SAVORY ONION CORN BREAD

If you're looking for quick, easy and delicious bread this recipe is what you should try. It was  sweet and spicy also a great make ahead meal or a good finger food.

Combination of creamed corn and spices blended so well to create a  flavourful  and  satisfying  bread, you will not be able to stop eating.. In fact I have hidden certain portion just for a photo shoot before it was eaten up. 

Sauteed onion and vegetables keep them light and savory. Addition of chili powder really jazz up this quick bread but it can be replaced with freshly ground black pepper. I used curry leaves as i didn't have parsley. Perfect recipe for changing around and adding whatever it is you fancy. All the family were very impressed!

SAVORY ONION  CORN BREAD
Yield    :   9 servings

1 C  all purpose flour
1 C  whole wheat flour
1 big onion chopped
3  tablespoons  butter
1/2 C  cubed carrot
5 florets broccoli thinly sliced
1 C  cream style corn
1 C  evaporated milk
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tablespoon torn curry leaves//parsley
salt to taste
red chili sliced for garnish

METHOD

Melt the butter in a flat pan, saute the onion until soft, add in carrot, broccoli, chili powder, curry leaves, salt and turmeric. Stir for 1 minute, remove from heat.

Preheat oven @ 190C, grease 8in pan.

Whisk together milk, salt and creamed corn.

Combine corn mixture with flour, whisking together to mix thoroughly, spoon into prepared pan. Sprinkle with fresh red chili and curry leaves.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out.

SWEET GREEN BEAN SOUP

One of popular South East Asian desserts made with whole dried green bean (mung bean), coconut milk and palm sugar. It is slow cooked until the beans become soft.

Dried green beans are commonly used to make dessert by processing them into flour. This flour is then churned  into delicious dessert , one such dessert is Koleh Koleh (Green Bean Pudding).

Green bean is a good source of protein, minerals and has a cooling effect on our body. For healthier version, add low fat milk instead of coconut milk.

APPLE KOLACHES

A sweet yeast pastry form Czech normally stuffed with either sweet of savory filling. It is quite time consuming  to make but  worth your effort.

Adjust the sweetness that please  your palate, all depend on what  type of apple you've used. I like to experiment by adding different flavors to the filling.

This dough won't rise much but you can proceed to bake after rising time, it will puff slightly during baking.

EGGLESS MARBLE BANANA CAKE

This is an easy recipe that makes a great looking cake. Kids just love it.   It uses the ingredients most likely you already have in your pantry, without a special trip to the shop.

I didn't even use a mixer, just stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. It was low in fat and also egg free. The classic pairing is chocolate and vanilla but there are so many more possibilities. This is my new favorite cake, it turned out wonderfully,  very moist and  tasty!

SPRING SOUP

I was in love with this soup when I saw it on a television show recently, I know my family will surely love them.

Spring soup cooked with your choice of vegetables with a bit of onion and seasoned with freshly ground black pepper makes a refreshing, surprisingly hearty meal.

An addition of milk will soften and enrich the soup To jazz up this soup you may add a dash of hot sauce, some shreds of cooked bacon/ chicken or a sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like parsley or thyme.

SPRING SOUP
Yield :   6-8 servings

2.5 cups mixed vegetables (carrot, french bean, cauliflower)
2 onion chopped
2 potato mashed
6 cups water/stock
1 TB all purpose flour
2 TB olive oil
1 cup milk
salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper
4 TB grated cheese (optional)

METHOD

Heat  the oil in a deep saucepan, add the onion, saute until translucent.

Add in mixed vegetables, stir for 2 minutes, add 5 cups water and bring to boil. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Mix flour with the balance of water, make sure there is no lump..

Now mix in mashed potato, milk and flour mixture,bring to a slow boil.

Season with black pepper and salt, when ready to serve, ladle into bowls or mugs, top with  grated cheese.

SAVORY HAND PIES

Hand pie is an individual serving of a  buttery and flaky pastry stuffed with either sweet or savory filling. This also makes a great portable snack during  picnics or small gatherings.

They are so versatile that you can use your leftover chicken, meat,  veggies or even fruit preserve  as their filling. Hand pies  can be make well in advance and stored in the freezer.

It is so much easier if you grate the hard block of butter rather than to wait until you are able to cut them up. This way, it is easily incorporated to form a dough.

If you don't feel like messing with  veggies, you can opt for frozen mixed vegetables. It works great.

NUTELLA YEAST BREAD

A little twist to our regular yeast bread. This Nutella Yeast Bread  has mashed banana and nutella spread in it.

So easy to prepare and doesn't require kneading at all. What you need is a mixing bowl to combine and let it rise for about an hour before baking.

It  rose almost double when baking so make sure to use deep baking pan.  They turned out beautifully. Everyone loved it!

EGGLESS NUTELLA COOKIES

Cookies are one of my family favorite tea time snacks. They are quick to make so does this Eggless Nutella Cookies. It is an easy recipe and  does not require chilling. The tasty combination of cookies dough with delicious nutella make them a yummy snack any time of the day.

They are healthier and make you fully satisfied.  I had used whole wheat flour and very low sugar but this is entirely up to you. The dough is so great to work with. If they are crumbly, add a tablespoon or two of milk. Roll the the dough by hand to get smooth ball then flatten slightly and top with almond flakes or other nuts  you have on hand.  They turned out amazing, crunchy outside but soft inside. Totally addictive!