and the soy sauce. Allow to bubble then add the drained, softened noodles and beansprouts, and toss together to coat.Return the vegetables, chicken and prawns to the wok with the coriander and spring onions. Toss well over the heat and serve with lime wedges.

Thursday Delicacy:

Smoky Fishcakes with Oat Crumb

Time- 40 minutes

Serves- 2

Ingredients- 400g potatoes (peeled and cut into large chunks), 175g undyed smoked haddock, 2 spring onions (finely chopped), 4 tbsp tartar sauce, 85g whole oats, 1 egg (beaten), 2 tbsp sunflower oil

Directions- Boil potatoes in salted water for 15 mins until tender, drain, then return to the pan. Mash quickly over a gentle heat until the potatoes become quite dry, then transfer to a large bowl. Put the fish in a microwave-proof dish with a couple of spoonfuls of water, cover with cling film, then cook on Medium for 2-3 mins until the fish flakes easily. Gently peel away the skin, then flake into the potatoes in large chunks.Mix in the spring onions, 2 tbsp of tartare sauce and some seasoning, then shape into 4 cakes. Briefly whizz the oats in a food processor until slightly crumbly-looking, then tip onto a plate. Dip the fish cakes into the egg, then into the oats to coat. Chill for 20 mins to firm up.Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then fry the cakes for 5 mins on each side until golden and hot. Serve with the leftover tartare and a green salad.

Friday @PartyFood:

Chicken Pie

Time- 1 hour 15 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 450ml chicken stock, 100ml white wine, 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 3 thyme sprigs, 1 tarragon sprig (plus 1 tbsp chopped tarragon leaves), 225g carrots (cut into batons), 4 skinless chicken breasts, 225g leeks (sliced), 2 tbsp cornflour (mixed with 2 tbsp water), 3 tbsp crème fraîche, 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard, 1 heaped tbsp chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley, 70g filo pastry, 1 tbsp rapeseed oil

Directions- Pour the stock and wine into a large, wide frying pan. Add the garlic, thyme, tarragon sprig and carrots, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 3 mins. Lay the chicken in the stock, grind over some pepper, cover and simmer for 5 mins.

Scatter the leek slices over the chicken, cover again then gently simmer for 10 more mins, so the leeks can steam while the chicken cooks. Remove from the heat and let the chicken sit in the stock for about 15 mins, so it keeps moist while cooling slightly.Strain the stock into a jug – you should have 500ml (if not, make up with water). Tip the chicken and veg into a 1.5 litre pie dish and discard the herb sprigs. Pour the stock back into the sauté pan, then slowly pour in the cornflour mix. Return the pan to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, mustard, chopped tarragon and parsley. Season with pepper.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.Tear or cut the chicken into chunky shreds. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, then stir everything together.Cut each sheet of filo into 4 squares or rectangles. Layer them on top of the filling, brushing each sheet with some of the oil as you go. Lightly scrunch up the filo so it doesn’t lie completely flat and tuck the edges into the sides of the dish, or lay them on the edges if the dish has a rim. Grind over a little pepper, place the dish on a baking sheet, then bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden and the sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.

Saturday Special:

Spicy Vegetable Egg Fried Rice

Time- 30 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 200g basmati rice, 1-2 red chillies (deseeded and grated or very finely chopped), 3 garlic cloves (crushed), 1 tbsp sunflower oil, 2 large carrots (diced), 200g Chinese cabbage (finely sliced), 2 eggs (lightly beaten), 3 spring onions (sliced), 200g frozen peas, 1 tbsp soy sauce

Directions- If making the rice from scratch, cook it following pack instructions, then drain. Mix the chillies and garlic (in a pestle and mortar, if you have one) with a pinch of salt, to make a paste.Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan on a medium – high heat. Add the carrots and stir-fry for 5 mins until tender. Add the cabbage and chilli paste and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the cooked basmati or leftover rice and stir-fry for 1 min until piping hot.Push the rice mixture to one side of the pan. Add the eggs to the cleared space and scramble until set. Mix in the onions, peas and soy and stir-fry everything together until the peas are hot.

Sunday Feast:

Baked Chicken Masala with Almond Pilaf

Time- 45 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 250g brown basmati rice, 2 heaped tsp turmeric, 5 tsp medium curry powder, 2 tbsp flaked almonds, 6 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt, 2 large skinless chicken breasts (cut into chunks), 8 medium tomatoes (halved), 2 large red onions (thinly sliced), ½ small bunch coriander (leaves picked)

Directions- Heat oven to 220C. Put the rice in a saucepan with 600ml water, 1 heaped tsp turmeric, 1 tsp curry powder and some salt. Bring to the boil, stir, cover, turn heat to low and cook for 30 mins, or until tender. Try not to take the lid off during cooking. Remove from heat and leave covered for 5 mins. Add the almonds, and fluff with a fork.Meanwhile, mix 2 tsp curry powder, the remaining turmeric, 2 tbsp yogurt and seasoning. Add chicken and toss to coat.Toss the tomatoes and onions in a roasting tray with the rest of the curry powder, then nestle in the chicken pieces. Bake for 15-20 mins until the chicken is cooked through and the veg are soft. Scatter over the coriander and serve with the rice and remaining yogurt.

Image and Recipe Courtesy: bbcgoodfood.com

June 15, 2014
The no-fuss Valentine’s Menu

Valentine’s Day 2014 may have gone. But your Valentine surely hasn’t.

And for your next few Valentine Days, how about you prepare and sharpen your skills beforehand rather than the day before.

Here, by skills, I refer mainly to cooking since that is my forte.

It’s June now. So, you have exactly 9 months to learn and let learn.

