Bibingka/Filipino Coconut Rice Cake

Bibingka/Filipino Coconut Rice Cake

Coconut rice cakes is a treat for all coconut lovers. Bibingka is sweet, with irresistible flavor and taste.I love this recipe because it is so easy to make.Sweet rice flour and coconut milk makes this cake spongy and light. The crumble topping is crispy and sweet with coconut and palm sugar. I changed the original recipe slightly by adding one cup of all purpose flour,but you can make this is with sweet rice flour.Filipino coconut cakes are usually made in a pan with banana leaves lining.Since I did not have banana leaves I used the regular parchment paper.Try this, you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Rice flour- 2cups
All purpose flour- 1 cup
Baking powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Salt- 1/2 tsp
Sugar- 1 cup
Eggs-3
Butter- 1/2 cup
Grated coconut- 1cup
Thick coconut milk-2 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Palm sugar or brown sugar- 3 tbs

Pre heat oven to 350 degree F. Prepare cake tin and line with banana leaf of parchment paper.

In a bowl mix rice flour, all- purpose flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat eggs and  sugar till light and fluffy. Add melted butter, coconut milk and milk and mix well. Fold in the dry ingredients along with half cup of grated coconut.
Pour this into prepared cake tin. Mix palm sugar  with the rest of the coconut and sprinkle on top of the batter.
Bake for one hour.  Allow to cool in pan. When it cools down completely cut into slices and serve.

Try it,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Ambul Thiyal/Sri Lankan Tamarind Fish

Sri Lankan Tamarind Fish

Sri Lankan fish curry is delicious and very similar to Kerala fish curry. Creamy curries with coconut milk or  tangy spicy fish curries with rice is a  classic combo you will never get tried of  eating.Rice and curry is staple or a norm in every household in South India and Sri Lanka.Curries ranging from mild and flavorful vegetables or lentils to spicy meat and fish curries are made and served with rice.

I once tried a mild fish stew and it was very tasty. I was looking for some more Sri Lankan fish recipes to try. This recipe is adapted from the book Sri Lankan Cooking, by Douglas Bullis and Wendy Hutton.Some of the Sri Lankan curries have dominant and powerful flavors that is unique to the island. This fish curry is a blend of fiery spices, flavor and texture that will tickle your taste buds and give you satisfaction of an exotic eating experience.

Sri Lankan Tamarind Fish is a traditional fish curry and is usually prepared in clay pots. It is a dry masala fish and has a very unique taste,with earthy spices, tangy goraka/Malabar tamarind and spicy chilies.This curry can be preserved in room temperature for 3-4 days. The curry is best when served with plain rice or with orutti/rice flat bread.Get your ingredients together and give this recipe a try,you will surely love it.

Ingredients

Fish- 1 kg

Ginger- 2 inch thick piece

Garlic- 5 cloves

Shallots- 8-10
Onion thinly sliced-1

Kudampuli/gambooge- 3-4 

(you can also use tamarind pulp)

Kashmiri Chilly powder- 2 1/2 tsp

Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 tsp
Garam masala- 1/4 tsp
Whole spices- clove-2, green cardamon- 2 Cinnamon stick- 1 piece
Pandan leaf- 2 small piece 

Curry leaves

salt to taste

oil

Soak kudampuli/gambooge in half cup of hot water and set aside for half an hour.

In a pan add all the spice powders and dry roast for two to three minutes (till it is reaches smoking point). Set this aside and in the same pan add two tsp of oil and saute sliced shallots, garlic,ginger and pandan leaf till it is golden brown.

Put this sauteed onion, roasted spices and the kudampuli into a blender and make it into a fine paste.

Marinate the fish with this paste and salt set aside for 10 minutes.

Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan or clay pot and add the whole spices. After a minute add the sliced onion and curry leaves. Saute till golden brown.
 Layer the fish and fry in medium flame till one side is crispy. Gently flip the fish and cook the other side. Add half cup of water, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking till the gravy is thick. Serve with rice.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy

Sweet Mango Chutney

Sweet Mango Chutney

Sweet and spicy mango chutney is  a classic Indian condiment that can be served with flat bread or any spicy dish.It is a aromatic relish made with sweet mangoes. Use mangoes which are just ripe, firm and not yet soft. This can be preserved in air tight jars for several day. Try this,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Mangoes- 3 large
(firm and just ripe mangoes)
Sugar-1 cup
Salt- 1 tbs
Ginger- 2 inch piece
Garlic- 3 cloves
Vinegar- 1 1/2 cup
Chilly powder- 2 tsp
Chilly flakes- 1/4 tsp
Mustard seed- 1 tsp

Cloves- 3-4

Make a paste of ginger, garlic and mustard seeds. Use 2 - 3 tsp of vinegar to make this paste.

In a heavy bottom pan add sugar and vinegar and simmer for 5-6 minutes till the sugar melts.

Add the ground paste and simmer for another 3-4 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Continue to cook in low flames for 15 to 20 minutes till the mangoes are soft and the chutney thickens.Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour into sterilized air tight glass containers and store.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Kozhikodan Ayala Mulakittathu

Kozhikodan Ayala Mulakittathu

Today's recipe is a spicy  mackerel curry. Different regions of Kerala have their own version of fish curry and this is north Kerala style fish curry. I usually make fish curry with kudampuli/gambooge. But in this curry tamarind/valanpuli/sambar puli is used. My grandmother who is from Trivandrum also uses tamarind to make fish curry. Try this spicy and tasty fish curry,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Ayala/Mackerel- 1 kg
( or any fish of your choice)
Pearl onions sliced - 3/4 cup
Tomato-2
Ginger thinly sliced- 2 tbs
Garlic crushed- 2 pods
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Kashmiri chili powder-2 1/2  tsp
( adjust according to spice tolerance)
Coriander powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek powder- 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Fennel seed powder- 1/4 tsp
Tamarind- 1 small lemon sized
Fenugreek seeds- a few
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 2 springs
Coconut oil
salt to taste

Clean fish and cut into pieces. Slice pearl onions, ginger and garlic.Soak valanpuli in  half cup of water and set aside.

First add sliced onions, ginger,garlic , curry leaves, tomatoes the spice powders and salt into a pot. Using you hand mash them and combine well. Into this add tamarind pulp and  enough water to cook the fish. Put this on the stove and bring it to a boil. Slide in the fish pieces, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes till gravy thickens and the fish is cooked.
Heat coconut oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. When they splutter add one tsp of sliced pearl onions and curry leaves . When it turns golden brown drizzle over the curry.Serve with rice

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy!

Garlic and Herb Crusted Lamb Chops

DELICIOUS!

I really don't care for lamb but my husband loves it so I thought I would give this recipe a try.  Boy, was I surprised as we both loved these chops!  Perfectly cooked, pink in the center, so flavorful and no gamey taste.
 This recipe comes from Natasha's Kitchen.  I'm not going to post the recipe here because her recipe is perfect as is.  Also, I'd like you to check out her blog, it's one of my favorites.  So, if you want to make this delicious recipe go to Natasha's Kitchen for this easy to follow recipe and video.

*after searing lamb chops, I wipe out the cast iron pan with a paper towel as the brown bits seem too burnt.  I then add my broth and butter.  This way the sauce doesn't have the burnt taste.

Italian stuffed Zucchini Boats

My daughter, Megan, told me the other day about this delicious recipe from pinterest, Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats.  The next day I looked it up and the recipe came from the blog Valerie's Kitchen.  I happened to have met Valerie years ago at an allrecipes.com event.  I've made many of her recipes so I wasn't surprised how good this was.  This serves 4-6 but I have no problem making this for just my husband and I as the leftovers were just as good!

Valerie's recipe serves 6 but she served it with rice.  I didn't make any sides and ended up eating two.  So GOOD!

Recipe slightly adapted from Valerie's Kitchen. I made a few changes but you can view Valerie's recipe here.  

I loved this sauce, it was packed with flavor!

