Firecracker Strawberries#Improv

For this month's Event for Improv Cooking Challenge, Hosted by Nichole Little, the theme is Red, White and Blue, made these patriotic Firecracker Strawberries for the event.

Ingredients
2 Cups Strawberries
1 Cup Melted White Chocolate
1/2 Cup Blue Sugar - Homemade

Method

Dip strawberries in  melted white chocolate  and immediately in blue sugar. Keep them until they are set.  Serve.

My Notes:
To make the Blue Sugar , take 1/2 a cup of sugar in a small zip lock bag, add  2 -3 drops of blue color and mix it well by rubbing the sugar into the color.  Keep it to dry and  Blue Sugar is ready to use whenever needed.

Labels: Strawberry, White Chocolate,  Blue Sugar, Improv Cooking Challenge, Sweets & Desserts

An InLinkz Link-up

Tangzhong Method Spinach Bread #BreadBakers

This month our host Mireille Roc chose the wonderful theme of Naturally Colorful Breads to get all bread bakers to bake with puree from any fruit or veggie. 

Made this Tangzhong Method Spinach Bread in a Pullman Loaf Pan measuring 23 cm (9") long and height 10 cms ( 4") , which made a perfect sandwich loaf.. The bread was so soft and delicious, more on a sweeter side, you can reduce the sugar quantity if you want. But we loved the this sweet spinach sandwich bread. Made a delicious breakfast sandwiches with it.

Remember when you are using the Pullman pan do not let the bread proof to the full height of the tin. It should be proofed only 3/4th leave space for it to rise while baking. The quantity of flour used to make this bread was perfect for the pan.

Ingredients
270 Grams All Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoons Cornflour
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoon Butter
1/3 Cup Warm water
1/2 Cup Spinach Puree
3 Tablespoons Milk Powder
3 Tablespoons Sugar
7 Grams Instant Yeast
For the Tangzhong/ Roux
20 Grams
1 Cup Water

Method
The Tangzhong (Flour-Water Roux)

Whisk together lightly the flour and water in a saucepan until smooth and there are no lumps. Place the saucepan on the stove, and over medium heat, let the roux cook till it starts thickening. Keep stirring/ whisking constantly so that no lumps form and the roux is smooth. The roux will turn pale and thicken, do not thicken it too much since when it cool is will thicken more. Let the roux/ tangzhong cool completely and rest for about 2 to 3 hours at least.
The Bread DoughI made this dough in the food processor. This dough can be made by hand but the dough is a bit sticky and can take some time and effort to knead by hand. Do not add more flour to make it less sticky either!

Mix the flour, cornflour, salt, sugar, milk powder and yeast in the processor bowl and pulse a couple of times to mix. Remove it and keep side.  In the same processor add the tangzhong / roux and spinach pure, run it till smooth , add the flour and water run on slow speed until the dough comes together. Add the butter and process till you have a smooth and elastic dough which is just short of sticky dough.
Take this dough on to oiled work surface, oil your hands too. Sprinkle little four and start to knead the sticky dough using your bench scraper lift the dough and give it about 20 to 30 turns or till it's smooth.

Form the dough into a ball and place it in a floured bowl turning it so it is well coated. Cover with a towel and let the dough rise for about 45 minutes or till almost double in volume. 

Once double in volume, place the dough on your work surface dusted with flour.

Divide the dough into four  equal parts

then roll each into a ball

Flatten each ball  into a rectangular sheet. 

Fold both the opposite edges towards center. 

Now start rolling this sheet as shown in the picture.

Similarly, shape all the dough portions and arrange all these in a greased loaf pan.  Let the shaped dough rest until it doubles in volume.

 Once shaped dough doubles, remove the towel and brush with water and  sprinkle the seeds,

push the lid to close bake it in a preheated oven at 200 °C for 30 minutes then take the lid off and keep it again in the oven for 5 minutes.  This bread took exactly 35 minutes to bake.

A perfect flat top Sandwich Bread

Once baked, take the loaf pan out from the oven and demould the bread. 

Place it on a wired rack and let it cool completely.

This is one of the extremely soft, light and fluffy bread

another beautiful bread baked by this method. 

Have it butter or jam

I made a Wholsome  Brunch Sandwich with Chicken Salami, Salad leaves, butter and Fried Egg  seasoned with dash of Cajun Seasoning.

Labels :Seeds Bread, Eggless, Spinach Bread, Bread Bakers, Breads, Tangzhong Method, Sandwich bread, Pullman Loaf Pan,Naturally Colorful Bread


Cheesy Kale, Tomato and Chile Focaccia from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Coriander Butterflake Bread from Gayathri's Cook Spot
Coriander Cumin Bread from Sizzling Tastebuds
Feta Sun-dried Tomato Quick Bread from Food Lust People Love
Purple Yam Sweet Potato Bread from The Schizo Chef
Spinach Beetroot Wheat Bread from Anybody Can Bake
Spinach Sandwich Rolls from Cook's Hideout
Tangzhong Method Spinach Bread from Sneha's Recipe
Turmeric & Garlic Pull Apart Bread from Mayuri's Jikoni

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the#BreadBakers home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.

Cinnamon Roll Twists#BakingBloggers

Light and flaky cinnamon twist pastries can be made quickly and easily from oven to plate in just 20 minutes.

I have used home puff pastry,  you can use a packet of ready rolled puff pastry, brush melted butter onto it, sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on and then cut it into strips. Twist it, then bake for 10-15 minutes. Done.

