The picture from the Recipe book, Potatoe Gnocchi. Looks simple enough that I decided to give it a try today. I headed out to the supermarket and bought the stuff. Headed back again to buy cos I forgot about the cheese.
Potatoe croquette, another seemly easy dish. Which I tried to do at the same time cos I had seriously underestimated the line "boil potatoe, mash".
Bloody hell it took forever to boil the potatoe, mash them, then prepare the rest of the ingredients. Hell, even mashing many many potatoes was an huge endeavour. At least up til the point before I started mashing, things went pretty smoothly.
THEN mashing was so totally different from what I had imagined. It took damn long and lots of effort. Finally mashed and then the trouble starts....
Accidentally poured half the bottle of pepper inside... OMG! Then scooped out and threw most of the pepper. Mixed in egg, flour and pepper. Scooped that into a container (even finding the container was a pain in the ass) and added in chopped onion and then chucked the thing to cool in the fridge. That was only for the croquette...
Then resumed mashing the rest of the potatoes, added egg and flour and knead the mixture. It was still soft and bit watery. Bo bian, the kitchen weighing scale was unavailable (dunno where the hell it is) so I went by gut feel for the flour. Grated in cheese. Then divide the dough (which is still mainly potatoe) into 4 parts. Then subdivide into more little balls to roll into an oval and use a fork on it to create the grooves.
These little buggers are a real pain in the ass to make too. But I am proud that it looks edible. Its been a long while since I've last tried cooking something.
With those buggers done, then its time to the main cooking part. Had to boil salted water to 'cook' the gnocchis in. Then I cooked the garlic, onion and carrot, stir fry them before pouring in the can of diced tomatoes. Added half a can of water and let it boil. Later after tasting, added pepper.
Divided the gnocchi into 6 bowls for family. Scooped the warm tomatoe soup with the bits over it and viola. My own version of the gnocchi. Its not like the pic cos I didnt blend the soup until its smooth. I just cooked it and poured over.
The taste? Edible. Could taste the cheese in the potatoe. Its okay to eat while its hot and the soup with the little bits to bite makes it better.
I would give myself a 6/10 for this dish.
For the remaining 10 gnocchi, I had an idea. To toast it in the oven cos its mainly potatoe and some cheese, a bit of egg and flour.
Viola, baked gnocchi. They taste like their soupy cousin. But more drier in tasture. Hmm maybe a 5/10. Given I do have high culinary standards for myself.
With that I looked at the croquette recipe and OMG, I still had to roll the croquette mixture in flour, then egg then breadcrumb. Its a messy process, with lots of flour, egg and breadcrumb sticking to my fingertips as I transfered one to another...
The final product. Notice that its round and flat patty instead of the long sticks in the recipe? Thats right! Cos the mixture was too watery and I didnt want to add flour to dry it. I had to put them into the fridge for another 2hours before I can fry them....
Dead tired by then due to the numerous trial and errors with dish sizes, mixing bowl sizes, I cleaned up the kitchen before my mom came back. Including washing dishes, utensils, pots and pans, wiping table.
PHEW!
2 seemingly easy dishes took me 4hours! And I havent even fry the damn croquette yet. Its still cooling in the fridge. Felt very warm and hot. Drank up 1litre of herbal tea and mixed a Brown Cow for myself. I served some of the gnocchi to my dad, he says its edible.
Then I went to play the guitar, wanted to bathe and sleep but got lesson later. My mom came back and I have to sweep the floor soon. Then maybe fry the croquette then bathe then leave the home.
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