Layered Pasta bake with broccoli

I got to buy some fresh broccoli over the weekend. I was thinking of making a broccoli pesto sauce that I had seen while food gawking on the internet. Since I have run out of any kind of nut that I could use in the pesto, I decide on making a pasta bake. The alternate was a quiche but that would mean having to see the pack of pasta lying as is.

Broccoli is one vegetable that I've seen in the exotic section of every super market. This veggie is actually found so easily in the local market in Ooty and at a much cheaper price. Earlier I used to refuse to reach out for it cause of the exorbitant MRP displayed. Now, as I keep trying out different dishes and like to choose different veggies, this gets into the basket once in a while.

Broccoli has a very high iron content and I've seen it in many forms in the dabbas of pregnant and anaemic women. When buying broccoli, stay away from the ones which are turning brown at the tips of the florets.

Now, when it comes to this dish, the seasoning is all that matters. So ensure you add sufficient salt and pepper.

Equipment used :

• gas stove
• convection bake option in combination microwave
• round cake tin

Difficulty : Easy

Preparation time : 15 minutes

Cooking time : 25 minutes + 30 minutes for baking

Ingredients (Serves 2 as main course):

1. 1/2 cup of macaroni shell
2. 1/4 cup milk
3. 2 eggs
4. 1 head of broccoli
5. 1 largeonion chopped
6. 4 tomatoes chopped
7. 1 large pod of garlic chopped finely
8. 1 tbsp butter
9. 1 tsp olive oil
10. 2 tsp pepper (adjust according to taste)
11. 1/4 cup or more of grated cheddar cheese
12. Breadcrumbs - optional
13. Salt to taste

 How I made it :

1. Cook the pasta as per the instructions on pack. Reserve the hot water.
2. Put florets of broccoli into the hot water, while you chop onions, garlic and tomatoes.
3. In a pan, put in the garlic, butter and oil.
4. Turn on the flame and let the butter melt and oil get heated up.
5. Put in the onions and fry till translucent and pink.
6. Add the tomatoes and cook till soft.
7. Add the broccoli florets without the water. Discard the water now.
8. Add salt and pepper and let the broccoli cook. Turn off heat when the broccoli is 80% cooked.
9. In another bowl, beat the eggs and add milk. Add a little salt and pepper.
10. Preheat oven at 180 degree C
11. In a cake tin, layer with pasta.
12. Next put the broccoli mix.
13. Next sprinkle the cheese, as much as you like.
14. Pour over the egg and milk mixture.
15. I had some bread crumbs which I sprinkled on the top. This can be avoided. 
16. Bake for 30 minutes until top is golden brown.
17. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

6

Baked Cheddar CheeseCake recipe

Once in a year, I am treated to CheeseCakes from D&N Confectionary, Japan. Thanks to my lovely brother who does not forget to get me and solely me a separate pack. Here's a link to the confectionary in Japan that makes these delicacies. 

Last year I had tried to make a similar cheesecake by following Diana's Desserts but then I think I did something wrong. I had two packs of cheddar cheese in my pantry and I've got to finish it all within the next month and so I decided to try cheese cake one more time. This time I tried it following the recipe from here. It turned out quite nice, soft, fluffy and light, melts in the mouth. However, the next time I will add vanilla essence or vanilla extract as the cake tasted too eggy. 

It being Valentine's season, I tried cutting out a heart (bleh).

Ingredients :

1. 50g/1/2 cup all purpose flour
2. 50ml milk
3. 50g butter
4. 30g cheddar cheese grated finely
5. 3 eggs - separated
6. 50g sugar - about 3 and 1/4 tablespoons
7. Vanilla Extract/Vanilla Powder - 1 tsp

How I made it : 

