Homemade French Onion Dry Soup Mix

This is a Vegan and Gluten Free  French Onion Soup  Dry Mix. Watched this recipe on a Cookery show was  excited to make it home.  

This is the powdered version of soup mix.
Onion soup mix is very versatile and can be used in number of things, like soups, pot roast, meatloaf, burgers chicken, dips etc. 
Let's make the - Homemade French Onion Soup Mix

Ingredients

½ cup Dried Onion Flakes / Dehydrated Onion flakes
3 Cubes of Chicken / Veg  Stock Cubes
1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon Celery
1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1½ teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley
½ Teaspoon Sea salt
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

Method

Mix all ingredients and store in a jar.
 I have also used this french onion mix on a meat loaf  and it tasted so good - check this post to see the  recipe soon.
Check the recipes made with this mix

Vegan & Gluten Free French Tomato Soup

Labels : Homemade, DIY, French Cuisine, Dehydrated, Onion Flakes, France 

Quatre-Quart Bundt Cake#BundtBakers

This classic French cake, the Quatre-Quart, is also known as a pound cake elsewhere. It's a simple and can be enjoyed as a tea cake.

Made this cake for the community rosary  held in my house.

Ingredients5 Eggs
250 Grams Caster sugar
250 Grams All Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking powder
250 Grams  Butter - melted - I used salted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 C  degrees  Grease and flour two 7 inches bundt  tins. 

Whisk together the eggs and caster sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk in the flour and baking powder, then the melted butter. Spread the cake mixture into the prepared bundt tins. 

Bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted near the center comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes. 

When it cools dust it with icing sugar and serve.

Labels : French Cuisine,Pound Cake, Bundts, Tea Cake, Bundt Bakers
Sending this to Bundt Bakers our Host is Lara from Tartacadabra http://tartacadabra.blogspot.com

Almond-Brown Butter Bundt Cake by Katin špajz
Baba Rum Bundt Cake by Merce's Cake
Brioche Bundt Cake by I Love Bundt Cakes
Bundt Cake Quatre-Quarts Breton by Patyco Candybar
Chez Panisse Almond Bundt by Sweet Sensations
French Opera Bundt Cake by Tartacadabra
Île Flottante (Floating Island) Bundt by Food Lust People Love
Quatre-Quart Bundt Cake by Sneha's Recipe
Tarte Tatin in a Bundt Pan by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Tropézienne Bundt Cake by Patty's Cake

#BundtBakers is a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme or ingredient. You can see all our of lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about #BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.

Potato and Leek Soup#FantasticalFoodFight

It’s time for Fantastical Food Fight headed up by Sarah Ellis at Fantastical Sharing.   Since it's Julia Child's birthday today, Sarah asked us to prepare a Julia Child recipe.

 

 For this  recipe, made just a small change, instead of adding salt in the soup used a veg stock cube. Rest of the recipe is ditto her's.

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 Teaspoon Heaped Butter
1  Leek  - sliced thinly
3 Medium Potatoes - peeled  & thinly sliced
3  Cups Water
1 Veg Stock Cube or Salt to taste

Black Pepper  powder to taste

Method

Melt butter in a pot / saucepan over medium heat. Add the leek and saute for  a minute.  Add the potatoes, stock cube and water,  Place the lid on, simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until potato is very soft.

Take  off flame and let it cool a little .  Then with a stick blender , blend until  for a second or two.  This soup should be grainy, thick and not smooth or liquidy.  

Serve it with a dash  pepper and enjoy this simple yet delicious soup.

You can learn more about our group and how to join in the fun over at this site.


#FantasticalFoodFight

Be sure to check out the other Fantastical Julia Child or Julia Child-inspired recipes this month !

Click on the hop link button to be transported to the other recipes:

Lables : Soup, Vegetarian, Leek, Potato, French Cuisine, Healthy, Fantastical Food Fight
An InLinkz Link-up

Composed Panzanella Salad With Shrimp And Zucchini #Fishfriday

Panzanella is a Tuscan salad of bread and tomatoes that is  mostly made in the summer. It has chunks of stale bread and tomatoes, with different add in like onions and basil, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.

