Big Bertha Recipes

INDIAN EGGPLANT - BHURTHA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler. Rub oil on the outside of the egg plant, or coat with cooking spray. Place under the broiler, and cook until the flesh is soft and the skin is blistering off, about 30 minutes. Turn as needed for even cooking. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, and scoop the flesh out of the skin. Discard the skin; chop up the flesh, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the cumin seeds, and let them crackle for a few seconds and turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn them. Add the onion, ginger and garlic; cook and stir until tender. I don't let the onions get very brown. Stir in the tomato, and season with turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook and stir for a few minutes.
• Place the eggplant pieces in the skillet, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes so some of the moisture evaporates. Taste, and adjust seasonings if desired. Garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve.

MOTHER BERTA'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Cut 2 carrots into 1-inch dice; place in a saucepan, cover with water and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and puree in a food processor or blender. Set aside.
• 2. Grate the remaining carrot; reserve.
• 3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. Line the bottom with waxed paper and grease the paper.
• 4. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add the oil, eggs and vanilla; beat well. Fold in the carrot puree, grated carrot, walnuts, coconut and pineapple.
• 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• 6. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes before unmolding it onto a rack, then let the cake cool completely.
• 7. Prepare the frosting: Mix the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Stir in the vanilla and lemon juice. Frost the cake.

BIG BERTHA

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion in hot oil until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Pour whole tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, and green chiles into the pot with the onion and stir; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a casserole dish.
• Spread about half the tomato mixture into the bottom of the prepared dish. Layer half the Cheddar cheese, half the Monterey Jack cheese, and half the corn chips, respectively, atop the tomato sauce. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.
• Stir whipping cream and vinegar together until smooth; drizzle over the top of the casserole.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot in the center, about 1 hour.

BAINGAN BARTHA

Steps:

• Prick the eggplant nicely with the fork all over.
• Broil the eggplant in the oven(right under the broil) for about 7 minutes one side and anther 7 mins on the other side until the skin starts charring. Let it cool and remove the skin. Or roast it in a grill pan after peeling skin or burn it on the stove top. Keep the burnt eggplant in a ziplock bag and sweat it for easy removal of skin.
• Now start chopping this eggplant nicely into as small pieces as possible or until they are mashed nicely.
• Fry the onions in oil + ghee till it turns to golden color. Then add Ginger-Garlic Paste to it and fry for another minute.
• To this add tomatoes and all the rest of the masala's and fry for 2 more minutes until tomatoes are nicely cooked and mashed.
• Now to this add the mashed eggplant + 2 Tbsp of water and cook on light flame for about 5 more minutes until all the ingredients are nicely blended. Add cream. Garnish it with fresh coriander leaves.
• This dish goes very well with plain chapathi's or even rice.

BERTHA'S FAMOUS BROWNIES (JOSEPH ROSE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300*F.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler (the bowl sits ABOVE the simmering water in the pan below). Mix all the dry ingredients (except the walnuts) together in a bowl. When chocolate has melted, add to the dry ingredients and stir for 4-5 minutes. Add in the 4 eggs and mix. Pour into a non-stick 9x13 baking pan. Sprinkle crushed walnuts over top (if using) and lightly press into top of batter.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes.You will be able to tell when they are done when the edges get a little crispy and they have risen about an inch.
• *Note: Even if the brownies are baked properly, the "tooth pick test" will still show it to be "gooey" and not come out cleanly. This is because of the richness of the mixture.
• Remove brownies from the oven and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before glazing.
• Once they have cooled, start the glaze. Whisk the water, preserves and gelatin in a sauce pan. Mix thoroughly and heat to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. While the glaze is hot, use a pastry brush and apply a thick layer of the glaze to the top of brownies. Let sit.
• *Note: It is easier to slice the brownies if you put the pan in the freezer for a few of hours after glazing. This is the hardest part of the recipe -- the waiting!
• Cut into squares and enjoy!