1. Sift the flour and keep aside. 
2. In a microwave safe bowl, place the butter and cheese.
3. Microwave on low power - about 20-40 for 1 minute.
4. Mix and repeat step 2 until the cheese has completely melted into the butter. This is a replacement for double boiling. I'm too afraid of double boiling lest I crack the little crockery that I have and also lose my precious ingredients.
5. Add the milk and let this mixture cool.
6. In a bowl, add flour, egg yolks and the cooled mixture from 5. 
7. Beat with a hand blender until well incorporated. Don't panic if this is a bit sticky and stretchy. All will be well once we add the egg whites. NO, DON'T add the egg whites yet.
8. Mix in the vanilla powder.
9. Preheat oven at 150 degree C. The time taken to preheat will be the same as the time taken to beat the egg whites.
10. Prepare your tin. Line with baking paper. I do not have baking paper and hence lined with aluminium foil. I then greased the aluminium foil lightly.
11. In another bowl, beat the egg whites on high until soft peaks begin to form.
12. Slowly add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time.  Continue beating until the egg whites are quite firm and the peaks hold. 
13. Mix in half of this egg white mixture with that of step 7. Mix well so that it is well combined. 
14. Add in the remaining. Fold it in until well incorporated.
15. Pour into round 7 inch cake tin and bake for 70 minutes. Place this cake tin in a deep tray or plate filled with water. 
16. I had covered my cake completely with anothet layer of foil once I was happy with the coloring on the top. This ensures
1. No further coloring, hardening of the top happens
2. The heat is well retained and the cake is completely cooekd through.
17. Take out of the pan as soon as the timer is done. Allow it to cool completely.

Tips :

1. Use only a 7 inch cake tin and that too a round one. The last time I had taken a chance with a square one and it did not set. 
2. Mix the whites and yolk batter well. Do not beat but fold one into the other slowly and gently.
3. Do not microwave the cheese butter mixture on high. Do it on a low power and for not more than one minute at a time. This is a replacement for double boiling.
4. Ensure that the cheese is well incoporated in the butter else you will have it all settle at the bottom of your cake.

2

Mac Cheese n Egg

Baked vegetables with toasted bread used to be a dinner that my entire family used to like. My aunt , who did not have an oven for sometime, used to make it on the gas stove using two hot tawas. I've done that too, when there have been power cuts. I was reminded of my ma's baked veggies when I had the pleasure of tasting this yummy mac n cheese dish. In the following grocery shopping session I had picked up macaroni from the store. I forgot about it until I found this packet when trying to empty all the jars in my kitchen. So here's how I made it.

I am Sending to Know Your Dairy – Cheese and Jagruti’s Page. Thanks to Sowmya from Nivedhanam's for this opportunity.

Ingredients (Serves 4 with bread) :

1. 100 g macaroni shell/elbow
2. 100g +25g cheddar cheese
3. 1 cup milk
4. 1 1/2 tbsp butter
5. 1 tbsp maida
6. 2 tsp fresh ground pepper corns
7. Salt to taste
8. 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
9. Finely chopped carrot, zapped in the microwave on high for 2 minutes (optional)
10. 4 small brinjal/eggplant, sliced and pan fried with a little oil and salt.(optional)
11. Bread crumbs - optional
12. Egg - optional

How I made it :

1. Preheat oven at 180 degree C.
2. Boil the macaroni as per instructions on the pack.  Drain, rinse in cool water and keep aside. I added some finely chopped carrots and pan fried eggplant at the bottom.
3. Grate 100g cheese into milk and gently warm to melt the cheese in the milk.
4. In a pan, heat the butter.
5. Add the maida and fry. Don't let it burn or turn colour. Keep stirring.
6. Add the warm milk little by little, making sure that there are no lumps. 
7. Add salt and pepper. Let this bubble until it coats the back of the spoon as shown in the picture.
8. Pour this over the macaroni and veggies. 
9. Next top with the tomato ketchip.
10. Grate 25g cheese on top.
11. Sprinkle bread crumbs.
12. Break an egg over the top. I got this idea from another healthy recipe involving a bake made from potatoes and chickpeas.
13. Put into oven and bake for 30 minutes. 
14. Serve hot. Since this is a complete pasta type dish, you can skip the bread. 

It had a nice crust on the top because of the bread crumbs and the egg and veggies gave it a nice healthy twist.

