Potato Skins

Try this very easy starter..... with a lil bit more on the calorie side

Courtesy : Flavor

So you would require

10 - 15 Small potatoes
1Tbsp olive oil
1Tbsp Butter
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese - you can also experiment with other varieties
1/4 cup cream
1/4 tsp mustard sauce / powder
Crushed Black pepper and red chilli flakes - to taste
Salt to taste
Fresh Parsley / Coriander leaves - to garnish


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
Pierce the potatoes with a fork, and arrange the same on a baking sheet (lined over a tray) in a single layer and brush with olive oil
Roast it uncovered, until tender , this may take about 30 - 40 minutes
Once done , allow it to cool
Halves the potatoes , using a melon scooper or a teaspoon , scoop out the flesh / middle part in the bowl
Return the potato skins to the baking tray
Mash the potato flesh along with cream, cheese, salt , pepper, chilly flakes and mustard
Sprinkle some salt over the sides of the potato skin and stuff each with the potato mixture
Bake the potato skins until golden brown on top , for about 15 - 20 minutes

Spinach Cheese Swirls with Avocado

This tempting appetizers look like they are reallyyyyy difficult to make, but guess this is one recipe that a fresher to cooking experiments can try their hands on.....and results in flaky puff with your choice of stuffing and an awesome dressing

(I am sorry for the clumsy pics, as I was in a hurry while preparing this...but next time when I bake this will post more clearer pics )

So all you require is

1 Sheet Puff pastry ( thawed)
All purpose flour to dust
Rolling pin
Oil - for brushing


Stuffing - Cheese Spinach Mixture

1/2 cup Spinach - finely chopped
3 Tbsp of fresh coriander / Parsley leaves - finely chopped
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
2Tbsp Mozzarella Cheese - grated
1Tbsp Parmesan cheese - grated

Heat the oven to 400°F.
Sprinkle the flour on the work surface / baking tray.
Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface and roll it out a bit

Brush the pastry sheet with oil
Mix all the ingredients for the stuffing
Top the sheet with the cheese and spinach.mixture
Starting at a short side, roll up like a jelly roll
Cut into about 20 (1/2-inch) slices
Place the slices, cut-side down, onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Brush the slices with oil
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown
Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 5 minutes



Topping / Dressing

3Tbsp Mashed  ripe avocado
1Tbsp boiled corn kernels
1Tbsp onion - finely chopped
1/4 tsp green chillies - finely chopped
1Tbsp Tomatoes - finely Chopped
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp lemon juice

Mix all the above ingredients and keep aside

Finally........In a plate place the pastry swirls and top it with the Avocado mix
Sprinkle some fresh ground black pepper over it

TIP's:


For a flavor twist, try a different cheese.  Any shredded cheese will work in this recipe
You have endless options for the stuffing's
For best results, make sure to remove as much liquid as you can from the greens before adding it to the pastry. If it's too wet, it may make the pastry soggy
For the toppings, you can also try versions such as Pesto, Hummus, Cucumber - Yogurt Dip,  mixed glazed fruits, Apple Plum Reduction

Baked Beans

I am sure we all love baked beans....buy tins to store it in our pantry.....but its so very simple n easy to try it at home.....It never struck me to post this off....But Thanks to Pragya Goyal for her lovely comment

pragya goyal - nice!! u r sharing your recipes with all...thanks.
One of your recipe of soyabeans..(i think its called baked beans) is really nice and i have tried it a few times....we ate that at your home once before a ddd workshop


All you would require are


1 cup Soya Beans - soaked and boiled
1 small Onion , finely chopped
2 green chillies - finely chopped
1Tbsp Oil
1tsp red chilly powder
Salt to taste
3/4 cup Tomato sauce / ketchup
Bread Slices
Cheese


Heat oil in a pan and add in green chillies and onions, saute until the onions turn light pink
Add in the beans , mix well
Pour in Tomato sauce , add in salt and red chilly powder.Mix well
Let it be on a low flame for 3 - 4mins 


To Serve:


Method1:
You can toast the bread spread a layer of the bean mixture and sprinkle it with grated cheese and serve 


Method 2:
Follow Method 1 and place it inside an oven / OTG for 2 mins or until cheese melts - do not keep this in an microwave else the bread might get soggy


Method 3:
Place the toasted bread in a tawa ....spread the bean mixture and sprinkle cheese , and cover the tawa for 2 mins until cheese melts......remember to have it over medium - light flame so that your bread does not burns 


Method 4:
Toast bread - spread mixture and instead of grated cheese you might add chunks // small cubes of cheese / panner.....and sprinkle it with a little chaat masala....tastes chatpata


