Let's cook. And eat.

This one was easy last minute dish and when Master S saw it he remarked - I have not even tasted it and I already like it 😊 https://www.katiebirdbakes.com/heirloom-tomato-tart-burrata/ Followed the recipe as is and used the black truffle cashew from TJs. Oh so good! 

Have been wanting to try these 2 dishes for a while now - teff flour has been sitting in the pantry for a couple of months. Eventually I decided to use some easy workarounds rather than ferment the dough for multiple days.  Here are the recipes used:  https://ministryofcurry.com/doro-wat-chicken-stew/ I also used the same site’s recipe for preparing the berbere spice.  https://ministryofcurry.com/berbere-spice-blend/ The stew was a little too spicy for me. Next time I will use less of the spice, but Mr S was fine with it.  For the injera -  https://thegourmetgourmand.com/injera-from-sourdough-starter/?unapproved=17399&moderation-hash=0e470cac473f001657a0c3018351d7af#comment-17399 I did not have barley flour. So I used cake flour ( 1 cup all purpose flour - 2 tbsp all purpose flour + 2 tbsp corn starch). 

This V day Mr. S was missing in action. But to keep things upbeat, Master S and I tried to make things special. We made these chocolate dipped strawberries and stuffed peppers.  There wasn’t much to the peppers - Ms Julie shared the recipe. Her recipe called for cream cheese, but we used some hung curd mixed with honey goat cheese. Mix, stuff and top with “everything but the bagel sesame” spice.  Crunchy and oh so good. 

This recipe is a keeper. Master S was happy I made it and repeatedly thankful- it made my day. Unfortunately we devoured it so quickly that there is no picture to share.  https://www.recipetineats.com/garlic-chicken-thighs-recipe/

A few years back when we were visiting NYC, Mr. S’s cousin insisted we visit the Levain bakery. A hole in a wall kind of place, with a long line outside, I waited patiently to get my hands on the delicious gooey amazingness called their chocolate chip walnut cookies. It was worth the wait for sure.  Many years later, back at home, I went looking for a copy cat recipe online. And I found this. It works and what comes out at the end is plain deliciousness.  https://www.modernhoney.com/levain-bakery-chocolate-chip-crush-cookies/

Had been wanting to try this one for a long long time. Finally came together for Xmas. Sticky toffee pudding is a traditional English dessert - a steamed date cake.  Mr. S did all the chopping of dates. Which really was the hardest part. Other than that, these are super easy to make.  Followed this particular recipe.  https://homemadeandyummy.com/sticky-toffee-pudding-pressure-cooker/ Added some cinnamon and clove powders to add some warm flavors.  Can also be steamed in Instant Pot on Steam setting for 20 minutes. 

On a whim, we picked up some fish from Wholefoods (read expensive). And were on the lookout for a good recipe to do justice to the fish.  Called up lady A. And sure enough she had something up her sleeve just for the occasion.  Pat dry the fish nicely. Sprinkle with salt and pepper nicely. Then add it to a hot cast iron pan with some butter and olive oil. Let it sear undisturbed for a few minutes. Flip over 3-4 times at intervals of 3-4 minutes each till the fish is done - it’s flaky and tender. Remove to a plate.  In the same pan, add some butter , garlic and Italian herbs. Sauté for a few. Then in goes some lemon juice and salt and black pepper. Let the sauce reduce. A spoonful of capers rounds it off. Pour the sauce over the fish. Ta da. It’s done. And you can thank me later for penning down this recipe from lady A.