Mushroom Baby-corn Muffin

You must have read in my earlier post that preparing lunchbox for my 8 year old girl has become a nightmare for me. The reason, what ever or how much tasty dishes I share in her lunch box it will be surely coming back home only half eaten. I started spending sleepless nights - 6 hrs +2 hours stay away from home with such a little food consumption, must be badly affecting the lil one's health. So  in the evenings I started making myself occupied by giving trials with different snack idea. If the lil one approves then 'BINGO'.. Next day that will go in her tiffin box. The other day I made these little savoury muffins that did tickle my princess's taste bud and to my surprise the next day I found her tiffin box empty. Not only she but her friends loved it so much and now I have to send few extra so that my princess and her friends can have a snack party everyday. So here is recipe of Mushroom Baby-corn Muffin:

Ingredients

{Yeilds - 3-4 muffin (medium size)}

Egg - 2

Flour - 1 tbspn

Mushroom & Baby Corn - 1/2 cup chopped

Onion- 1/2 of one small chopped

Cream Cheese - 1 tbspn (Optional - See Notes)

Pizza Cheese - 1 tbspn (See Notes)

Nutmeg powder- a pinch (See Notes)

Tobasco/ Chili Sauce - 3 to 4 drops or as per taste.

Salt, Sugar & Black Pepper Powder - As per taste

Butter - 1 tspn

Method

1. Whisk two eggs and flour, add a pinch of salt and keep aside.

2. Heat a pan . Add butter, let it melt down then add garlic. Saute for a minute.

3. Add chopped onion. Fry them for a couple of minutes.

4. Add the Mushroom and Baby corn. Fry for 2 minutes more. 

5. Add salt, pepper, sugar and cream cheese.

6. Cook then in a low flame until the cream cheese gets melted and well mixed.

7. Sprinkle the nutmeg powder, mix well.

8. Cool the mixture for a while then add it with the egg mixture. Add the Pizza cheese and Tobasco/ chili sauce too.

9. Now take 3- 4 muffin cups. Pour the mixture evenly in each cup.

10. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 180 degree C.

11. Serve warm with some dips/ sauce.

Notes:

1. One can mix other vegetables too.

2.  One can add chicken/ bacon or sausages to make it more tasty.

3. To make Nutmeg Powder just take the nutmeg and grate it in a fine grater.

4. I had Britannia Cream cheese at home so used it here. But if it one doesn't have any just increase the cheese portion.

5. Instead of Pizza cheese,  Amul cheese cube can also be used.

Stuffed Omelette

"What you have Chhotu?" 

Sandy was thoroughly drenched. There was no point of taking any shelter anymore. But he was starving for a cup of tea or coffee to warm up his tired limbs and naturally something to eat. He was on his way back home and hitching for last 20 minutes for a taxi. And moreover the sudden rain had ruined his entire romantic mood that was weaving the future he wanted to spend with Sai. 

"Namaste Dada!!! What you want?" The boy popped up from this dark shadowy roadside snack bar. Sandy was waiting outside and a bit in hesitant whether to enter or not. But the jocund welcome tone of the boy made him comfortable to reserve a corner sit for him.

"First serve me a hot tea and something to eat." Sandy replied.

"Ok. Then try our Egg Noodles.." Cackled the boy.

Sandy just wanted something to eat and the words -Egg Noddles, made his stomach rumbled with a jiggle. He nodded his head and ordered to bring it quickly. He chose a corner table next to the door. So that the dripping water drops from his body could flow down through the door, brushing the wet steps and then get mingled in the water logged street. Ah, this is his city of joy, where a 10 minutes heavy rain turns a dry road into a creek. He could see the two way traffic moving in slow space splashing the water which is curling down again to kiss the stagnant water. 