I have been watching food channels and where they toss a  Panzanella salad, was tempted to try it immediately.  But as the saying "Man proposes and God Disposes" was always the mantra that came my way.   

When  our Host Hosted by Sidsel McOmie choose the theme "Salad Using Seafood" for Fish Friday's event.  This was on my to do list, has seen the light of day.   Incidentally,  somehow,  all ingredients  including the cooked shrimp was there in my refrigerator.  Bought the crusty Brun bread (see the pic here).  

I was ready to make the Composed  Panzanella Salad !

I wanted to serve this as a composed salad,  hence,  nicely arranged my panzanella salad on a large  square glass tray  or if you have  wood cheese board then that's best for this salad. 

This humble panzanella salad was our  meal in itself!  

Serves : 3 as a meal  
Ingredients
For the Sun-dried Tomato Dressing 
3 Tablespoons  Homemade Sun-dried Tomatoes
2 Garlic cloves - chopped
1 Big Ripe Tomato - chopped
3 Tablespoons  Parmesan cheese  - grated
A Juice of  Large Lemon
2 Tablespoons White Wine
1 to 1.1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A pinch of Salt 
1/2 Teaspoon Black pepper powder
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder
Veggies for the  salad
2 Medium size zucchini, cut into large cubes or pieces 
4 -5 Button Mushrooms - halved
Extra Virgin Olive Oil  as required
Salt and Pepper  to taste
3 Large Tomatoes - cut into wedges
2 Scallions / Spring onions - chopped
2 Loaf Crusty Bread -  cut into small cubes -
200 Grams  Large Cooked Shrimp
3  - 4 Slices of Chicken Salami
Feta cheese as required  - I used 150 Grams
Handful of Fresh Mint or Basil leaves  - I used Basil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

First Step  

Toss the zucchini  cubes and mushrooms in some extra virgin olive oil, and spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake at 200 degrees  for 10 minutes, tossing  it and again for another 10 minutes. 
After 20 minutes remove the zucchini from the oven and reduce the oven heat to 180 degrees.  

Now toss the bread cubes with a generous amount of olive oil. Spread on a large lightly oiled baking sheet, season with black pepper only, and bake in the 180 degrees  in the oven for 15 minutes or until the bread cubes are crisp and golden.

As these are getting baked let's prepare the 
Sun-dried Tomato Dressing.
Second Step

In a blender, add all the dressing ingredients except the extra virgin olive oil. Blend. While the mixer is running, slowly pour the extra virgin olive oil through the tube. Let the mixer run until the dressing is well-blended and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste. Pour into a serving bowl. Cling wrap it and refrigerate until you are ready to serve the salad.  

If anything is remaining use it as  dip or a sandwich spread! 

Let's arrange the Composed Panzanella  Salad

Place a small bowl of the Sun-dried Tomato Dressing in  the center of the tray or wood cheese board. Then begin to arrange the ingredients on the tray beginning with the wedges of  tomatoes. Add the roasted zucchini, green onions, the cooked shrimp,  chicken salami, , cheese, and fresh herbs around the tomatoes, scatter the crumbled feta cheese across the salad .Keep  the bread on one side . 

Take a plate and fork in hand -  help yourself with a little of everything and drizzle the Sun-dried Tomato Dressing on top and Enjoy!  ... yum ..yum !!

Labels : Salads, Panzanella Salad, Zucchini, Mushroom, Brun Bread, Homemade Sun-dried Tomatoes, Sun-dried Tomato Dressing, Chutneys & Dips, French Cuisine, Fish Friday

Cherry Tomatoes & Lentil Feta Cheese Salad

This is a healthy salad, packed with proteins and fiber.  A great and delicious summer salad that is vibrant in color, crunchy and tangy. This is my hubby's favorite salad.   I made a bowl full for us for  dinner, but he asked me prepare another helping for him again.  He loves this salad.  You too try it may become your favorite, because it so simple, easy and filling too.

