HOMEMADE MEAT CUTLETS

Mmmm.....Homemade cutlets for lunch!!!

Making cutlets is no more an ordeal.Gone are the days when you had to start things from scratch like getting chunks of meat, cooking it, removing the fat and then mincing it before the actual work began.Things are a lot easier as you can get fresh, clean, fatless, beef mince from your local butcher.Here in Bangalore, we have Frosty's for the loveliest of meat and fish cleaned and cut in anywhich way you want.I had bought some of their special beef mince the other day and since I had this sudden urge to eat some homemade cutlets, I defrosted it and got ready to make some.But once I got started, it seemed like the perfect "wrong day" to make cutlets.......The maid turned up late,the milkman came with his coupons, the ironing wala for clothes, the neighbour for a chat and of course my little girl was all over the house,enjoying her holiday!!

Phew......it was no fun as I had thought it to be.I found myself,working on the cutlets till kingdom came.It seemed like eternity before they were done.But as I fried the first batch,the wonderful aroma of warm, homemade cutlets wafted in the air.It reminded me of my mother's home back in Kerala.I looked at the remaining batch of unfried cutlets ready to go into the chiller and smiled to myself.Hee hee hee....Easy lunch for a couple of days!!

MEAT CUTLETS(makes about 15 cutlets)

Beef mince-1/2 kg

Onion-1 medium

Ginger-1 inch piece

Garlic-4-5 flakes

Green chillies-3-4

Curry leaves

Garam masala-2tsps

Pepper powder-1 tsp

Coriander powder-1 tsp

Salt-enough

Vinegar-2tsps

Soyasauce-2tsps

Chilli sauce-2tsps

Tomato ketchup-2 tsps

Potato-2 medium

Egg-1

Bread crumbs

Oil

Method

Wash meat well and drain.

Finely chop onion, ginger, garlic, greenchillies and curryleaves.

Pour oil in a kadai and when it boils add the above and saute.

Add garam masala, pepper and coriander powder.

When the aroma rises, put in the minced beef and mix well.

Add enough salt and vinegar and mix with a fork, removing the lumps.

Cook for sometime on low fire.Dont add water.

When the meat is well cooked, add the sauces and mix well.

Off flame when the stock almost dries up.

Add boiled and mashed potatoes and mix again.

When cool,divide into small equal balls.Flatten it into desired shape(round or oval).

Dip in beaten egg and coat with bread crumbs.

Deep fry in oil and serve hot.

CHOCO VANILLA SWIRLS

After an hour long session of imploring, coaxing, begging and beseeching , my 4 year old convinced me to make her some of her favourite " choco vanilla swirls" in return for some peace and quiet.I was enjoying a lazy morning and it was difficult to push myself into the kitchen.But once there, it took me just a few minutes to accomplish the task, put it into the freezer and plonk on my couch again.I explained to my little one that the big needle in the clock had to go around once before it was ready.She lingered about impatiently and finally I was forced to slice it much before time.But oooh ......to see her enjoying the treat, with chocolate all over her hands and face and the happy twinkle in her eye was worth the little effort!

CHOCO VANILLA SWIRLS

Marie biscuits-1packet

Powdered sugar-50 gms

Cashew nuts-50 gms

Cocoa powder-2 tbsp

Nescafe(or any coffee powder)-2tbsp

Water-enough

For the butter cream

Butter-50gms

Powdered sugar-100 gms

Method

Powder marie biscuits and nuts.

Add sugar, cocoa powder and coffee powder.

Sprinkle water little by little and make a dough.Divide into two equal parts.

Cream butter and sugar with a spatula to make butter cream.

Roll out one part of the dough into a rectangle, 1/2 cm thick, between sheets of greaseproof paper.

Spread half of the butter cream over it with a spatula and roll it up carefully into a log.Repeat the same with the remaining dough.

Cover the logs with foil and freeze for 1-2 hours.

Cut the log into small circular slices and keep out for 5 minutes just before serving.

SERVING SUGGESTION:Serve with icecream and decorate with a sprig of mint leaves to make a fine dessert.

EASIEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER!!!

During high school days,I remember going through my mother's recipe books for something easy to make, when my eyes fell on the"NEVER FAIL CAKE".Without a second thought I decided to try it ,but it was an utter failure.I blamed it on the stale baking powder and made up my mind to give it another try the next day.But maybe the kitchen God was on a holiday or something because the outcome was disastrous once again.Frustrated but not willing to accept defeat,I tried again,desperate to get it right.But history repeated itself.In revenge,I grabbed Amma's recipe book and cut off the 'N' from the "NEVER FAIL CAKE" .That made it an "EVER FAIL CAKE".And thats how it stands to this very day!!!

But dont worry coz' thats not the recipe I'm going to share.This recipe was given to me by my sister-in -law and it is one of the easiest and best chocolate cake ever!The cake looks and tastes awesome and is great for beginners too as there are no confusions and complications.A very straightforward cake with a rich colour,texture and flavour.

CHOCOLATE CAKE

Maida-2 cups

Butter-1/2 cup

Baking soda-1.5tsp

Cocoa-2/3 cup

Eggs-2

Powdered sugar-1.5 cups

Vanilla essence-1.5 tsp

Curd-3/4 cup

Milk-1/2 cup

Method

Seive flour and baking soda.Put the ingredients one on top of another starting with flour and ending with milk.Beat in medium speed for 3 minutes and on high for 30 seconds.Bake at 180 for 30 minutes or till done.

For the frosting

Icing sugar-2 cups

Cocoa-3 tbsp

Butter-5 tbsp

Vanilla essence-1 tsp

Milk-1/3 cup(or as needed)

Method

Seive icing sugar and cocoa thrice.In a saucepan,melt butter,add icing sugar and cocoa mixture and vanilla essence.Blend together well and add enough milk to get the desired consistancy.Off flame,cool on ice stirring continuously and pour over cool cake.

LITTLE TARTS OF JOY!!!

The pictures of the little jam tartlets in Deeba's blog had been in my mind all week.They looked easy and perfect for a birthday tea party.I had some leftover pie pastry in the fridge and decided to put them to best use(good riddance to bad rubbish!!!).And since I had the dough already,it wasn't any hardwork at all.....Melted some mixed fruit jam in the microwave,rolled out and baked the pastry into tiny tartlets , spooned some jam into each one and lo....the wonderful looking little cutie-pies were ready for the table!And what a joy to eat!!!


TARTS OF JOY

For the crust(Makes 25-30 tartlets)


Maida- 115gms
Butter(chilled and cut into cubes)-60 gms
Castor sugar to taste
Baking powder-a pinch
Beaten egg-1
Ice cold water if required

For the filling

Mixed fruit jam-about 1/2 cup
Water-3-4 tsps

Method

Seive flour,baking powder and salt.Add enough castor sugar.
Rub in fat with your fingers.Do not use much force.Finally the mixture should resemble bread crumbs.
Add little by little of the beaten egg and keep mixing to form a dough.Use only enough egg.If you feel the mixture is dry, sprinkle ice cold water and mix.
Bring the dough together to form a ball without using much force. Slightly flatten the dough,cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.This makes it easy to roll out.
Keep the dough between sheets of grease proof paper and roll out 1cm thick.
Cut into small tartlets using a cookie cutter and place in greased tart cases with weight(i used dried beans)so that it doesnt rise.
Bake at 180 for 15-20 minutes or till light brown.Take out when ready and cool on a wire rack.
Melt jam with water for a few seconds in a microwave and spoon into tartlets.