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Super Simple Fancy Recipes for Your Family

April 16, 2022 by

Because making dinner is something you do every day, it can quickly become an unwelcome chore. You may end up rotating through the same set of recipes every few weeks because of limited time and interest. However, cooking a fun, fancy meal doesn’t have to take three hours of your day.

Use this list of seven delicious and easy recipes to elevate your dinner table with food sure to please the entire family. These meals are easy to make and don’t take much time to prepare. They combine classic flavors with a modern twist that will have you and your family looking forward to dinner all day long.

Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon

This delicious meal looks like it came from a five-star restaurant. However, it only takes 25 minutes from start to finish and uses very few ingredients. To make this dish, you’ll need to whip up some simple spinach dip. Next, you’ll slit salmon fillets and stuff them with creamy goodness.

The salmon gets seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper before being gently cooked in a hot skillet. If you’d prefer to bake the salmon, this recipe includes instructions for that too. You can serve this dish warm with a side of asparagus or over a bed of spinach.

Chicken Picatta

If you love chicken in a creamy sauce, this meal is ideal for you. Ready in just over 30 minutes, this meal looks and tastes fancy but requires very little prep work. To make this recipe, you start by dredging the chicken in salt, pepper, and flour.

Next, you sear and cook it for about ten minutes. Create a sauce in the browned pan with white wine and lemon juice, letting it simmer until it thickens. Then, add capers and chicken. You can add lemon slices to the sauce for a beautiful finish and serve the finished meal with bread.

Beef Bourguignon Stew

This beef bourguignon recipe is perfect for families that enjoy hearty meals. It takes only 20 minutes of prep in the morning and then cooks for nine hours to achieve a meal rich in flavorful goodness. You start by cooking the bacon and searing the beef before transferring them to the slow cooker.

With flour, red wine, chicken broth, and other ingredients build a sauce in the skillet. Then, add chopped vegetables and the finished sauce to the slow cooker. Set it to low, and then go about your day worry-free. You can serve this stew with bread or a side of potatoes.

Lobster Grilled Cheese

Are you looking for a fancy take on an easy comfort meal? Look no further. This delicious lobster grilled cheese recipe will get every member of your family excited. Total prep time is about 20 minutes, and clean-up is easy. The first step is to cook and chop lobster, or you can buy it pre-cooked to save time.

Construct a grilled cheese as usual by buttering the bread and layering the sandwiches with your favorite cheese. Then, add chopped lobster and sandwich the two pieces of bread. Cook over medium heat in a greased pan for 3-5 minutes on each side. You can serve this meal with a side salad or a warm bowl of tomato soup.

Cornish Hens Sheet Pan

There’s something so fancy about the phrase “cornish hens.” While this meal looks fabulous, it only takes 15 minutes to prep and is ready to eat after just over an hour. To create this dish, start by seasoning the hens with garlic and rosemary. Tie the legs together to keep the juice inside.

Next, chop Brussel sprouts, squash, and potatoes and coat them with olive oil. Spread them on a sheet pan and season with more rosemary and garlic. Lay the Cornish hens on top and roast for 50-55 minutes under the chicken is done, and the veggies are golden brown.

One-pot Penne Pasta

Plain pasta is often the go-to on nights when you’re too busy or tired to cook. However, you can elevate your regular “easy meal” by following this superb one-pot penne pasta recipe with turkey and spinach. It’s ready to eat in 30 minutes and is healthy to boot.

Start this meal by seasoning and cooking the turkey. Next, cook the veggies for a few minutes with the meat. Add canned tomatoes, spices, pasta, and chicken broth. Simmer for about ten minutes until the pasta is cooked, and then fold in cream and spinach. This meal can be served alone or with a warm side of bread and butter.

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

What could be better on rainy days than a warm bowl of chili? Spend 20 minutes prepping this hearty vegetarian meal in the morning, and then forget about cooking for the rest of the day. By evening, this meal will be ready to feed your hungry family and only require you to wash one dish.

Putting this dinner together couldn’t be easier. You combine spices, tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, and a cup of water in your slow cooker. Leave on low for 7-8 hours until the ingredients have cooked through and the spices have blended. Serve with sour cream and tortilla chips for a well-rounded meal.

Ready in a Jiffy

Serving a fancy dinner at home doesn’t require hours of work. You can surprise and delight your family with these seven easy recipes for fancy dinners. None of these meals take longer than 30 minutes to prep, and they’re all ready to eat in 30 minutes to an hour.

