Classic Maltese Chicken and Vegetable Brodu / Soup

This month in Mena's Cooking Club, I am travelling to Malta our host of the month is Yasmeen of Wandering Spice. 

According to wiki, Malta officially the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European island country comprising an archipelago of a few islands in the Mediterranean Sea. . The country covers just over 316 km2 (122 sq mi), with a population of around 450,000, making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries. The capital of Malta is Valletta, which at 0.8 km2, is the smallest national capital in the European Union. Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English.

Malta has a long Christian legacy and its Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta is sometimes traditionally claimed to be an Apostolic see because, according to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked on Malta. Catholicism is the official religion in Malta. Come lets travel to Malta....  and relish the Classic Maltese Chicken and Vegetable Brodu / Soup.  Brodu means broth which is extremely flavorful and simple to make.

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 large Onion - diced
1 Tablespoon Stalks Coriander - finely chopped
3 Cloves Garlic - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Tomato paste
1 Large Carrot - diced
2 French Beans - diced into small bits
1 Potatoes, - chopped in small pieces
2 Tablespoons cabbage - shredded
700 Ml hot chicken stock (or veg stock for vegetarians)
1 Bay leaf
1 Teaspoon Mixed herbs
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 Cup Orzo pasta - Homemade
Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

Chicken stock/ the brodu:
To make the stock use the back, neck and wings of a chicken. In a pot add 1.1/2 liter of water and the chicken, let it boil on low flame for 45 minutes to an hour or till the stock reduces for half the quantity, Strain the stock and shred the flesh. Keep the stock and the chicken separately.


In another pot, heat the olive oil,   add the onions and bay leaf, saute onions  till lightly brown.  Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1-2 minutes or until it deepens in color and flavor.
Add in the diced carrots, beans, potatoes, cabbage and give it a quick stir,  add the stock of the chicken, herbs, coriander stem and bring it to a boil, then reduce the flame to low and cover and cook 25 minutes, until the carrots and potatoes are tender. 

Add in the Orzo pasta, cook for about 4 minutes.  When the pasta cooks add the chicken. 

Serve hot with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese on top  and toasted  garlic butter bread .

My Notes:

I used fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil and oregano a little bit of each.

You can used any small pasta of your choice.

Labels : Malta, Soup, Healthy, Mena Cooking Club

An InLinkz Link-up

Vermicelli and White Chocolate Delight

For this week BM, I, choose the theme Creamy Foods. Kids love chocolate give it to them in any form and they will love it. This delight too is chocolaty and creamy, my kids enjoyed. This recipe is from a TV cookery show which was showcasing kids favorite.

Ingredients
1/2 Cup Vermicelli
1 Liter Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2  Cup Condensed milk
1/2 + 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

For White Chocolate mousse

3/4 Cup White chocolate - broken into pieces
100 Ml Fresh Cream
200 Grams Khoya / Mawa
1 Cup Whipped cream
Toasted Cashew nuts and chocolate for garnishing

Method
In a pan heat milk and let it reduce to 700 Ml  then add vermicelli and 3 tablespoon sugar and let it boil till it thickens then add the condensed milk and vanilla essence mix well. keep side to cool.

For white chocolate mousse

Whip the cream well, keep aside.

In pan add fresh cream and chocolate, place it on a double boiler, till the cream starts to bubble. Remove from heat and keep stirring till the chocolate melts.

In a another pan heat the khoya till it melts then add this to the cream and white chocolate, mix well, cool slightly. Add the whipped cream and essence whip again till well incorporated.

To assemble

In a bowl first put a layer of vermicelli mixture topped with white chocolate mixture.   Garnish with cashew nuts chocolate . Chill and serve. enjoy....

Sending this to the Kid's Delight event hosted this month by Mireille .

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.

Linking this to Valli's 'Cooking from Cookbook Challenge: May -- Week 2.

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Kids delight, CCChallenge, Blogging Marathon, Vermicelli

Homemade Peanut Butter - How to make Peanut Butter at home

My daughter loves peanut butter. This is made very often in my house. As soon as the container is empty it has to be refilled. I too started liking and eating is on  my toast. Peanut butter is easy and inexpensive to make at home. If you have roasted unsalted peanuts you can make this in minutes. Free of preservatives and so delicious. Try it and you too will start loving peanut butter.


Ingredients
1 Cup Roasted Peanuts - skinless
1.1/2 to 2 Tablespoons of Groundnut oil
A teaspoon Honey
A pinch of Salt

Method


Place the peanuts, salt and honey into the bowl of a food processor. Process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process while slowly drizzling in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.



