Chives' Shrimp Balls

Its such a beautiful evening! But don't want to go out alone. Hubby's at work. Called him up to see if he can make it early just today. Surprisingly he said he could. (just 20 mins earlier...which by the way is quite a bit, by the standard) I am elated! All those home makers/wives would agree how exhilerating it is to see your better half come home earlier than usual. In any case, since "a happy wife makes a happy life" (courtesy- According to Jim. His 19 point cohesive theory about men); I decided I would make something special for my hubby. His all time favourites are shrimps. So gave a twist to this shrimp dish....creative cooking! Its finger licking delicious.

Chives' Shrimp Balls

Ingredients-

4 tbsp finely chopped chives

2 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp white vinegar

1 tsp sherry

3 tbsp all purpose flour

2 tbsp bread crumbs

salt to taste

1 finely chopped green chilli

water (enough to make a dough like consistency-not too wet, nor too dry)

10 tiger prawns(cleaned, deveined and slightly sauteed)
oil for deep frying

Method-

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except oil and shrimps.

The mixture should be of dough like consistency. Divide the mixture into 10 equal sized ping pong balls.

Now wet your hand a little,pick one dough ball and flatten it in the middle, forming a depression in the middle with your thumb.Now place one shrimp in the middle and bring the sides of the dough to cover the shrimp. Roll.

The dough-mixture ball will cover the shrimp and the shrimp would not be seen. Repeat with all the shrimps.

Now in a pan, heat enough cooking oil to deep fry the shrimp balls. Deep fry. Drain on kitchen paper.

Serve hot with tea/coffee or just munch it!

Sweet beginning...Rava Laddu

I am waiting for the moon and its still not anywhere in sight.Its 8.30 pm here and I have fasted for a total of 24 hrs now. I love the Hong Kong skyline...but tonight its blocking the much awaited moon from my view.Its Karwa Chauth today and I stay in Hong Kong. My second Karwa Chauth (the festival where Indian women fast the whole day long, for the longevity of the husband's life). In my case, my darling husband is also fasting....(although I did trick him into having breakfast, the only meal he has had for the day).Have already gone to the terrace twice and once outside on the road. Finally we decided to board the tram in search of "the moon"...and we did spot it at 10.45 pm. Did my ritual on the road crossing itself. Had the 'prasad' I had made.

Rava Laddu.
Here's the recipe-

Ingredients-
1 cup semolina
1/3 tin of condensed milk
a few raisins/sultanas to garnish
1 tsp of cornstarch
1 cup of milk
1/2 tsp of powdered cardamom
2 tbsp ghee for frying

Method-
In a deep pan, put ghee (clarified butter) and add semolina.
Keep stirring till the white semolina changes to brown in colour.
Note: Be careful to keep stirring constantly over medium flame or the semolina might burn and become blackish.
Once the semolina is browned, first add half the milk and then add the condensed milk and mix well.
In a separate bowl add the restof the milk and corn starch to form a liquid paste.
Now put this bowl of milk (with corn starch) into the semolina mix in the pan.
Add the cardamom.
Quickly mix everything together. The mix will be somewhat sticky.
Remove from heat. Cool. Then form small ping-pong sized ball, by rolling with hands.
Garnish with raisins. Serve.

N.B. These can be stored for a week in a tight jar.

Thats it for tonight's little episode.'-)