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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Chicken cutlets

Hey everyone.. Chicken cutlets today.. Why is this post labeled - fitness? Because runners like motivation, even if it is motivation to cook.

Fig.1. Chicken Cutlets

Do you sometimes lose the motivation to do some particular thing?

I have gone through this before.. in different areas at different times. Loss of motivation to work.. to run.. to cook.. to clean.. basically anything that requires effort could be a target here. Usually I can figure out exactly what is the reason.

But that doesn't change the fact that I don't feel like doing it right now! And most reasons simply cannot be fixed.

Usually, however, there is no option in these things. You have to work. You have to cook. You have to run. You have to do whatever it is that is the task at hand. And do it well too! But sometimes.. it is possible to just push it to later..

"Later" is Lady Slackalot's favorite word! It really is a polite way of saying "No." ;) If I avoid cooking long enough, we will have to get take-out. :D And yes.. sometimes it's ok. But if I actually have the time and energy, and still avoid it.. avoid it too many times, then it's time for the cheer-leader to come out and motivate! We are our own cheer-leaders. And if we have to do something, we really might as well enjoy doing it!

How do you motivate yourself?

What do I do when I don't feel like working? I go and sit amongst a lot of people who are busy at work! Like a public library. I try to hang out with people who like their work. People who are successful at their work. I try to mix it up a little, try something new in the task. I create deadlines for myself. And worst comes to worst, if I find I do not meet my own deadlines, I make them public! I tell my family and friends and sometimes announce it on the blog too.. that I will do so-and-so thing.. run or walk so many miles this month.. etc.

I do this for work, for running, for cooking, chores, errands,.. a lottttt of things! And usually it works. (Again, there is not much option. Something better work!)

Last few days I found myself not cooking. :( I did the usual. I spoke with my friends and family swapping recipes and dinner ideas. I browsed and read through your blogs (hanging out with people who enjoy the task and are successful at it!) Told myself that I will make so-and-so dish on Sunday.. (setting deadlines). Finally I told my Mom that I have not been cooking!! (Making things public, and how!) That combined with Bong Mom making chicken meatballs (new for me) finally worked!!

I went and got ground chicken (fresh ingredients, the ultimate deadline) and made chicken cutlets!!!!!!!! Yay!! Not only that, I also took pictures! Waah-waah, shabbash beti!! :D

And to seal the deal, (further making things public)... mujhey mere blog ki kasam, I will post at least 3 more food recipes this month. Total public commitment! Ab bachkey kahan jayegi! We meet Lady Slackalot head-on and tell her to get out!

Continuing the drama just a little longer.. (where else but on my blog will we find so much detailed procedure for how to deal with "getting-bored"-ness..)

My thanks to all you bloggers and blogger friends! Reading your blogs is far more fun than cooking or writing my own! But it sure helps me do both! :) Also thanks to my readers.. It's hard for me to believe how many of you read my posts.. even the fitness ones!! Just seeing you check in and find my lonely turtle sitting there with stale old rasgullas gave me a good kick in my... Well, thanks you all! I will do my best! 

Ingredients:
Ground chicken - 1 pound
Onion - 1 small, finely chopped
Ginger - 1 inch piece, finely chopped
Garlic - 3 large pods, finely chopped
{Cloves - 2 + Cinnamon stick - 1/2 inch} Grind to powder (coarse powder with mortar-pestle is good enough).
Mint + coriander leaves - a few sprigs each, finely chopped
Green chili - 1 finely chopped
Jeera (cumin seed) powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Dhania (Coriander seed) powder - 1 teaspoon
Garam Masala - 1/2 teaspoon or could even skip
Kasoori Methi - 1/2 tsp crushed between your palms <-- Sandeepa has added this, I skipped it this time
Egg - 1 well beaten
Oil - 1 table spoon
Salt to taste
Bread crumbs - 2 slices of bread, toasted and ground into crumbs.
Rava (semolina) - about 1/3 or 1/2 cup

Procedure:
1) Saute onion till cooked. Let this cool.
2) Beat egg well, add ground chicken and salt. Mix well. Add and mix the onions from step 1, ginger, garlic, jeera powder, dhania powder, cloves+cinnamon powders, chopped mint, coriander, green chilies, kasoori methi, oil. Keep aside for 15 minutes or so.
3) Then add bread crumbs and mix well. Ideally I guess that should be enough and one should be able to lump small portions of this mixture into cutlets and fry/bake. But at this point somehow my cutlets were still fairly sticky (happens to me for other such cutlet recipes too, maybe I should add more bread crumbs).
4) So I ended up rolling the cutlets in some rava. That made them not stick to my frying pan/baking pan. See what works for you.
5) These can be fried on the frying pan with minimal oil. Sandeepa has also suggested baking them in the oven.