Cooking is supposed to be fun, not a burdensome chore. Use these recipes to take your dinner game to the next level while saving yourself time and energy on meal prep. Your family will appreciate the variety, and you’ll find yourself having fun cooking again.

In addition to these mouth-watering recipes, if you’re looking to expand your seafood repertoire, why not try cooking with snapper? Known for its mild flavor and versatility, snapper can be a delightful addition to your family meals. From grilling to baking, there are numerous ways to prepare this fish that can bring a touch of elegance to your dining table. For some creative and easy-to-follow snapper cooking tips, be sure to explore this comprehensive guide.




Healthy Meals Picky Eaters Will Love to Eat

April 4, 2022 by

 

Picky eaters often turn down healthy meals, even if it’s something they will likely end up loving. It can be easy to give in and serve hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and other quick meals they love, but this won’t help them eat healthier. Instead, try out some of these recipes that are so great that even the pickiest of eaters will love them.

Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese

When it comes to food for picky eaters, sometimes sticking with the old standard is a good idea but making it healthier. Mac and cheese made with healthy ingredients in the slow cooker is healthier than the box mix, just as easy to make, and is going to be a big hit with picky eaters. They may even end up liking to eat this more than the box mix they used to request daily.

Cheeseburger Cups

Cheeseburger cups are made in muffin tins and are great for eating on the go. Just a few ingredients lead to a tasty dinner that can be enjoyed at home or anywhere on busy days. Since they taste like amazing cheeseburgers, most picky eaters are going to love them. Add or change ingredients to customize the cheeseburger cups for a larger variety of meals.

Walking Tacos

Vegan breakfast taco are easy for kids to make and include healthier ingredients, making them a fantastic option. Plus, they’re fun to make and to eat. Open a single-serve bag of chips, then add cooked ground beef, salsa, lettuce, and cheese directly into the bag. Then enjoy the meal while enjoying a game, eating on the go, or together as a family.

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

A creamy chicken pot pie pasta provides tons of flavor and has a variety of vegetables. They’re in the sauce, though, so picky eaters are more likely to enjoy them. This recipe only uses one pot, so it’s a great option for busy days when no one wants to do the dishes and is tasty enough. Everyone will love having it regularly for dinner, even picky eaters.

Ham and Cheese Waffles

Ham and cheese sandwiches are easy to make and taste great on their own, but using waffles takes it to another level. Plus, waffles can be made healthier than store-bought bread, so this is a great way to get picky eaters to enjoy healthier foods. Make the sandwich, as usual, substituting waffles instead of bread, for an easy lunch that everyone will love. Try heating for a little bit to melt the cheese and make it even more delicious.

Grilled Turkey and Ham Sandwiches

Turkey and ham sandwiches pack a lot of nutrition in a sandwich, and most picky eaters will enjoy them as-is. Add in a little bit of cheese, then grill to create a protein-packed grilled cheese sandwich that anyone will enjoy. This is perfect for nights when a fast dinner is needed, and they can be made a few days ahead of time and then reheated as needed, making them a fast snack to enjoy on busy days.

Restaurant Favorites

Don’t forget to try out restaurant favorites. Most picky eaters have favorite foods they always get at certain restaurants. Making them at home can mean healthier foods, as it’s possible to pick out better ingredients. There are copycat recipes for many restaurant favorites, so this can make it easier to get picky eaters to enjoy healthier foods yet offer them foods that they’ll definitely enjoy.

According to this reliable dentist in Leominster, making them at home is also better in the sense that some restaurant ingredients are too sugary which is detrimental to your child’s dental health.

Getting picky eaters to try new foods can be hard, but there are ways to encourage them to eat healthier. Try out some of the recipes mentioned here to find out which ones are going to be the new favorites. 

 




10 Benefits of Keto Diet

March 9, 2022 by

Keto or low-carb diets have always been a popular topic of debate amongst many people. The controversy majorly surrounds the ability of ketogenic meals to benefit or adversely affect the human body. The pros vs. cons of the keto diet is a never-ending discussion that majorly depends on which definition of keto diet individuals want to consider.

What Is A Keto Diet?

A keto diet can be described as an eating plan that focuses on providing an individual with a significant amount of good fats, adequate protein, and a limited amount of carbohydrates. In doing so, a keto diet encourages the human body to get more calories from fat than carbs.