Ingredients
12 -15 Cherry Tomatoes - halved
1 Cup Boiled Sabut Masoor Dal / Brown lentils
1 Red onion - thinly sliced
100 Grams Feta Cheese or more according to your liking
1 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander Or Parsley Leaves

10 -12 Basil leaves - torn
A Pinch of Sugar
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

For the Dressing - mix together

1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

Method

Slice the tomatoes In a large  mixing  bowl add the cherry tomatoes, lentils, onion,  coriander and  basil leaves  and season with salt, pepper and dressing (olive oil and balsamic vinegar) mix well then crumble the feta over it.

Serve.

My Notes

Feel free to add more tomatoes or lentils or feta cheese if you are making a bigger salad.

Labels : French Cuisine, Salads, Healthy, Sabut Masoor,  Lentils, Feta Cheese

Vegan & Gluten Free French Tomato Soup #SoupSwappers

This month's soup swappers host is Sally of Bewitching Kitchen who choose  the theme French Soups .  I made this soup with Homemade French Onion Dry Mix  and used to make a Vegan  and Gluten Free  French Tomato Soup. This soup thickens as it comes to a boil, so there is no need to add any other ingredient to it.

Ingredients

4 Medium Ripe & Firm Tomatoes

1 Tablespoon Homemade French Onion Soup Mix
Salt to taste
1 Bay leaf

A Pinch of Sugar

A Leaf of Scallion Green - snippet 
Method

In a pan boil the tomatoes in 1 cup water.  Then cool it and skin it, blend it well along with water.  Strain it.  Pour this into a sauce pan add the soup mix, scallions green, sugar  and bay leaf stir it well and place it on medium flame till it comes to a boil.  Keep stirring, taste for salt, add if necessary.  

Serve it and enjoy this vegan, gluten free , low calorie  French Tomato Soup.

Labels : Soup, French Cuisine, Tomato Soup, Homemade Soup Mix, Soup Swappers, Gluten free, Vegan, Low Cal, Diet Soup, Healthy

The recipe for the French Onion Dry Soup Mix will be posted soon.

An InLinkz Link-up

Petits Pain au Chocolat - Mini Chocolate Croissant

These homemade petit (small) and flaky French-style croissants filled with chocolate were a treat for the eyes . When I made these delicious small pastries my hubby's favorite, it bought memories of our stay in Europe since last two summers. Pain au Chocolat were his breakfast daily which he simply loved. He was so surprised to see these beauties with his evening tea and they disappeared too quickly.

Sending these to the #Bread bakers event. This month’s theme, is hosted by Ruchik Randhap . Thank you Shireen for hosting this event.

Ingredients
2 Sheets Croissant Dough (8" x 6") -Homemade
All-purpose flour, for work surface
1 Egg - for brushing
Mini Milk Chocolates as required

Method

Line baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Place dough on a lightly floured work surface; cover and let stand until butter is slightly softened for 5  minutes.

Roll dough out to a 8 x 6-inch rectangle. Measure it with a tape or rule.   Place a chocolate piece  one inch away from the edge of the pastry.   Brush the edge of the sheet with egg wash and the sides of each croissant. Fold   the dough tightly, enclosing chocolate.   

Then cut them into pieces. Place pastry rolls on baking sheet.

Cover pastries with plastic wrap and refrigerate till they double in size or you can keep them overnight in the fridge and bake them next day. Cover and refrigerate remaining egg glaze.  

See the petits pain au chocolat -- the chocolate oozing out. Just waiting for them to cool, so that I can bite into these beauties.

When they double in size. preheat oven to 160°F.  Brush tops of pastry rolls with remaining egg glaze.  

Bake until pastries are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Serve warm or at room temperature.  Take a hot cup of chai and these beauties... enjoy...

