Food Diaries Recipe | 24 Dec 2022 | Recipes: Fish Biryani, Mac and Cheese & Dry Fruit Cake | Zarnak Sidhwa

Method
Pour hot water over the dried fruit to cover. Let steep to plump about 30 minutes and then drain thoroughly. Beat the melted butter, sour cream, milk, eggs and vanilla essence until smooth. Mix in flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Fold in the chopped dried fruit. Pour the batter into a greased and twice lined baking pan. Using a spoon dipped in hot water level the top of the cake. Bake at 180 degrees C for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out cleanly and the top is lightly browned.

Method

Heat oil and ghee in a pan, and fry half the sliced onions till golden brown. Fry cashews and raisins and keep aside. Apply turmeric powder, salt and little water on the fish. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a frying pan. Lightly fry the fish till half done and keep aside. Heat 3 tablespoons oil. Grind the remaining onion in a blender with 1/2 cup water. Add this onion mixture to the hot oil. Meanwhile crush ginger, garlic and chillies. Add this paste to the onion mixture. Add tomatoes, yogurt and salt. Cook for some time till the water evaporates. Add the fried fish pieces, coriander leaves and the lemon juice. For the Rice, heat ghee. Add 1/2 chopped onion, cardamoms and cinnamon. Add the washed rice, water and salt and cook till the water is absorbed by the rice. Keep the rice covered for 10 minutes. Sprinkle all spice powder over the rice. To assemble, in a pan add the cooked rice in one layer at the bottom. Add a few spoons of the fish masala, fried onion, nuts and raisins and a little all spice powder and cover with a rice layer. Add a little rose water and cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes and serve hot.

Method
Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook until not quite done, about 6 minutes. Drain. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter. Blend in the flour, mustard powder, and pepper until smooth. Slowly stir in the milk, removing any lumps. Add the cheese, and stir constantly until the sauce is thick and smooth. Drain macaroni, and stir it into the cheese sauce. Transfer the mixture to a greased Pyrex dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top. Cover the dish, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, at 180 degrees C or until sauce is thick and bubbly.