The culinary corner

Chocolate Mousse (Simple Desserts) Ingredients 250g Cooking Chocolate (Sorry a mistake in video as 125g) A pinch of cream of tartar 2 Tblsp Sugar 2 Eggs 3 Tblsp Cream Method Add chocolate and cream in to a bowl and leave on a pot of simmering water to melt. Mix egg whites with a pinch of cream of tartar. When the bubbles start forming rain the sugar. Beat that to the soft peak. take the chocolate out and add the egg yolks one by one. Mix well and leave to cool down. After add the chocolate in to the egg whites and then start folding. Put that in to a piping bag and put directly in to the serving dishes. Chill overnight or several hours. Serve with whipped cream and ice cream.

Chicken & Vegetable Stew(Quick & Easy Meals) Ingredients 4 Chicken Breasts 1 Leek Sliced Some Green Beans 1 can Chick peas 1 Can Tomato 1 Large Onion Fresh Tomato (optional) Some Carrots 1 Stock Cube 1/4 cup White wine (Optional) Chilli Flakes Pepper Salt 1 large potato Garlic Olive oil Method Add oil in to a pan & add chicken and seal the chicken. Next add onion, garlic, salt,pepper & Chillies. Next add tomato carrot, , stock cube wine  cook several min. Next add leeks & chickpeas with beans. Cook several min and  switch off the stove. Serve hot.

Chocolate & Hazelnut Truffles (Quick & Easy Sweets) Ingredients For the Base 90g Butter 90g Caster Sugar 90g Plain Flour 11/2 Tblsp Cocoa Powder For the Filling 250g Chocolate Melts 1/2 Cup Cream 2 Tblsp brandy 100g Roasted Hazelnuts / Cashew or Blanched Almonds Method Mix all the ingredients for the Base and spread it on a tray (4x8 inch) Bake 180c about 20 min. Leave to cool. Melt cream and chocolate leave to cool slightly and add brandy, Crush the nuts and put in to the chocolate mix. Mix and spread on the base. Leave to cool in the fridge several hours or over night. Cut in to tiny squares and serve.

Prawn & Vegetable Couscous (Quick & Easy Meals) Ingredients 250g Prawns 1/2 Cup green olives 1 Cup frozen peas 1 Capsicum diced 1Tblsp coriander and cumin powder 1 Tsp Chilli flakes 1/2 tsp Pepper Salt 1 Onion Crushed garlic 1 Tblsp Vinegar Couscous Boiling water Method To Every cup of water add a cup of couscous. Cover and stir after a minute. Add oil or margarine add prawns, Garlic and vinegar Cook several min. Next add spices, mix and switch off. In another pan cook onions and capsicum. Add peas, salt and add olives. Add prawns and add couscous  and cook another min. Serve hot.

Curried Potato Buns (Simple Baking) Ingredients 510g Bread flour 8g Instant dry yeast 1 Egg 25g Sugar 60g Butter 200-300ml Water 1/2 Tsp Salt For the filling 500g Boiled diced Potatoes Curry Leaves Green Chillies Onions Salt & Pepper 1 Cup Green peas 1 tsp Curry powder 1 Tsp Chilli powder Pinch of Turmeric Powder 1-2 Tblsp Cream or coconut milk Method Add yeast, Sugar and half of the warm water to a mixing bowl. Leave to prove. Add flour, Salt & Egg to the mixing bowl and mix well & keep on kneading 15 min. While kneading add water little by little until it makes a smooth dough. Next Grease a bowl and leave to prove in a warm place. Add oil in to a pan and fry onions, chilli curry leaves salt & pepper. Next add spices and the potatoes and cream and cook several min . Leave to cool down. Sprinkle flour on to the bench top and put the dough and cut in to 12 portions. Roll the dough to a triangular shape (Watch Video) Next add...

Leek & Mackerel English Muffins Ingredients English Muffins 5 Eggs 1 Can Mackerel 1 Leek finely sliced 1 green chilli Salt & pepper 1 Stock cube 1/2 cup cheese 1/2 Cup plain flour 2-3 Tblsp Cream Method Add All the ingredients except flour in to a mixing bowl. Mix well. Add flour little by little and mix well too. Top the muffins. If you like to add more cheese add some on top. Bake 180 about 20-30 min.

