Spinach And Corn Quesadilla#Improv

A wholesome brunch or even an main course that you can make for your family, that is packed with flavor and taste. The quesadilla is filled with sautéed spinach and corn which are rich source of Iron and proteins.   

These are a my quick and all time favorite meal to make.

Ingredients
Homemade Tortillas - as required 
For The Filling
1 Cup Chopped Spinach/Palak
½ Cup Sweet Corn - I used frozen
1 Jalapeno - finely chopped
1 Onion - finely chopped
½ Teaspoon Garlic powder
½ Teaspoon Steak Seasoning
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Butter
1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
1 Cup Homemade Béchamel Sauce
Shredded Cheddar Cheese - as required

Shredded Cheeza Cheese  - as required

Method
For The Filling

Heat the butter and olive oil in a pan. Add in onion and sauté for a minute or two. Now add in the chopped jalapeno, spinach and corn along with seasonings and sauté on medium high flame till the spinach has wilted. Once the spinach has wilted, add the cheese béchamel sauce mix well till it starts to thicken. Switch off the flame add in cheese and mix till melt. Let this cool completely.

Heat a non stick on medium low flame, grease it with butter, place a tortilla on it aside. Spread the spinach and corn mixture on one tortilla and spread the cheeza cheese on top of the mixture. Cover it with another tortilla.     

Once browned below then flip till this side is browned. Place this in a serving plate, cut them into wedges.

Enjoy!!
Labels: Mexican, Corn, Béchamel Sauce, Jalapenos, Tortilla, Spinach, Brunch, Main course, International Cuisine, Improv Cooking Challenge, Vegetarian

 Improv Cooking Challenge

Jalapenos & Tortillas

• Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno Paratha by Magical Ingredients 
• Chiles Toreados by Pandemonium Noshery
• Korean Steak Tacos by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Spinach and Corn Quesadillas by Sneha's Recipes 

Cheesy White Sauce Chicken Buns#BakingBloggers

For any day of the week your can prepare these quick, tasty and easy cheesy chicken buns or make it for a party and your guest will enjoy it especially kids. This can be made with any leftover chicken or boiled chicken.

Ingredients 
5 Small/ Mini Buns
1 Cup Leftover Chicken - cut into small pieces
1 Cup Thick Bechamel Sauce
1 Cup Cheeza Cheese

Method

Cut the buns in the center and scoop out a little of the center

Then add the white sauce, top it with chicken (I used Leftover chicken roast).

Sprinkle lots of cheese

Baked in a preheated oven 180°C with both the elements on for 10 minutes. Serve these when still warm.

Labels:  Chicken, Leftover series, Bechamel Sauce, Buns, Starters, Kids delight, Baking Bloggers 

Baking Bloggers December 2021

Baked Party Appetizers

• Brie Gougere from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Cheddar Cheese and Pecan Crisps from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cheesy White Sauce Chicken Buns from Sneha’s Recipe
• Crescent Roll Samosa Wreath from Magical Ingredients
• Mini Christmas Cakes from Small Batch Baking Kitchen
• Monte Cristo Puffs from Palatable Pastime
• Pigs In A Blanket Christmas Wreath from Making Miracles
• Shrimp and Pork Roll Lettuce Cups from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Veggie Mini Vol-au-Vents

These are excellent party appetizers, try them and your guest will enjoy them. We enjoyed these, could not stop at one, so make more in case, your guest ask for another one.

Ingredients 

15 Mini Vol-au-vents Shells - used ready shells
For the Filling 

¼ Cup Finely Chopped French Beans
¼ Cup Finely Chopped Carrots
¼ Cup Green Peas
1 Cup Bechamel Sauce

¼  Teaspoon Mixed Herbs

¼  Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes

Salt to taste 

Cheddar Cheese as required
Method

Parboil all the veggies and keep aside.
In a sauce pan heat the Bechamel Sauce, mix well to make it smooth and lump free, add rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Taste for salt and add accordingly. Keep aside to cool.

To Assemble 
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, turning both the elements on ( i.e. grill rod too). 

Take each shell and core it with a spoon carefully so that you do not break right into the bottom ( this is to give a little depth).  Like wise prepare all the shells.  Arrange them in a lined tray.

Place a teaspoon of filling

Grate the cheese on top

Place it in the oven bake  till the cheese melts say about 7 -10 minutes or so.

Serve and Enjoy!!

Labels :  Vol-au-Vents, Vegetarian, Cheddar Cheese, Party pleasers, Baked, Puff Pastry, Bechamel Sauce

Baked Corn Cheese Sandwich#Improv

This is an easy and mouth-watering sandwich using cheese, corn and seasoning. Perfect for breakfast or kids snacks, have all ingredients and it's ready in just 15 - 20 minutes. You can use just about any kind of bread you have at home. 

