Simple Bread Pudding

Ingredients;
Bread- 3 to 4 slices,brown or white,roughly sliced
Sweet buns-3,roughly cut into pieces (optional)
Eggs-3,beaten
Milk-100mls,lukewarm
Butter-3tbsp,melted
Sugar-1/2cup
Cinnamon-1 inch
Nuts and raisins.

Powder the cinnamon and sugar together.Sieve it into a bowl.Take a baking tray and grease it with butter.Arrange the bread slices in it.Now pour in melted  butter on top.Mix the milk and eggs with the powdered sugar and pour this mix on top of the bread slices.Allow the bread to immerse and soak in the liquid.Sprinkle some rasins and nuts or may be even some seeds on top.Bake at 180 deg cel fane mode for 30 mins.
Serve hot or cold!!!!
You can make it rich by addiing  cream. 
Alcohol may be used if served on special occassions.

Homemade Scones

Ingredients;
Plain flour-11/2cup
Cold Butter-50gms
Sugar-3tbsps
Baking powder-3/4tsp
Egg-1
Milk-150mls
Raisins-3tbsps
Salt-2pinch

Sieve the flour,baking powder and salt together into a bowl.Add the sugar and raisins to this.Now cut the butter into small cubes and rub it into the flour with your fingers.Whisk the egg with the mlk.Add this mix lttle by little into the flour mix.Using your fingers combine well.Do not knead.When it forms a dough,roll it out to 2cms thickness.Using a cutter cut the scones out into shapes of your choice.Brush the top of the scones with the remaining egg-milk mix.Place the scones onto a greased tray.Bake in a preheated oven at 180deg cel for 25 to 30 mins.
Serve with butter and jam!!!!!!

Irish Beef Stew

Ingredients;
Beef-500gms,cut into cubes
Celery-2stems,chopped
Carrot-1,chopped into cubes
Potato-1,large,chopped into small cubes
Onion-1,sliced lengthwise
Garlic-2cloves,crushed
Bay leaves-2
Thyme-1sprig
Stock/Water-11/2cup
Plain flour-1tbsp
Salt and Pepper as per taste
Oil/Butter-2tbsp

Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the beef.Now heat oil in a pan and brown the meat.After few mins sprinkle the flour and continue tossing it to avoid burning the flour.Add the meat in a saucepan or crock pot followed by the celery,carrot ,potato,thyme and bayleaves.Into the oil remaining in the pan add the onion and garlic and let it cook until translucent.Then add the stock and gently stir well.When it boils add it to the meat in the pot.Allow to boil for 5 mins and then leave it on a medium flame for 40 to 45 mins until the meat is cooked and the stew is of desired consistency.Adjust the seasoning.
Serve hot!!!!!!!!

Guiness beer can be used instead of water to give it the pure Irish flavour
You may use lamb.
If using meat on  bone,take the meat out at last,shred it into pieces and allow into cook in the stew for 2 mins before serving

Shepherd's /Cottage Pie

Ingredients;
For the mince;
Beef/Lamb-1/2kg,minced
Onion-1,medium,chopped
Garlic-2 cloves,chopped
Green peas-1/2cup
Carrot,-1grated
Thyme-1sprig,chopped
Rosemary-1sprig
Worcestershire sauce-2tbsp
Chilli paste/powder-1tsp
Tomato-1,medium,finely chopped or tomato paste-2tbsp
Red wine-1/2cup
Beef stock/water-1/2cup
Pepper powder-1/2tsp
Plain flour-1tbsp(optional)
Salt as per taste
For the mash:
Potatoes-4,large,peeled and cubed
Egg-1
Parmesan cheese-1/2cup
Butter-50gms
Crushed pepper-1/2tsp
Salt as per taste