How does this happen? When the human body is depleted of sugar reserves due to reduced intake of carbs, the body begins to break down fats for energy. In the process, ketones (chemicals formed in the liver during starvation or limited carb intake) are released, which become fuel for the body, leading to weight loss. 

Regardless of what people think about ketogenic diets, several scientific studies carried out over time have proven that keto diets are healthy and beneficial for humans when administered carefully and consistently.

Here are ten proven benefits of committing to a low-carb and ketogenic diet:

1. Improve Focus

Most keto professionals recommend pairing the keto diet with keto supplements that help dieters counter the shortcomings of a keto diet. Keto supplements help an individual accelerate their weight loss journey, uplift mood, suppress appetite, improve Focus, and so much more.

2. Easy Weight Loss

The keto diet is strongly associated with weight loss. Many people adopt the ketogenic diet with the sole purpose of losing weight. Anecdotal evidence has only proved that keto makes weight loss fast and easy. The process is simple. The keto diet limits calorie intake by eliminating several food groups rich in calories. The diet is more dependent on good fats and proteins, which take longer to break down in the human body. Therefore, people feel less hungry and eventually lose weight.

3. Maintains Hormonal Balance

Committing to an adequately executed keto diet helps individuals balance their body’s hormones. Women going through significant hormonal changes can significantly benefit from a keto diet. How? Well, 75% of the keto diet comprises healthy fat sources like avocados, butter, nuts and seeds, olives and olive oil, coconut oil, and other high-fat foods. These good fats support hormone production and balance. 

4. Lowers Insulin Levels

The keto diet also restricts carbohydrate intake to 20 to 25 grams per day, which helps balance insulin levels in the human body. Food rich in carbs can raise an individual’s blood sugar levels. Your body brings in insulin to lower these blood sugar levels by delivering glucose to the cells. However, high insulin levels can prevent fat loss as the human body cannot access fat stores for energy. This problem can be solved by lowering insulin levels with a keto diet.

5. Prevents Many Diseases

A keto diet plays a crucial role in treating and preventing several medical diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, bipolar disorder, obesity, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and certain types of cancer. While it is not recommended as an ideal or only solution, long-term medical research has suggested that nutritional ketosis may help individuals prevent the possibility of these diseases in the human body. 

6. Reduces Appetite Naturally

Most individuals looking to lose weight tend to rely on artificial measures of decreasing their appetite, for instance, administering harmful drugs. Using appetite-reducing medicines can make people feel sick and miserable, pushing them to eventually give up on their diet. On the other hand, the keto diet prepares people to live on several low-carb, high protein, and fat meals that automatically reduce an individual’s appetite.

7. Lowers Blood Pressure

According to Medscape, approximately 26% of the world’s population (972 million people) suffer from high blood pressure. Reports state that the figure will increase to 29% by 2025 in developing nations. Elevated blood pressure or hypertension is increasingly affecting people’s health worldwide. It can also pave the way to several other diseases like heart attack and kidney failure. The keto diet is low in carbohydrates. Reduced intake of carbs is an effective way of lowering blood pressure.

8. Treats Brain Disorders

Treating mental health patients is not easy. Doctors have to rely on unique treatment plans to help people with mental health conditions. A human body committed to the keto diet produces glucose from protein or burning ketones. This ketogenic diet mechanism helps doctors treat epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.

9. Increases Good Cholesterol

Several studies have suggested that the keto diet positively affects cholesterol levels in the human body. That’s because a person observing a keto diet consumes a reduced amount of carbohydrates. Consuming a low amount of carbs limits the production of triglycerides in the liver. This limited production of triglycerides helps the human body raise HDL cholesterol levels, known as high-density lipoprotein (often called the “good” cholesterol). Good cholesterol removes other forms of cholesterol from the human body’s bloodstream, lowering the risk of heart disease.

10. Skin Issue

There are several different types of acne, majorly caused by various discrepancies in diet and blood sugar content in the human body. Typically, individuals who prefer eating processed and refined carbs are prone to acne. It’s because processed carbohydrates tend to alter the natural balance of gut bacteria. This alteration causes the blood sugar to rise and fall significantly, affecting skin health adversely in the process. A ketogenic diet is focused on decreasing carb intake, which helps resolve acne issues in some people.

