Chilli, Garlic Tofu with Cabbage Slaw
January 30th, 2006
Last Monday I wondered what I could make for dinner with a few random ingredients which remained after a lack of grocery shopping. It was a rather humid and sticky affair by the end of the day and I didn’t feel like coming home to a hot stove to cook a labour intensive meal. I wanted something quick without much effort and hopefully somewhat healthy.
After a tasty frozen raspberry yoghurt I got to work marinating the tofu in a garlic and chilli blend which was mashed about in the mortar and pestle. The chilli were just dried flake variety and the juices of the young garlic made for a nice paste with which to coat the firm tofu.
Next I shredded the half cabbage, and peeled a carrot or two until I had orange ribbons to join the cabbage slaw. I wanted the dressing for the salad-slaw base to be a little creamy and sweet, if only to counter the zing of the garlic and chilli tofu marinating away quietly in the fridge. Out came some mayo, which was joined by a dash of maple syrup followed by a drop of walnut oil. It made for a creamy dressing which the cabbage seemed to soak up quite well. Finally I fried up the tofu in a little sesame seed oil, and once evenly browned added spring onions at the last moment. The heat from the tofu crisped them up ever so lightly.
To plate, it started with a nest of cabbage slaw, followed by the ribbons of carrot, then tofu and topped with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and walnuts. It was spicey, sweet, creamy, crunchy and nutty.
Who would have thought that leftover odds and ends could make for a tasty dinner!
Chocolate Crackle Squares
January 26th, 2006
Oi! Happy Australia Day!
Copha is the binding ingredient in Chocolate Crackles, known also as ’sweet crack cocaine’. Not only because of its addictivness, but also the general buzz one gets from the the formula of vegetable shortening + cocoa + sugar. Chocolate Crackles were a regular feature at kids birthday parties in the mid 80’s. I remember there was a birthday nearly every week when I was growing up, and there were always plates and plates of the stuff served in colourful paper patty pans (alongside sausage rolls, fairy bread and raspberry cordial too boot!)
For an adult version I reduced the amount of sugar, toasted the shredded coconut and used the rationed Valrhona cocoa powder for extra chocolate intensity. I set the chocolate puffed rice mixture in a rectangular baking tray as opposed the traditional patty pans. This way it was like eating big chocolate squares. I was tempted to combine some raspberries and walnuts, however The Boy preferred the original version.
Wrapped up in white tissue paper, these were also a little gift to my cousin Nila who, this evening left Sydney for four years of thrills and adventures in London. A little bit of Australia to travel with her on the long-haul flight. Be safe, be well and mostly have the time of your life! Don’t forget to bat those eyelids around London town ;)
Chocolate Crackle Squares
- 250g of copha (solidifed coconut oil)
- 1 cup of shredded coconut (lightly toasted)
- 4 cups of puffed rice or rice bubbles cereal
- 1 cup of icing sugar
- 4 tablespoon of good quality cocoa
- Extra shredded coconut for topping
Toast the shredded coconut until lightly golden.
Combine the toasted coconut, puffed rice, icing sugar, cocoa powder until all ingredients are mixed well.
(Add other ingredients such as honeycomb, walnuts, almonds, raspberries, cherries or apricot at this stage)
Pour the melted copha into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Pour onto well greased baking tray. Flatten mixture until even. To easily cut into squares after it has set make square shaped markings with a knife. Sprinkle with extra shredded coconut and allow to set in the fridge (1 hour) or freezer (30 minutes).
Cut into bite sized squares and serve with a cup of tea. Enjoy!
Five Food Challenges for 0-6
January 25th, 2006
Ed Charles over at Tomatom has tagged me for a food related meme. So in the spirit of keeping new years resolutions (#8 Get onto things piling the in-tray as soon as they arrive - even food memes) here is my response in no particular order.
The idea of this meme is to list five food related challenges which you hope to achieve by the end of 2006. If you ask me, this isn’t a bad way to go about making 2006 a good (and delicious) year. Who needs to swim 20 laps every morning when you can …
1. Make a croquembouche from scratch.
You know, those pastry sculptures which did multiple rounds at engagement and wedding receptions you attended between 1995 and now. Well minus their over representation I’ve always loved their look and you can never go with choux pastry filled with cream, or non-traditional chocolate-amaretto custard!
So the plan is to make one, from scratch from pastry to filling to sugar glaze, all enough to feed a party of ten.
2. Share kitchen time with my sister, making a 3-course meal to share with the family.
This isn’t so much as a challenge because cooking with my sister is always a pleasure - I learn something new and I get to see my sister in her element. The challenge is scheduling a time to fit into our competing schedules and an impending flight to London. Still I will press on so that we can plan a menu, shop, cook and dish up before she sets up home in Soho.
3. Catch up on my list of foodie films.
Meme’s like this are great for someone like me who is an avid list maker - I get to make lists about doing things which already have a list! For #3 on my food challenges for 0-6 I’d like to catch up on all the films on my ‘To Watch’ list. Some I have never seen, and some I would like to watch again.
- A Touch of Spice
- Au Petit Margeury
- Babettes Feast
- Bella Martha
- Chocolat
- Coffee & Cigarettes
- Dinner Rush
- Eat Drink Man Woman
- Felicia’s Journey
- Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
- Like Water for Chocolate
- My Dinner with Andre
- Tampopo
- Sideways
- What’s Cooking?
4. Less meat more fish and vegetables.
A tangent on the get heathy get fit path I’ve been on over the last few weeks (give or take a few bars of Ritter Sport - a chocolate with the word sport in the title is not lost on me) is to focus more on vegetables and less meat. I figure replacing my iron intake with sea creatures a good alternative. In doing so I have tried made steamed, baked and curried fish, as well as a delicious grilled prawn and green papaya salad.
5. Grow my own herbs.
This is something I’ve wanted to do for many years, and have failed due to lack of planning and attention. I’ve gone as so far as to buy seedlings but have never potted and watered them to full growth. Perhaps starting with a rosemary plant would be the best way seeing as they are sturdy enough to withstand my lack of green thumb. However a healthy basil and coriander plant would be perfect!
Hey Bowb, J, Sam, Sue and Stellou - wanna share your five food challenges for 0-6?
Fridge & Pantry: Guess what’s for dinner?
January 23rd, 2006
Over the weekend, I was a combination of busy (Saturday) and lazy (Sunday) to do any majoy grocery shopping. So tonight for dinner I have only a few things with which to make a healthy and scrummy dinner.
In the fridge I have half a packet of firm tofu, half a cabbage, carrots, coriander, basil, a wedge of parmesan,
In the pantry cupboard there pasta, rice, noodles, eggs, dried herbs and spices, roasted sesame seeds, miso paste, walnut oil and sesame seed oil.
Any ideas for dinner?
Crustless Egg Sandwiches
January 17th, 2006
Short and savoury.
My all time favourite filling for sandwiches served at afternoon tea do’s are the crustless egg variety. Cut into thirds, they are always the most tempting on a platter of ribbon sandwiches. Here I combined the egg-chive-whole egg mayo mixture with some horseradish cream spread thinly on one side of the bread.
With fresh bread, the egg and horseradish make for a creamy and tangy component to a quiet afternoon with tea.