In a saucepan boil water with 1 tsp salt and let the potatoes cook.Meanwhile heat oil in a pan.Add the garlic to it.When the flavours have infused into the oil add the onion with some salt.Saute till half cooked.Add the minced beef.Brown the meat well.Add the peas,carrot,rosemary and thyme.Stir fry it on a medium flame.Season with pepper and salt.Add in the worcestershire sauce and the chilli and tomato paste.Mix and add in the red wine,followed by stock.Close the lid and allow the mince to cook for 15mins.Add more water if required in between to avoid burning.When the meat is cooked allow the gravy to thicken.You may opt to add flour to thicken it fast(I did not do that).
Now mash the potatoes to a smooth form.Add in the butter,parmesan cheese,egg,pepper and salt.Mix it well.Take a casserole and add in the mince.Top it up with creamy layer of mashed potatoes.Draw streaks on the mash with a fork.Allow to cook in the oven for 15 to 20 mins,until the top turns golden coloured.
Serve!!!!!!!!!!!

*I used red potatoes cos it cook faster
*Parmesan is a must to get a very  flavourful mash
*Serve with veggies of your choice

Croissant French Toast

Ingredients;
Croissants-2,half it lengthwise to make 4
Egg-1
Milk-1oz
Sugar-1tsp
Butter-2tbsp
Oil-1tsp

Beat the milk,egg and sugar together soak the croissants in it.Heat oil on a griddle or a pan ,add butter.When the butter melts,add the soaked croissants on it.Let it cook on both sides until it gets a golden colour.

*Add vanilla,cinnamon or cardamom to the egg mix for flavour.
*Serve with honey.

Banoffi Pie

This recipe sounds easy but I tried it 3 times and all the time it went into the bin.My friend Ann Watkins made ths dessert for us and believe me it was heaven.So nice of her to share and write down the recipe.It took me few months to try it out again but the result was really yummy and nearly as good as Ann's.

Ingredients

Mcvities digestive biscuits-1pkt,crushed
Butter-1/2pound
Condensed milk -2cans or readymade caramel-2 cans
Bananas-3
Cream-200 mls
Chocolate for garnishing

To prepare the base,melt the butter and add the powdered biscuits into it.Place this mixture into a cake tin and leave it in the fridge to set
In a large saucepan of boiling water put the 2 cans of condensed milk and leave it to boil for 2 hours.See that the water completely covers the cans throughout.(you may choose to buy the readymade caramel)
Now remove the cans let it cool.Open and stir  the toffee vigorously.Arrange sliced bananas on base.Add the toffee on top and leave it to set in the fridge.
When ready to serve add the whipped cream and twirl or grate the chocolate on to the pie for decoration.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!Perfect dessert!!!!!!!!!

Grilled portobello mushrooms with cheese filling

Ingredients;

Portobello mushrooms-5

cheese 100 gms

coriander leaves-2 sprig

basil or mint leaves-4 to 5 leaves

jalapeno pepper or green chilli or capsicum-deseeded-minced 2tbsp

garlic-3 cloves

onion minced-2tbsp

lemon juice-1tbsp

olive oil or butter 1 to 2 tsp

salt as per taste

Remove the stalk of the mushrooms.Wash and dry it.Brush the mushroom with olive oil or butter.Now mince the herbs,garlic, pepper and onion with salt in a chopper.add the lemon juice and cheese to this.Stuff this on top of the mushrooms.Sprinkle 1tsp olive oil on top.Grill it in a preheated oven for 15 mins at 200 deg cel.

Serve as a main or side dish!!!!!!!!!!!

Egg in Bread

Today is a nice and sunny day;so is this recipe thats easy and  guarantees a smile on faces.

Ingredients;

Bread slices

eggs

butter-1tsp

oil-1tsp

salt

crushed pepper

Remove the crusty edges of the bread and cut out a circle from the centre of the bread.

You may cut the desired shape.Like a heart for valentine's day or a bunny on easter but to keep it simple I cut out a circle.

Now heat a pan add the oil and butter and place the bread on and let it fry one side.Then flip on to the other side,low the flame.Now break an egg and pour it into the centre of the toast keeping the yolk intact.Allow  the egg to cook on a low flame.Sprinkle some salt and crushed pepper.

Serve with grilled tomatoes , mushrooms or just like that....

Caramalised Peach Pie

This is a simple fruit pie.A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough shell that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients.

