EGG-LESS CUPCAKES

Brazil was mercilessly beating Spain's ass in the first half of the Confederations Cup Finals. I was ecstatic and torn at the same time! Valdez on one side and BRAZIL on the other. It was a tough choice to make but I had decided that Brazil needed my support more! Half time was approaching and I just knew without a doubt, that Brazil was gonna win! Something had to be done to celebrate the glorious-ness of it all and it hit me! cupcakes!!! only one problem though, I was out of eggs. With one eye on the TV screen and the other one on google, I discovered the most brilliant recipe!!! I decided to change it a bit and see what I would come up with.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 Cups of Flour

3/4 Cup of Cocoa Powder

1 Cup of Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon of salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon of Vinegar 

1 Cup of cold water

1/2 Cup of Melted Butter

FROSTING:

1/2 Cup of Butter

2 1/2 Cups of Icing Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon of Almond Extract / Vanilla Extract

METHOD:

• Whisk all the ingredients [except the items listed under frosting] together in a bowl.
  
  
  
• Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners and add 1 1/2 to 2 Tablespoons of the dough to each one.

• Bake in the oven till the cakes are done [Around 175° for 10 - 15 minutes.] Let it cool once it's done.

• While the cakes are baking, combine icing sugar, butter and the extract of your choosing to form a smooth frosting for the cupcakes. Make sure to eliminate any lumps that may form. Once the cakes cool down, spread the frosting on top and it's time to really celebrate!!! ;-) 

  

  Egg-less Cupcake with Almond Frosting

TUNA PIE

Too many fish in the sea if you ask me! :-P But Tuna has got to be the best, out of them all! Home alone one night, I decided to experiment! I was not disappointed 'cause I discovered a true "keeper"!!! ;-)

INGREDIENTS:

1 Apple
1 Carrot
1 Small leeks
3 Tomatoes
3 Cloves of Garlic
A Handful of beans
1 Can of Tuna, oil drained
2 Tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil
4 Tablespoons of Breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon of Butter
3 Boiled Potatoes
1/3 Cup of milk
1/2 Cup of Cheese [grated or cut into cubes]
2 Tablespoons of Red pepper flakes
Some dried herbs [coriander, mixed herbs or oregano]
Salt and Pepper to taste


METHOD:

• Add the butter and milk to the potatoes and make some mashed potatoes. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a pot and first add the garlic and let it cook for a bit. It doesn't need to brown.
• Add the leeks next, followed by the rest of the vegetables and the tuna. Add apple last and mix it around.
• Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and the herbs and after mixing it, turn off the stove 'cause it doesnt need to cook much.
• Right after that, add the breadcrumbs and mix well.
• Transfer the mix into a baking dish and spread evenly.
• In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and a pinch of salt and pepper and pour it over the mix in the baking dish.
• Spread the mashed potatoes over the mix and sprinkle the cheese over it followed by some herbs.
• Bake in the oven till the top browns a bit.

Tuna Pie 

APPLE CRUMBLE

So this Ramadan,  I am sorta in charge of desserts at my moms place. I arrived late at her place and dint have much time to prepare something that would require a whole lot of effort! plus the shops were about to close and I dint have time to go shopping. After considering the available ingredients and the little time left, I decided to whip up an apple crumble in the microwave! And crumble it did, in my mouth, in heavenly goodness! :-P

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 Cups of flour
A pinch of salt
3/4 Cup of Butter
1 Cup of sugar

Four Apples peeled and chopped
A drizzle of lime juice
2 1/2 Tablespoons of Cinnamon

OPTIONAL:

Raisins
Cashews or any other nuts
vanilla ice cream

METHOD:

•  Sift the flour into a bowl and add in the pinch of salt. 
•  Add the butter and rub it into the flour so that a crumb like mixture is formed. 
•  Add half of the sugar to it and mix it slightly making sure not to press the dough too much.
•  In a microwavable tray,  mix the apples (and raisins if you're using it) with the rest of the sugar, the cinnamon and add the Lime juice  and mix things up and spread it evenly on the tray. 
•  Microwave it for four minutes.
• Sprinkle the dough on top of the Apple mix and press it down. Finish off by sprinkling the cinnamon (and nuts) and microwave for another 6 to 8 mins and it's done.
•  While it tastes good just as it, It's flavors really shine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream

"BEEF WRAPS"

