Egg rolls!!!

Although it is a deep fried dish I have a weakness for spring rolls and egg rolls! I think it is fine to eat it occasionally to treat yourself. So this thanksgiving as we were at home all by ourselves, I decided to try making these egg rolls. Very simple recipe and comes out delicious .

You will need:
Egg roll wraps( store bought) / you could use spring roll wraps instead too!
Oil for frying

For the filling:

1 pack extra firm tofu cut into very small cubes
1 cup grated cabbage
1 cup jullian cut carrots
1 tsp pepper powder
1/2 tsp salt
(you could add any finely chopped veggies)

Method:

In a pan stir fry the tofu untild it turns slightly golden brown, then add all the grated veggies along with some pepper and salt and cook well. Keep it aside.


Now take one egg roll wrap and place the filling as in the pic diagonally. Fold the wrap and seal the ends by brushing little water to the edges.

Deep fry this wraps in oil till they turn golden brown all over.
Remove and place then on a tissue to soak excess oil.

Relish the egg rolls along with tomato ketchup or any hot suace!!!!

Pumpkin pie with rasberry toppings!!!

This thanksgiving we were at home relaxing , so I decided to bake a pumpkin pie with the pumpkin I picked from the cardigan farm during Halloween. It was as fresh as it was then , hard and sturdy!! I got the recipe from a friend of mine. The grocery stores were all closed for me to buy the crust mix, so I decided to make my own crust as I had my friend's recipe! So there it was after about an hour and half , the yummy pumpkin pie !! My husband and I ate the whole pie that evening:-)

You will need:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 unsalted butter sticks(chilled)
3/4 cup ice cold water
1 tsp salt
2 cups fresh pumpkin puree( or cannned)
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder



Method:

Make 1/4 inch pieces of the chilled butter sticks and add it to the all purpose flour in a large bowl and mix well. To this add ice cold water and kneed it well adding salt. Cover it with a plastic cover and refregerate it for 20 minutes.

In a large bowl beat 2 eggs and to this add the pumpkin puree ( recipe below), and the remaining spices and brown sugar and mix well.

Preheat the oven to 450F
Take the dough out of the refregerator and on lightly floured surface roll it out into a large disc of 1/2 inch thickness . Place this disc in a pie making dish press the edges along the dish. Into this pour the pumpkin puree mixture. Place it in the oven and bake it at 450F for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350F and bake it for another 45 minutes. Top it with any frah fruits you may have while baking.


Pumpkin pie is ready to relish!!!!

Making fresh pumpkin puree:
Cut out the pumpin into two halfs. Preheat the oven to 425 F and bake the pumpkins for 30 minutes. Then peel the skin out and make the puree using the blender.

Home made pizza !!! from scratch!!!

What better than having a pizza for dinner. Home made pizzas have their own delicacy attached to them because you made them and also that you could top it off with all the ingredients of your chioce. The best part of making my very own pizza is controlling the amount and kind of cheese I use.


You will need:

For the dough:

1.5 cups warm water
1 package of active dry yeast
3.5 cups all purpose flour
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

For the toppings:

Tomato sauce
Chopped red onions
sliced tomoatoes, jalapenos
grated mozzarella, parmesan cheese
sliced black olives.


Method:

In a bowl take the warm water and add the yeast and allow it to sit for 5 minutes until it is dissolved.
Now mix this into a large bowl containing mixture of olive oil, all pupose flour, salt and sugar and kneed the dough well until everything comes together.Coat the dough with little olive oil and cover it with a plastic wrap and allow it to sit for 1.5 hours till it doubles up!
Take this and punch it out to remove the air if any and divide into 2 parts.

Take one ball of dough and flatten it with your hands on a slightly floured work surface. Starting at the center and working outwards, use your fingertips to press the dough to 1/2-inch thick. Turn and stretch the dough until it will not stretch further. Allow it to relax 5 minutes and then continue to stretch it until it reaches the desired size. Use your palm to flatten the edge of the dough where it is thicker.
Brush the surface with olive oil and allow it to rest for another 5 minutes.

For the toppings:

First cover the pizza with any tamato sauce and then cover it with grated cheese. Add the rest of the toppings like chopped onions, black olives, Sliced tomatoes, Sliced jalapenos, chopped green pepper. Sprinkle oregano on top.

Bake the pizza in the oven at 450 F for about 20 minutes.

Home made pizza is ready to be relished!!!

Pumpkin Pound cake!

One october weekend we visited a pumpkin patch where my husband and I picked up two huge pumpkins. There are vary many dishes one could make out of the pumpkins. This halloween I made this yummy pumpkin cake. I found the recipe on one of the websites. It was very easy to make and it turned out delicious.We finished eating it almost all at one time!!!!

You will need:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound freshly cut pumpkin
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried cranberries

Method:
In a large mixing bowl beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, shortening, and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. In a another mixing bowl stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
Puree the pumpkins in a blender without adding water.

Add flour mixture and pumpkin alternately to shortening mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Stir in raisins and the cranberries.

Put the cake mixture into a greased baking pan.Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool it and then sprinkle sugar on top if needed.

Enjoy the pumpkin pound cake!!!!

PS .Making fresh pumpkin puree:
Cut out the pumpin into two halfs. Preheat the oven to 425 F and bake the pumpkins for 30 minutes. Then peel the skin out and make the puree using the blender