Ingredients;

Peaches-stoned and thinly sliced lengthwise

Brown sugar-1/2 cup

Butter-25 gm

Cinnamon powder-1/2 tsp

Salt-1/2 tsp

Short crust pastry dough-1pkt

flour-for dusting

Egg white-1egg

I used Jusroll short crust pastry.

Heat the butter in a pan.Add the sugar ,salt and cinnamon powder.When the sugar melts ,add the peaches and allow to cook for 5 minutes.

 Divide the shortcrust pastry dough into 2.Roll out each into circles-1 big and 1 small.Line the pie dish with the bigger pastry.

Place the cooled caramalised peaches in the pie.

Cover the pie with the smaller circle.Press the edges.You may give any design to the edges.Paint with egg white.Pierce the top with fork to let out steam.bake at 190 deg cel for 40 minutes in a preheated oven.

Serve with cold vanilla Ice cream!!!!!!

Chicken and Penne Bake

This is an adaptation from exclusively food.The original recipe calls for 150 gm of penne but I have added 300 gms.

Ingredients;

Penne-150 to 300 gms

salt

oil-2tbsp

Chicken-350 gms-cubed

Bacon-60 gms,finely chopped

onion-1 med,chopped

mushrooms-1/4 cup,roughly chopped

garlic-2 finely chopped

Butter-25 gm

Flour-30 gms

pepper-2 to3 tsp

chicken stock-11/2 cup

milk-11/2 cup

grated cheese-50 gms

Carrot-1 cleaned and chopped small

Topping

mozarella cheese-50 gms

cheddar cheese-50 gms

Cook the penne pasta as per the instruction on the packet.add 1 tsp of oil and salt to this.When cooked.Strain and keep it aside.

Add 1 tbsp of oil,add in the onion and bacon and stir fry it for 6 mins.Remove from the flame.

I boiled the chicken with some salt.When done Remove the chicken pieces and keep the stock.Heat the pan ,Add oil and put in the chicken ,mushroom and diced carrot.Stir fry for 5 mins.Now in a separate pan.Add the butter,When the butter melts,put the flour and cook on a medium flame till the raw smell is gone.add the cheese and crushed pepper .por in the stock and milk.

When it heats,add the onion,bacon,chicken and vegetables with the cooked penne.Mix well and pour it in an oven friendly tray.add the mozarella and cheddar topping.

Bake in a preheated oven at 200 deg cel for 20 mins

When done allow to stand for 5 mins and SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fish Pie

This blog has surely enabled me to widen my friend circle.I easily run out of topics but this blog has enabled me to develop in a better way ; food and recipes being the matter of talk.There are many friends who have shared with me their own secret recipes and also who have helped me to adv my blog.This recipe is from  a cook book that was treasured by one of my friend Danielle.I am just trying to incorporate food from different parts of the world . 

Fish Pie is a traditional British dish.It is made from white fish with bechamel sauce.I have used cod, smoked salmon and prawns.

Ingredients;

Cod-250 gms- cubed

smoked salmon-100 gms-shedded

prawns-100 gms

onion-1 finely chopped

carrot-1 grated

ginger-1/2inch minced

potato 4 medium-boiled and mashed

green peas-50 gms

spinach-50 to 100 gms

milk-100mls

chopped parsley-2tbsp

lemon rind-1tsp

lemon juice-1tbsp

crushed pepper-1tsp

cheese-50 gms gated

oil-1to2 tbsp

salt as per taste

Heat oil in a pan.Add the onions,carrot and ginger.Saut it well.Now add the cod, salmon and prawns.add the lemon rind,pepper,parsleyand salt.Now add the milk and let it cook for 2 minutes.Now add the spinach leaves.close the lid and leave it for 2 minutes.

Mash the potatoes.Add 2 tbsp of milk to make it soft.Add green peas to this and salt.

Take an oven friendly dish.pour in the fish.Now spread the mashed potatoes and peas mixture on top.top it with cheese.

Brown it in a hot oven ,approx 15 to 20 minutes at 180 to 200 deg cel.

Serve hot with baked beans or vegetable of your choice.