Conclusion

Over time, low carb and keto diets have become increasingly popular. Several nutrition experts and professionals recommend individuals commit to a ketogenic diet for various reasons. One among those are it acts as a focus patch to help boost memory. The benefits mentioned above are a few examples of why keto diets are recommended by professionals worldwide to boost health. If you are looking to invest in a keto diet, too, remember to start your journey with the promise of being consistent. Happy dieting.




How To Make Tandoori Chicken At Home?

November 29, 2021 by

You might have tried food from several countries, but must admit that when it comes to spicy food, no cuisine stands a chance before Indian food. Indian cuisine is famous everywhere. The country is known for its various vegetarian and Non-veg fusion dishes. One of the most popular ways of cooking in India is called tandoori cooking. It is a fusion between grilling and frying, most definitely a unique way of cooking food. Anyone who has had tandoori chicken will not forget the delicious taste of it. Many people don’t know that there are other food items too that can classify as tandoori. For example, Tandoori Roti (bread), Tandoori fish are pretty popular items.

Tandoori chicken is quite an easy dish, and anyone with a basic level of cooking skills can make the dish at home. The food takes moderately less time to get cooked, but one is advised to marinate the chicken for at least three hours for the best result.

The Ingredients

To make Tandoori Chicken, you need the following ingredients. If any of these items sound foreign to you, be sure to hit the local grocery store and get it before prepping the meat. This batch of chicken will feed 2 to 3 people.

  • Mustard oil (3 tablespoons)
  • Ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, garam masala, sweet paprika, salt (1 tablespoon each)
  • Yogurt / Buttermilk (1 cup)
  • Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
  • Six whole chicken legs, including drumsticks and thighs. (with bones and skinless)

Make The Marinade

Once you have all the ingredients ready, it is time to make the marinade first. Take a shallow pan and put it on low heat. Now once the pan is heated enough, add the dry ingredients and toss them for a while. Once they are toasted, take them out of the heat.

  • Put all the toasted ingredients into a blender and add the yogurt or Buttermilk.
  • Grind the items to make a smooth paste or masala.
  • Add salt to taste and pour the mustard oil into the masala. Keep the masala in a separate bowl.

Prep The Chicken

Now that the Tandoori Masala is ready, all you have to do is lather the chicken pieces in the mix. Be sure to cut the chicken pieces with a sharp knife so that the marinade can penetrate the flesh adequately. Take a big bowl and mix the chicken pieces with the previously done mixture. Leave the chicken in the fridge for a couple of hours.

The Cooking

Now it’s time to cook the chicken and turn them into the famous tandoori chicken you love and eat at your favorite Indian restaurant. In restaurants, they mainly use a clay oven to get the smoky flavor that is the essence of any tandoori item. But if you don’t have a clay stove at home, a regular oven will do just fine. Chicken is more tender than beef; therefore, cooking the perfect tandoori chicken doesn’t take long. Make sure you incorporate the smoky charcoal flavor in your tandoori chicken.

Once done, you can serve the Food with Indian flatbread or naan and Chatni. Be sure to plate the item hot.

 




The 500-Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss

April 3, 2021 by

If you’re looking to shed some pounds, you’re probably on a weight loss journey of some sort. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for a while, it’s important to learn the basics. Read on to learn more about the 500-Calorie Diet, which is a very basic weight loss plan based on a 500-calorie diet. (This is an example of a blog post that is not meant to be offensive.)

The 500-Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss claims to help you lose up to 20 pounds in just 5 weeks! The secret? The 500-Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss doesn’t restrict calories but also doesn’t allow you to eat all you want! The 500-Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss says that you should lose weight by eating 500 calories each day. And if you don’t get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from food, the 500-Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss says you should take multivitamins to make up for it.

The concept of cutting calories to lose weight is so common that you’ve probably heard of it by now. But the concept is not something new. Many diet plans have come a long way since the early 1900’s, but the basic premise hasn’t changed much: eat less and exercise more. You gradually begin to eat less and exercise more, gradually losing weight. It’s a simple, proven technique that can help you lose weight rapidly.

Do you have an idea for a 500 calorie diet? This is a very low calorie diet that will help you lose those extra pounds in no time. The 500 calorie diet is often recommended for patients who are obese and have a high body mass index (over 30), as well as for people who have health problems due to being overweight. Please note that this very low calorie diet is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for those who can lose unwanted pounds by adopting a healthier lifestyle, but this meal plan is highly recommended for healthy weight loss. Read on to learn more about the 500-calorie diet.

