Daring Cooks April Challenge: Edible Savoury Containers

After Masterchef Australia on my TV watch list…..at a close second is ‘Desperate Housewives’. To think that for so long, I ignored it, till my husband got the DVDs from the video club a few months ago and we watched every episode of the last season, every night.

Thumbs up to actors and actresses. The people of Wisteria lane astound me with their powerful rendition of real life challenges and crises we face. Take Bree for instance, gorgeous ginger haired chic. Her satin blouses, pious attitude and quick repentance make her one of my favourite thespians. But I must confess that it is petite Gabby (Eva Longoria) who has me – in her ability to swish and sway her Latino hips in heels so high, I’d need a ladder to get into them.  Her scheming is second to none and sometimes I get overwhelmed with her manipulation but, and this is the bit I love the most about the series……….she always gets found out. The plots are not longwinded and contrived – no there is an introduction, a beginning, the middle and an end. I finish each episode with a clear lesson. A takeaway…..and on TV these days, this is no easy feat!

And then a few days ago, my husband and I watched Piers Morgan on CNN interview Eva Longoria and whatever respect I HAD FOR actresses doubled and tripled with hearing her speak – her hopes, her values. My eyes watered – the compassion and caring with which she spoke of her aspirations, her charities and her new cookbook which I’m longing to buy…but haven’t decided on yet.

And so, as a tribute to her, I went with making tortilla bowls, to hold a savoury filling.

Blog-checking lines: Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! was our Daring Cooks’ April 2011 hostess. Renata challenged us to think “outside the plate” and create our own edible containers! Prizes are being awarded to the most creative edible container and filling, so vote on your favorite from April 17th to May 16th at http://thedaringkitchen.com!

Mandatory Items: To make a SAVORY edible container and fill it with something appropriate.

Variations allowed:

• You may want to use one of the ideas provided, or give them your own twists and your own recipes for the content.
• Or, you can choose to create something totally new, from scratch.
• As long as it is a container, it is edible, and has content suitable for it; I want you all to have a lot of fun challenging your creativity!

The tortilla bowls were easy to make, save for the fact that my tortillas were larger than the required size, causing me to trim them a bit.

I got the idea from Savour, the Royal Caribbean International cook book

I filled the bowls with a lightly spiced Jamaican goat curry which brought back memories. Of Nigeria where I made it often, of Barbados, of heat and warmth.

To accompany the bowl, I made a yogurt dip, with tomato chunks and snippets of spring onions and served it with rice.

Tortilla Bowls

Ingredients

7 inch tortillas

4 inch ramekins

How to

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F)

Gently place each tortilla in the ramekins and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and set.

Remove from the oven and place the tortilla bowl/shell and fill with the curry. Serve with rice, yogurt dip and anything else your heart so desires.

The Verdict

I loved the bowls and will definitely repeat them. The rims ended up toasted – crisp and sweet. The bowls held their shape well though I suspect they would have looked much better had I used the recommended 7 inch tortillas. Not to worry. I scooped out some of the curry onto my rice but the rest; I held up and ate out of the bowl. The sweet and slight chewiness of the tortilla went well with the saucy, veg rich curry and the finely chopped parsley gave it colour as well as flavor.

Thank you Renata for inspiring us to make edible food containers. It was great learning simple techniques to add to our catalogue of kitchen ideas.

Check out what the other Daring Cooks brought to the party.

Do you ever watch Desperate Housewives? Do you enjoy it if you do?

Love X X X[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Daring Cooks April Challenge: Edible Savoury Containers – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]