Lables : Breads, French Cuisine, Bread Bakers, Chocolate, Croissant

Breads with Cocoa, Cacao or Carob in any form

• Chocolate & Cherry Swirl Breads from The Bread She Bakes
• Chocolate Orange Swirl Buns from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Chocolate and Vanilla Brioche from Kidsandchic
• Chocolate Banana Quick Bread from Basic N Delicious
• Chocolate Buttermilk Quick Bread from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chocolate Filled Bundt Bread from Food Lust People Love
• Chocolate Hazelnut Banana Bread from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Chocolate Monkey Bread from Sara's Tasty Buds
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Quick Bread from Magnolia Days
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls from From Gate to Plate
• Chocolate Yeast Bread from Cook's Hideout
• Croatian Povitica - Chocolate Walnut Swirl Bread from Herbivore Cucina
• Dark Chocolate Cherry Pocket Bread from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Dark Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns from Baking in Pyjamas
• Double Chocolate Espresso Scones from Wholistic Woman
• Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread from Sizzling Tastebuds
• Egg Free 45 Minutes Chocolate Buns from Gayathri's Cook Spot
• Eggless Chocolate Babka from I Camp in my Kitchen
• Eggless Chocolate Swirl Buns from Seduce Your Tastebuds
• Eggless Triple Chocolate Scones from Spill the Spices
• Four-Chocolate Sour Cream Quickbread from What Smells So Good?
• Leopard Print Bread from Spiceroots
• Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate filled Croissants) from G'Gina's Kitchenette
• Pane Al Cioccolato - Chocolate Bread from Ruchik Randhap
• Petits Pain au Chocolat - Mini Chocolate Croissant from Sneha's Recipe
• Sourdough Cacao Sweet Bread from The Schizo Chef
• Sweet Russian Chocolate Braid from Hostess At Heart
• Two Chocolates Greek Yogurt Banana Bread from La cocina de Aisha

Breads with Cocoa, Cacao or Carob in any form #BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.

STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN - EGGLESS - A FRENCH DESSERT

Bavarian cream also known as Bavarois is a dessert similar to pastry cream but thickened with gelatin instead of flour or cornflour which is a custard sauce thickened using eggs. This is delicious and easy to make french dessert and kids love it. A goodness of fruit and cream.   

Ingredients
1 Cup Strawberry puree
1 Teaspoon Lemon juice
1 - 2  Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Gelatin
1/4 Cup Water
1/2   Cup Whipped cream
1/2 Teaspoon Strawberry essence
Strawberry  for garnishing
Extra Whipped cream for garnishing

Method
Mix strawberry puree, lemon juice and sugar in a blender till the sugar dissolves. Keep aside.

Soak the gelatin in water till swells up. Then place the pan on medium flame, keep stirring till the gelatin dissolves, keep aside.

Add the gelatin to the strawberry mixture and pulse the blender 3 times till well combined.

Beat cream till stiff,  add essence and fold in the strawberry mixture.   Pour it in serving bowls and chill till firm. 

Garnish with whipped cream and strawberry  . Serve, dig into the  bowl ..... enjoy.  

Small bowl for the kids.

My Notes:

Adjust the sugar quantity according to the sweetness of the strawberry puree.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#55

Labels :  Sweets & Desserts, Kids delight, Blogging Marathon, France

Cheesy Herbed French toast with grilled tomatoes

This is delicious, simple, fast breakfast or brunch - a French toast with a twist and it's savory version. Slice of French bread are dipped into a fresh herb, and cheesy egg mixture, then fried until crisp and golden.

Ingredients
2  Eggs -  beaten
2  Tablespoons Milk
2 Cubes Gouda Cheese  -  grated
1 Tablespoons Fresh Herbs
Butter as required butter
1 French Loaf  -  thickly sliced
2 Tomatoes
Butter + olive oil, for frying


Method
I used rosemary, thyme and parsley in fresh herbs.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cheese and herbs. Melt the butter + oil in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Dip slices of bread into the egg mixture, then place them in the pan. Cook for 3-5 mins on each side, or until golden and crisp.

Place the  tomatoes on  the same and grill until they start to soften and blister. On a large platter, place the cheesy French bread, grilled tomatoes and let's just enjoy.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 55

Labels :  Breakfast, French Cuisine, Continental Cuisine, Egg, Fresh Herbs, Cheese, Blogging Marathon