- Is there enough butter and flour for tomorrow’s pastry?
- Have I got the fruits I require for the topping etc.? or, if you are working
- Have I got enough timeMine goes like this…..
Sunday night:
Tomorrow is ….Monday? Monday indicates a new timing for the ‘load shedding’, so may be we will go off at —a.m and back by —-a.m? (3hrs. at one go). No no! better to watch out, keep tabs on the new timing tomorrow and bake on Tuesday!
Monday:
The load shedding starts at 10:00a.m. As soon as I get back from office, without even a courteous namaste/hi (If I begin to chat, I tend to get carried away and forget the important stuff), I ask -“Auntyji, aaj current kitne baje waapas aaya?” (“Aunty, when did the electricity come back?” Putting ‘come back’ any other way doesn’t sound the same!). Aunty replies - “Baarah baje aaya aur phir char baje gayaa aur abhi waapas aaya.” (Came back at 12:00pm., went off again at 4:00p.m., and came back just now(around 6:00p.m.).”) So you see! We put up with 5hrs of current cuts these days – I can now shout out from my rooftop that I am not wasting electricity or contributing to shortage of resources!! In the night I remind myself that I have to finish baking the black currant croissants by 9:30a.m. next morning before the current goes off again ,and even put a reminder on my cell!
Tuesday morning:
6:30a.m.: Husband makes tea, I am thawing the dough.
7:00a.m.: Husband makes rotis, I am rolling the dough.
8:00a.m.: Husband makes subzi, I am finally making the croissants (Puff pastries rolled into croissants with black currant jam filling in 4, and cheedar cheese filling in 4)!
8:20a.m.: Husband buys the short break, and drops the kids as I break off (a little bit of my back too) to have my second cuppa!
8:50a.m.: I pre-heat the oven.
9:00a.m.: I put 7 to 8 blackcurrant croissants into the hot oven as I take no chances.
9:10a.m. – Current goes off!!!
I tell you, despite all my permutations and combinations based on the ‘current condition’ during the past few weeks things still went kaput! I recall Mr.Patwardhan’s face as he drones out some strange lullaby
And this is what I ate when I came back:
I. Black currant jam filled puff pastry:
Classically a puff pastry croissants should have many turns but mine does not. There is a reason – I made these with children in mind, and I prefer making them in small sizes as you never know when they might reject and say ‘yuck’! Why waste big pieces? Hence only one turn!
A day before his birthday we enjoyed the leftover 9×3″ rectangle, by simply cutting them into small squares and baking it to flakes. I intended to make these, but I suppose Indians prefer the savory to the sweet – my kids said they did not want any more cream, just the puffs, and no sugar sprinkles:)
On 16th Jr.P’s request was puffs again for the birthday party. I made these again right from scratch, i.e., from the dough stage early that morning, but ideally you should start on it a day or two before. Except for a little difficulty in the final rolling of the dough, I did not face any other problem. This time I used my regular samosa filling -
2 boiled and peeled potatoes
1/4 cup – boiled peas
Salt to taste, black salt – a pinch
Chaat masala – 1/8 tsp.
Dhania powder – 1/8 tsp.
Dhania chopped – 1 tbsp.
Roasted coriander seeds – 1/2tsp.
Roasted saunf – 1/2 tsp.
Roasted jeera – 1/2 tsp.
Powder the roasted ing. coarsely (the dhania should just split) in a mortar and set aside.
Mash the potatoes and peas, and mix all the ingredients well.
Place 1 tsp. of the filling on the broad side of the puff pastry sheet and roll up towards the narrow end the same way as for the previous filling.
Pre-heat oven at 250 deg.C. Reduce to 220 deg. C. , and bake for 10 to 12 minutes till the top just starts browning.
I could not take many pictures or ‘a cut open’ picture as these were really in demand and getting over soon. I managed these however.
RECIPE UPDATE
Please follow link for the basic pastry recipe. Like I said before most of the creations are sweet but I think the samosa filling was a winner as savory is more popular than sweets in this region.
Please look up this site too which offers a beautiful pictorial lesson.
The basic needs are ‘cold temperature’ so that you still have a few pieces of butter in your dough. Its got something to do with creating pockets of steam around the surrounding area while baking in a very hot oven which in turn results in the flaking the pastry.
Wow these have turned out perfectly…I really appreciate the effort it must take for you to bake with such challenges as a 5 hour power cut…everyone in my family back in Bombay are having to keep a tight schedule with the powercuts and the minute they master the schedule the timings change….
Excuse Me Auntyji(not the neighbour),mere waale charred puffs kahan hain,?Powerwaalon ko bhej diya kya?
at the samosa filled puffs
Thanks for the recipe,I know abt the currentcuts,I am getting mad thinking what I will do once I get back to Blore.