"Ah, Sai where are you!!!" Sandy felt a bolted emotion suddenly choked his throat. He was missing her so much. If she was here she would be jumping like a little girl and sharing her single precious excitement while enjoying the incessant rain and the music of the droplets paring with the splashing water. She loves rain......Sandy took out his phone and clicked a picture and sent Sai through whatsapp. A sad smiley blinked up right away and then:

"Missing me?"

"Hun.."

"Love you.."

"Love you too.."

"Dada your tea and Egg Noodles.." Chhotu disrupted the song of the love birds and served the ordered dish.

"What is this?, I ordered for Egg Noodles." Sandy with a surprised face asked the boy.

The boy jovially replied, "Are Dada this is the special Egg Noodles. Once you eat, you will ask for more." The boy vanished inside in no time. 

Sandy took a look around the room. It was quite full. All were busy in chatting or engaged with their phones. Munching, sipping and gulping. Sandy's face reflected a kind of disappointment. Though he was an egg lover, right now he was not in a mood to have an Omlette. He was craving more for the Egg Noodles. His mind was slowly getting heated up. He clicked a picture of the dish and sent it to Sai:

"At which angle will you call it Egg Noodles??"

"What!! Are you kidding?? This is an Omlette... hahaha "

"I ordered for the famous Egg Noodles of this place and this is what I was served."

"Hahahaha...Enjoy..."

Sandy was very hungry and whatever was served in front of him had started to lure him. He cut a piece and forked it to make a way to his mouth. Oh, my what was this peeping out!!! Noodles!!!! Therefore the Omlette was looking so fatty than the usual one. A smile twinkled in his face. He took a bigger piece along with the noodles and then he closed his eyes. A sheer joy of happiness shivered down through his veins. He had never tasted such a tasty dish before in his life. 

"Sai, it is Egg Noodles!!!! And it is delicious. I will surely bring you here to taste it."

"What??"

"I mean it is Egg Noodles or rather I should say Stuffed Omlette with noodles."

"Hahahahaha.....So lesson learnt don't make assumption by name. Taste it and then decide... ;) :P"

Sandy finished his plate in no time. And the hot tea helped him to regain back his energy again to start his struggle to reach home through his water logged pathway.

"Chhotu, the Egg Noodles was awesome."

"I told you..It is the famous dish here.." The happy boy bid good bye to Sandy holding a tip of ten rupees in his hand.

Ingredients:

You need some stuffing. Her I have taken Vegetable Noodles (The normal way we make at home)

For each roll we need 2 eggs

Grated Cheese (as per requirement)

Tomato Sauce

Salt to taste

Black pepper powder

Oil/butter for frying

Method:

1. Beat two eggs nicely. Ad Salt and Black pepper powder as per taste.

2. Take a non-stick pan. Heat Oil/Butter and then pour the Egg. Make sure to spread it evenly in a round big circle. 

3. In a low flame let it cook till the surface looks done. Now take small portion of the stuffing (Here I added homemade noodles) and line vertically. Leave a little space on the top and the bottom. Top some grated cheese on it. In skilled hand roll the omlette and wrap the noodles. Let it be done for another couple of minutes. And then serve with some ketchup or salad.

Notes:

1. You can make many variations of it. Different kinds of stuffing can me made, like fried rice, stir fried vegetables, stir fried sausages, dry minced chicken or some stir fried boneless chicken  etc.

2. If you want to avoid the egg yolk then just make it with egg whites. It comes out pretty well. I often make it for my parents and in-laws as they are prone to cholesterol. 

 Nutritional Value:
For the kids it is very healthy and they like it when you serve it with the variations mentioned above. Along with the egg one can get the supplemented proteins, vitamins along through the vegetables too.

