Sinful Chocolate Pavlova Recipe |The Novice Housewife

In our small mining town, we have a group of ladies who meet every Friday over coffee, drinks, tea and some cake, and cookies. It is a pretty eclectic group and had been my biggest support system in the US. For a short while we had an Australian in this group as well. I am sure I had tasted pavlova before, but it was the first time at her coffee that I truly started appreciating this meringue based dessert. She had made a traditional pavlova with strawberries and whipped cream and it was every bit lovely.

Ever since then I have wanted to try to make it at home, but somehow haven’t been able to. I have made something similar earlier (a msacarpone meringue layer cake) as well which was absolutely delicious, but that’s about how close I got to making a pavlova.

Sinful Chocolate Pavlova Recipe |The Novice Housewife

Even though an Australian/New Zealand dessert, it is named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, when it was made in her honor, probably during one of her visits to these countries.

For the most part Pavlova is an easy to make dish. Only tricky part is the low temperature long baking and of course the whipping of the egg whites.

Here are a few tricks and tips that I keep in mind whenever I whip egg whites:

  • Whenever you whip egg whites remember fat and water are the enemies. So make sure all utensils, tools that come in contact with the egg whites are grease free. Wipe your beaters, bowls completely dry. It always helps to take a paper towel soaked in a little vinegar and wiping your bowls and utensils with it to be doubly sure that it is grease free.
  • When you separate the eggs make sure no part of the yolk is in it. Separating cold eggs is easier than room temperature eggs. I always try to separate eggs the moment I take them from the refrigerator and then let them sit on the counter, covered, to come to room temperature. Always whip room temperature egg whites.
  • When separating more than one egg I recommend to keep 3 containers/bowls in front of you. Break the egg, separate the white and the yolk in two different bowls. And then transfer the clean, yolk-free white in the third bowl. Repeat process. This helps in cases where you screw up with one egg, and land a part of the yolk in the egg white while separating, you do not spoil the other separated egg whites.

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Tandoori Chicken | The Novice Housewife

In North India, we love our Tandoori Chicken, and I have grown up on the best Tandoori chicken recipes out there.

For a very long time, Tandoori Chicken was the only way I wanted my chicken. I even preferred it to the popular butter chicken. Though later came a time where the latter triumphed over the former, but now I have an equal liking for both.

Tandoori chicken- the preferred snacking choice when I have beer in my hand; butter chicken with roti or naan when sitting for a meal.

Tandoori Chicken | The Novice Housewife

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Mango Lime Tart | The Novice Housewife

Mangoes are the most beloved fruit in India and thus hold the proud title of India’s national fruit. You can find mango trees by the dozen in most places in India and gorging on the sweet and aromatic juices of a mango is one of the few pluses of this scorching Indian heat (temperature are almost touching 49°C/ 120 ° F!!).

Even though mangoes are grown in several places across the globe, Indian varieties are the most sought after with Alphonso (or Hapuz as known by Indians) topping the list.

Come April, and roadside vendors, fruit and vegetable markets are all flocked with this juicy fruit. And with the recent EU ban on Indian mangoes till December 2015 (seriously, what’s wrong with these people to ban such a popular fruit! ), prices of premium mangoes have decreased in local markets which is a sweet welcome for us mango lovers.

So its only fair that most is made of this green and yellow fruit while its season lasts till July and this Mango and Lime Tart gives this fruit absolute justice.

Mango Lime Tart | The Novice Housewife

Mango Lime Tart | The Novice Housewife

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