"Sweet Treats"- Pistachio-Honey Biscotti

It's been over 9 months I haven't baked Biscotti.Since 'A' was born, life has gotten really really busy.Some friends told us before we had kids that....with 1 kid your life is 'busy' but with 2...it's 'Crazy'...and YES....I DO BELIEVE IT NOW!!!!
Anyways... today was our weekly play date for the kids, which is also a 'food date' for the moms and I decided to bake Biscottis to go along with our favorite tea!

Ingredients:
3 cups All purpose flour
1/2cup toasted Pistachios
2/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup Honey
2 large eggs
1/2 stick unsalted  butter
1/4tsp salt
1and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1tsp Vanilla extract
Cooking spray/Butter for the cookie sheets.
Some sugar to sprinkle on the biscottis after baking

Method:
1) Preheat oven to 350F
2) In a electric mixer, blend together eggs, sugar,vanilla and honey.
3) Bring butter to room temp and beat with whisk till smooth.
4)  Sift together flour,baking powder and salt. Roughly chop the Pistachios and keep aside.
5) Mix the butter with eggs -sugar- honey.Add the flour and mix together.Add the Pistachios to the dough. Form into a soft dough.Mix only till everything comes together well.Oil your hands if necessary as the dough will be sticky.
6) Form into a 'log' shape and bake on buttered cookie sheet at 350F for 25 mins( till it becomes hard on outside and golden brown). Let the log cool.

7) Bring oven temperature to 325F.
8) Cut diagonally and place cut side down on cookie sheet. Sprinkle little (1-2 pinches) sugar on cut side.Bake again at 325F for 7 mins.Turn on the other side and bake again for 7 mins.

9) Let the Biscottis cool.Store in airtight container.

            Enjoy the crunchy biscottis with mild sweet flavor with your favorite cup of Tea or Coffee!

"Everyday Cooking"- Spicy Green Tilapia

The other day we were watching a marathi kids movie with 'E'-----'Bokya Saatbande'.In the movie Bokya's mom prepares this special fish dish for her guests- 'Chutney Bharalela Paplet' (meaning Pompret fish stuffed with green chutney and fried). It reminded me of similar fish my mom used to prepare- Fish coated with green chutney/ marinade made up of fresh ground coconut,green chilies, cilantro.....coated in 'Rava'(semolina) and fried. This was typical 'CKP'( Hindu subcaste) style of preparing fish. The fish remains tender on the inside, and the marinade/ coating just gives it so much flavor and spiciness....you will love it!
Ingredients:
2-4 Tilapia fish fillet(depending on the size)
1/2 cup fine rava/semolina
1tbsp maida/all purpose flour
salt
oil


Green Chutney/ Marinade
This marinade/Chutney can be used to prepare 'Hara Chicken Kabobs'/ Green Chicken kabobs/Green Tandoori chicken

 

1/4 cup fresh ground coconut/frozen coconut
1/4th cup chopped cilantro
1-2 green chilies(depends on how spicy you want)
2 clove garlic
salt
1/4th tsp Tamarind extract/paste
Grind the above into fine paste

Method:
1) Wash the tilapia fillet. Dry well on paper towel.
2) Marinate the fish with the green chutney.Leave for 10 mins

3) In a flat dish mix together semolina and all purpose flour.Add little salt to the mixture.Gently put the fish in the dish and coat on both sides.Press gently to help the coating to stick.

4) On a non stick flat pan, heat some oil. Fry the fish on medium heat for 2-3 mins on both sides or until cooked. The coating will turn golden brown. Handle the fish gently otherwise it will break.The rava/ semolina will give it slight crispiness.
5) Serve as a side dish/ Main dish or even with Chapati (that's how we mostly ate it back home)

<>For Green Chicken Kababs/ Green Chicken Tandoor

1) Marinate the chicken in the above green marinade for 2-3 hrs in the refrigerator.Add few drops of lemon juice/ 2tsp Yogurt to the marinade.
2) Roast in the oven at 325 F for 40-45 mins or until well done.

"Fusion Cuisine"- Paneer Chili,Grapes and Asiago Cheese Loaf Panini

A Sandwich gone a bit 'Wrong'....
I had a great lunch at my favorite restaurant....'Panera Bread' with some friends.I love all of their Paninis and soups.....I am on a mission to try each one of them, every time I visit Panera! While coming back I picked up this loaf of 'Asiago Cheese Loaf' from Panera.

While driving back, all I could think was....what kind of Panini can I make from this? Came home ...found 'Paneer' in the freezer and I knew what I was gonna fix for dinner! Paneer Chili, Grapes and Asiago Cheese loaf Panini!!! Sounds exotic isn't it!!!!

What went wrong then?: Did not taste the bread before making the sandwich.The bread had kind of a strong 'cheesy' and mild 'tart' flavor.The bread on it's own would taste good but it over-powered the Paneer Chili filling and the whole combination did not quite come together as I thought it would :(

BUT.......Make this sandwich with a plain Italian bread or a french bread...and I guarantee...IT WILL BE A WINNER!!!!!

How to make Paneer Chili:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2010/05/appetizers-paneer-chili-fry-paneer-fish.html

I added few extra veggies: Carrots, Corn this time

How to make the Panini:
1) Slice the bread into 'thick' slices
2) Slice the grapes into halves. The grapes offer a surprise 'pop of sweet-sour' flavor when you bite into the sandwich.
3) Place spoonful of filling onto the bread, top it with your favorite shredded cheese,sliced grapes and place another slice on top.Grill the panini on a grill pan.Panini maker/ plain pan. Serve hot!