3

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients :
Whole wheat bread - 2 slices
2 cheese slices
A little chopped onion
Pepper to taste
Chopped bell peppers
Butter about 1 tbsp
1 small green chilly finely chopped - adjust as per taste

How I made it :
1. Butter the bread.
2. Place a cheese slice on each slice of bread
3. Sprinkle some pepper. There is no need of salt as the processed cheddar cheese slices are already quite salty.
4. Sprinkle onions, green chillies and coloured bell peppers.
5. Grill in sandwich maker and voila hot, crispy sandwich is ready.

0

Mushroom Bread Burger with baked Mc Cain Smileys

I just love mushrooms since I was a kid. Fortunately, it was one of the things that both my dad and I liked. Usually, we'd be arguing over what was to be made for lunch or dinner cause of our differing tastes. I always preferred roti and sabji and he would prefer south indian meals with rice. I had mushrooms as well as buns the other day and so tried this recipe out. It was scrumptuous. This time, I did not get the buns but had fresh bread at hand, so decided to get experimental.

This recipe is adapted from Mushroom Veggie Burger Recipe. Thanks to Pras for taking this yummy looking picture.

Ingredients :
For the patty
1. Button Mushrooms - 1 packet
2. Onion - 1/2 chopped
3. Garlic - 6 cloves minced
4. Olive oil - 3 tbsp
5. Salt to taste
6. Pepper to taste
7. Oats - 1/2 cup ( I don't know what rolled oats are so just used the Quaker oats that I have at hand)
8. Bread crumbs - 3/4 cup
9. Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup - I had bought this at acres wild, coonoor. It is also sold at the "Bee Museum" in Ooty.
10. Eggs - 2 beaten
11. Oregano - I did not have any at hand this time
For the burger
12. Tomato - 1 sliced
13. Cucumber - 10 slices
14. Pudina chutney - recipe Mom's pudina chutney
15. Tomato sauce
16. Cheese slices - 5
17. Bread slices - 10
18. Butter

Method:
For the patty
1. Heat the oil in a pan. Fry the garlic, onions and sliced mushrooms till all the water that the mushroom leaves out evaporates.
2. Mix the above mixture with the oats, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, oregano, salt and pepper. Leave this aside for minimum 15 minutes.
3. Shape into patties of desired shape.
4. Heat oil on a gridle/tawa - just enough to form a thin coating of oil on the tawa.
5. Place the patties and let them cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat on either side.
Assembling the "bread" burger
1. Butter 5 slices of bread and heat them on a tawa/gridle till they just start getting brown - this firms them up.
2. On the other 5 slices of bread, spread out the pudina chutney as much as you would like. Place these to warm up on the tawa. Make sure to place the plain side on the tawa.
3. On the buttered side of the bread, place the cheese slice. Place a slice of cucumber and a slice of tomato. Place the hot patty on top. Top that with another slice each of cucumber and tomato. You could add some tomato ketchup. Cover with the other bread slice.

Now, warm this up for 30 seconds in the microwave and serve hot with tomato ketchup. I also added baked McCain Smileys to the plate.  These smileys were introduced to me by a colleague and friend, Rachna Gupta.  She also did suggest using Robin Cuffs N Collars on a stain, which seemed like of oil on my new jacket, which actually works. Now, just as she does, I first use Robin Cuffs N Collars on any stain.
Alright, awright.. enough of rambling..... Go ahead and enjoy this yummy hearty burger.

2

Tomato cheese rice

The other day I wanted to make pizzas. Unfortunately, after I had prepared the toppings, I found that the base was bad. So, I used my intuition and made the following

Ingredients:
One large onion - sliced
Two large tomatoes - sliced/chopped
Garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Cheese - 3 cubes grated
Oil - 3/4 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Rice - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups

Method:
Heat oil in a pan. Once oil is hot, put in the sliced onions. Once the onions start turning brown, put in the garlic paste. Put in red chilli powder and fry for a minute. Then add the tomatoes and the salt. Once tomatoes are cooked and soggy, turn off heat and leave to cool. Grind this into a paste.

Put this paste in a cooker alongwith the rice, cheese and water. Pressure cook till rice is done.
Tasty and yummy tomato cheese rice is ready :)

2