Year: 2010

Basil – Interesting Facts

basil facts

The first interesting fact about basil is that I’ve bought myself one.

Sorry!

But yes, buying a fresh potted basil was a gorgeous thing for me.

It is wonderful to look at, it smells divine, it requires very little care (just water, basically).

And, as I’ve also noticed, you can hardly run out of it even if you’re using the leaves in your kitchen quite often.

 
 
basil facts

Wonderful, gorgeous basil.

I love how the leaves look – all silky and shiny.

They smell strong and sweet.
 
 

basil facts

  • The name ‘basil’ is derived from the old Greek word basilikohn, which means ‘royal’, reflecting that ancient culture’s attitudes held towards this herb were very noble and sacred.
  • There are various kinds of  basil. The various basils have different scents because the herb has a number of different essential oils which come together in different proportions for various breeds. Cool, huh? The most common basil scents are lemon, clove, camphor and licorice.
  • Basil  is very sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions. It thrives in strong sunlight. It behaves as an annual if there is any chance of a frost. Keep that in mind if you keep your plant outside!
  • If you wish to propagate your plant, it can be done in two ways – from seed or from cuttings (with the stems of short cuttings suspended for two weeks or so in water until roots develop).
  • Yellow leaves towards the bottom of the plant are an indication that the plant has been stressed. Usually this means that it needs less water, or less or more fertilizer.
  • Don’t be afraid to pick the leaves. Picking the leaves off the plant helps promote growth, largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.
  • Scientific studies have established that compounds in basil oil have potent antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
  • Basil leaves are best used fresh and added only during the last few minutes of cooking.

 

I’ve used basil in some lovely, lovely recipes on this site:

basil facts

As in this delicious Parmesan Chicken.
 
 

basil facts

Or in this yummy Potato and Celery Soup.
 
 

basil facts

Oh, and in this Farfalle with Tomato and Cheese Sauce, too.

Yum!
 
 
basil facts

One morning I woke up and saw this on my plant!

I had never seen basil flowers before in my life so this view really got me.

Yes, I easily become overwhelmed by things like my plant’s first bloom.

It’s good to know that once your stem produces flowers, foliage production stops on that stem, the stem becomes woody, and essential oil production declines. To prevent this, you may pinch off any flower stems before they are fully mature. Because only the blooming stem is so affected, some stems can be pinched for leaf production, while others are left to bloom for decoration or seeds.

 
I just love basil!

It’s a miraculous plant with so much to offer.

And what about you? Do you already have a pot with fresh basil on your windowsill?
 

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Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Bars

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

Are you one of those people who, like me, had thought that cheesecake and chocolate are not possible together?

Well, then I have something to tell you.

Something very important.

Something enlightening!

Dear friends, cheesecake and chocolate ARE possible to exist together.

SO possible.

Beyond possible!

Finger-licking possible!

Let me show you…

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

These are our lovely ingredients.
chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

1. First, place the first three ingredients in the bowl of your electric mixer…

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

2. …and beat them at medium-low speed until combined.

Then increase the speed to medium, and beat until well blended and crumbly.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

3. Pat the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch (33 x 22 cm) pan.

A good trick is to use the bottom part of a measuring cup or a glass to do that.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

4. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and bake for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

This is a lovely, delicious and easy substitute for crushed wafers that are often used in cheesecake recipes.

Cool, huh?

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, cheesecake filling

5. Now, let’s make the cheesecake filling.

Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer and beat at medium speed until creamy.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, add the eggs

6. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.

7. Finally, add the sour cream, vanilla, and one cup of the chocolate chunks.

Beat just until blended.

Of course, you can use chocolate chips instead of the chunks.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked crust

8. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked crust.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, using a spoon or an offset spatula, even out the surface

9. And using a spoon or an offset spatula, even out the surface.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, bake

10. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for about 25 minutes or until set.

 

11. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, melt the rest of your chocolate chunks

12. Then melt the rest of your chocolate chunks.

Microwave oven will work just fine.

(Oh, and use microwave friendly dishes, please. The one in the picture hadn’t gone to the microwave oven. If it had, things would have gotten sparkly… I guess. Don’t ask me how I know. Please.)

