CREAM CHEESE SPIRALS

Ingredients :

Cream cheese : 225g

Butter : 225g

Castor Sugar : 2tsp

All purpose flour : 225g

Egg white : 1, beaten with 1tbsp water, for glazing
Castor Sugar for sprinkling

For the filling :

Walnuts : 115g, Finely chopped

Brown Sugar : 115g

Cinnamon Powder : 3/4tsp

Method : 

1. With an electric mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until soft. Sift over the flour and mix until combined. Gather into a ball and divide in half. Flatten each half, wrap in grease-proof paper and refrigerate for atleast 30minutes.

2. Meanwhile make the filling. Mix together the chopped walnuts, the brown sugar and the cinnamon powder.  Set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Grease to baking sheets.

4. working with one half of the mixture at a time, roll out thinly into a circle about 11inch (28cm) diameter. Trim the edges with a knife, using a dinner plate as a guide.

5. Brush the surface with the egg white glaze and then sprinkle evenly with half the filling.

6. Cut the circle into quarters., and each quarter into 4 sections, to form 16 triangles.

7. Starting from the base of the triangles, roll upto form spirals. Place on the sheets and brush with the remaining glaze. Sprinkle with castor sugar. Bake until golden, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a rack.

[Recipe courtesy : "Baking" by Martha Day]

MANIPPUTTU / Steamed Rice Dumplings in Coconut Milk

This recipe brings back my childhood memories :)

Ingredients : 


Rice Flour  : 1Cup(i prefer Chamba rice flour)
Water : 1Cup
Grated Coconut : 1/3Cup or more
Coconut milk : 1st and 2nd extract from half of a coconut
Cardamom Powder  :1/4tsp
Sugar : 2tbsp
Salt

Method :

1. In a wide bowl combine rice flour, grated coconut and salt.

2. Boil water in a sauce pan and add this to to the rice flour. Knead it to a a smooth dough. (This is just like the procedures to make idiyaappam / noolappam)

3. Make small balls from it and place it on steamer / iddly vessel. You can apply ghee / coconut oil on your palm to make rice balls easily. Stem them for 7-8minutes or till done.

4. Meanwhile make the coconut milk from fresh grated coconut and add the sugar and cardamom powder to it.  Add the steamed rice dumplings to Coconut milk and Keep aside for 5minutes to soak in coconut milk.

5. Enjoy !!

TUNA THORAN from canned Tuna / Tuna Coconut Stir Fry

 Ingredients : 

Canned Tuna : 1Can

Onion : 2, Sliced

Green Chili : 2,finely Chopped

Ginger : 1 inch piece, finely chopped

Garlic : 4, finely chopped

Shredded Coconut : 1/4Cup

Chilli Powder : 2tsp

Turmeric Powder : 1/2tsp

Coriander Powder : 2tsp

Garam Masala : 1tsp

Coriander Leaves : 1/4Cup, Chopped

Curry Leaves : 1spring

Mustard Seeds : 1/2tsp

Coconut Oil : 2tbsp

Salt

Method :

1. Drain the water and oil from Tuna and add all Spice powders and salt to it. Mix well with your hand and marinate for 15minutes.

2. Heat oil in a kadai / iron skillet and add mustard seeds. When it splutters, add curry leaves and finely chopped green chillies, ginger and garlic. Saute it in medium flame till you get a nice aroma.

3. Add the onion and fry them till it turns to translucent. Now add the marinated tuna along with shredded coconut and combine well. Adjust salt and cover the kadai with a tight lid. Cook in low flame for 5minutes.

4. Add the chopped coriander leaves and combine well. Turn off the flame and cover the pan with lid till you serve.

STRAWBERRY YOGURT SMOOTHIE / Strawberry Lassi

Ingredients :


Strawberry :  1/2Cup
Yogurt : 1Cup
Sugar : 1tbsp
Ice cubes : 4

Method :

Put everything in a blender and continue beating till you get a smooth mixture. Serve immediately..