Saturday, February 15, 2014

Moist Carrot Cake Recipe

Like I said earlier with a cake expert in-house in my big sister I normally never bake cakes. But then with the sweet success I enjoyed when I tried out the little cupcakes and the miniature bar cakes I have decided to get a bit adventurous. Do something perhaps that big sis hasn't tried in cake making. We had gone to my other sister's place a couple of weeks back; she was celebrating her birthday over lunch. An ex-student of hers came over with her fiance and a carrot cake that he had baked at his bakery. (Who says teaching doesn't pay??!! ;) Ha Ha! Just kidding!) She served the carrot cake but I wanted to savour it so I packed my bit and brought it home. I loved that carrot cake and so the hunt for the perfect carrot cake recipe began. It  had to be a moist carrot cake recipe but then my first attempt did pay off with big dividends. It was simply delicious, at least everyone said so. I took some to office and they just polished it off. I had told them it was an experiment but they just hushed me and said it was great. I was in seventh heaven! My mom had three bits and our cake expert couldn't keep her hands off it so I messaged my niece to come get the last piece before it vanished. Luckily she came in time! Now I already have an order for a carrot cake for next week!
How to make a moist carrot cake
Ingredients:
175gms sugar
175ml oil (I used sunflower)
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
140gms grated carrots (3 medium-sized)
100gms raisins
grated zest of 2 oranges
175gms all-purpose flour
1.5 tspn baking powder
1 tspn bicarbonate of soda
½ tspn grated nutmeg (preferably freshly grated)
1 tspn ground cinnamon
Ingredients to make a moist carrot cake
Method:
  • Preheat the oven to 160C. Oil and line a 9” cake tin or any suitable tin you might have.
  • Put the sugar into a large mixing bowl, add the oil and the lightly beaten eggs.
  • Lightly mix with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in the grated carrots, raisins and orange rind.
  • Mix the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and spices and add to the mixture in the bowl.
  • Lightly mix all the ingredients till it is all incorporated. The mixture will be quite soft and nearly runny.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40- 45 minutes, till it feels firm and springy when you press it in the middle.
  • Cool in the tin for 5 minutes or so, then turn it out and cool on a wire rack. 


Meat Loaf Recipe

This easy meat loaf recipe is one that I got from a friend while at my second job. She got it from her neighbour. Sunita, thanks for this great recipe. Whenever I make this meat loaf, I think of you! You can serve this meat loaf with some salad if you wish but then most often I end up making meat loaf sandwiches so it works as a good sandwich spread. Meat loaf sandwiches with mayonnaise are pretty popular around here. Good to pack for school tiffin and makes a filling snack after playtime.
Meat Loaf Recipe
Ingredients:

½ kg beef mince
200 gms bacon mince
2.5 tspns salt
1.5 tspns pepper powder
2 eggs
2 slices bread soaked in water and squeezed out 
Corriander leaves, chopped (optional)
Ingredients for meat loaf
Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients together and put in a loaf tin or other suitable vessel.



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Goan Chicken Xacuti Recipe

The Goan Chicken Xacuti is very popular and a lot of people want to know how to make the chicken xacuti. So I am providing herein the recipe for chicken xacuti. I have recently shared with you the Goan xacuti masala recipe; like I said earlier this is not a spicy recipe and so can be included in regular everyday Goan meals.
Chicken xacuti Goan recipe
Ingredients:
1 chicken, cut into medium or small pieces as per your taste
2-3 tspns ginger-garlic paste
salt to taste
2 onions, cut fine
2 tomatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
Curry leaves
2-3 tbspns oil
Xacuti masala
Coconut juice (optional)
Corriander leaves, chopped (optional)


Method:
  • Apply salt and ginger-garlic paste to the chicken and keep aside.
  • In a vessel or pressure cooker, fry the onion in oil and add the chicken with a tbspn or two of water.
  • Cook until done. I cook in the pressure cooker for 5 mins. or less on simmer after the first whistle.
  • Put the xacuti masala in a heavy pan and add some water depending on how thick or thin you want your chicken xacuti to be. You may also substitute the water with coconut juice.
  • Bring to boil and add the curry leaves, tomatoes and potatoes.
  • When the potatoes are cooked, add the cooked chicken.
  • Bring to boil and turn off the flame. 
  • Garnish with corriander leaves.
  • Serve hot with rice, pulao, chappatis or bread.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Recheiado Mackerel Fish

 The recheiado fish is a very popular item on the Goan menu and many a Goan have it for their lunch almost everyday.
How to make Goan recheiado mackerel
Ingredients:
Mackerels
Goan Recheiado Masala
Salt to taste
Semolina for coating
Oil for frying

Method:
  • Slit the mackerels on the dorsal side and lift the bone up using a knife.
  • You can discard the bone or leave it as is.
  • Apply the recheiado masala to the mackerel as shown in the picture and under the bone too if you leave it in.

  • Close the mackerel.


  • Turn and fry on the other side.
  • Drain on kitchen paper and serve.
We strive to bring you the best of Goan recipes handed down from our mothers and grandmothers whether it is Goan sweets recipes, Goan dessert recipes, the famous Goan xacuti recipe, the vindaloo recipe, the sorpotel recipe and so much more... Enjoy making the best of Goan dishes to tickle your palate and there are so many other favourite recipes you can use as well. So happy cooking and... bon appetit!!