I love the sweetness of corn, when combined with the capsicum, adds such an awesome flavor and you can mix any other veggies of choice like onions, carrots, peas (or any type of meat/bacon).

Just make a simple roux and mix all the veggies, spoon it on the  bread and bake. 

Our host Nichole of Cookaholic Wife invites us each month to join her in creating a recipe that uses 2 ingredients that she has chosen. This month she asked us to use Corn and Cheese. 

Ingredients
8 Bread Slices
1 Cup Boiled Sweet Corn  -  
1 Medium Capsicum/Green Bell Pepper -  chopped
1 Small  Onion -  chopped
1/2 Cup Tomatoes - thinly chopped
2 Tablespoons Colored Bell Pepper - optional
1 Jalapeno - thinly chopped - optional
1/4 Cup Shredded Cheese - can use any variety

For the Roux
2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
2 Tablespoon Butter -  used salted butter
1/2 Cup Milk
Salt to taste
Pinch of Black Pepper

Method
Preheat the oven at  180°C.

In a nonstick pan, heat butter, add all purpose flour and mix evenly. Saute it for 2 minutes.
Add milk and mix evenly to form a smooth batter.
Add salt, pepper, all the mentioned veggies and keep mixing the batter till it thickens and coat the back of a spoon.
Turn of the heat and remove the pan and let this mixture cool a bit. Add the cheese and mix. Let this cool, it will thicken a little.

Spoon the mixture over each slice of bread. Cover with the other slice.
Place the slices on a baking tray and bake for 8 minutes or until crisp and golden on top.

Remove the baked cheese corn toast from the baking tray and serve warm. 

Labels :  Improve Cooking Challenge, Vegetarian, Sandwiches, Baked, Corn, Capsicum, Cheese, Appetizer, Breakfast,  Kids Delight  

September 2020 Improv Cooking Challenge

Corn and Cheese
Colombian Mazorca Desgranada by Pandemonium Noshery
Cheesy Slow Cooked Corn and Mixed Vegetables by Making Miracles
Chili Macaroni and Cheddar Bake by Palatable Pastime
Savory Corn Cheesecake by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Baked Corn Cheese Sandwich by Sneha's Recipe
Corn Macaroni and Cheese Casserole by Cookaholic Wife
Korean Corn Cheese by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Veg Chessy Beer Soup For Two#Soupswappers

When Kathy Altman gave us Carft Beer for this month theme my first reaction was yuck! Beer in a soup! Since I, am not a beer drinker, so as to say hate the smell and taste of it. But since this theme was given decided to try using it in the soup.

 After the soup was made and I had it .. it was delicious. Thanks to this group who pushes me try different recipes.

Cheesy Veg beer soup is the perfect comfort soup for grown-ups! No Not all you can even serve this to your adult kids since most alcohol, burns off during cooking and there will be vague beer tang that adds an oomph and flavor to the soup. Absolutely delicious, a must try recipe

Serves Two
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Macaroni - optional
1 Tablespoon Salted Butter
1 Tablespoon All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Shredded Cheddar cheese - or to taste
500 ML Water
1 Small Veg Stock Cube
1 Small Carrot - chopped
1/4 Cup Sprouted Fresh Green Peas
1 Scallion / Spring Onion
2 Cloves Garlic - chopped
1 Teaspoon Heaped Hot & Sweet Sauce
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Garlic Sauce or to your taste
2 Teaspoons Sugar
2o0 ML Beer
1 Teaspoon Oil
1 Tablespoon Each Chopped Red, Green & Yellow Bell peppers
Method

Boil the pasta according to package directions, till al dente. Drain, and set aside.

Chop the the white and green part of scallion and keep them separately.
Heat oil in a large sauce pan, add the garlic and saute for a minute or till it releases an aroma, add the white part of the scallion and saute for a minute add the carrot and peas, saute till for a minute only, add the water and stock cube and let it come to a rolling boil. 

Increase heat to medium-high, and add the beer and bring all to a low boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Now add the bell pepper, all the sauces, sugar and taste for flavors add more sauces according to your taste if required ( for us the quantity was perfect), stir it well and bring it to a boil.

In the meantime, in a another pan let's make the Bechamel Cheese sauce as per this method. When the sauce is ready add the cheese stir it well till it melts, keep aside.

To finish the soup

Pour the cheese sauce into the soup and stir until thickened. Add the drained pasta. Serve immediately and enjoy!!

