Goan Prawn Curry

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Ingredients:
Recipe source:NDTV
Prawns                            -        500 g.(shelled and de-veined) 
Turmeric Powder           -        ½ tsp.
Salt to taste
Onion, big, chopped       -         1  
Coconut Milk                 -         2 cups
Green chilies                  -          2  
Oil                                   -          3 Tbsp.
  
For the masala:
Coriander powder          -         1 tsp, heaped
cumin seeds                   -           1 tsp.
Dry red chili                   -           4 to 5      
Black pepper, whole       -           6
Turmeric                         -           ½ tsp.
Ginger                             -          1 inch
Clove                              -          6
Grated Coconut               -          ½ cup.     
Lemon juice                    -           of  ½ lemon

Method:

1. Combine the prawns with salt & turmeric powder and keep aside.
2. Grind all the ingredients listed under "masala" to a fine paste and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan and saute the chopped onions until it turns light brown in color.
4. Add the ground masala & saute until the raw smell goes away.(on medium flame)
5. Add the cleaned prawns and fry for a few minutes.(do not overcook)
6. To this add the coconut milk and the desired amount of salt & bring to boil.
7. Once boiled lower the flame & let it simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Remove from flame & garnish with green chilies & serve.

Wayanadan Chicken Curry

                       Wayanad is a district in the north-east of Kerala, India & here are some facts about Wayanad(from wiki)..

1.  The Folk etymology of the word says it is a combination of Vayal (paddy field) and Naad (land), making it 'The Land of Paddy Fields'. 
2. It is set high on the Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m.
3. It is the least populous district in Kerala.

Ingredients: 
Chicken                               -            500 g.
Coconut milk                      -           ½ coconut
Tomato, large, sliced          -           1
Onion, large, sliced             -           1
Ginger, finely chopped        -           1 inch piece
Garlic,  finely chopped        -            5 cloves
Green chili, vertically slit    -            5 
Chilli powder                      -          1 tsp.
Coriander powder               -          ½ tsp.
Turmeric powder                -           ½ tsp.
Pepper powder                    -          ½ tsp.
Garam masala                     -          ½ tsp.
Salt    to taste
For the Seasoning:
Coconut Oil                        -          1 Tbsp.
Mustard seeds                     -          ½ tsp.
Dry Red Chilies                  -           2
Curry leaves                         -          a sprig


Method:

1. Clean & cut the chicken pieces in medium size.
2. Take a pan(pref. an earthen pot) and place the chicken pieces. To this, add salt, turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, chopped garlic, chopped ginger, green chili, tomato and onion. Mix the ingredients well & set it aside for 10 min.
3. Now place the pan on medium  heat and add some water(just to cover the chicken) &Combine gently & let it boil. Lower the heat  and cover the pan and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is done.(the amount of gravy will be reduced by now)
4. Once the chicken is cooked give the gravy a gently stir and add the coconut milk and cook for few more minutes.Switch off flame & set aside. 
5. For the seasoning, take another pan and heat some coconut oil(2 tsp.) , add mustard seeds, once spluttered add the red chilies & the curry leaves. Pour this over  the cooked chicken curry, combine gently & serve. 

(recipe source:Mr. Biju Thomas, Haritagiri Hotel, Wayanad)

Baked Flan

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  There are so many ways to prepare flan & this is the easiest method. Flan is prepared using a bain marie method or hot water bath method. For that you will need 2 baking  dishes, one in which you will be baking the flan and another dish which is big enough to hold the baking dish with the flan mixture. I used a 9 inch round cake pan for the flan and bigger square cake pan filled with hot water.

Ingredients:
Sweetened Condensed Milk            -        14 oz. (1 can)
Evaporated Milk                               -       12 oz.  (1 can)
Eggs                                                  -        3
Vanilla essence                                  -       1 Tbsp.
Granulated sugar                              -        ½ cup

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180° C.
2. For the caramel, heat half a cup of sugar on medium heat. Shake & swirl the pan until the sugar is dissolved and turn a light golden yellow in color. (Refer notes)
3. As soon as the color changes to golden yellow lift the pan above the flame (about 4 or 5 inches) & continue caramelizing until the sugar turns dark golden in color. 
4. When still hot pour the prepared caramel into a baking dish(in which you will be making your flan) & swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. I used a 9 inch round cake pan (coz. that's the only size I have). Set it aside.
5. Take a blender and blend the condensed milk(notes), evaporated milk 3 eggs and the vanilla extract until well combined (wont take more than a minute). Strain it through a sieve to remove the tiny bubbles if necessary.
6. Pour the mixture over the caramelized sugar in the pan. 
7. Place the pan with the flan mixture into a bigger pan & place it in the preheated oven(middle rack) and pour 1 inch of hot water in the bigger pan(bain marie method). 
8. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the flan is set(insert a knife to check if it comes clean)
9. Do not over bake. (the flan should be creamy and smooth )When set remove from oven and let it cool . When the flan is still warm place a serving plate over the pan with the flan & gently flip it over. The flan will slowly fall on to the plate.
10. Refrigerate before serving.

Notes:

• Making caramel for the first time might be a bit difficult, don't  worry just follow the instruction as such.
• Do not use a spoon to stir the sugar.
• Take care not to over caramelize the sugar(it will give a bitter taste).
• Adjust the quantity of the condensed milk according to your desired taste, mine was a tad bit sweet. I will not use the whole can next time.
• I used a mixie to blend the flan mixture. I did not strain the flan mixture, may be that's why my flan had tiny holes :P
• I  had to bake for 65 minutes. Time may vary with the type of oven used.