As per her idea, I also froze a whole bunch of them in a flat single layer on a plate in the freezer (covered with press-and-seal wrap). Once they are frozen it is easy to pry them off the plate and store them all in ziplock bags in the freezer.

Cheers and happy cooking!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi SS,
First time here...Love your writing style!
cutlets look yummy.

Aparna S Mallya said...

Woah, that was quite a post! I'm sure a lot of people go through the 'no motivation' phase, atleast I do! Infact, I admire you for considering running as one of your priorities - that itself says how much you are concerned about yr fitness.
Yr dish, as usual, looks yummy!!

SS blogs here said...

Thanks Tanvi.. Nice to have you here!

Hey Aparna.. Thanks! Yes, I know this is very common whether for cooking, running or anything else. Hopefully will give some ideas to some reader in a motivation slump sometime.

Cheers!

Sushma Mallya said...

Nice recipe, cutlets looks crispy...

Anonymous said...

whew! nice post..now Im motivated as well!
Great cutlets!!!

SS blogs here said...

Thanks, Sushma! :)

Thanks, Sheba! :D

Priya Suresh said...

Very interesting and droolworthy chicken cutlets, very tempting..

Soma said...

I am going through that lazy, kuch bhi achcha nehi lag raha hain phase right now. all i feel like is reading and sleeping, which i obviously cannot do with 2 kids.


the cutlets looks scrumptious and i never considered freezing them. a fantastic idea for rainy and lazy days.

Soma -www.ecurry.com

SS blogs here said...

Thanks Priya! :)

Hey Soma.. some reading and sleeping is good. :) Maybe one Saturday morning you could offer to let the hubby stay in bed till noon while you keep the kids out of his way. Then ask him return the favor for you on Sunday! ;)

indosungod said...

SS, I love reading your posts for the simple fact you say it as it is.
Most of have go through all those emotions every now and then.

These chicken cutlets are a good way to snap out of it for sure.

Just like you, love going to the library and just being immersed in the general hum.

SS blogs here said...

Thanks for the sweet compliment, Indo! :)

Bong Mom said...

OMG, you do so much to motivate yourself, I just slack... nothing bad in that ;-) Two years later you won't even remember what it was that needed to be get done(I always have the kids as excuse anyway)...you will just remember the fun slacking :-) What gyan !!!

You know I read somewhere that instead of bread crumbs, soak a bread in milk and then mix with the minced meat.

To make a cutlet you can do a double dipping in egg and bread crumbs, that will give a nice exterior. In that case don't add eggs to the meat, for binding try chana dal or little mashed potatoes

Satya said...

cutlets looks so delicious

Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

SS blogs here said...

Hey Satya! Thanks for the compliment! :)

Sandeepa.. Lol!! You have a gyaanful point.. slacking off (esp with someone) is really the fun time that one remembers later on. Note to self: Slack-off entire 3rd week of every month! ;D

And those extra tips sound great too! Will keep in mind. Thanks!

aipi said...

Hey SS..
Chanced upon your site while surfing the web..one wonderful collection you have !..I especially liked your write-ups and presentation style..
Chicken cutlets look perfect!
Will be here often :)

Aipi
US Masala

SS blogs here said...

Hey Aipi.. good to have you here! And many thanks for the sweet compliment! :)

Cham said...

I was on that phase that is why the break! The motivation part ,probably i got to print and stick in my fridge :)
Cutlet is something I would like to eat right now!

SS blogs here said...

Hey Cham.. I'm sure you will find better things to stick on your refrigerator! :) It's nice to see you back with lovely compliments again! Missed your posts! See you around!

Sangeetha said...

No motivation phases are apart of life! The first step towards motivation is realizing that you are not motivated!
Yummy cutlets!!

SS blogs here said...

Hey Sangeetha.. I agree with you. :) Nice to see you here!

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

Hy dear,

Thanx for dropping by..

Yum...the cutlets looks gorgeous...my fav dish...bookmarked ...:)
Tasty appetite

SS blogs here said...

Thanks Jay! :)

Pushpa said...

I love chicken and cutlets..them together I love them more...enjoyed your write up...

Pushpa @ simplehomefood.com

SS blogs here said...

Hi Pushpa! Thanks for stopping by and the sweet comment! :)

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