What is a 500 calorie diet?

The 500 calorie diet is an extreme version of the diet (VLCD) that includes drinks, shakes, meal replacements and bars for up to 2 meals a day. Simply put, it’s a calorie restriction option that helps your body use a stored fuel source – fat. And as a result, you will quickly get rid of those extra pounds.

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How much weight can I lose if I eat 500 calories a day? 

People often ask questions about calorie intake for weight loss, don’t worry! Buy a healthy weight loss planner and use a simple calorie calculator for weight loss from calculator-online.net to track your daily calorie intake. Read on to find out more!

500 Calories Healthy Weight Loss Diet Plan

Part of the 5:2 diet plan is to eat 2000 calories for 5 days and then switch to a 500 calorie diet for 2 days. During these two days you must follow a low-carb diet. So, what exactly should a dietitian take. Include a calorie calculator in your weight loss plan before starting a 500 calorie diet; this device will tell you your actual calorie intake for weight loss.

Breakfast:

  • You should drink 8 ounces of decaffeinated tea or 8 ounces of low-fat milk without sugar or artificial sweeteners.
  • You should eat a small banana and a medium bowl of ricotta cheese.
  • You should eat 1 hard-boiled egg and 1 piece of wheat bread toast.
  • You should have 1 cup of milk, 4 tablespoons of cereal and only 1 date.

Tip: If you get hungry before lunch, drink a small cup of organic green tea.

Lunch:

  • You should eat a cup of vegetable soup with kale, spinach, broccoli or other leafy vegetables.
  • You should eat 3 ounces of grilled chicken or fish and ¼ cup of broccoli and grilled carrots.
  • You should eat 1 salad with 2 ounces of fish/chicken/mushroom/tofu.
  • You should eat a medium bowl of salad with a light dressing.
  • You should consume 1 cup of blueberries and 1 cup of Greek yogurt each.

Tip: Drink a glass of water 20 minutes before eating; this helps prevent overeating.

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Lunch:

  • You should eat a medium bowl of clear chicken or mushroom soup.
  • You should eat a medium bowl of broccoli and roasted turkey/tofu with a little garlic chili oil.
  • You should eat an omelet consisting of 2 egg whites with 6 mushrooms and ½ cup of spinach.
  • You should consume 1 cup of vegetables with red bell pepper, carrots, broccoli, tofu and beans and add 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar and chili flakes.

Tip: Drink water and if you are hungry, drink a small cup of warm milk and add a pinch of turmeric. Without a doubt, there are several foods that are low in calories but are very unhealthy and not even conducive to weight loss; these foods are junk food. So you need to have an idea of what you can and cannot eat when following a 500 calorie diet. Let’s see.

Foods you can eat on a 500 calorie diet:

 

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  • You should eat non-starchy vegetables because they will help you reach your weight loss goals without compromising your health. These vegetables include broccoli, carrots, beets, onions, cabbage, lettuce and parsnips.
  • You should eat fried foods, salads, fried and blanched foods – these foods minimize the destruction of valuable enzymes and phytonutrients.
  • You should consume yogurt and whole milk. Yes, the full-fat versions are full of nutrients and keep you from getting hungry.
  • You should eat fresh fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juice. Avoid foods with a high GI value, such as pineapple, mango and grapes.
  • Finish the low calorie salad with lime juice, olive oil, salt and black pepper and enjoy.
  • You have to eat pre-cooked shrimp and chicken.
  • You should eat pre-washed vegetables

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Most people follow the conventional route and use meat as their main source of protein. If you’re tired of chicken, try one of these alternatives.

Foods to avoid on a 500 calorie diet:

 

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What is a good meal of 500 calories?

  • You should avoid processed foods like sausage and salami.
  • You should avoid canned vegetables, fruits, etc.
  • You should avoid soft drinks, fruit juices and energy drinks.
  • Avoid dried fruit
  • Avoid sweet foods such as cakes, pancakes, pastries and sweets.

Buy a weight loss tracker and follow this 500 calorie meal plan to lose weight fast. Good luck!The 500-calorie diet plan is not as easy as it may seem. You need to follow certain rules and there are a lot of things you need to do to achieve results in a short time. This 500-calorie diet plan is not an easy process to follow.. Read more about if i eat 500 calories a day how much weight will i lose calculator and let us know what you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight can you lose eating 500 calories a day?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to only eat 500 calories per day? Or you’re thinking about trying a diet but you don’t know how much to eat. The average woman weighs about 150 pounds, which is about the amount that many of us eat in a day. But, how much is that exactly? According to the USDA, one pound is equal to roughly 3500 calories, and it is estimated that we burn up to 2000 calories per day. So, what the heck is eating 500 calories a day?

