Chocolate Souffle Puddings

Spaghetti & Meatballs

This simple pasta dish is made using leftover meatballs from the previous entry. I used purchased bolognese sauce which turned out to be rather salty :(. Note to self: must make some bolognese sauce and freeze it for emergency use.

Swedish Meatballs

This is my trusted recipe that brings success everytime I use. If you find the meat mixture too dry, add more liquid (water/stock) and if it is too wet, adding more breadcrumbs or plain flour will help in shaping the meatballs.



Ingredients:
150 ml cream
2 cubes of beef stock, mix with 100 ml water
2 eggs, lightly beaten
500g beef mince (or 250gr beef mince + 250gr pork mince)
5 tbsp breadcrumbs (approx)
1/2 onion, chopped (abt 2-3 tbsp)
salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
butter + oil for frying
400ml beef stock for gravy (or use Gravox)

Method:
Mix together cream, egg and beef stock in a medium bowl, add the breadcrumb and mix evenly.
Season with salt and pepper, then add the onion and beef mince.
Shape the mixture into meatballs using wet hands. You can also coat the meatballs in plain flour (and shake off the excess) before frying.
Melt the butter with some oil, fry the meatballs turning once until brown and nicely seal.
Transfer the meatballs onto a baking tray and bake at medium heat.

To make the gravy:
In a small saucepan, mix together 400ml stock to the leftover oil from frying. Bring it to the boil and stir evenly.
On another saucepan or frying pan, heat up 1 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp plain flour. Add the stock mixture little by little while continue stirring to ensure no lumps formed. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve the meatballs with the gravy with steamed/boiled vegetable on the side, and cranberry jelly if desired.

Serves 3-4

Bread & Butter Pudding

When the weather is cold, the thought of warm desserts is very comforting. Bread and butter pudding is one of such desserts my hubby craves for in winter. It is an old fashion sweet that is so easy to make. I didn't actually plan to make it, but since I lost the recipe book at the supermarket (it has ALL the recipes I wanted to cook for the week, and I have shopped for groceries based on it) - I was looking for something else I can make using what I had on hand. So, here it is:




Ingredients:
6 slices of fruit loaf (approx)
2 tbsp mixed peel
3 eggs
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 cup cream (single/pouring)
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
mixed spices (optional)

Method:
Grease a deep (5-6 cm) baking dish. Preheat the oven to 160C
Lightly toast the bread, then cut into triangle. Line the baking dish with the bread, making sure there are no gaps in between slices. Sprinkle with mixed peel (or mixed dried fruit) if using.
Mix eggs, sugar, milk, cream and vanilla extract together. If preferred, sprinkle with abt 1 tsp mixed spices or bumbu spekkoek.
Pour the egg mixture on the bread and let it soak for 15 minutes until the custard is absorbed. Add more bread if needed.
Bake on 160C oven for about 45 minutes.
Served warm with some cream and jam.