Breudher is a Dutch influenced buttery cake. This is was very popular when I was a kid. It was available during christmas and new year season. But it faded away and was not available in shops after. But I have my childhood memories which takes me almost 30-35 years back. I loved the taste and the texture of that cake. This cake gives the same taste and texture and I am still loving it. Try this recipe for christmas or new year and let me know the results. :) Breudher (Dutch Influenced Sri Lankan Buttery yeast Cake) Ingredients yeast Dough 2 Cups Flour 2/3 cup of Warm Milk 8g yeast 1 Tsp Sugar Salt To Mix Later 2 Eggs 110g Sugar ( Add more sugar if like more sweeter) 110g Butter 1/2 cup of Sultana or mixed fruit Method Add half of the warm milk, yeast & sugar in to a mixing bowl. Leave 5 min. Add flour,& salt and start kneading adding milk little by little.Keep on kneading about 10-15 min. After put that in to a greased bowl and leave u...

Honey Mustard, brown Sugar, Maple Syrup Glazed Leg Ham Ingredients 1 Quality smoked leg ham 1 cup brown sugar 2 Tblsp honey 2-3 Tblsp Maple syrup 2 -3 Tblsp mustard Method Take the ham out from packaging and remove the outer skin as shown in the video. Next cut diamond shapes with out cutting deeper Stud cloves if you like. Next Bake 170 about 11/2 hours. Brush the ham every 10 min with the prepared glaze Serve hot or cold.

I got this recipe from a very good friend of mine. Every time I go there I like to have her pickled pork. Its really yummy. Leaving to mature the flavours make it a wonderful dish to accompany  rice or  with a glass of beer. :) Sri Lankan Style pickled Pork Ingredients Boiled and Sliced Pork Mustard Sauce (Available in Sri Lankan Shops) Asian Shallots or onion Several cloves of Garlic Several green chillies sliced (Optional) Vinegar 1 -2 Tblsp oil Method Boil the pork in Salt & Vinegar about 1-1.30 hours or until it is soft. ( Add 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 tblsp salt to the water) Take the pork out and leave to rest 1/2 an hour. Then slice in to very thin pieces. Lay the pork on a platter with out overlapping each other. Fry onion and garlic and add the mustard sauce. Pour the hot sauce over the meat and leave to cool. After leave in fridge at least overnight to mature before serving. (Can keep in fridge up to a week)

These brownies are very dark as I have used dark cocoa powder & there is a bit bitterness.. If you like a bit lighter and sweeter add 100g cocoa instead of 150g. Or can use light cocoa powder for a sweeter taste.   Chocolate Fudge Brownies Ingredients 300g butter 500g Sugar 150g Cocoa Powder (Add less if you don't like too dark) 1/2 tsp Salt 4 Eggs 1 Tsp vanilla 170g  Cup Plain Flour Method Add butter, Sugar, Cocoa powder to a large bowl. Leave on simmering water  and mix every 2 min. Prepare the tray as described in the video. In to the melted butter mix add flour, eggs , Salt & vanilla. Mix well. Pour the mix on the tray. Bake 150 about 30 min. Leave to cool before cutting.

I have already uploaded a video before and I thought of sharing a better recipe with you all. This is  a very soft and moist bun that you can bake the next day or even you can keep several days in fridge after baking too. Simply heat before you eat. :) Sri Lankan Fish Buns ( Maalu Paan) (Updated Recipe) Ingredients For the dough 500g Bread Flour 300ml Warm Water 3 Eggs (1 for brushing the tops) 8g Yeast 60g Butter or Margarine 25g  Sugar For the Filling 1 Can Mackerel/tuna Onion finely chopped Several cloves of garlic chopped 250g mashed potatoes Curry leaves finely chopped Pepper Chilli powder Curry powder Salt Margarine or any oil Green chillies Turmeric Powder Method Add half of the warm water in to the mixing bowl and add sugar and yeast and leave to activate 5 min. Next add flour egg, salt and start kneading adding the rest of the water little by little to make a smooth dough about 5 min. Next add butter and continue kneading 10 more...

Peppermint Candies Ingredients 125g Icing Sugar 55g Cream Cheese Drop of peppermint extract Food colouring Method Add icing sugar, peppermint extract and cream cheese in to a mixing bowl. Mix until it becomes a smooth dough adding more icing sugar if necessary. Divide and add colours. Roll on the bench and cut desired shapes or roll and press with a fork, Leave to air dry. Wrap in cellophane to give away or use air tight jars to store.