What can I eat on a 500-calorie fast day?

At 500 calories per day, you can expect to lose about 2 pounds (1 kg) per week on the 500-calorie diet. But that’s not all you can expect. You can also expect to see benefits in your overall physical health, your mental health, and your “youthfulness”. If you want to lose weight, but don’t want to go on a restrictive diet, you can use a 500-calorie fast day to help you eat less. You don’t need to spend the whole day without food, but if you don’t eat anything for five full hours, you will automatically lose a few pounds without having to exercise or starve yourself.

What can I eat that’s 500 calories?

Fad diets touted to help you lose weight are the most common solution to weight loss. But what if you’re trying to lose weight and maintain it? Should you still follow a fad diet? If you are, you may want to consider a 500-calorie diet plan. You have to be careful about eating too many calories. 500 calories a day is the recommended “ideal” calorie intake for a healthy individual, but too many calories and you’ll gain weight. 500 calories a day will also not provide you with enough protein, iron, calcium, and other nutrients. You can, however, still eat food that has fewer calories. The trick is to choose foods that are low in calories but high in healthy nutrients.

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Gluten-Free Banana Oatmeal Pancakes for Christmas Morning

December 3, 2020 by

It’s December already, and if you’re anything like me, that means you’re wearing multiple fluffy socks and ditched your shower playlist for Mariah Carey’s Christmas album. 

Let’s face it: we were in the Christmas spirit the moment Thanksgiving was over. (Maybe even before!) And with 2020 almost wrapping up (but not quite!), it’s probably been the most challenging year of our lives, surviving a global pandemic. We all need to celebrate this holiday season. 

If you live away from family: you might be reconciling that you won’t be going home for Christmas this year. Traveling across states (or countries!) can be unsafe, and we don’t want to irresponsibly put our elderly parents in danger. Getting the whole family together may only happen over video calls this year.

And without family, I know that if I start making chocolate chip cookies, I will be the only one to binge eat them at 3am. Last year my favorite joke was, “What did I get for Christmas? I got fat.” 

This year, I don’t plan to ruin all the progress I’ve made following Chloe Ting’s workouts on Youtube, but I still want to feel as much in the holiday spirit as I possibly can. 

That’s why eating healthy versions of your favorite Christmas foods can lift your mood and not the number on the scale.

And pancakes are no exception. 

A trip to IHOP could have been the perfect Christmas morning when we were kids, but we’re well into the territory of watching what we put into our bodies. 

Christmas morning brunch menu ideas

Pancakes aren’t particularly festive on their own; they’re usually a childhood Sunday breakfast favorite. I absolutely adore pancakes but hate how they make me feel. 

A breakfast of stuffing your face with fluffy pancake slathered with butter and drowned in maple syrup? Delicious, but gives you a sugar high that crashes pretty quickly. You’re left with a mild headache as you squint at your laptop screen, trying to get some work done.

Not the best way to start the day. 

I began searching for a way to enjoy pancakes for breakfast without feeling like crap in an hour. I also wanted to incorporate some complex carbs into my diet. With a gluten-intolerant roommate, I turned to GF rolled oats for a solution. 

This recipe is incredible because it requires no added sugar, and it can all be made in a blender!

Plus, it uses up those overripe bananas lying on your kitchen counter. 

They’re healthy because they have more than 10g of protein per serving and tons of fiber. This recipe serves one person with a huge appetite, but feel free to double it up! You could even quadruple it to feed the family something nourishing and decadent on Christmas morning.

Keep reading till the end for my healthy home-made ‘Nutella’ recipe! The perfect topping to make pancakes Christmas morning worthy.

Here’s how to make it

The Ingredients you’ll need

  • ¾ cup of gluten-free rolled oats/instant oats
  • 1 overripe banana (it should be very ripe and mushy, with the black spots on the peel. However, if it’s releasing fluid and has fruit flies on it and smells fermented, it’s way too overripe. Don’t use it!)
  • 1 egg (I add it for the protein, but I’ve replaced this with a flax egg, and it worked wonders. You can do this if you want a vegan alternative.)
  • ¼ cup of milk or plant milk
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (you could use a vanilla bean for some extra fanciness!)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon flax meal
  • A pinch of Kosher salt
  • Butter for greasing your griddle/pan. You can use oil instead of a vegan alternative.