Favorite brand of Ground Turkey

      

Ingredients:

3 medium zucchini

1 (26 ounces) jar tomato basil marinara, divided (I used Muir Glen)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic 

1/2 cup chopped button mushrooms or cremini (Baby Bella)

1 pound lean ground turkey

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup shaved or shredded Parmesan

2 tablespoons Italian style panko bread crumbs

Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  

2.  Measure out 1 cup of the marinara sauce and set aside. 

3.  Trim ends from zucchini and slice in half, lengthwise. Use the tip of a teaspoon to scoop out the flesh from the interior of the zucchini, so they resemble boats.  Chop the zucchini flesh and set aside.

4.   Place the scooped out zucchini boats into a 13" x 9" baking dish Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until just slightly fork-tender. Remove from oven, and set aside. (Don't worry about the liquid in the pan as you'll wipe that out before adding the sauce)

5.  Meanwhile, add olive oil to a large skillet and place over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper saute for 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook another minute. Then add the mushrooms and cut up zucchini.  Saute for another 5 minutes.  Add turkey, stirring to break up the ground meat as it cooks until thoroughly cooked. Drain off oil/liquid and return the skillet to the heat.

6.  Add the parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and remaining marinara sauce in the jar (remember 1 cup is set aside for later).   Continue to cook and stir well until combined. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and allow to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes.

7.   Remove partially cooked zucchini boats from baking dish and pour out any water, using paper towel dry the dish. Pour the 1 cup of reserved marinara sauce into the empty baking dish and place zucchini boats on top of the sauce.

8.   Divide the filling between the zucchini boats.  Cover the dish with foil, and bake for 20 minutes, or until zucchini is fork-tender. Remove dish from oven and remove foil, sprinkle zucchini boats with mozzarella, Parmesan and the panko bread crumbs. Place dish in the oven, cook for 15-20 minutes until cheese has melted and bread crumbs are golden brown.  

Serves 4 - 6

When I cut into this pepper, it made me smile to see it had a heart!  

Seared Scallops with Warm Corn Salad

This is another one of Chrissy Teigen's yummy recipes from her Cookbook, Cravings.  So far, every recipe I've made of hers has been really good.  This one for seared scallops, I'm in love with.  I've made them several times because it's so quick, easy, healthy and delicious.  I've made these with fresh and frozen (thawed) scallops.  I like the convenience of having scallops in the freezer but fresh is best.  Just make sure the scallops smell sweet and good.

Warm Corn salad:

2 Tablespoons butter

2 cups fresh corn kernels (approximately 3 ears of corn)*see note

1/2 cup red pepper, diced

1-2 green onion (scallion), thinly sliced

salt and pepper

In a large heavy skillet, heat the butter over medium heat.  When it foams, add the corn, bell pepper and green onion.  Saute, tossing lightly  about 5 minutes. Season to taste with the salt and black pepper.  While the corn sautes, sear the scallops and they'll be done at the same time.

8-10 large scallops (fresh is best but thaw if frozen) **see note

1 Tablespoons canola oil

1 Tablespoon butter

salt and pepper

Rinse then Pat the scallops dry with paper towels.    Don't salt and pepper just yet, it makes the tops wet.   This is a pretty important step. You want the scallops to caramelize, not steam.

Heat a medium skillet (NOT nonstick) over medium-high heat.  You want it hot, but not smoking hot.  Add 1 tablespoon of the oil then add 1/2 tablespoon of the butter.  Swirl in the pan.  Sprinkle half of the patted dry scallops with salt and pepper.  Add them to the skillet seasoned side down.  DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THEM.  Cook for 2 minutes to form a caramelized crust.  Pat the tops with paper towel, salt and pepper and flip.  Cook another 1-2 minutes

Serve with the warm corn salad.

Serves 2

*With it being corn season, I'll buy a dozen at the farmers market, cut the corn off the cob and freeze it.  Great to use for recipes like this.

**Fresh scallops are better if you can get them but I really like having a bag of frozen scallops (from Costco or Trader Joe's) for a quick lunch or dinner.

Adapted from Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat

Easy to half the recipe and make for one.