Sunday 24 May 2015

Adventures with Orzo + A Recipe For Tomato Sauce + Friday Fish Pakoras: 16-22 May 2015

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful




{via} this week, it's been a busy one in the kitchen.
so busy in fact that I actually forgot I had made certain things and only remembered when scrolling through these photos.

we began the weekend with orzo and Greek lamb topped with feta and olives, followed by an ice cream bar - for me, chocolate fudge brownie ice cream and berries. so good, alhamdulillah.

meringues were whipped up on Sunday and my Mother cooked one of my favourite veggie curries with roti. more veggie curries followed at the beginning of the week along with some of the biggest roast chicken legs ever!

also this week, another batch of my current favourite salad dressing, an apple cake and the simplest tomato sauce ever.

the weather here has been a mixture of both hot and cold but when it's been good, it's been really good. nature is doing its thing out there and the garden is looking beautiful (especially my favourite flowers up there!)

finally, to end the week, I made lemon curd and a batch of fish pakoras which were perfect on a grey and drizzly Friday afternoon.

here are my highlights:

 Saturday began with me browning a giant batch of lamb mince. as you do.
I'd had this packet of orzo in the cupboard so decided to use it up for lunch.
onions and garlic were softened.
before tomatoes and a whole host of spices were added. finally, in went the lamb mince and everything simmered together until rich and thickened.
time to eat!
the orzo was tossed with fresh coriander and lemon juice before being finished with the Greek-style lamb, crumbled feta and olives.
seriously delish! even me, the one who wouldn't usually touch feta or olives with a bargepole, enjoyed this meal - one to make again and share with you all, me thinks!
Update: The full photo recipe is here!
later, chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, berries, sunshine and a much needed catch-up session.
 on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I made a meringue.
sugar was heated and then added, in stages, to egg whites.
it was whisked on a high speed for a few minutes until I got the stiffest, glossiest peaks ever.
the whole thing was swirled poppy red and sent into bake. the full photo recipe is here.
for dinner, roti.
and my favourite veggie curry - the full photo recipe for which is here.
 meatless Monday rolled around again pretty fast. this week, onions + garlic + ginger + potato + cauliflower were crisped up.
then, things got a little spicy.
later, cooked toor daal was added.
finally, a little green, with peas!
this cauliflower + potato + green pea daal was delicious by itself for a quick lunch. the recipe I adapted is here.
remember that meringue from yesterday? well, it spent the night cooling completely in a cold oven.
it was finished with lemon curd whipped cream + berries and it was so good that I'm still dreaming about it. the full photo recipe is here.
so much for meatless Monday - this was pulled out of the oven for dinner. I know!!
a spontaneous Monday roast with spicy roast chicken, the veggie curry from earlier and carrot mash.
 lunch on Tuesday and I couldn't resist making this again.
I could actually drink this stuff - it's that good. are there such things as savoury smoothies? I think this could definitely be one!
later, a tower of apples.
one weird cake batter later - this went into the oven, as requested by the Mother.
Update: The full photo recipe is here!

mid-week, this 4 ingredient tomato sauce tossed with pasta was lunch.

all you do is take a large pot and into it place:
2 tins (800 grams) Plum Tomatoes
70 grams Unsalted Butter
1 medium Onion, peeled and halved
bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
then, let it cook at a slow, steady simmer for 45 minutes.
stir occasionally.
and, crush the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon.
after 45 minutes, we're done!
take out the onions.
season with Salt.
and Pepper.
taste and adjust, if needed.
cook up some pasta.
add as much as you like.
toss and eat! the recipe I used is here.
so, what was I doing in those 45 minutes when the sauce was simmering? whipping cream of course!
and plopping said cream onto that apple cake from yesterday.
on went the cream and into the fridge the cake went to set whilst I had lunch.
the cake was a real surprise hit! recipe coming to a screen near you soon, Insha Allah.
Update: The full photo recipe is here!
it was a beautiful May evening outside so I decided to capture a few things.
nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
on a Thursday late afternoon, with the egg yolks leftover from that pavlova, I made lemon curd.
Into a heat-proof bowl, went lemon zest + lemon juice + butter + caster sugar + egg yolks.
the whole thing was heated over a pan of simmering water until thick and curd-like.
You can see my full photo recipe here and the recipe I made above here.
on a gloomy, drizzly, grey Friday, we made fish pakoras. I've shown you how to cook them here before, but this time we tried a new recipe.
into a bowl, place 6 large White Fish Fillets, cut into chunks + 6 tablespoons Cornflour and mix.
then, in went the spices. they were:
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Chilli
2 tablespoons Cumin Seeds
1 teaspoon Garlic Paste
1/2 teaspoon Ground Turmeric
5 teaspoons Ground Coriander
1 teaspoon Ajwain (carom seeds)
also, 5 Green Chillies, sliced.
in a separate bowl, place 8 ounces (1 cup/226 grams) Gram Flour.
add enough Water to make a thick paste.
pour that into the fish.
along with a handful of Fresh Coriander, chopped.
mix well and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
deep-fry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy.
serve with lemon wedges.

and a salad.
perfect for a day which is unsure about the weather. oh, and it's gluten-free too!!

on the blog this week:

this time one year ago:

a few of my favourite links from around the web this week:

3. oreo stuffed chocolate cupcakes. with dark chocolate ganache frosting!
4. brodu tat-tigiega. say that 5 times very fast!
7. no-churn mango ice cream. cannot wait to make this again after seeing this post.
9. 6 tips to revamp your revision. for all you lovely people with exams - good luck!
10. chocolatey dreams. what?! is it possible to mail me a slice? please? 


have a beautiful week everyone - try a new pasta shape, watch a sunrise and do a spot of spontaneous baking!

Wasalaam!


Spice Enthusiast
© copyrights This Muslim Girl Bakes, All Rights Reserved. Branding & Blog Design by Sadaf F K.