PRAWN BALCHAO

After checking the net for prawn recipes, I was attracted to this Prawn Balchao since it has unique name and something I never heard before. This  is a classic Goan recipe using dry chili and vinegar as its ingredients.

Prawn Balchao can be served as appetizer  or a side dish with plain boiled rice or mildly spiced pulao. Since it contains vinegar, it will stay well in the fridge for up to a week.

My family really love this spicy and tangy dish, it is best suited for spicy food lovers.

SOURDOUGH PIZZA

It was long time before I had the courage to bake my first sourdough bread. It's the sense of accomplishment that comes with it when you make something all by yourselves from scratch.

Made the preferment the night before, next morning added the rest of ingredients for making pizza. It 's almost the same method for regular yeast bread but this takes longer time to rise.

For topping, you can use your favorite or check here . These are fantastic, much softer than regular pizza. Will definitely try other types of bread with sourdough!

SOURDOUGH PIZZA
Yield      10 rolls

PRE-FERMENT
1 C water
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp instant yeast

Place all ingredients in a medium size glass bowl, stir with wooden spoon and let sit in a covered bowl for 4-16 hours  in warm and draft free place. Use as directed.
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Source    :     The Fresh Loaf

PIZZA DOUGH

1 1/2 C all purpose flour
All the above pre-ferment
3/4 tsp salt
4 T oil
1-3 T water
Topping

METHOD

Mix flour and the starter with salt, add in oil. Gradually add water until a dough is formed.

Knead by hand for 8 minutes until elastic. Place in a covered and oiled bowl until double for 2-3 hours.

Roll out dough into rectangle, spread with filling, roll up jelly roll style, cut using sharp knife into 10 rolls. Leave for 1 hour. Towards the end of raising time, preheat oven @ 190 C.

Bake for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven. Remove and cool on rack. Ready to serve.

Source  :    food.com

Linking to   Bread Baking Day 37
                  Yeastspotting 3-4-11  

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL COOKIES

A quick and delicious cookies that uses rolled oat and cocoa powder. This Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies is very simple and easy to make.

These are healthy, fiber packed, indulgent and delicious! Another tip, you must let them sit about 5 minutes in a pan after baking since they tend to break and still very soft before transferring them onto rack to cool. They are crunchy outside but chewy inside, great for morning tea or afternoon snack too.


CHOCOLATE OATMEAL  COOKIES
Yield       27 cookies

3/4  cup  all purpose flour
1  cup   rolled oat
2  tablespoon  unsweetened cocoa
1/2  cup  butter
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4  cup  brown sugar
1/2  cup  chocolate chip
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD

Preheat oven @ 170 C. Sift flour, cocoa  and baking powder.

Cream butter, vanilla, salt  and sugar until well combined.

Stir in  flour, sugar and cocoa, mix in oat and chocolate chip. Mix well.

Roll into small ball then flatten slightly and place onto baking pan.

Bake for 10 minutes. Leave on pan 5 minutes before removing onto rack to cool.

Store in airtight container when completely cool.

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HEART SHAPED BUTTER ROLLS

What was your favorite bakes on Valentine's Day? There were breakfast, bread, cookies, bars, cupcakes, tarts, pies and candy all over the places to celebrate this occasion. In this case. I've turned this butter rolls into heart shape using sweet bread dough. Used ready made red bean paste for the filling since this is special request from my son. Other stuffing such as chocolate spread, strawberry or even kaya (egg jam) works well too.  They are wonderful for everyday or for special holiday dinner. You can  make the dough ahead of time and bake the rolls just before the dinner is ready. It uses straight forward method,  easy to prepare and  add a special touch to any meal.

For shaping, roll out each ball into oval shape, spread the filling then fold into 2, again into quarter. With sharp knife, slit the center of  folded roll half way through, spread open to get heart shape. It was time consuming but had so much fun shaping them for the very first time. These are fantastic rolls,  light buttery taste and so soft.

HEART SHAPED BUTTER ROLLS
Yield   12 rolls

2 C all purpose flour
1/4 C warm water
4 T softened butter
1/2 T dry yeast
2 T dry milk
1 T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C warm water
1 tsp sugar
red bean paste or other
filling of your choice

METHOD

*   Mix together  yeast, 1 tsp sugar and 1/4 cup of warm water in a bowl and for 10 minutes until frothy.

*   In a mixing bowl, put in  water, salt and yeast mixture, stir well. Add in dry milk, butter and 1 cup of flour, beat until smooth.

*   Add the remaining flour, forms into a dough.

*   Transfer onto floured board and knead for 10 minutes until elastic.

*   Keep in a covered and oiled bowl until double about 1-1 1/2 hours.

*   Gently punch out dough  and divide into 12 ball. Roll out into oval shape and stuff with filling, roll up the dough. shape into half of oval shape. Fold again into quarter. Using a sharp knife cut through the top portion and shape into a heart.

*   Repeat with the remaining dough.

*   Leave for 45 minutes. Heat the oven @ 180 C towards the end of raising time.

*   Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, brush top with melted butter and transfer to rack to cool.

Linking to Yeastspotting 2-25-11
                Aspiring Bakers 4  

PASTA PANCAKE

This is created out of the leftover we had from cooking fried spaghetti. Instead of dumping them in a freezer I thought why don't we created another easy dish we could enjoy.

If you are not spicy person, you can easily removed the chili powder and green chili used, just sprinkle a bit of pepper will do the trick. They were surprisingly, really good! Such a perfect meal, I'll be making them often. .

PASTA PANCAKE

1 C boiled spaghetti/macaroni
1 Onion chopped
1 Tomato chopped
1 tsp chili powder or to taste
3 green chili chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1/4 C corn flour
1/4 C gram flour
salt to taste
milk to mix
oil for frying
2 T coriander leaves chopped

METHOD

*   Place pasta, onion, tomato, green chili, ginger, garlic and a tablespoon oil in a mixing bowl.

*   Mix corn flour, gram flour, salt and chili powder with small amount of milk, stir until well combined.

*   Add corn flour mixture to the pasta, mix well and forms into thick batter. The consistency is same as regular pancake batter.

*   Heat 1 teaspoon of oil, pour 2-3  tablespoons of batter into flat pan, fry until both side turn golden brown. Drizzle more oil if required.

*   Complete with the rest of the batter.

*   Serve warm with tomato/chili sauce.