Tuesday 31 July 2012

Spinach Squares

This is my mum's recipe and one that always reminds me of home.  It's a savoury treat, perfect as an appetiser or finger food at a dinner party.  Full of great nutrients so a healthy savoury dish that you don't feel guilty eating. This recipe requires Gram Flour, which you can get from any Indian supermarket.  It's made from lentils, its got a distinctive taste and great for people with a  gluten intolerance.   My dad and hubby both love this, and dad has been bugging me for days to put it on my blog!  LOL!! So here it is dad, this one is for you!

Spinach Squares

300-400g Bag of fresh Spinach Leaves
3/4 Cup Gram  Flour
1 tsp Baking powder
2 Tbl Plain Yogurt
3 Tbl Chopped tinned tomatoes
3 Tbl Vegetable oil
1/2  Tsp  Salt
1 Tsp Chilli Powder
1 Tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 Tsp Cumin
1/2 Tsp Tumeric
1-2 Cloves Crushed Garlic
1 Egg
Pepper

1. Pre heat oven to 150 c
2. Wash and finely chop the spinach leaves and drain well
3. In a large bowl, add the chopped spinach, and all the ingredients in the order listed.
4. Combine well using a wooden spoon (or your hands - the Indian way!)
5. Oil a baking tray (I use a 30-32 cm one )
6. Press the mixture on to the tray, about 2 cm thick (pic opposite)
7. Bake for 25-30 min or until golden in colour
8 Leave to cool and then cut into 5 cm squares
9. Serve with a chilli dipping sauce

Optional ; You can lightly  shallow fry them in oil for a crispy texture.



Enjoy!

Till next time

Ashia.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Tamarillo Chutney

Well, here it is the recipe that inspired the name of my blog. And incidently the first chutney I ever made.

In this modern living, making chutneys, jams and preserves are considered, an old fashioned concept, one that our grandmothers (and maybe our mothers indulged in). I guess through the lack of time and the fact that you can conveniently buy all these condiments in your local supermarket or even at your local farmers markets (very trendy to go to these!)

I am not ashamed to say that I, a modern 40 something, love making my own chutneys &  preserves.  With a little time and planning you can put away bottled fruit, jams and chutneys to see you through the year!
The great thing about making chutneys is that once you have prepared the fruit, the cooking time takes the longest, but you can leave it simmering away, and get on with whatever else you do, reading, helping with home work etc.  Once however the chutney is cooked, you bottle straight away in hot jars and seal.  I always save glass jars and also buy new ones to give away as gifts.  Perfect as Christmas presents with some home made shortbread.

Its perfect with hot and cold meats, on some chunky bread with a wedge of cheese, as a dip mixed with sour cream.
Tamarillos are great as a dessert too, best served cooked with some sugar as they can be quite tart.

Tamarillo Chutney



                                                              
2 Dozen Tamarillos 
500g Cooking Apples
1 Kg Brown Onions
1 kg Brown Sugar
30g Salt
1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/2 Tsp Mixed Spice
500mls Cider Vinegar



1. Scald tamarillos in boiling water to remove skins
2. Chop the onions and peel and chop the apples
3. In a large heavy based saucepan add all the ingredients and then the vinegar
4. Bring it to a bubbling boil and then simmer for hour to an hour  and half, stirring occasionally.
5 keep cooking until the the mixture is thick and syrupy, be careful at the end that it doesn't catch the bottom, or it will taste awful and you will have to put the whole lot in the bin!
6. Bottle hot and seal.

I doubled the recipe and it gave me about 20 jars (a range of different sizes)

Bottling

I re use old jars and sometimes buy new ones if I am giving away the chutney as a gift.  I wash all the jars in the dishwasher and then heat up the oven and place them in there for about 10-15 min.  These are then sterile and ready to use.

Well I hope you give it a go, it's actually quite satisfying bottling up your own chutney, and giving it to friends and family as gifts.


Enjoy!

Till next time

Ashia


Tuesday 3 July 2012

Date Scones with Cinnamon sugar

Nothing like a little baking to while away a depressing, wet Auckland day! The rain hasnt stopped all night and all day today. And its school holidays, typical.  The children are having a pyjama day today, with lots of DVD's and games.  They need feeding too, so thats where mum comes in (a role that I take very seriously indeed!).
So hot buttered scones are the order of the day

Date Scones with Cinnamon Sugar
3 cups Plain flour                                  
6 Tsp Baking powder
1/4 Tsp salt
75g butter
1 -11/2 Cups milk
3/4 Cup chopped dates
1-2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1. Sift flour baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl
2. Add butter into the mix and  cut in until it resembles fine breadcrumbs
3. Add the chopped dates to the dry mixture and then with add the milk and mix quickly into a soft dough. (it need to be  pliable and soft and not too sticky) so add the until you get the right consistancy. Knead a few times to get it soft and workable.
4.  Press the scone dough on to a floured surface and cut in to 12-14 even sized  pieces.
5.  Place on a lightly floured baking tray leaving a couple of cm space between each one
6. Mix the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle on the top just before baking for a lovely sweet crunch.
7. Bake @  220 c for 10-12 min until golden
Serve hot with butter. You can make plain scones the same way (just omit the dates) and serve with jam and whipped cream (devonshire tea style).



Enjoy !  Till next time .  Ashia