Labels : Beer, Soup, Vegetarian, Vegetables, Soupswappers, Bechamel Sauce, Cheese
Do check on other Beer Soups

Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm: Fasolada
Karen of Karen's Kitchen Stories: Pressure Cooker Beef and Beer Soup
Sue of Palatable Pastime: Ale Onion Soup
Sid of Sid’s Sea Palm Cooking: Øllebrød (Danish Rye Porridge)
Sneha of Sneha’s Recipe: Veg Chessy Beer Soup For Two
Kathy of A Spoonful of Thyme: Ale and Cheddar Soup
Cindy of Cindy’s Recipes and Writings: Boozy Potato Soup

Mackerel And Dill Mini Tartlets #FishFridayFoodie

The theme for this month Fish Friday Foodies is Seafood Pie or Tart and our Host is Stacy, thank you dear for hosting this event.

These mini tarts are perfect  as a starter or appetizer . They can be made ahead and warmed through in a hot oven for 5 to 7 minutes. In these tartlets I, have not used cheese, but, if you wish, can grate cheese on top and then bake. These are yum without cheese too.

Ingredients

For the Tartlets
1 Cup All Purpose flour
50 Grams Butter
Pinch salt

For the Filling
100 Grams Flaked Mackerel Fish
1 Small Onion
1/4 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Butter
Salt to taste

Other Ingredients
A Few Sprigs of Fresh Dill
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Bechamel sauce
1/4 Teaspoon Steakpeper seasoning

Method 
Preheat the oven to 180ºC
Prepare the pastry 

Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl, rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs, add a teaspoon of cold water if necessary and bring together to form a dough.
Roll out on a floured board and using a mini cutter, cut out  rounds.
Use the pastry rounds to line the patty tins.  Blind bake them in the preheated oven or 10 - 12 minutes or  till done.  

For the filling

Heat the pan add the butter and onions, saute till translucent, add the flaked fish, salt to taste and chilly powder, saute for a minute.  Take off flame and cool.

For the topping

Beat the egg and bechamel sauce together, season with steakpepper and keep aside.  To assemble

Divide the fish filling between the pastry cases 

Top each with a few sprigs of dill  

Carefully pour the prepared sauce into each case, taking care not to overfill.  

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  

Serve warm or cold. 

My Notes: 

I have used fresh Mackerel, cleaned and removed the inside of the Mackerel, then just steamed it in a pan without water.  Then flaked it when cooled.  This fish is very thorny, take care to remove  the smallest of thorns. 

Labels :  Mackerel, Dill, Tart/Pie/Quiche, Fish Friday, Bechamel Sauce, Seafood/Fish 

An InLinkz Link-up

Makaronah Bil Beshemel - Baked Bechamel Pasta - Egypt

Makaronah Bil Beshemel is  easy to prepare, baked pasta dish.  This is a one dish meal, we enjoyed it with a bowl of soup or  you can have it with  salad.  This is an healthy and delicious dish which has no cheese, yet taste divine.  

Quick and easy to make, have all the ingredients ready and  this dish is ready in minutes.  Here, I, have used Bezar spice, which is an arabic spice and goes very well with this dish, this spice mix has an awesome taste and flavor.

Serves 2 
Ingredients
1 Cup Heaped Macaroni  Pasta
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Bezar Spice Mix  - see recipe
1  Onion - chopped
200 Grams  Boneless Chicken - finely cubed 
Salt to taste
1.1/2 Cups Thick Bechamel sauce - see recipe 

Method

Cook pasta in 5 cups or waters as per the packet instruction or till al dente.  Drain and add a teaspoon of warm oil and toss it, keep aside.

While pasta cooks, we prepare the chicken layer.

Heat oil in a frying pan, add onions and saute till onions are translucent.  Then add the chicken and saute till it turn pink to white then add the bezar spice and saute  for 2 to 3 minutes, cover and cook  till the chicken is done.  Open the lid and evaporate all the moisture or till the mixture is dry. Keep aside to cool.

In the meantime preheat the oven  at 200 degrees.

Butter a casserole dish well,

Spread 2 tablespoons of bechamel sauce  

Now spread half of pasta 

Spread layer of  chicken mixture

Top with remaining pasta

Pour the  bechamel sauce evenly on to dish. Sprinkle a little   bezar spice and place it in oven till it browns on top .

See the layers.. looks too tempting.. na.

Cool it a little and cut slices of this  rich dish,  enjoy with soup or salad of your choice. 

My Notes 

You can use any pasta of your choice.
Can use lamb or beef mince for the filling too.

Bezar spice is an Arabic spice and has a flavorful taste, try this spice you will love it.

Labels : Bechamel Sauce, Bezar,  Spice Mix , Chicken, Mena cooking club, Pasta & Noodles, Healthy, Egypt