I start baking thinking whether it will be alright i I do that.I am so efficient that some mishap happen most of the times or I get another brainwave in the middle of it and finally the dish may turn inedible.
You did not give the dough recipe though.Puffpastry sheets not available in Bangalore.So it would be nice & better if you could post the dough recipe or links to it.
This time no disclaimer only slurp
The power cut should ruins all the routine stuff. I heard the power is limited per household! But the pastry stuff looks delicious hot from the oven!
MMmmmmmmm mouthwatering:-)
puffs look awesome Harini.. they have turned out so well.. very tempting.. never tried sweet filling. i have only made veg puffs.
Pallu, looking forward to your recipes – I could do with more versions!
Usha, see how we master things soon now – the power cuts hone our sixth sense:)
Sweatha, mujhe aunty mat kaho naa!! I did not take photos of the charred ones, so you have to make something:). I am sorry about not giving the links – just updated!
Cham, the power cuts are different – the farther from Mumbai the lengthier the cut. In some suburbs like Badlapur it is about 8hrs. a day!
Thanks, Soma:)
Mahimaa, try a teensy weensy bit of jam or a combination with thick cream topping. It is divine!
I am drooooling over the pics… Good job. Thanks for the pastry links. I can’t wait to try it.
Power cut scenario is far better in Kerala with only half an hour cut daily.
wow those came out perfectly.
LOL at your baking escapades during load shedding. But then I do have to hand it to you for making the puff pastry dough from scratch. I have ready made puff pastry sheets in the freezer, I will try the samosa version.
PHOTOS?
puff pastry from scratch? How cool! would love to try the samosa version!
wow I wish I could load shed as consistently as the elec department. the puffs look yummm… hehehe i went to the local grocery and got low fat frozen PP sheets :p
Almost everyone is really ticked off by the power cuts. It’s really great how you made the dough from scratch… i don’t know if i’d ever have the patience or the expertise to do it
All the snacks look perfect.
LOL wow looks crisp and yummy.
Jayasree, I really envy you ppl!
Sita, thanks!
RC, necessity is the mother of invention – I did mine from scratch only because we don't get ready Puff pastries!! Otherwise maybe I would have been getting from the shop too:)
Anu, PHOTOS?!! I didn't get you! Do try the samosa version – it was really good!
Rajani, you bet!! I wish I too could melt down some 'cellulite':) Lucky you that you get these things!
Laavanya, I know & there is nothing we can do about it! I wish they would stop celebrating Dusshera with huge pandals!
Lubna, it taste yummy and crisp too;)
Thanks and Thanks.I saw the recipe update.I will be using it once I get back in Feb.Thanks Aunt.. ooops Mommyji (I mean SunshineMommyji).
BTW,I have got a recipe for the B&P -its very easy and with grapes I am not sure whether you will accept it.I will be posting it on 29th and mail you then.
PS: ssh…No more clues regarding this as I think you may turn it down.It is veryyyyyyyyyyyyy simple ,so watch out for an eccentric entry and pleeeeeeeeaseeeeeee accept it.Kaaan mat pakadn
Betaji (Sweatha), hamein aapke grapes ka intezaar hai:) Its an event, and you decide the color – I am not rejecting anything:)
You’ve been tagged! please check my blog.
lovely pastry .. its been a while since I had them .. I totally understand the situation with electricity .. its happened to me a lot of times
Thanks for dropping by… You have a nice space here… Lovely pastries and keeping kids in mind and cooking is the toughest job, unleass we fall in love with what we do… Lovely pastries… Great pictures… Shall promise to be a regular reader too…
Reading your post really makes me appreciate the things which we take for granted here in the US. And you have to be really commended for your enthusiasm in baking inspite of all these technical difficulties. Even though there is shortage of power supply in India, where else one can find a neighbor who will bake for you? I miss India in that aspect. Here we don’t know who stays next door.
Lovely croissants SM. I guess you are a baking addict. You have to get your dose of baking inspite of the power failure.
I am always amazed at how motivated you are, Harini, and how you manage to get things done despite the limitations of time and electricity. Those delicious snacks are making me terribly hungry right now.
Anu, thanks:)
Deepti, Same pinch:)
Ramya, Welcome! I am glad you liked the contents – looking forward to a good chat:)
Madhuram, you are right! We are very very lucky in many ways, and no I don’t take these things for granted. In fact I am not leaving this house because I know I might not find a helpful neighbour;) But then, you win some, you lose some!
Vaishali, thanks! I stay motivated because of online and real life people who support me:) Thanks for the motivation there!
I love puff pastry! These look gorgeous. You have a beautiful blog..thanks for stopping by mine and leading me to yours
Harini … tumhara power cut humare power cut se kum kaise?
And inspite of all that your pastries came out looking sooo delicious!