Layered Jelly Squares Ingredients 2 different flavours of jelly 1 can condensed milk 2 tsp gelatine powder Method Add 1 cup boiling water and dissolve gelatine and next add condensed milk. Dissolve other jellies in other jugs separately. Do each jug to 500ml. So add 1 cup in to the bottom of a greased tray and leave in fridge to set. After repeat layers with different flavours. Leave in fridge over night to set. Cut in to squares or bars or even to shapes and serve with cream and ice-cream.

Chicken & Vegetable Fried Rice Ingredients 21/2 chicken breast 1 leek sliced 1 stock cube 1 grated carrot 3 Eggs 4 Cups Cooked rice 1/4 cup corn Salt & pepper 1-2 Sliced Shallots or Onions Garlic Ginger Chinese cooking wine Soy Sauce Method Add oil in to a pan and add chicken and brown it. Add Salt, pepper and the stock cube.. Cook well. Add shallots, Gallic, and ginger and cook 2 more min. Add corn and carrot, Chinese cooking wine and cook 3 min. Next add the eggs and add the eggs to the middle and cook several min before stirring. After add the leeks and cook 30 seconds. Add rice and add soy sauce on to the rice. Cook 1 min. Serve hot

No Bake Cashew Nut Fudge Ingredients 250g Roasted cashew nuts 250g Marie Biscuits 1 can (397g) condensed Milk 2 Tblsp Sugar Method Grind cashews in a food processor and add biscuits.  Next add sugar and condensed milk. Process until separate from the wall of the food processor. Next line a tray with plastic wrapping. Put the mix and press. Leave several hours to rest or overnight. Cut in to squares.

Home Made Milk Bread Rolls (Soft & Moist) Ingredients 510g Bread flour 30g  Sugar 210 ml Warm Milk 140 ml Thickened or Whipping cream 20g butter 10 g yeast Salt Method Add warm milk, sugar & yeast in to the mixing bowl and leave to activate. When the yeast start activating add flour, salt, egg and start kneading about 2 min. While kneading add cream and butter. Keep on kneading about 15 min. Leave the dough in a greased bowl in a warm place until double in size. Take the dough and put flour on to the bench . Punch the dough. Always flour your hans rolling pin and the bench as this dough is a bit sticky. Cut the dough in to equal size portions. Next make balls and roll to a rectangular shape. After roll to a log. Place in baking trays or loaf pans. Leave in the tray until doubles. Brush the tops with eggs or milk and bake on 180 about 20 -30 min or until when taps gives a hollow sound.

Christmas Wreath Cookies ingredients 125g Butter 1/2tsp Vanilla 1/3 cup of icing sugar 1/4 cup Custard Powder 3/4 cup plain flour For the icing 1tblsp lemon juice 1/2 cup icing sugar Sprinkles to decorate Method Cream butter with icing sugar. Add vanilla and continue mixing. Next add flour and custard powder. And mix several min. Put the mix in to piping bag and pipe circles as shown in video. Bake 160c about 10-15 min. Next leave them cool and make the icing. Pipe the icing sugar and sprinkle the 100s and 1000s.

Spicy Chicken Curry Ingredients 600g Chopped chicken thighs with the bone 4 tomatoes Several shallots or one Onion Several cloves of garlic 1 Inch ginger 2 green chillies 1 tblsp chilli powder 11/2 tsp Curry powder Pinch of turmeric powder Cardamon cinnamon Pandan leaves Curry leaves Cloves 1 Cup coconut milk. Method Add oil in to a pan and fry pandan leaves, cinnamon, cardamon and cloves. Mean while grind the rest of the spices. Add the spice mix in to the oil too After add the powdered spices. Next add chicken and cook several min. Add coconut milk and cook on simmer about 40 min or until the chicken comes off from the bone.

Vegetable Pasta Bake (Quick & Easy Meals) Ingredients 300g Boiled Pasta 1 Cup Cheese 1/2 carrots 1/2 cup Beans 4 Eggs 11/2 cups leeks 1 cup capsicum Salt & Pepper Method Cook Onion & garlic Then add the other vegetables and cook until just tender, Take out and leave to cool down. Next add pasta in to a bowl and then add veggies and the eggs. Mix well. Put that in to a tray and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 20-30 min. Leave 5-10 min to rest. Cut the pasta as you wish.

