Wednesday 27 April 2011

Appetizer ideas

Raspberry-lemon spritzer recipe here

Cool Lassie kinda inspired me to try and post a recipe every day for a week. I know its already mid-week but then you have to start somewhere right? :)

Another reason being...my computer is low on disc space and I need to move all my pics on to an external drive in fear of losing it if something happened to my comp. So probably for the next couple of days I shall post stuff from my archives..stuff that I have either been too lazy to post or have refrained from posting because the pics haven't come out great. The recipes however are too good to lose, so here are a few appetizer ideas that I have borrowed from other blogs. The weather is back to being awful and I have been sneezing like mad for some strange reason. Hope it is not the hay fever that Ro is now going through and being a baby about.
Oh and one more thing..this is for the anonymous lurker out there. Please leave me a name and address I can reply to the next time you decide to grace my blog with your comment because I can then directly address you personally and not have to write shit like this in public (a major waste of time). If you find it incredibly painful to read my blog..please stop doing so instead of sending me anonymous messages. First of all you are spamming me and second no one out here is forcing you to read on..I really couldn't care less if you are not interested in the fact that I use words and messages that might make you uneasy. Its my blog and sadly I can post whatever I want. 

See I don't take blogging seriously and I didn't want to impose restrictions and things like that. I don't mind being criticised or whatever as long as you say who you are. Judge me all you want but I don't owe anyone explanations. Posting nasty stuff unnecessarily is like back stabbing and I am too bored and lazy to create an issue about this. But these anonymous messages are getting to me and I have allowed only registered users to post comments. Sorry about this. I have some lovely readers who post anonymously but still give their name at the end (thanks you guys), sorry that you will have to now use your email id to post comments. I had to write this out because I didn't want you to suddenly realize that you are not able to post comments. Hope you understand.

Anyways, coming back to the kick-ASS recipes.

Chicken 65
Numerous bloggers have posted recipes and reasons as to why it is called Chicken 65, so I am not gonna ramble. I found this recipe on vahrehvah, but Nashira of Plateful has described it gracefully and I followed her recipe to the dot, except I used boneless chicken thighs and didn't have the chilli-garlic paste so I substituted that with chilli ketchup. It was a nice substitute and I don't think it made that much of a difference to the final outcome. I also omitted the ajinomoto and red food colour. The next time however, I am gonna try and bake/ grill the chicken instead of deep frying because I kinda detest the whole idea and I somehow end up making a mess. Do hop on to her blog or to the vahchefs website for the recipe. Pics are horrid because we were still having longer nights then.

Tortilla cups with meat filling
A blogger that I recently got introduced to is Kankana of Sunshine & Smile. Her pics are gorgeous and her recipes versatile. The moment I saw her Tortilla cups recipe, I knew I would try it and it was such a big hit. You can basically fill it with whatever you want and serve as an appetiser or as a snack at a picnic. I followed her procedure for the tortilla cups, but filled it with mince meat (this recipe) and topped it with some cheddar cheese and grilled it for about 8 to 10 minutes, just to get the cheese melted. Topped it with an jalapeƱo and it was a great starter to our Mexican inspired dinner.

Pigs in a blanket
The quintessential British favourite especially during Christmas time, is this easy peasy starter. I had a friend over for lunch a few weeks back and I made this with some leftover puff pastry sheets. It is so easy to make and I'm sure it will be a big hit among all, kids especially.

Rolled puff pastry sheet- half of one (I used jusrol)
Chicken or any sausage- 8 (I used small frankfurters)
Egg- 1, (for wash)
Ketchup- to serve
If you are not using the rolled out pastry, then roll it out and cut into two. Store away the other half.
Place the pastry sheet on to a lightly floured surface and cut them into four equal halves and then each half into two. So basically you get 8 medium rectangles.
Place the sausage on each pastry and roll/ fold over and seal the edges lightly with your hand. If it doesn't stick, brush the beaten egg and stick it. Repeat with all the sausages.
if you want you can serve the sausage as a single one, but I sliced each of it into 4 small ones which looked incredibly cute.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and so an egg wash for that light golden colour.
Bake in an oven preheated at 220C for about 12 to 15 minutes.
Serve with some ketchup.

Sending the Raspberry-lemon spritzer to Food Palette series- Pink over at Torviewtoronto

34 comments:

Nitha said...

Loved the Raspberry-lemon spritzer clicks the most.. that is simply awesome...

I have some pastry sheets left and wanted to prepare something other than usual puffs.. So here is an idea.. Though not sure when that gonna come out of my oven :)

BTW I tried your condensed milk cake recipe and it came out perfect and was a hit at my place.. Thanks for sharing that..

GB said...

Nisha, each one of those pictures is a gem! Oh I want to have a p[arty now! :)

About the anon commenter--yeah it sucks. That was why I disabled anon commenting on my blog as well.I'm glad you're not going to take it to heart because they're not worth the time. Hope you have a great week (and I'm looking forward to more recipes from the "vault").


{hugs}

Suja Manoj said...

Beautiful clicks and delicious appetizers, chicken makes me drool and the drink looks refreshing.

