Sunday 10 June 2012

Things i've cooked lately

Lately I've been really getting into cooking and baking. It's probably due to now having someone to cook for, or at least having someone who's grateful and doesn't necessarily criticized my failed attempts [which would happen back in the UK - the less said about that the better].  Hellocotton and the growing selection of cook and baking books spare me on into cooking some of these little treats;

CURRY CHICKEN NAAN PIZZA
What could be better then combining two of our favourite foods - pizza and curry?! When I saw this recipe coming up on Hellocotton I knew I had to try it although I did adapt it somewhat just using curry paste rather then the tandoori they suggest [merely because that's what we had]. Using my home-made naan bread as the based, piling up the marinated chicken with some tomatoes thrown in, topped off with onions, plenty of cheese and cilantro leaves. Seriously it was so, so good.

SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE

spag bol

This was another goodie found within the Trisha Yearwood's Georgia Cooking from an Oklahoma Kitchen - it's basically home made spag bol with loads of onions, garlic, tomatoes and tomato paste. I love how when you're cooking like this, you know what's going in.

RED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE
Now this recipe came from one of my estate sale finds - the General Food Kitchens All About Home Baking from 1960. It took me a while to decide on which cake to bake but the description of its "distinctive red-chocolate colour and an outstanding flavour" sold it for me and I topped it off with some chocolate frosting. This cake is delicious if I say so myself so I thought it was more then worthy of being shared!

  • 1½ cups of sifted cake flour [I used all purpose flour]
  • ¾ teaspoon of salt
  • ¾ teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1¼ cup of granulated sugar
  • ½ cup of shortening (at room temp)
  • 2/3 cup of water
  • 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate melted
  • 2 unbeaten eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

In one bowl combine the flour, salt, soda and sugar stirring in the shortening. Add the water and mix just until all the flour is dampened. Using an electric mixer beat for two minutes on a low speed. Add in the melted chocolate, the unbeaten eggs and vanilla and beat for an additional minute. Using a lined baking tin [9x9x2] place in a moderately heated oven [350°F] and bake for 40 - 45 minutes.

For the easy chocolate frosting;

  • 3 - 4 squares of unsweetened chocolate
  • 1½ tablespoons of butter or margarine
  • 2 cups of confectioners [icing] sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of milk
  • ½ teaspoon of vanilla

Over a pan of boiling water melt the chocolate and butter. In a separate bowl combine the sugar, milk and vanilla adding in the melted chocolate and butter mixture and mix well. Spread over cake.

What have you been baking/cooking lately?

34 comments:

  1. omg the chicken curry pizza sounds amazing, i love curry and pizza so can't really go wrong there!

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    1. Seriously tastes as good as it looks! Defiantly a hit.

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  2. The Red Devil's Food Cake looks completely delicious - there's something I could happily munch a slice of with a good cuppa nearby! :-)

    Jem xXx

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    1. It's one of those cakes were it's hard just to have one slice!

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  3. The pizza looks lush! That's such a creative recipe :)

    Love, Elizabeth xx

    http://butterflyboo.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. Mmm, they all look super yummy!!

    Sadie xx

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  5. That pizza looks delicious - will definitely be giving that a go! This post has made me pretty hungry! xx

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    1. Looking at them again is making me want to rebake and cook them all too!

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  6. They all look yummy!

    Do you find it difficult with American names for things? When we watch Food Network I have to Google everything!

    C
    xxx

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    1. Yeah i'm totally becoming bilingual with everything! Eggplants and zucchinis to even just how they pronounce things. Keeps it entertaining I guess lol

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  7. That pizza looks incredible! x

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  8. I so need to make that cake - it looks amazing and I like how you weren't shy with the portions either :)

    Gems x

    Fashion, Well Done

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    1. Yeah i like food too much to be skinny or skimp on portions!

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  9. Oh my god I love posts like this... total food orgasm lol :)
    Great post :) now following
    Love
    gabriellasofia
    http://hautefuture.blogspot.co.uk/
    x

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  10. i'm actually putting up a post this week of some of the cooking i've been doing!
    i LOVE the look of the tikka pizza - im going to have to try that!
    great post :D
    Rosie xo
    A Pocketful of Rosie

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    1. Can't wait to see what you've been cooking - I always get so much inspiration from what other people's been cooking/baking!

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  11. I love cooking, but how do you make naan? X

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    1. I forgot to link in my recipe oops!

      http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.com/2012/03/homemade-naan-bread.html

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  12. Oh you meanie! It's midnight and I am now starving after seeing these pics!xo

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    1. Hehe - every time I see that curry pizza I just want to break into the kitchen and make it every time!

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  13. Now I am hungry :) Happy belated six months of marriage, yay!

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  14. Posts like this really make me wish I could cook! Or.. lived near you so I could be your guinea pig! Everything looks so delicious babe! xx

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    1. You would be more then welcome in coming over, Joe our friend are my little testers!

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  15. Oh it all looks so yummy! My sister and I try to make at least one new recipe a week! We will definitely have to consider these.

    I hope you had a great weekend.

    Sunny Days and Starry Nights

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    1. Yeah i'm certainly going to try and push myself into trying new things more - they taste far far better then anything we've come across in a store!

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  16. omg, curry naan pizza. WHY DID I NEVER THINK OF THIS?!?! I am actually salivating.

    Penny Dreadful Vintage

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    1. I know right?! I was the same - two of the best things put together and it makes something immense!

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  17. Ahhh these are making me hungry!!!! Want want want! I always finds loads of really nice recipes but then never make them, definitely going to start a recipe book over summer I think since I need to be more creative (:

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  18. Yumm! Looks like you are quite the chef. That is awesome that you are trying out new recipes. I really need to take more time to cook. That cake looks delish :]

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  19. OH EM GEE... I WANT that naan pizza. It looks and sounds AMAZING.

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  20. It all looks so yum! Making me hungry again! :P

    http://lucyywrites01.blogspot.com
    Lucy xx

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