Honey Grilled Pineapple with Pineapple Granitée

I have tried this dessert of 2 different occasions....the recent was for the New year eve 2011 Finale ....and both the times, by the time I set the plate , it just disappears.....so try this for performing the trick " Vanishing Plate " :)

All you require for the Grilled Pineapple

4 -5 slices of pineapple - cut into any shape of your choice

1tsp Lemon juice

1/4 tsp ground / grated cinnamon

4 Tbsp honey

In a deep dish , line  the pineapple and drizzle it with honey and lemon juice and sprinkle the cinnamon

Let these get married for 2 hours....allow it to marinate 

Cover it with a wrap and keep it aside

For Pineapple Granitée

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups pineapple juice

To prepare the granitée, mix the sugar, 1 cup of the juice in a saucepan over medium heat and heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally

Stir in the rest of the juice, and allow to cool

Pour the juice into a flat, covered container and freeze

Once it is solid, break it with a fork so that it becomes flaky

After 2hours..........

Grill the pineapple on a grill top / grill pan over medium heat

Grill on both sides until the glaze caramelizes and grill marks form, about 2 minutes per side

 To Serve:

In a serving plate , place the grilled pineapple piece and drizzle it with honey

Top t with a scoop of ice cream ( I preferred Vanilla)

And place a spoon of the granitée

Addition:

I also plated some crushed peanut brittle along with some fresh fruits such as strawberry - cherry and grapes

And for the second instance I had serves some carrot halwa along with this 

Will surely try to click a pic of the plated portion the next time

Hot Herbal Tea

You might wonder, as to why such a post during summers.......I am sure just like me many out there would have got cold - soar throat - fever due to weather changes....so this is the perfect cup just for them


1tsp Tea leaves or 1 tea bag
3/4 cup water
few fresh mint springs
1" cinnamon stick
A slice of lemon
1/2 tsp Honey


Heat water in a sauce pan
Meanwhile place mint, cinnamon, lemon and pour honey in a cup
Once the water has boiled ass the tea leaves, simmer for 1 - 2 minutes and turn off the gas
Place a lid over the sauce pan and let the leaves infuse for about 2 -3 mins
Strain and pour it into the cup
Serve hot

Vanilla Ice Cream Cake

Last Diwali ...while having a Diwali party i tried this out and it turned to be a huge success.....I have taken 3 - 4 different recipes to experiment this one......and it worked well!!!!

So you can stock in some

1 small tub Vanilla Ice cream

3Tbsp Honey

3 - 4Tbsp Roasted Peanuts 

1 small pack Bourbon biscuit ( here in USA you can try to find it in Indian stores, else bank on Petit Ecolier)

1 Whole grain bar

5 Tbsp Choco chip 

( I also used some snickers - 2 small ones....it tasted more yummy)

Combine the biscuits , grain bar in a bag and beat them until there are some small pieces and some have turned into powder

Crush peanuts separately

In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well

Take another bowl and lay it with cling wrap as a base as well as on sides ...enough to cover the entire bowl

Pour the vanilla mixture and cover it with cling wrap

Freeze until set

While serving scoop out the ice-cream and dazzle it with some honey and crushed peanuts / chocolate shavings...... I have also tried cranberry sauce with this.......goes very well

Note: For variations you can also try almonds / walnuts if you are allergic to peanuts

For biscuits chocolate/ vanilla cookies also work well.......

So now its your time to experiment and let me know how it works

Crispy Chilli Potatoes with Honey and Sesame

At Mainland China - back in India, I just loved this starter and have attempted to recreate the original one...Though it did not turn out exactly it still gave me the taste i longed for.........


 2 large  Potatoes - cut into cubes / wedges
2Tbsp Fresh red chilly paste
1Tbsp Sesame seeds
1Tbsp Lemon juice
Salt: To taste
2 tsp Sugar
1tsp Honey
1tsp Vinegar
Oil: For deep frying
2Tbsp Sesame oil / vegetable oil
1Tbsp Maida / All purpose flour
1/2tsp Red Chilly powder

• Par boil the potatoes [ Boil water in a saucepan along with salt and put the potatoes cubes/wedges , cover the lid and boil it for 5mins and drain] and keep aside
• Add salt , maida and red chilly powder to the potatoes and mix with light hands
• Heat oil in a wok and fry the coated potatoes until crisp and brown
• Mix in red chilly paste ( I got a ready-made one, but you can also use fresh red chillies instead) along with vinegar, sugar, salt , honey
• Heat oil in a pan and add the sesame seeds and fry for a minute 
• Now add the crispy potatoes and mix it and add the paste
• Stir and mix well
• Before removing off the heat add in lemon juice and dress it with honey
• Serve hot 

You can garnish it with cilantro / spring onions / sliced red chillies / lemon wedges

Jiffy Indo American dishes

Hey Guys......I have recently moved to NYC/NJ..and the first thing that worries me are lunch boxes for my hubby......Life was so peaceful @ India, with his office providing lunch...and here.......Sure many would have faced the same issue , so here are some "Food for Thought" recipes for a jiffy lunch

Indian Bento

A note on bento: Bento is, very simply put, a Japanese lunchbox that's making waves across the U.S.. Traditionally made with rice, meat, poultry or fish and pickled or other cooked vegetables, bento can be as intricate or simple as you'd like.
Bento boxes can be as simple or elaborate as the food they hold, from laquered boxes with built-in dividers to reuseable plastic containers available just about everywhere lately. It's important to keep moist foods separate from dry foods to decrease the risk of spoilage. Silicone muffin liners are ideal for keeping foods separate, but anything from dry lettuce leaves to waxed paper works as well.
While leftovers are perfect, any food that tastes as good chilled as it does hot will do. To keep foods cold until lunch time, small condiment packets like kethcup, mustard, mayo or relish, when frozen, are the perfect size ice-pack whether meant to be consumed or not.
Fill-ins help food keep its shape and stay put; some ideas for fill-ins are grape tomatoes, grapes, baby carrots, individually wrapped cheeses and dried fruit.

So you can add the following for a Veggie Bento

Spicy Chickpeas and Tomatoes:

Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 large tomato - seeded and diced
1 large green pepper - seeded and diced
1 cup yellow onion - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Directions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook until fragrant - about 3 minutes.
2. Add chickpeas, tomato, spices and salt. Stir well and heat through
3. Cool and pack ...this can be reheated just before consuming

Spiced Yogurt Dip:


Combine
1 cup plain thick yogurt - whisked well
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tablespoon honey
Salt to taste.

Blend well and chill until serving time.
This can be coupled with some Nachos / Green Salad / Spinach - Veggie Fru Salad / Risotto / any portion of your choice