Peanut Butter Bread Rolls Ingredients 225g Bread flour 35g plain flour 4 g Yeast 1 Egg 20g Sugar 120 ml Water or milk 20g  Butter Peanut butter Method Add flour, yeast, sugar, plain flour, Salt & egg And mix well. Add Water little by little & knead until it becomes a smooth dough. Leave in a warm place to double in size. After punch it down on a floured bench top and cut it in to equal size portions. Next roll one to a rectangular shape and put a spoon full peanut butter in to the middle. Fold in to half (Watch Video) Cut the unopened side as shown in the video. Twist and put them in patty pans and leave to double in size again. After brush the tops with eggs and bake on 180c about 15-20 min.

Rolled Omelette with Vegetables Ingredients 8 Eggs 1/2 cup Cream 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup Roasted capsicum finely diced. Salt & pepper 1 Cup of cheese 1/4 cup plain flour 1 cup spinach Method Beat the eggs , milk & cream, salt & pepper and mix well. Next add flour and mix well. Spray a tray and pour the mix in to the dish. Bake 5 min. Then take out and sprinkle the vegetable. Bake another 5 min and take out and sprinkle the cheese. Bake another 2-3 min. Roll  the omelette and cut according to the size you wish. Serve hot

Ice cream Cake Ingredients 2 or 3 different flavours of ice cream 1 Packet Marie biscuits Method Leave the ice cream out or in fridge until it becomes soft Crush the biscuits to a spring form tray Add a layer of ice cream and leave in fridge to set. Next add another layer of ice-cream. Continue to the top layer.  Put in the freezer 4-5 hours. Decorate as you wish.

Christmas Pudding Ingredients 90 g Raisins 210g Sultana 75g mixed peel 50g Cherries 150g Figs 3 Eggs 100g Self Raising flower 100g fresh bread crumbs 40g Almond meal 1/3 cup Brandy 150g brown Sugar 100g Butter 1 Orange (Zest & Juice) 1 Apple Finely grated Method Mix all the fruits with brandy, orange juice and leave over night. Next day mix all the other ingredients and put that to a pudding bowl. Cook about 4-5 hours on simmer until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool on rack and leave covered in a cool dark place. On the day serving steam one hour and serve hot with brandy custard.

Apple & Rhubarb Nut Crumble Ingredients 2 Granny Smith Apples cut in to chunks 1 Bunch Rhubarb 2 Cups Crushed Nuts (Pistachio, Almond, & Cashews) 1/2 Cup Desiccated Coconut 1/4 Cup Self Raising or Plain Flour 1/2 cup Oats 1/2 cup to 1 cup sugar Vanilla 1 Tblsp butter Method Mix dry ingredients with butter Arrange apples and rhubarb in a tray. Put the nut mix on top. Bake 180 about 30-40 min. Serve with custard, cream or ice cream.

Parmesan & Herb Crusted Chicken (Quick & Easy Meals) Ingredients 4 Chicken breasts 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise. Chopped Herbs like rosemary, thyme,oregano & parsley Salt & Pepper 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese Olive oil. Method Butterfly chicken & lay on a baking tray Mix herbs and olive oil to bread crumbs Mix mayo, parmesan salt & pepper. Spread mayo mix on chicken breasts. Next sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake on 180 about 20-30 min. Serve with steamed vegetables.

Mushroom Eggs (Kids Party Food) Ingredients Several boiled Eggs Mayonnaise Some tomatoes. Shredded lettuce Method Boil the eggs about 20 min.  Peel & cut the end to be flat. Shred the lettuce and stand the eggs on  a plate. Next Cut tomatoes in to half or even 3/4. Scoop the flesh out. Put the half tomato on top of the egg.  Pipe mayo as dots on top of the tomato.

Bacon & Vegetable Noodles ( Quick & Easy Meals) Ingredients 500g boiled Noodles 2 spring onions chopped 1 Cup grated carrot 1/2 cup Capsicum  (I am using Roasted) 1 Tblsp garlic 1 Cup Cabbage 1 onion diced 3 rashers of bacon 2-3 tblsp Chinese cooking wine. or wine or soy sauce Salt & pepper. Method Add bacon in to a wok and cook until crispy. Next add onion & garlic. cook several minutes. Add carrot, salt & pepper ,& cabbage, cook several minutes. Add Chinese cooking wine & cook another minute. Next add spring onions, Stir well and add noodles. Serve hot with a condiment.