Binys Recipes said...

hey dear !!!!!!the clicks are just awesome...wud tempt anyone...nice appetizers...loved the heading piggy in the blanket....hope u r ok...Anon messages are left cos dey r jealous of wat u r......thats it....gud u changed the setting...
take care.
Biny

Suji said...

wowoo..Nisha that Raspberry-lemon spritzer is a killer..The pictures are simply awesome ketto..

I too hate people who comment anonymously. Great that u moderate comments now..

Nandinis food said...

All those kick-@$$ recipes are really eye-candy...and they're a very special treat to the stomach especially.

Rumana Rawat said...

That is simply superb... pictures are very beautiful:)

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Please dear just ignore and move on. Take it as a compliment from a J ;-)
very refreshing drink. And as usual eye catching pics

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Satrupa said...

I am going ga gaa on the appetizers ans the raspberry drink .....
Awesoooommmeeee ......

Cheers,
Satrupa

http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

ahem...the pics haven't come out great?? what are you saying??? they are fabulous!! Btw... i've bookmarked this post for the pigs in blanket...n love the red of spritzer with the red carnations! Infact, each pic that you've posted looks amazing!!

Miriam Korula said...

wow Nish...that is a really nice post...n' i so so love the pics...as for some jerk who is posting these comments, i'm happy you decided give them a piece of ur mind this way......:)...you keep up what you do...we enjoy reading whatever you have got to say...:)

Treat and Trick said...

Love that pinky drink and the rest of the dishes, simply appetizing!

http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

Vimitha Durai said...

Yummy looking appetizers... Loved the Raspberry-lemon spritzer click the most!!!

Priya Suresh said...

Soo tempting and wonderful looking appetiziers, feel like having some chicken 65.

Swathi said...

Love the color of spritzer. Appetizers looks awesome delicious.

aipi said...

Raspberry-lemon spritzer looks STUNNING.. all the pics are fab as always Nisha..
US Masala

divya said...

Simply inviting and tempting appetizers,yumm! wonderful clicks too..

Anonymous said...

So glad you liked the tortilla cups :) I love the pigs in the blanket and the chicken 65.. amazing clicks and beautiful spread :)
www.sunshineandsmile.com

Torviewtoronto said...

beautifully done drink lovely colour
do check out the event in my site
yummy looking snack all of it looks delicious
beautiful header too :)

Deepti said...

What a lovely feasts for the eyes......Loved the First clicks most...Great Work...

http://panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

Prathima Rao said...

Beautiful & eye catching clicks...esp the spritzer!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Hey, I am glad to be an inspiration. The spritzer looks gorgeous! Love the beautiful color. Sorry to hear that someone was leaving nasty comments. :-(. Your space is packed with awesome collection of recipes and you are doing such a great job. Don't let a crappy comment get to you.
The fact that you have eliminated the anonymous commenting option will hopefully hinder this person from spamming your space.
Love the chicken 65 picture. Its making me drool..there is something about deep fried dishes even though the cleanup is messy. I recently made cauliflower manchurian and the kitchen looked like a war zone!

Torviewtoronto said...

thank you for linking N
regards

Namitha said...

Everything looks nice., esp the raspberry-lemon spritzer :-) All set to watch the Royal wedding ?

Suman Singh said...

Wow, what a great collection of appetizers..love the Rasberry-lemon spritzer the most..the color is so inviting and beautiful..can't wait to try this..thanks for the recipes!

Jane said...

Who is this anon bitch I wonder...? Pigs under blankets looks sooooo yum di!

the Junkie book said...

Hi Nisha

lemme straight get to the point. i've been desperately looking for Virginia Woolf's Kew Gardens (short story). i have the ebook but i need the hard copy for referencing...i've been looking up all avenues. it's there in her anthology Monday or Tuesday and A Haunted House. it shd be there in other anthology/collection of essays, short stories. i shd say i'm desperate for this to clear my Reference page.

and the anonymous...there's been someone posting obscene msgs in my blog too...apparently a male chauvinist from mallu land :( well, i think i don even have the time now to deal with him. possible the same person coz we're all knit up.

i'm so sorry i overlook your post right now. i'm hurrying. i would love to come back to the pink patches!!

could you plzzzzzzz get back to me on the book?

thank you

Unknown said...

WOW! All of them look amazing Nisha..Gorgeous clicks as usual! Am drooling here..

Anonymous said...

I love the pink raspberry spritzer! Such a pretty color!

Just wondering if you have an option of subscribing to your blog or I m not able to see it in here?

the Junkie book said...

hi

tht's OK. i got it sorted here. thank you.

Indiana Jones said...

Lurkers suck! Your blog rocks! Love the spritzer! Cheers!!!!!

Sunitha said...

Awesome! So many things and all photographed well. Chicken 65 looks delicious and the tortilla cups and everything else. A nice set of finger food for a party.. cool.

Plateful said...

The raspberry-lemon spritzer is such a wonderful idea. Looks great! Those glasses and jar really cozies up the drink.

Nisha, I'm so sorry to read about the offensive remarks--don't give it much bother. You are doing a wonderful job and someone is just plain jealous. So forget about it and move on sweetie.

And btw, thanks a ton for your reference to my blog. This being my first experience, I'm totally thrilled! :))

mosuavea said...

Amazing photos! Have to try out that Chicken 65 at my next party, thank you for sharing these.

Would love to recommend this Buffalo Chicken Dip

Keep up the great work, love checking in on your blog.