Bread and Butter Pudding

(Image from Google)

This one holds a very special place in my life. On this cold winter night in Delhi - 5th December, 2012 - a day before my planned C-section, I was still not able to believe that the day arrived and so soon the wait was gonna be over...and all the anxiety and planning of those 9 months would not be there ....I could not believe how soon would my life change..Reading "What to expect when expecting" could not prepare me mentally well enough....I was very used to the love and affection frens and family would shower on me for being pregnant...I was very used to the special attention my hubby would give and yes the endless list of Do's and Don'ts which I would receive from aunties, in-laws etc. etc.; just for being pregnant! And now here I was thinking of doing the last bit of what Trayee would love to do before she is no longer a daughter but a mother as well! And what else could it be but  food...good food that I would love to cook! Hence an easy simple recipe, inspired by my Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson's Bread and Butter Pudding was my sole comfort!

Ingredients: 

(very easily available in every household)

Bread (I used whole wheat bread...a plain white bread would also do) Please do not cut the crust of the bread out.

2 Eggs

Milk (I used toned..a full cream is any day better)

Fresh Cream (optional)

Vanilla Essence

Butter (50 gms)

Plain Caster Sugar

Cinnamon powder (completely optional...but i loved this smell when I was expecting :))

Dried fruits (Raisins, prunes, cranberries) (A must - since they provided an interesting sour contrast to the sweet)

Cook It-

Butter the bread slice lightly. Simply tear 6-7 slices of bread in large pieces,you may systematically cut them into 2-inch or so squares or rectangles...but no...this kinda precision was the last thing I had in mind! Now, break two eggs, pour in almost a cup and a half of milk.(You may also use a cup of milk and half a cup of fresh cream instead) And add a few drops of good  vanilla essence. Now whisk the liquid ingredients together, add sugar and whisk again, till the mixture turns a li'l silky in texture. I whisked it manually, a hand blender is easier to use! Butter the baking dish, Just tip in the torn bread pieces, the dry fruits. Cut the butter into a few cubes and randomly place it in the debris of bread and dry fruits and pour the egg and milk mixture over it, make sure all the bread pieces are soaked in the liquid. Then dust a few pinches of cinnamon powder. Do not forget to sprinkle some sugar over, so that it gets a nice caramely crunchy top when it is baked. Let it stand for 8-10 mins. Now put this in a pre-heated oven for 20 mins at 180 degree celsius or 350 degree fahrenheit. 

Baingan Bharta

Baingan is a savior most of the times. Hence, I love to experiment with Brinjal as often as possible. Baingan Bhartha is again one of my favorites and I make it as a side dish for lunches and dinners. Here is my recipe for it.

Ingredients

Large Brinjal 1

Tomatoes 2

Onion 1

Garlic cloves 3

Masala

Cook It

Clean the Brinjal and put in a micro wave dish for 5 min on high heat. After 6 min, turn the Brinjal and put it for another 6 min on high heat. In 12 min, the Brinjal will become soft and half cooked, remove it and allow it to cool.

Take a pan, heat oil and fry garlic cloves, onions and then add tomatoes. after tossing them for 2 min, add little salt and allow them to cook for 3 min. Now add turmeric, sabji masala, little salt and add little water and allow it to cook for another 3 -4 min. 

Take the cooled Brinjal and peel off the skin completely and also remove the stem. Now add the pulp to the tomato curry and mix thoroughly. Mash everything with a masher and allow it to cook for another 3-4 min. Add coriander for taste. 

Yummy Baingan Bhartha is ready. This method varies from chef to chef. I cook it this way and is loved by my friends! 

Pumpkin Halwa

                                      

                   

Desserts are irresistible. Rather than spending money on them, I prefer to make them at home. Its low cost, Hygiene and most of all, Fresh! Pumpkin Halwa is one such regular household dish in our house. Most of the times, I make it with the other half of pumpkin piece that is left behind after being used in Sambar! Hence, Pumpkin halwa is just a regular name in our kitchen. Here is the recipe for you all.

Ingredients

Pumpkin piece

Cashews 5-6

Elaichi 2-3

Ghee 2 Tsp

Sugar 5-6 spoons

Milk- 1 cup

Turmeric- Pinch

Mawa Podwer- 2 Tsp

Cook it

Take a pan and boil milk for 3-4 minutes, Once the milk is hot add pumpkin pieces and let everything boil for 7-8 minutes. In the mean time, fry Cashews and Elaichi in ghee and add it to the pumpkin. Add sugar, mawa powder and pinch of turmeric and little water and mix thoroughly. Let everything boil. Mash Pumpkin using a masher until it mixes completely in the milk. Let it boil for another 4-5 minutes until you smell aroma.

Yummy Pumpkin Halwa is ready. It is very easy to make and can save your lunches or dinners most of the times. 

Stuffed Brinjal

             

Tell me who doesn't like Brinjal? It is definitely one of those rare vegetables which is available in different shapes and is most experimental friendly. Recently I tried stuffed brinjal and we gulped every piece in just minutes. Now let me give you my recipe so that you can try it at your home! 

Ingredients

Small Brinjal 7-8

Peanuts- 1 cup

fenugreek- 1/3 cup

Red mirchi 2-3

Tamarind Extract 1 tea spoon

Coriander

Dhania powder

Masala powder

Cook it-

Slit brinjal across with the stem on. Essential cut it in the base. Soak the cut brinjals in Salt water for 20 minutes. 

Now heat a small pan and fry peanuts. Add fenugreek and red mirchi and fry until they turn little brown. Add this mix into a blender. Add little salt, tamarind extract and very little water to make it into a gravy. blend it to form into a thick paste. 

Now, using a knife, add the this paste into brinjals carefully. Heat a pan and add 2 tea spoons of oil. Fry brinjals holding stems until the brinjals are fried lightly. Place the brinjals in a microwave bowl and cook them for 10 minutes. Turn the brinjals after 5 minutes so that they are cooked equally in all sides.

Now heat 1-2 tea spoons oil in pan and add remaining mix from the blender and add brinjals from microwave. Let them cook for 5-7 minutes. Slowly keep toppling brinjals so that they get cooked evenly and don't break. Add coriander and serve with hot Rice.

Isn't it yummy?????