Ingredients
250 Grams Puff pastry
2 tbsp butter, melted and slightly cooled
3 - 4 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
For the Puff Pastry
250 Grams All Purpose Flour
180 Grams Unsalted Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Cold Water as required 

Method

For the Method of making the Puff Pastry see here.
Preheat oven to 200 degree C and line 2 baking trays.

Place light brown sugar and cinnamon into a small bowl and stir until combined. Leave to one side.

Place the rolled pastry sheet onto a cutting mat and brush melted butter all over.

Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mix all over the pastry and press slightly with the back of a spoon, just to make sure it's stuck.

Slice into strips, about 1 inch thick, but this will depend on the size of your sheet.

Take either end of the strip and twist; twist one hand away and the other towards until the twist meets in the middle.

Place twists on baking tray, with 2 inch space between them.
Place in oven for 12-15 minutes until risen, puffy and golden.

Leave to cool on the trays completely.

My Notes :

Whenever I make puff pastry, use the sides to make Cinnamon Roll Twists, nothing goes to waste.

Labels : Puff Pastry Sheet, Light Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Biscuits & Cookies, Baking Bloggers.

Baking Bloggers
Baked with Puff Pastry
Baked Apricot Pistachio Camembert by Food Lust People Love
Cherry Turnovers by The Redhead Baker
Cinnamon Roll Twists by Sneha's Recipe
Homemade Taco Hot Pockets by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Matcha Puff Pastry Twists by Tara's Multicultural Table
Napoleonskager by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Puff Pastry Chicken Packets by Hardly a Goddess
Spinach Ham and Cheese Bites by Karen's Kitchen Stories

Baking Bloggers is a friendly group of food bloggers who vote on a shared theme and then post about it once per month. If you are a food blogger interesting in joining in, inquire at our Baking Bloggers FaceBook Group. We'd be honored if you would join us in our baking adventures.

Fruity Rice Paper Rolls#Foodieextravaganza

In Foodie Extravaganza group we celebrate food holidays wherein we cook and bake together with the same ingredient or theme each month. 

This month's theme is National Fruit & Vegetables , our host of the month is Ellen Folkman and my recipe is Fruity Rice Paper Rolls.

Ingredients
10 Rice Paper Wraps
For the filling
1 Apple - sliced
2 Kiwifruits - sliced
10 - 12 Black Grapes - cut into two
1/2 Cup Pomegranate
2 Oranges - sliced
Can use any fruits or sprouts to of your choice

For the Dipping Sauce

2 Tablespoons Lime juice
4 Tablespoons Honey

Method

In a bowl mix fruits,sugar and a tablespoon of lime juice and keep aside.

To make the wraps 

Fill a large deep plate  with water  and completely dip your rice paper for 5 seconds, until slightly soft, carefully take it out and dry with kitchen towel Remove it carefully and place on a dry surface (marble/mat).

Arrange the fruits as you desire. Drizzle with honey and lime dressing 

fold it like a spring roll (in pic)

 Sealing the sides tightly. When done rolling, I recommend letting it sit for a bit, so the rice paper dries. I find it tastes better. 

Serve with honey and lime dipping sauce. Enjoy!!!

Labels :  Foodie Extravaganza Party, Vegetarian, Fresh Fruits, Rice Paper Rolls, Healthy, Honey, Gluten free,Sweets & Desserts

White Chicken - Mughlai Cuisine

This  is a chicken dish  in white gravy, hence it is called White chicken. It can be made with boneless or  with bones,  it will still taste delicious.  I, have used chicken with bones and this dish was too  yummy. Its a very rich gravy made of yogurt, poppy seeds, cashewnuts and cream.  It's a  Mughlai cuisine and makes a fantastic  party dish and mildly spiced.

Ingredients

1/2 kg Chicken - cut into medium pieces
2  Medium Onions  - sliced
4 Tablespoons Heaped Yogurt - beaten
3 Long Green chillies
2 Tablespoons Ginger Garlic paste
Salt
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cream
12 Whole cashewnuts
1 Tablespoons Poppy seeds / Khus Khus

1/4 Cup Warm Milk
Whole  Spices

1 Bay leaf

1 Big Brown Cardamom 

2 Green Cardamoms

2 Cloves 

2 Black peppercorns 

1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds 

1 Stick Cinnamon
Oil as required

Method

Marinate chicken in yogurt, ginger garlic paste, salt and keep aside for 1/2 hour.

Soak the cashewnuts and poppy seeds in 1/4 cup warm milk for at least 1/2 hour.  Then grind this to a fine paste with the milk.  Keep aside.

Saute  the onions in 2 tablespoons  oil,  till then turn light pink then add all the whole spices and green chillies saute till the spices release an aroma ( do not brown the onions or else the color of the dish will change). Let this cool completely then grind it to a fine paste with little water.

Saute the marinated chicken with 2 tablespoons oil on high heat till chicken becomes soft for 10 mins. Add the ground  onion and spice paste and saute till oil surfaces. Add  the cashew and poppy seeds paste and stir till well incorporated and on low flame let it simmer for 10 minutes or till oil surfaces and chicken is done.  

Keep giving it a stir after every 2 minutes or else it will burn at the bottom of the pan.   Drizzle a little cream. 

 Garnish with sprigs of mint leaves and  serve it with Hyderabadi Parathas or naan or any crusty bread.  

Enjoy...

Labels : Chicken, Mughlai Cuisine, Cashewnuts, Poppy seeds, White Chicken