Learning to Collect Calories on My Own!

Is what this blog should have been called. And after a break, I have come up on the other side, gasping for some air. The GM diet springs to mind and I will try to make the soup and make it tasty enough to eat myself.  Although a soup with onions, tomatoes, cabbage(!) capsicum and celery can only be so much. Not my fault when it sucks..... Who wants to do this with me - soup, fruit (pref melons) and 10 glasses of water everyday.

Errr.... no alcohol.

Will post when the soup has been made - and had!!!

Never Get Overconfident

The last time I made mousse, it wasn't bad. It really wasn't. It was the gelatin type. It was smooth and creamy and chocolaty. I made cake. it was moist but light and well risen. It was time for pie. The crust was a pain. So i went for the grahams crust - with biscuits. So i ground them. A little too fine to bind perfectly but ok.... and then decided to make a strawberry pie - fresh strawberries, some cream, a little gelatin dissolved in the reserve. what could possibly go wrong. EVERYTHING.

The crust was too thick and even after chilling was giving way!!!
The reserve wasn't enough to dissolve the gelatin. I was too afraid to add water, so i didn't. HOw important can it be for the gelatin to dissolve completely. Maybe it will dissolve in the cream..... (i know, I read it too, but i wasn't reading as I was thinking!!!)
My cream DOES NOT WHIP WELL. I have till today not been able to whip evaporated milk or cream - even powdered cream. Cream hates me! Fluffy is a grossly asking for too much - Peaks in the whip is just a vulgar display of skill when I am told to try it. All i get is a dip like consistency! Never mind, in go the strawberries and the undissolved gelatin.

Result:
Too many biscuits, too thick a crust!
Granular jelly folded into a batter of cream and strawberries that sat instead of rising when put on the crust!

My sister said not bad and then nearly passed out when I cut her  a large slice. She pulled the "I am not allowed sugar for fear of gestational diabetes" rabbit out of her hat.
Mama said the jelly, its not dissolved.
Kyra said "mama, not nice!"

I was starting to feel like Nigella. Now its veering towards Mrs Bean!

Made Cake

And its not bad. Moist - didnt really stick to the bottom of the pan and rose well.

I hadnt made it cause i thought Kyra wanted to help. She strolls in and says where is the cake last evening so i said, let's make it. "But its my birthday. I just want to eat it." So i made it. Pleased!

Unbutter Chicken

I made it. Don't know what it tastes like. But there it is. Of course it took MUCH longer because after decided to make it, I took the Chicken out of the freezer and had to let it thaw for like an hour. Then I started with the tomato puree, which i allowed to thicken. I figured out the nee of the butter, because my "gravy" looked like pate or something.
I thought that maybe the yoghurt marinade would make it, you know, have more rassa! But not so.....
So i cheated (considering i didnt put any butter I had already messed with the sanctity of the dish!).
Water didnt seem right, so I took some skimmed milk, heated it in the pan that i had cooked the chicken in (not the gravy) and added it to the gravy. It immd looked better. Now i have to figure out a few things:

My tamatar masala was more pulpy - should i have strained the puree or blended it in the mixie - I grated tomatoes by hand - removing skin as i went along.
Is it really the butter that makes it gravy instead of pulpy.

I hope its tasty - this one took work!!!

Marinating....

Last night when I realised that the Chicken should be marinated in the yoghurt marinade for 12 hours - I must say I started marinating in my own juices! Why does no one tell you think, except in the fine print. I also realised the 5-year old has a stomach for cooking. She didn't flinch when she realised that the cooking she voulenteered to do included mixing ginger, garlic, yoghurt etc with raw boneless chicken.

So it absorbs the favours. This evening I will make some Butterless paneer as well I think.
Healthy and Yummy, Mind It! Mmmmm.... :'-/

Utterly unbuttered!

As per Beatmaster's recommendation I will attempt this today.
There is no one way to make Butter Chicken and no right or wrong way. And while this should be reassuring to me, it has made it only harder. Whose recipe should I follow. With or without the khada masala. Shall i put the grated onions in the marinade or bhuno with the tomatoes.
I am of course, in the greater interest of all things related to the love of my life - going to do the
Low Cal version of, wait for it, Butter Chicken!!! Hahahahahahahaha.
I think I need a weighing scale for the kitchen as I am going nuts dividing all recipes by 4 or 5 or 8. (i am now only making bite size portions - too much wastage. And leftovers, well, you know what i thought about bringing my cooking to work! (See for opinion on leftovers)

What Shall I Cook Today?

I thought I would open it up to feedback. But we have rules.
1. I am vegetarian till December so Chicken is ok, but no red meat.
2. Child friendly
3. Nothing that involves more than 2 hours - except the setting - which can happen in the fridge while I watch the match. Or shop. Or go to the spa - who am i kidding?

Please suggest.