For the beginners, you might want to start with something simple and quite easy, like the ‘Eton mess parfait with berry sauce’. For those who cook occasionally, you might be a tad bold and wind up cooking something like ‘Sweetheart choc and hazelnut sandwiches ‘. And for those who cook regularly, well, I don’t really have anything to teach but merely share a few lovely recipes.

For the beginners:

Eton mess parfait with berry sauce

Time: 15 minutes (plus freezing)

Serves: 6

Ingredients: 284ml pot double cream, 200ml pot Greek yogurt, 4 small meringues (crumbled), 200g strawberries (hulled and chopped), 2 tbsp lemon curd, 200g raspberries and strawberries (halved, for topping)

For the sauce – 150g punnet raspberries, 150ml punnet strawberries, 2 tbsp icing sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions: Line 6 x 150ml ramekin dishes with cling film. Lightly whip the cream, then fold in the yogurt, meringues and strawberries until well combined. Fold in the lemon curd to give a soft marbled effect.Spoon into the prepared ramekins and freeze for 2-2½ hrs or until semi-frozen. Meanwhile, make the berry sauce. Tip the raspberries and strawberries, icing sugar and lemon juice into a food processor and blend to a purée. Pass the sauce through a sieve to remove the pips, then set aside.To serve, turn the semi-frozen parfaits out onto serving plates and remove the cling film. Arrange the halved strawberries and raspberries on top of the parfaits. Serve with a drizzle of berry sauce.

For the Novice:

Sweetheart choc & hazelnut sandwiches

Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients: 4 slices from a small sliced brioche loaf, 3 tbsp chocolate hazelnut spreads, 1 large egg, 75ml whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp caster sugar, 2 tbsp chopped toasted hazelnuts, 1 tbsp butter, icing sugar (for dusting), ice cream (to serve), raspberries (to serve)

Directions: Thickly spread 2 of the brioche slices with the chocolate hazelnut spread, then top with the remaining slices to make 2 sandwiches. Use a large heart-shaped cutter to cut the sandwiches into hearts.Whisk the egg, milk, vanilla and caster sugar in a wide, shallow bowl. Tip the hazelnuts onto a plate. Dip the sandwiches into the egg mixture, leave for 1-2 mins each side to allow the brioche to soak up the liquid, then dip one side of each sandwich into the nuts. The sandwiches can be chilled like this, covered loosely with cling film, for up to 1 hour.Heat the butter in a wide frying pan until melted and foaming. Add the sandwiches and cook for 1-2 mins each side until golden brown and puffed up. Dust with a little icing sugar and serve with ice cream and raspberries.

For the Expert:

Beef & beer pie

Time: 4 hours

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped, 1 small celery stick (chopped), 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp plain flour, 700g beef shin (featherblade or stewing steak, cut into large chunks), 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 beef stock cubes, 2 sprigs thyme, 540ml can dark ale or beer, 1 egg (beaten), a few pinches poppy seeds

For the pastry – 500g plain flour (plus a little extra), 250g vegetarian suet

Directions: Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Using a flameproof casserole dish with a lid, soften onion and celery in the butter. Stir in the flour until it has disappeared, then stir in the beef and Worcestershire sauce. Crumble in stock cubes and add thyme. Pour over ale, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook in the oven for 2½ hrs. Remove lid and cook for another 30 mins – this should thicken the sauce nicely.Increase oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the pastry, whizz the flour, suet and 1 tsp salt in a food processor until there are no suet lumps. Keeping the motor running, dribble in 1 tbsp water at a time until the pastry starts to come together, then tip onto a lightly floured surface and bring together with your hands.Roll out half the pastry and use to line a 20-22cm pie dish. Using a slotted spoon, spoon in all of the meat, then pour over some of the sauce until the meat is just coated. Put the rest of the sauce into a saucepan. Roll out the remaining pastry to cover the pie. Trim the edge with a small, sharp knife, then crimp or fork the edges to seal. Make a small heart from cuttings. Brush top of the pie and heart with beaten egg, then dip heart into poppy seeds and stick to top. Bake for 30-40 mins until golden brown and crisp. Reheat sauce and serve with the pie along with some mash and greens.

Treacle tart hearts

Time: 25 minutes (plus chilling)

Serves: 8

Ingredients: 200g cold unsalted butter (cubed), 350g plain flour (plus extra for rolling out), ½ tsp ground ginger (optional), 100g golden caster sugar, 1 egg yolk

For the filling – 400g golden syrup, finely grated zest of 1 lemon and juice of 1⁄2, 100g white breadcrumbs

Directions: Blitz the butter, flour and ginger, if using, in a food processor until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar, then add the egg yolk and 2 tsp cold water. Pulse until the dough clumps together, or bring it together with a knife by hand. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and press into a smooth round. Chill for 30 mins or until firm.Roll out the pastry to the thickness of 2 x £1 coins and stamp out 8 x 11cm circles (or cut around a saucer and trim to fit tins). Line 8 x 10cm width heart-shaped tins with the pastry. Re-roll trimmings. With a small cutter, stamp out 8 hearts to decorate. Chill tins and hearts for 15 mins or until firm. Heat oven to 170C/fan 150C/gas 5 and put a baking sheet in.

Stir the syrup, lemon juice and zest together. Divide the breadcrumbs between tins (they should reach to the top of the pastry), then spoon the syrup over slowly, adding more once the first lot has started to soak in. Top with the small pastry hearts. Put tins onto the hot baking sheet and bake for 25 mins or until pastry is golden and the filling is orangey-gold and slightly set. Leave to cool for 15 mins, then turn onto a wire rack. Serve just warm. Will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Heat in a low oven for 5 mins to warm through.

Recipe and Image Courtesy – bbcgoodfood.com

June 9, 2014