Monday, June 28, 2010

Double Chocolate Bombe










Ingredients:
Chocolate mousse ( made according to previous recipe)
White chocolate mousse ( made according to previous recipe)
1/2 cup roasted pecan pieces
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs separated
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter milk

Ganache:
1 (8 oz) packet semi-sweet baking chocolate squares
1/4 cup cream

Protocol:
Grind pecans into a fine powder.

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer, until creamy, gradually add sugar, beating well. Add vanilla, beat until blended.

Now add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each additions

Combine flour, soda, and pecans; add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Pour into a well-greased and floured 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan, and cool on wire rack.

Line a 3-quart mixing bowl (8 1/2 inches across) with plastic wrap.

Cut cake lengthwise into 2-inch strips; line prepared bowl with cake strips, reserving remainder. Spread Chocolate Mousse over cake in bowl; cover and chill 1 hour.

Pour White Chocolate Mousse into bowl over chocolate layer; cover and chill 1 hour. Cover with remaining strips. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Invert bombe onto a cake plate, and spread with ganache. Garnish, if desired.


To make Ganache: Cook chocolate and cream on low heat, stirring until chocolate is melted.

White Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 (1 oz) white chocolate baking squares
2 tbsp light corn syrup
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Protocol:
Cook 2 tablespoons cream, white chocolate, corn syrup and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat stirring until smooth. Cool

Beat remaining cream, sugar and vanilla at high speed till stiff peaks form. Fold into white chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate.

Chocolate Mousse


Ingredients:
1 cup whipping cream
1 (80z) packet semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Protocol:
Cook 1/4 cup whipping cream, chocolate, butter and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until chocolate melts.

In a large bowl beat together remaining cream, sugar and vanilla extract with an electric beater till stiff peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture.

Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Ambrosia


Ingredients:

1 8oz container cool whip
1.75 cup shredded coconut
1 8 oz can Mandarin oranges
1 8 oz can pineapple chunks
1 80z can tropic fruit medley can
3.5 cups marshmallows
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Protocol:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix together and chill for 1 hour.

Strawberry Pie


Ingredients:
1 9" pie Graham cracker pie crust (pre-baked)
1 quart strawberries (remove all leaves, and of course wash)
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp corn starch
3/4 cup water

Protocol:
Arrange half the strawberries in the baked pie crust.
Mash remaining strawberries and combine with sugar in a saucepan.
Heat strawberries and sugar till the mixture begins to boil, stirring frequently.
Whisk cornstarch and water in separate bowl.
Gradually stir in cornstarch mixture into strawberry-sugar mixture.
Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens.
Pour mixture over berries in the pastry shell and chill for several hours.
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Yogurt Panna Cotta with Berries


Ingredients:
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2.5 tsps unflavored gelatin
2.25 cups plain whole-milk organic yoghurt
1.75 cups whipping cream
0.75 cups sugar
1 6oz box raspberries
1 6oz box black berries
1 6oz box boysenberries

Protocol:

Combine water and lemon juice in a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over it and stir to blend. Let it stand for about 15 minutes till the gelatin softens.
Whisk yogurt and 3/4 cup cream in a large bowl.
Combine remaining cream and sugar in a saucepan and heat, stirring constantly till sugar dissolves.
Now add gelatin mixture to the hot cream and sugar mixture and stir till gelatin dissolves.
Add cream-gelatin mixture to the yogurt mixture and whisk to blend.
Pour mixture into 6-8 individual plastic cups/wine glasses. Refrigerate till set (6-8 hours)
Top with a mixture of berries.

Tip: If you are using plastic glasses make sure the mixture isn't too hot that the plastic melts.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Pecan Pie

Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp saltFont size
2 tbsp melted butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/4 cup pecans
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 unbaked 9" pie shell

Protocol:
Pre-heat oven to 375 oF
Beat eggs, vanilla, sugar and salt
Add butter and syrup and mix in pecans
Bake 40-45 min in pie shell.

Tip: I like to use an Oreo crumble crust to give it that extra kick.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Butter Chicken

  • Ingredients:
  • 1.75 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons garlic paste
  • 1/2 tablespoon garam masala
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons ginger paste
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green chile pepper
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Protocol

To Marinate: Place chicken in a nonporous glass dish or bowl with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chili powder and salt. Toss to coat; cover dish and refrigerate to marinate for 1 hour.

Drain yogurt in a cloth for 15 to 20 minutes. Place in a medium bowl; mix in salt, garlic paste, garam masala, butter, chili powder, ginger paste, lemon juice and oil. Pour yogurt mixture over chicken, replace cover and refrigerate to marinate for another 3 to 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place chicken on skewers. Place skewers in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until almost cooked through.

To Make Sauce: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garam masala. When masala begins to crackle, mix in ginger paste, chopped garlic and green chile peppers. Saute until tender, then stir in tomato puree, chili powder, salt and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring in honey and fenugreek.

Place chicken in sauce mixture. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in fresh cream.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Gobi Manchurian


Ingredients

1 cauliflower (cut into delicate florets)
1 medium-sized onion (finely cut)
3 green serrano chillies (cut length-wise)
2 tbsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp oil
4 tbsp kethcup
4 tbsp chilli sauce
4 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
4 tsp corn starch
10 tbsp all purpose flour
4 tbsp corn starch
6 green onion stalks (cut into 1 inch pieces)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
oil for deep frying

Protocol:
For the sauce:
heat 2 tbs oil in a saucepan and add onions and green chillies. Sauté till onions start turning a golden-brown color and the oil starts separating from the mixture. Now add ketchup, chilli sauce, soy sauce and vinegar and heat till mixture is well cooked and the pungent aroma of vinear beins to fade. The oil will separate from the paste once more. Add 1/2 cup water and cook for two minutes. Then add 4 tsp corn starch to thicken the sauce. Turn stove off and set sauce aside.

Batter: Mix the all purpose flour, corn starch, salt and pepper and add 2.5 cups of water mixing the flour into a smooth but thin batter.

Now heat the oil for deep frying in a wok. Once hot, batter cauliflower florets with prepared batter, making sure that the florets are well-battered even in between individual florets. Fry battered florets and drain on a paper towel. Once you are done frying, heat the sauce for a minute or so. Add florets to the sauce and mix so each floret is covered in a layer of sauce. garnish with green onions. Serve hot with fried rice or noodles.