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, stir the melted chocolate until smooth, then drizzle the chocolate over the cheesecake

13. Stir the melted chocolate until smooth. Then drizzle the chocolate over the cheesecake.

 

14. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Then cut into bars.

Also, I’ve found out that it’s fine to reheat the bars in the microwave oven for a little while before serving. That way the chocolate will melt slightly making the whole eating experience even more divine.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

Enjoy, dear friends.

 

(This lovely recipe was adapted from here. The recipe makes about 14 3×1.5-inch (8 x 4 cm) bars. The recipe takes about 1 hour to prepare and about 4 hours to chill. And the whole thing takes about 10 minutes to eat. Funny but true.)

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Crispy Chicken Breasts

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

Here’s another quick and simple recipe idea for you.

It’s chicken breasts. Because I love chicken breasts. That’s the best kind of meat for me.

These are coated in delicious mixture of bread crumbs, ground nuts, Parmesan cheese and parsley. They are then fried to irresistible perfection.

Now I invite you to my kitchen to have a look at how I actually prepared them…
crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

But before that, these are the ingredients.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

1. First, place the breasts between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap.

Then using a meat mallet or a rolling-pin (or anything that could do the job), pound the chicken breasts so that they’re evenly thin. They will spread out to at least 2 or 3 times their size as they flatten.
2. Slice each breast in half after flattening. That way you’ll achieve 4 nice portions.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

3. Now salt the cutlets on both sides generously.

This is the only time we are using salt while preparing this recipe, so there’s no need to hold back.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

4. Now, let the dredging begin. First, dredge a piece in flour.
crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

5. Then dip it in lightly beaten eggs.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

6. And finally cover your cutlet with a mixture of bread crumbs, ground nuts, Parmesan and chopped parsley.

I’ve used ground peanuts this time. But feel free to use any nuts you like and have on hand.

 

7. Set aside on a large platter (don’t overlap the pieces) and repeat with remaining chicken.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

8. Pour the vegetable oil into a large skillet or pan and place over medium heat until a pinch of breading sizzles immediately when you drop it in the pan.
9. Place one breaded chicken cutlet into the hot oil and cook for about 4 minutes per side, turning once.
crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

Both sides should be golden brown and crisp, and the chicken should be cooked through.

crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

10. Now, this is optional but your chicken can be served over a nice layer of warm tomato sauce.

If you are into warm tomato sauce.
crispy chicken breasts recipe, breaded chicken breasts recipe

I’ve served this delicacy with very simple cooked potatoes.

But I can also imagine it paired with nice mashed potatoes or even fries.

 

Enjoy, dear friends!

This is definitely yummy!

 

(This recipe makes 4 portions and takes about 30 minutes to prepare.)

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Purée of Carrot Soup with Curry and Ginger

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

There are a lot of things that I love about this soup.

First of all, its vibrant color. Just mere looking at it gives me energy.

Then there are the layers of taste – from the soothing and sweet taste of carrots to the funky ones of ginger and curry. They make this soup a true pleasure to eat.

And on top of that all, this soup is in fact a remedy. The carrots have a very high beta-carotene content. They are alkaline, clean acidic blood, and are considered an anti-cancer food. Onions and leek are healing for the lungs.

All-in-all, this lovely soup might come in handy after all the feasting that we’ll be enjoying soon.

 

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

Here’s the list of ingredients.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

1. First, we need the carrots.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

Dice ’em.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

2. Then grab the onion (if you are a rebel you can use a shallot) and the leek and chop them.

 

3. Dice the potato.
puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

4. Heat the olive oil over medium heat.

 

5. Throw in the onions, leek and the potato. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

6. Then add the ginger, curry, garlic, chopped parsley and bay leaf.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

7. And cook for about two minutes.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

8. Add the carrots and the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for 30 minutes, until carrots are very tender.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

9. Remove the soup from heat and discard the bay leaf (don’t be like me, please).
10. Puree the soup with a vertical blender until creamy.
11. Then taste and add more salt if needed.

puree of carrot soup with curry and ginger recipe with pictures, cream of carrot soup recipe with pictures

Yum!

This soup is amazing.

Enjoy it, dear friends!

 

(This recipe was adapted from here. The recipe makes about 6 portions and takes about 1 hour to prepare.)

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