Method5:


Grilled Bake Bean Sandwich


Place 2 slices of bread on a board and a cheese slice on both
Spread in some bean mixture, top this with another bread slice
Heat a pan on medium flame and drizzle some olive / vegetable oil 
Place both the sandwiches and cook until both sides are evenly browned
Remove once done, cut in half and serve

Pineapple Cheese Sandwich without Bread

Back in India...You can find numerous street stalls , each having its own unique cuisine and flavor.....I just picked this one from them

But Note: This is would not be very appropriate for someone who prays for not having a sweet tooth


So You would require

 4 Cheese slices
[ Alternatives: You can use Tofu / Cottage cheese slices / cubes]
1Tbsp Pineapple Jam
4 thin slices Cucumbers
2 slices Tomato
1 slice Tinned pineapple
Salt and Pepper

Places 2 cheese slices together ( if you think you have not got the desired thickness you can also place 3 cheese slices together)
Spread in the jam and add in cucumber and tomato
Place a pineapple slice and sprinkle it with salt and pepper
Cover it with another 2 cheese slices and serve

Note: This can also serve as a cocktail snack.....for which you need not cover it with another cheese / tofu / cottage cheese cube ....Toothpick it so that it remains together.....You can replace the jam with an olive....Works great

Mother s Day Special

Happy Mothers Day to all the lovely Mom's out there.....have you every wondered how did it come into Existent....

"One of the early calls to celebrate a Mother's Day in the United States was the "Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward Howe. Written in 1870, it was a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist belief that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at the political level."

In United States, its celebrated on the Second Sunday of May,while there are countries which coincide it with existing celebrations honouring motherhood, like Mothering Sunday in the UK or, in Greece, the Orthodox celebration of the presentation of Jesus to the temple (February 2). In some countries it was changed to dates that were significant to the majority religion, like the Virgin Mary day in Catholic countries, or the birthday of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad in Islamic countries

So today, here are some recipes for our Great Mom's toasting to their Long lives ..........Love you Momma

BAKED SPINACH WITH CORN

Many women have problems with their Hemoglobin(Hb) levels, so here s simple and easy to make recipe with the Iron (Fe) richness of spinach and Tomatoes ,Calcium from Panneer packed with a difference!

Serves 6

Ingredients:-

For the spinach layer

3 cups chopped spinach (palak)

½ cup chopped tomatoes ( Finely )

½ cup chopped onions (Finely)

½ cup boiled tender corn kernels

2 green chillies, finely chopped

1 Tbsp Butter

salt to taste

For the potato layer

2 cups boiled and grated potatoes

½ cup crumbled paneer (cottage cheese)

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon chopped coriander

1 green chilli, chopped

salt to taste

Other Ingredients

  1 tomato, sliced

1 teaspoon fresh cream

3 tablespoons grated cheese  - I used Cheddar but you can try with other variations

 ½ teaspoon oil for greasing

To Proceed :

For the spinach layer

• Heat butter in a pan and saute the onions for a minute. Add the green chillies 
• Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute and then add chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute
• Now add the corn and the seasoning , mix well and set aside

For the potato layer

• Mix all the ingredients well

Finally.....

• Pre heat Oven at 230°C (450°F)
• Take a baking dish and grease it evenly
• Layer it with the potato mixture followed with the spinach and corn mixture 
• Place the tomato slice and spread the cream
• Sprinkle cheese and bake for about 10 - 15 mins or until the cheese turns color
• Serve hot with Garlic bread / Bread sticks 

 Note: let me know if you are looking for a modified Indian Spicy version for the same....

Since We have given our Mom's enuf dose of Fe...need to add something that helps in absorption of Fe....and  here it is

RANGEEN CITRUS COOLER

A tasty and delightful drink prepared using khus syrup, rose syrup, lemon and orange juice

Serves : 4

1/4 cup Khus syrup

1/4 cup Rose syrup

1/4 cup Orange squash

1 cup Sugar       

1/2 cup Lemon juice

Fresh mint leaves to garnish

Take Khus , Rose and Orange in 3 separate bowls and dilute them with 2 - 3 Tbsp water

Pour these in 3 different trays and set them to freeze

Meanwhile heat equal quantities of sugar and water to form the syrup, once it starts to boil set aside to cool

For the Final Touch 

Take tall glasses and pour 2Tbsp of lemon junice, add a Tbsp of sugar syrup to each ( you can add more depending on the sweetness you want ) along with 2Tbsp water. Mix well

Top it along with the colored ice cubes and mint leaves for garnish

Serve Chilled