Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Choco-Doodles and Habanero-Mango Fried Rice

I am always confident when bookmarking recipes but very reluctant to try when it comes down to it, I keep postponing the moment of actual cooking/baking. It usually happens when the fear of the unknown is a little too much and I happily procrastinate. Last week, the procrastination got to me and I finally decided to dive into the unknown with two simple and delicious sounding recipes.


Nigella Lawson's Choco-Doodles
I was super glad to have tried Nigella's Snickerdoodles recipe with cocoa (Choco-doodles). It is a super versatile little cookie - have them as cookies alongside some nice, piping hot tea or coffee, or crush them into a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Yum squared. Not only are they amazingly delicious with a cake-like texture inside but they are very very easy to make. And super quick...bake them an hour or so before you're expecting company.

After the rush of baking these cookies, I wanted something delicious and yet easy on for dinner with Eric Gower's Habanero-Mango rice recipe. I really wish I could have done more than molded them into a rice tower but well, limited dishes and appliances can do this to a person.

Eric Gower's Habanero-Mango Fried Rice

I can read his cookbook for hours, appreciating the way his recipes keep it simple despite the use of exotic ingredients - maccha salt, pickled Japanese plums - with pictures that could keep me absorbed for hours. I wish I'd done more of his recipes while I had the book, a chicken dish inspired by the flavours of mojito, a clay pot meat dish, amazing wontons, but I have a trip to prepare for and gifts to buy... next week I'm boarding a flight to India for a long vacation. I don't know how often I'll update this blog during that time but am looking forward to sharing photos of old haunts and favourite foods. I'm very very excited although I will miss my flat, my oven, all my baking stuff and the last month of summer!

But I will check my reading list and live vicariously through your recipes and posts! Happy last month of summer!

6 comments:

  1. I am exactly the same way... a procrastinating cook. I have a million recipes pinned in Pinterest and have made maybe three of them. Oh well. I have a friend who challenged herself to make one new recipe a week. I may have to try something like that to get motivated to get out of my comfort zone some.

    And... oh my goodness, you're going to India!!! Have fun! I hope you share some of your travels. :)

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    1. Hi Erica! Thank you and yes, I certainly am looking forward to clicking pics of my favourite foods to share on the blog. Hey, maybe I should do that too @ try a new recipe a week if not two or three...at least I'll get through all the farm produce and baking supplies that way. Let me know if you start it.

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    2. I'll let you know if I start the recipe challenge. Gotta get motivated... lol!

      Can't wait to see all your foodie adventures in India! :)

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  2. i'm glad you're stepping out of your comfort zone & baking! i hope you're keeping this up in India.
    i've never heard of eric gower but the fried rice looks super exotic.

    enjoy your travels!

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    1. Hi Lan! Thank you, I'm very excited. And yes, I do want to continue my cooking/baking in India if only to see whether it is possible in the equipment I have available there. Plus will be adding a lot of foodie photos - old favourites and new delicacies - both in Mumbai (Bombay) and neighbouring cities.

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  3. Oo the mold mango rice looks so divine!

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