Egg Spinach Mushroom Grilled Sandwich

I am living with the sandwich lovers. And that reason always proved me a bad wife and a bad mamma. Let me reason the fact. I always try to satisfy the two hearts with the simplest sandwiches which will take hardly two minutes to make. Like the cheese sandwiches, salad sandwiches et al. Now the other day to relieve them from their boring and Yakki (in my daughter's word) breakfasts and of course to rescue myself from their fury, I decided to treat them with some YAMMY sandwich that I have never prepared before. And no need to say I got my pedestal back. I crowned to be the perfect cook and the best Mamma. So you all just keep on imagining how much praises I bagged in on that auspicious day……

Ok you guys are bored enough. Let’s jump straight to the Egg Spinach Mushroom Grilled Sandwich. Do make it and give a nice feedback which I am surely going to show my family… (Grinning till the ear ends). So recipe here follows:

Egg Spinach Mushroom Grilled Sandwich

(8 sandwiches)

Ingredients:

Egg- 2 ( beaten)

Sandwich Bread- 8 pieces (Brown /white- up to your choice)

Spinach(washed and chopped)- 1 cup

Mushroom(chopped)- 1 cup

Grated Cheese- 1/2 cup

Chopped Garlic- 1/2 table spoon

Salt & Sugar -According to taste.

White pepper- A dash

Oregano Seasoning - 1/4 tea spoon

Tomato Sauce- 1 tea spoon

Olive oil- 1 table spoon

Butter to grease.

Method:

1. Take a pan or kadai heat the  oil and add the garlic. Then add the spinach and the mushroom. Saute for few minutes then add all the other ingredients except the Egg, Cheese and Bread. Stir nicely till the spinach is well cooked and dry. Then add the egg, fry nicely till it takes a perfect dry texture. Take off the stove.

2. Take the breads and cut the sides. Spread the Spinach spread on 4 breads and top them with grated cheese. Cover the four breads with the other four breads.

3. Now grease the Sandwich griller with butter and grill the sandwich till it is done. Cut it in a triangular shape and enjoy with sauce or some dip.

Pancake Roll

I prepared and took the snaps of the Pancake Roll, when Priya of Priya's Easy n Tasty Recipes, announced the Pancake event, a decade back. And then I totally forgot to post it and to send it for the event. I am like this. Due to my forgetfulness I rarely participate in the events. Today while spending few moments with the old memories I suddenly found the snaps which I treasured very nicely in my web album. Before I forget again I am posting it right now. Priya this is for you. This is a very common breakfast at our home. Both my daughter and hubby like it very much. Very easy to make and taste too good.I think it is also common in your kitchen too. Let me share how I make.

Ingredients:-

Pancake:

• Flour-1/2 cup(approx)

• Milk-1/2 cup

• 2 eggs

• Salt- As per taste

• Sugar- As per taste

Filling:

• Chopped Tomato, carrot and cucumber-2 cups

• Mayonnaise- 1 table spoon

• Italian seasoning- As per taste

• Black pepper-As per taste

• Grated cheese -1/2 cup (optional)

• Salt & Sugar-As per taste

Butter/oil to fry

Method:-

1. Mix all the ingredients written under pancake and make a nice and smooth batter. If you feel its too watery then add little bit of flour more. Or if you think its too thick then add little bit of milk.

2. In another bow mix all the ingredients written under Filling. And mix well together.

3. Heat oil/butter in a non stick pan. Pour the batter onto the pan, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Flip the other side when its done. Take a spoon full of filling and pour in a line on the pancake. Then fold the right side then the left side in roll shape.

4. Serve hot with sauce.

Golden Popovers

Popovers are very easy to make as well as tasty to serve with any side dish. Takes very little time to prepare, is one of my favourite dishes which I love to prepare. I always prefer to spend less time in the kitchen. Therefore this is a perfect dish for people like me, who want to prepare a healthy full meal for their family spending less time and energy and specially if the house has a kid. This is a very healthy and tasty dish for kids as my daughter loves it very much. Popover is actually a light, hollow roll made from an egg batter similar to that used in making Yorkshire pudding (Yorkshire pudding is a dish that originated in Yorkshire, England. It is made from this kind of batter). The name "popover" comes from the fact that the batter swells or "pops" over the top of the baking cups while baking.

