Slow cooker Pot Roast

 

Slow cooker Pot Roast 

It took me several tries to come with a perfect looking pot roast. I use to make it in the oven and it always  came out dry. So one day I decided to use my slow-cooker. Actuality I did not have the oven free. To my surprise it was a hit.Also I didn't have to spend much time . Add all ingredients tun the pot on and it was done. The roast was moist and juicy only need a fork to cut it. I used extra green pepper to make it a bit more spicy. still was mild for us. I also used the juices to make the gravy.

                

Roast beef           1 roast

Black pepper       2 tbsp.

Green pepper      2 (optional)

Bay leaf                1

Garlic                   4 cloves

Onion                   1 Sliced in to 2 halves

Cloves                  5

 Salt                      1 tsp.

Wash and place your Roast in the slow cooker. Add water so that it will reach up to 3/4 of the roast.

Add all the ingredients  Cover and cook for about 4 hrs.  Pour the juice over the Roast occasionally. Insert a butter knife in to the roast if it goes down easy Roast is done.  You can use the remaining juice to make the gravy.

Halwa

Halwa

1. Rice flour                              3/4 cup
2. Brown sugar (Jaggery)         3 cup
3. Coconut milk                       1 container
4. Water                                     4 cup
5. Butter                                    1/2 cup
6. Cardamom                            5
7. Cashew nut                           1/4 cup

• Mix rice lower with coconut milk and  2 cup of water. Be sure to have no lumps in it.
• Mix brown sugar and 2cup of water.
• Boil the Brown sugar mixture In a large frying pan. when it stars boiling add rice flower mixture. Continue to stir while adding the mixture. Ask for help at this point if you need to. Be sure not to have any lumps. 
• Add Butter. Continue to stir, when it starts to thicken add Cardamom and Cashews. 
• Continue to stir until the mixture separates from the pans and  forms a shape. 
• You can test if it is done by adding a bit of mixture in to a cold cup of water. If it forms  shape Halwa is ready.   It took me about an hour once the mixture is on the stove.
• Transfer the mixture to a pan and let it cool for 2-3 hours.

Traditional Halwa will take 2-3 hours to make. This Halwa will come  close to the once we get in Kerala. Be sure to have at least 1 hour without  any interruption and have all the ingredients beside you when you start making Halwa. 



Corn Muffin

Corn Muffin

1. Corn meal                         2 cup
2. All purpose flour             2 cup
3. Baking powder                   2.1/4 tsp.
4. eggs                                     2
5. Sugar                                   1.1/4 cup
6. Milk                                      2 cup

Mix all ingredients together. Pre heat oven 350 degree F. Pour Batter into muffin cups. Bake for about 30-35 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the middle, if it comes out clear muffins are done.

Baked Turkey

Baked Turkey

The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in Canada is a large meal, generally centered around a large roasted turkey. It is also a family get together. Most people do thanksgiving dinner as a potluck which everyone brings an item and the host prepares the bird.  I use a Dutch oven to bake which cooks faster and juicy. Thanksgiving meal so memorably tiring is the mix of meat with carbohydrates. Carbs from stuffing, sweet potatoes, bread, pie and sugary sweets. Most Thanksgiving turkeys are stuffed with a bread-based stuffing. Sage is the traditional herb added to the stuffing along with chopped celery, carrots, and onions. I used to stuff the bird but recently started to do the stuffing on the stove top because it was never enough. Deep-fried turkey is rising in popularity, requiring special fryers to hold the large bird.

            I always cut up my vegetables and prepare my stuffing day ahead and keep it in the fridge. I also make my dessert day ahead. I only use fresh bird. If you use frozen bird you have to thaw them in the fridge days in advance, not to mention the worry if it will be thawed on time. On thanks giving day first thing I do I get the turkey in the oven.  Then I prepare my salad keep them in the fridge. When turkey is half way done I use the juices to mix my stove top stuffing. Then my soup, cranberry sauce potato etc. Always make my gravy and vegetables last as the turkey is browning.  see bellow for my turkey recipe

ingredients

1. Turkey           1no (10-12lb)
2. Oregano          1tbs
3. garlic               3 cloves
4. Rosemary         1tsp
5. slat                   1 tsp.
6. Butter               2 tbsp.
7. Onion                1 no (optional)
8. Green chilli        1-2 (optional)

• Wash and clean turkey. I always add  some lemon juice to the water while cleaning. discard the giblets. Let the turkey on a sand up position so that all the water will drain.

• Grind 2-5 ingredients together then mix with Butter.

• Slide your hand between the skin and breast to separate skin from the breast(make a pocket).This Will give you the colour as shown in the picture. spread the marinade under the skin. Chop up one onion and slit 1-2 chilly pepper, place it in the cavity for extra flavouring.

• Preheat the oven for 350degree F. Place the Turkey on a turkey lifter Breast side up, then in to a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Cover and Bake for about 3 hours.