So the other night,  I was wondering what I would make for dinner! I was feeling very lazy and quite hungry!  After much contemplation,  I decided to see what I could whip up from what was in my fridge!  And minced beef was what I found!!! :-D I love beef EVERYTHING!!! :-D :-D so after some more contemplation,  I decided that it was going to have to be...BEEF WRAPS! ;-)

INGREDIENTS:

BEEF FILLING:

Minced Beef, One big onion, 3 Cloves of Garlic

1/2 Tablespoon of Pepper

1 Tablespoon of Red pepper flakes
1 Tablespoon Dried Coriander leaves / oregano/ mixed herbs
2 Chicken cubes / Beef cubes
1 - 2 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive oil


DRESSING:

2 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise
mixed with 2 cloves of Garlic 

Lettuce, Cucumber and Tomatoes

Tortillas or Chapatis
[homemade or store-bought]

METHOD:

• Let the onions brown a bit, followed by the garlic in heated oil.
• Add the beef, pepper, chicken / beef cubes, red pepper flakes, dried leaves, making sure to cook the meat well.
• Mix in the Parmesan cheese and cook on medium heat for a minute or two and the filling should be ready.

Spread the dressing

Set the lettuce, cucumber and tomato

Add the beef filling and roll it 

A pretty good dinner without having to
bust my ass!!! ;-)

"LONUMIRUS"

"Lonumirus" is best described as a small nuclear explosion in your mouth! Even so, the mention of it makes my mouth water!!! I believe that one of the best things about it is that mothers all over Maldives have their own recipe on how to make it. It's different in each home but tastes equally delicious!! And obviously, my mother makes my favorite lonumirus of all!!! So I made her pass down her recipe to me! ;-)

 INGREDIENTS:

about two handfuls of dried red chili, roasted

2 onions, 1 bulb of garlic, 15 stems' curry leaves, 3 limes

One medium sized coconut, roasted

Two raw mangoes, peeled and cut

1 Tablespoon of ground fennel seeds [Dhiri]

1/2 Tablespoon of whole black pepper or ground black pepper

Water

Salt to taste

METHOD:

• Mix everything together in a food processor. Add a bit of water if the mixture is too dry. Keep mixing it till a thick paste is formed. 

"RIHAAKURU DHIYA"

How do I even begin to describe the effect that "Rihaakuru Dhiya" has on me?!! :-O No words for that! No words I say!! :-P But if I had to eat just one thing for the rest of my life, this would probably be it!! Hehe.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Big Onions, thinly sliced

Juice of 3 limes

6 Stems' Curry leaves [Hikandhi Faiy], thinly sliced

6 Dried red chili, roasted [or folhi koffa]

4 Bilimbi [bilamagu] , cut into thin slices

1 1/2 Cups of Rihaakuru

3 1/2 Cups of coconut cream

1 Big Chili [Githeyo mirus] chopped into small bits

Salt to taste

METHOD:

• The most important thing to remember is to properly wash your hands first!!! 
• Add lemon juice to the onion and mix with your hand. Make sure you really squeeze the juices out of the onions!
• Add the curry leaves and do some more squeezing/mixing.
• Crumble the roasted Chilies into the onion mixture and add the Bilimbi and mix well.
• Add the Rihaakuru and continue mixing , making sure it mixes smoothly with the other ingredients.
• Pour in the coconut cream and mix everything together. 
• Add the chili and mix a bit more and add salt to taste. 

"Rihaakuru Dhiya! MM MMM MMMMM!!!" ;-)

"BAMBUKEYO BAIY"

"Bambukeyo", or breadfruit is one of my favorite ingredients which is used in Maldivian cuisine. Let me just mention that it's a bitch to peel! But its texture, smell, colors, and most importantly, the taste of course makes up for it!!! :-D

INGREDIENTS:

1 Raw Breadfruit, peeled and cut into chunks
1 Coconut, grated
4 Cups of Rice, washed and cleaned properly
15 Cups of Water
Salt to taste

METHOD:

• Fill a pot with half the water and add the breadfruit.
• Cook the breadfruit till its only half cooked.
• Add the rice and the remaining water to the breadfruit and continue cooking.
• Add salt to taste.
• Put in the grated coconut when the water starts boiling.
• Reduce the heat and continue cooking till the rice is done.
• Stir everything around when you're done, making sure you do not mash the breadfruit too much, but if you're into mushy rice, give it a hard stir. 

"Horrible picture alert!!! Yummy taste nonetheless!!! ;-)"