Labels : Peanuts, Blogging Marathon, Jams & Sauces

Instant Upma and Rava Idli Mix - Homemade

Instant rava idli mix and Upma mix is the same, very easy and healthy mix used to prepare a healthy breakfast. I always keep this ready, after coming from my morning walk, preparing upma is is quick and easy. This instant mix is a real saver, and its exactly like the store bought instant mixes , which is expensive,  has preservatives too. This is preservative free. Here is the recipe...

Ingredients
1 Kg Upma Rava / Semolina
1/2 Cup Ghee
2 Tablespoons Mustard seeds
4 Tablespoons Urad dal
10 Green chillies - cut into small piece
5 Sprigs Curry leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Asafoetida
1/2 Cup Cashew nuts - broken in half

Method  
Dry roast the rava /  semolina till it turns pinkish. Keep aside

In a deep bottom pan  heat the ghee... add mustard seeds and let it it splutter. Then add the urad dal, let it turn golden brown. Then add the green chilies , curry leaves  and let them dehydrate in the ghee or till the chillies turn slightly white and the curry leaves crisp. Add the chasewnut and fry till it turns golden brown, add the  asafoetida, and rava fry till it releases a delicious aroma.  Transfer it on a flat plate and let it cool completely.  The Upma / Rava Idli Mix is ready to use.     After about 5 - 6 hours transfer this  mix into an airtight container.  This can be stored in the refrigerator for 6 months or more,   in your kitchen pantry for 2 months.

Method to prepare  Upma

1 Cup Instant  Upma mix
2 Cups Water

Salt to taste

A pinch of sugar

1 Teaspoon Lime juice

1 Tablespoon Coriander - finely chopped

1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder - optional

2 Tablespoon Freshly grated coconut - optional

 In a deep bottom pan bring the the water to a rolling boil, add the salt, sugar, turmeric  and the mix.  Stir it well, cook it for 5 minutes on medium low heat.   When all the water is evaporated add the lime juice, coriander and coconut. Give it a quick stir.  Serve and have it hot.

Method to prepare Rava Idli

1 Cup  Instant mix
1.1/2 cup of yogurt
1/4 Teaspoon Baking soda
Salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients together except the baking soda. Leave it for 10 minutes.   In the meanwhile, heat the water in the idli vessel.  Grease the idli mold .  When you are ready to pour this into the mold, mix the baking soda in a tablespoon of water and add it to the batter.  Mix well and pour it into the prepared idli mold.

Steam cook for 10 - 15  minutes. Eat the hot idlis with chutney of your choice.

Enjoy!


Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.

Lables : Semolina, Instant Mixes, Blogging Marathon

Mayonnaise With Egg - Homemade

My friends and followers of my blog were requesting me to give them the recipe of Egg Mayonnaise.  Here is the recipe for you.

This week theme that I have chosen for BM is Ready-made Products.  My first recipe under this theme is Mayonnaise.   This is fool proof recipe that will never fail.

Its a very simple process.   Making mayonnaise at home is healthy because you use the full egg, less salt and absolutely no preservatives.  Most of the store mayonnaise contain only the yolks of the egg and preservatives.  Once you start making mayonnaise at home you will never purchase a ready bottled one.  The homemade one is very delicious.

Homemade Mayonnaise
1 Egg
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard powder or paste
1/4 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar 

1/4 Teaspoon Pepper powder - freshly ground
1/2 Teaspoon Lime juice 

1/2 Teaspoon White Vinegar

Put the egg, mustard, pepper powder, salt and sugar into a blender and  blend on low speed for few seconds, add the lime juice and vinegar. Keeping the blender running, carefully and slowly add the oil in a stream through the top of the jar (the opening through which you can add liquids). Make sure that you add the oil slowly. Once it starts thickening, stop the blender, taste adjust seasoning,  blend again for a couple of seconds. 

Transfer to a clean and dry glass jar and refrigerate. I use this in salads, sandwiches, and other dressings as well.

I hope you try making your own mayonnaise at home.  This will stay good for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. 

Note :  If you've reached the desired consistency, you can stop adding the oil. If you need more of it, feel free to do so.

If you are using mustard sauce, then reduce the salt and vinegar quantity.

I used the small chopper to  make the mayonnaise.  A hand blender can used to prepare the same.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.Labels : Egg, Healthy, Mayonnaise, Chutneys & Dips, Homemade, Ready/Instant Mixes