• Take the lid off, Pour the juice from the turkey over the breast using a baster.  Bake for about 1 more hour uncovered.  Continue to pour the juice over the turkey every 15-20 minutes while baking. insert a butter knife, if it goes down easy Turkey is done.

 

 

Chocolate Cake

 

Chocolate Cake

• White sugar           3 cup
• Butter                     1cup
• Egg                          4
• All purpose flour    2 cup
• Cocoa powder         1cup
• baking powder        3 tsp.
•  milk                         1 cup

In a large Bowl, cream  butter and sugar for about 2 min with an electric beater . Beat in the eggs.    Add baking powder and cocoa powder beat well without any lumps  for about 1 min. Add flour and mix well using a spatula. finally add milk and mix well until batter until batter is smooth.

Preheat the oven to 350degree F. Pour the batter in a greased 9" baking pan. Bake for about 30-35 min.Insert a tooth pick into the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean cake is done.



Cauliflower Thoran

 

Cauliflower Thoran

• Cauliflower cut in to small pieces               1 
• Toor Dal                                                      1/2 cup
• cumin seed                                                  1/2tsp
• Mustard seed                                               1/2tsp
• Curry leaves                                                2
• Onion                                                          1/2 small
• Green chilly                                                 2
• Grated Coconut                                           1/2 cup
• Turmeric powder                                         1/4 tsp.
• Oil                                                                3tbsp
• Salt                                                                as needed
• Water

Wash and cook  dal with water and little salt for about 45 minutes or until dal is soft when pressed between your thumb and index finger. You can also use a pressure cooker to cook dal. Set aside
Wash cauliflower  and cut in to small pieces.
In a frying pan heat 3tbsp spoon oil. splatter mustard seed and  cumin seed
Add chopped onion, green pepper curry leaves and fry until onion turns golden brown.
Add cauliflower coconut, turmeric, salt, toor dal mix well. add 2 tbsp. water if need.( if the mixture seems too dry.) Cover and cook for about 3 min.  Open the lid and fry for about 2-3 min more while stirring in between. Be sure not to over cook cauliflower. should be on the crunchy side. 

Chocolate Oatmeal Bar

 

Chocolate Oatmeal Bar

Milk                                      3/4 cup

Butter                                    1/2 cup

Cocoa powder                       1/3 cup

Sugar                                     1 1/2 cup

Oatmeal flakes                      3 cup

Sprinkles                                1/3 cup

sweetened Coconut flakes     1 cup

Toast Oatmeal for about 2 min in a frying pan. add coconut flakes.  whisk together milk butter cocoa and sugar in a saucepan.Bring it boil. continue to whisk while boiling for a creamy sauce.  Turn off the heat. Add Oatmeal coconut mixture and fold well. Grease 9' square pan pour batter in to  pan. pat tightly. top with sprinkles.  let it cool before cutting in to desired shape. 



Savoy Cabbage Thoran

 

Savoy Cabbage Thoran

Cabbage (chopped fine)      1/2          

 grated coconut                    1/3 cup

 Red chilly pepper sliced       2   

 Mustard                               pinch

Cooking Onion                    1/2

Grated Coconut                   2 tbs 

Oil                                        4 tbs

Heat oil in a pan splatter mustard then add chopped up onion 2tbs grated coconut and  peeper fry until coconut turned brown. add cabbage and grated coconut mix well. fry until cooked well about 5 minutes.  Serve hot.



Uli curry

Uli curry

My husband always used to talk about uli curry he used to buy with parotta during college days. So I decided to make it one day. He explained it to me how it tasted like. After couple trials it became one of the favorites at our house. I find it convenient and easy to prepare especially  during let times.

                      Ulli curry  is great with chapati appam, puttu  and rice. It also freezes well. When I make ulicurry, always keep a container in the freezer for the lazy days. try my recipe if you like it leave me a comment.

Ingredients:

1. Cinnamon                   1/2'' long
2. Cloves                         8
3. Curry leaves                1
4. Anise                          1tsp
5. Star anise                    1/2
6. Onion medium            4no
7. Ginger chopped          1tbs
8. Garlic chopped            1/2ts
9. Tomato large               1 no 
10.  Chilly powder             2tb
11. coriander powder        4tbOil 
12. Oil                               1/8cup
13. Mustard seed               1/4 tsp.
14. Milk                            1/2 cup

Heat oil in a frying pan.  splatter mustard seeds. add 1- 5 ingredients fry for about 2 min.
Add garlic and ginger fry until  it  turns golden brown.  Add diced tomatoes chilly powder and coriander powder  fry under low heat until  oil comes out clear through the sides. Add onions  fry until they turn  translucent.  add 1 cup water and boil for 5min. Turn down the heat add 1/2 cup of  milk You can also substitute milk with coconut milk