Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Friday, April 29, 2011

Baked Chicken Parcels

Recipe No: 248
This is one of the best ways to use left over Keema. It is a very easy to make snack and the pastry/ covering, even though very different from Puff pastry, resembles it a lot being on the flaky side…
Ingredients                                        Makes 10
To make the covering
  • All Purpose Flour/ Maida……2 Cups
  • Baking Powder…………………..1 Teaspoon
  • Salt……………………………….....1/4 Teaspoon
  • Egg…………………………………..1 beaten (Reserve 1 Tablespoon from this to brush the top of the parcels.)
  • Luke warm Water as needed
  • Soft Butter…………………….....2 Tablespoons
For the Filling
Method of Preparation
  1. Mix together Flour, Baking Powder and Salt really well.
  2. Add the Egg (don't forget to reserve a tablespoon) and make a soft dough using enough Luke warm Water. The dough should be smooth and soft.
  3. Cover it with a damp towel and keep aside for 15 minutes. By this time the dough will be softer.
  4. Roll it out into a 14 inch square.
  5. Apply the Butter on top of the dough and roll it up tightly into a cylinder.
  6. Wrap this rolled up dough in a plastic sheet or Aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 40 minutes. (This will solidify the Butter)
  7. Preheat the oven to 350˚F/ 180˚C.
  8. Cut the chilled dough into 10 equal portions.
  9. Press one portion of the dough slightly and roll it out into 5-5 ½ inch circle. The outer portions of the dough should be thin otherwise the underside of the Parcels , where all the dough from the sides meet, will be thick.
  10. Place a big Tablespoon of filling (Chicken Keema) in the middle, leaving some space along the sides.
  11. Fold the outer edges and pinch them together so that the filling is secured inside. (Take care not to gather up a lot of dough from the sides, which can make that  portion very thick.)
  12. Place this parcels seam side down and press slightly to make a 3 – 3 ½ inch circle. Repeat with all the other portions.
  13. Place this, seam side down, on an oiled baking tray; brush the leftover Egg on top evenly and bake for about 25- 30 minutes or till the parcels are golden brown.
  14. Serve hot with ketchup.
Notes:
  • Chilling the dough is very essential as it will solidify the Butter and the solid Butter when hits the hot oven releases vapor making the pastry flaky. (Solid butter pieces can be seen while rolling the chilled dough.)
  • The dough can be made earlier and refrigerated for about a day or two. You can just roll it out and make the snack when ever needed, making it good for parties.
  • You can use the filling of your choice to make this snack. If you are using left over Chicken Keema remove the big Potato pieces before using.







Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love…

5 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Omg, i'll happily have this delicious and irresistible chicken parcells,truly marvellous..

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

these are adorable...excellent clicks again..;P
Tasty Appetite

Vimitha Durai said...

Oh my... This looks gorgeous and so very delish... Will eat the whole lot...

sojo said...

loved it, Asha....

Kurinji said...

superbbbbbbbb dear.....Kurinjikathambam, Event : HRH-Healthy Summer

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