Mutta Marichathu (Egg-Plantain cake)

This is an easy and delicious dish from the Malabar area, North of Kerala. I’ve had this from my friends’ and neighbor's place, usually during the Ramadan days.

This is a very easy one to prepare, especially when you have unexpected guests.  A good combination with evening tea….

Kids will love this and this special cake with high protein is an easy one for the parents too.

 

Ingredients:

       Ripe plantains          --   2 medium
       Extra large eggs      --   6 large
       Sugar                            --  12 tbsp
       Cardamom                 --  4-5 crushed
       Ghee                              --  1 tbsp
       Cashew nuts             --   10-12 crushed

Preparation:

Cut the plantain lengthwise into four pieces. Slice the pieces into medium thin slices.

Heat a saucepan,add ghee and plantains and saute on medium heat until the plantains get cooked and turn slightly golden in colour. Keep aside. Fry the broken cashews and keep aside.

   

Meanwhile in another dish, break eggs, add sugar and cardamom powder to it and beat lightly for a couple of minutes.

     

Add the cooked plantains and fried cashews in the egg and sugar mixture and stir well until uniformly distributed. Pour it back to the same pan.

Cover and Cook it over very low flame until the top part is set.It should take 10-20 minutes depending on the saucepan used.

Carefully transfer this to a plate and cut into small squares and serve with tea.

Swing Sets

Spring is approaching and the market is full of great swing sets for your little ones to eventually play on. CSN Stores has a great website where you can find all the best backyard gear from a variety of well known manufacturers. If you have shopped with them before on one of their other sites, then you know what a great experience it is to buy from one of their many stores. I have placed many orders and have always been satisfied with their service and wide selection of products. So take a peek and see the swing set there !!!

 

Chocolate Profiteroles

Hello friends….. Happy New Year to All… Wish you all a great year ahead !!!!!!!!!!!    I know I am late.. But better late than never…  right ??  JJJ    So how are your new year resolutions going on?  One of my resolutions is to peek into my friend’s blogs, and of course mine too, atleast once in a fortnight. Hope I can keep it for the whole of 2011 and later too.

Ingredients:

              All purpose flour            --   ¾ cup
              Salt                                       --   ¼ tsp
              Grated nutmeg                --   a pinch
              Unsalted butter               --   6 tbsp
              Eggs                                      --   3
             Semi sweet chocolates  --   ½ cup
            Vanilla ice cream             --   4 cups

 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease and prepare a baking sheet.

Sift together the flour , salt and nutmeg. In a medium sauce pan, add the butter and ¾ cup water and bring to boil.

Remove from the heat and add the dry ingredients. Mix well with a wooden spoon for about a minute , until well blended and the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. Now keep the pan over low heat and cook the mixture for about a couple of  minutes stirring constantly.

    

Remove from the heat. Add the eggs, one at a time to the flour mixture, beating well, until the dough is smooth and shiny.

 

Pipe the dough onto a baking sheet. You can also drop the dough onto the baking sheet, using a tablespoon.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pastry is well risen and browned .Turn off the oven and the let the puffs cool with the oven door open.

Split the Profiteroles in half and put a small scoop of ice cream in each. Serve with melted chocolate.