Ingredients:-

Egg - 3 (room temp)


Milk - 1 ¼ cup (room temp)


All purposes flour - 1 ¼ cup


Salt - ¼ tablespoon

Method:-

1. Heat oven to 450 F. Usually the popovers are baked in the popover cups or custard cups. I have taken the muffin pan for to prepare the popovers, because I didn’t have any of those. Generously grease the cups of the pan. In small bowl, beat egg with a beater or a wire whish until it turns in to lemon coloured and foamy. Add milk, blend well.

2. Add flour and salt; beat with the beater just until the batter is smooth and foamy on top. Pour the batter in each greased cup, filling about 2/3 full.

3. Bake at 450 F for 15 mins (DO NOT OPEN OVEN). Reduce over to 350F. Bake additional 25-30 mins or until the popovers become high, hollow deep, golden brown. Remove from oven, insert sharp knife into each popover to allow steam to escape. Remove from cups. Serve warm.

I served the Popovers with White Gravy Chicken, a very simple, easy and short time taking recipe too. Boil boneless chicken cube with a pinch of salt. Heat the pan and prepare the white sauce gravy with butter, flour, milk and chicken stock (the stock of the boil chicken). Season it with black pepper, salt and sugar. Add the chicken cubes. Fold nicely with the sauce. Additional veggies can be added. I added cucumber and red bell pepper. Serve hot with the Popovers. A perfect full and healthy combination for the main course meal...

Egg Delight

If anybody asks me what the recent nightmare you are suffering from?? I think I would definitely answer- What and how to feed my child.

When a baby starts eating the solid foods, it becomes a real pleasure and the introduction of variety of foods becomes a real challenge and excitement for the mom. But the preparation of a baby is though easy, and difficult at a time, as the mom always has to keep few important things mind, like-

1. The food should be healthy,
2. Your baby should not be allergic with the food.
3. The food should fulfil the calorie requirement of your child.
4. Your child should enjoy the food while having it.


But this excitement changes to a nightmare soon when your child becomes choosy in selection her/his own food and rejects them randomly.


It is same for my 2 and 9months old too. I studied her a lot and then came to this conclusion-
when I serve a food for her, she first sees the colour, then how it is presented and then whether we are also having it or not. The next step is whether it is tasty in her mouth or not. One funny part is here- a dish may be not so tasty to her, but if we eat that in front of her and cheers like- “oh, what a food...it’s really very good.” She uses to have it.

Egg is very nutritious for a child. Mainly the boiled egg. But my daughter always refuses egg. So few days ago after waking up from her noon time siesta, my daughter felt very hungry. That day is my monthly food shopping day and my pantry is just running out of groceries. I planned that in the evening she woul have milk and cornflakes. But suddenly my eyes stuck upon a single remaining egg and a cheese cube. I crossed my fingers and tried this recipe as her evening dish. And to my wonder she loved and enjoyed it very much. The recipe as follows:-


Ingredients:-

Egg- 1
Shredded cheese- 1 table spoon.
Slat- A pinch
Black pepper- A pinch
You can also add some boiled veggies with it. (Optional).
You can add butter too to add few more calories.


Method:-

Whisk the egg adding all the ingredients with it. Pour th mix in to a microwave proof bowl. Microwave it in normal temperature for 3 to 4 minutes. Then serve hot in a serving plate , peeling out the baked egg carefully with a knife, decorating it after your mind.

Few Ideas:-

1. You can microwave the dish in to some designer container. So that after peeling, it will look more attractive.

2. You can use cookie cutters too to give the dish new shapes and design. And don’t forget to tell your child to help it. S/He will love to help you and the interest of having food will also definitely increase at a time.

The best parts of this recipe are-

1. It takes the shortest time and energy.

2. The dish is very healthy and full of Calories.

3. And if your child loves it then it becomes the hot pot recipe in your cook book.

This recipe is off to the event  KID'S DELIGHT at Spice your Life.