Method

  1. First, add the dry ingredients to your blender. That’s the oats, the baking powder, the cinnamon, the flax meal, and salt. Grind it for a few pulses until it’s a coarse powder. It doesn’t need to be too fine.
  2. Add all the wet ingredients. The egg/flax egg, the banana broken into chunks, the milk and vanilla extract. Pulse a few times until everything is relatively smooth and looks like pancake batter. 
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  1. Heat your non-stick flat pan or griddle with a little bit of butter/oil and pour! I love making smaller pancakes so that I can stack them. Cook until you see the pancakes rise a little bit. When you see bubbles, it’s time to flip. They should be dark golden brown. 

You can really dress up these pancakes to get into the holiday mood. I stay away from the maple syrup because they’re honestly sweet enough already. The overripe banana makes the pancakes super soft. 

You could cover it in strawberries and (more) bananas and organic peanut butter. I like putting some homemade ‘Nutella’ because it’s still in the healthy territory when you make it yourself. 

Homemade Nutella

  • 400g 2 1/2 cups of hazelnuts
  • ⅓ cup oil (coconut/olive oil or even hazelnut oil)
  • ⅓ cup sweetener (this can be maple syrup, brown sugar, or even regular white sugar)
  • 3 tablespoons dutch process cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons milk powder (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

You can also add some melted milk chocolate to make it tastier but I want to keep it healthy so I generally don’t.

  1. Roast the hazelnuts in an oven. Then take off their skins by rubbing them in a kitchen towel. 
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  1. Grind them in a food processor. First they’ll turn into hazelnut meal which is a coarse powder. Keep scraping the sides down with a spatula and it’ll soon release oils and become creamy like peanut butter. When you can see no pieces of hazelnuts it’s time to add the oil and sugar while the motor is running at a slow speed.
  2. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla essence last. Your nutella is ready!
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Whatever the toppings you choose, don’t forget to do the tiniest dusting of icing sugar on top. It’s going to be less than a teaspoon by weight, and it looks beautiful like snow. 

You’re never too old to enjoy a little bit of dusted sugar. 




Top 3 Biscuit Recipes

September 7, 2020 by

Are you craving those delicious biscuits from your favorite bakery? Is your coffee break missing some accompaniment on the plate? Well, worry, not! We have some awesome home-made biscuit recipes that you can try out today!

Biscuit Recipes

Biscuit recipes easy to make

#1 Easy Plain biscuit

For our first easy-to-make biscuit, you will need the following ingredients,

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter
  • One egg
  • 1 cup whole milk

Directions: 

  • First of all, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
  • Next, put in all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
  • Use a pastry cutter to cut out the butter. It is important to note here that the butter should be cold. Once you are done making small pieces of the cold butter, put them into the dough and incorporate them nicely.
  • Now, add in the milk and egg. Mix well until the ingredients have adequately combined. The dough should be sticky by now, and the butter pieces should be visible in it. 
  • Once your dough is ready, spread it on a counter or kitchen top sprinkled with flour. Sprinkle some more flour on top and knead well about 10-15 times. 
  • Now, pat out the dough to about 3/4 – 1-inch in thickness and cut it with a biscuit cutter or glass. It is up to you to decide how many pieces you want to cut out, depending on what size you are choosing. 
  • After that, place them on a lightly greased baking sheet or parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown on top. 
  • Finally, brush it off with some molten butter.

Your biscuits are ready for tasting!

#2 Peanut-butter Biscuit

This is a really simple recipe with only three ingredients,

  • 250 g crunchy peanut butter
  • 200 g light brown soft sugar
  • One medium egg

Directions:

  1. At first, preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). 
  2. Now, line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Beat all the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until they have combined well.
  3. After that, scoop out tablespoons of the mixture and roll them into balls. Arrange on the prepared sheets, spacing apart. Press down with the back of a fork to flatten them slightly. 
  4. Now, bake for approximately 12 minutes. Next, leave them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Wait for them to cool out completely.

The peanut-butter biscuits are ready to be served!

#3 Chocolate Mini Egg and Cornflake Biscuits

The ingredients you will need for this recipe are, 

  • 100 g butter (very soft)
  • 100 g light brown muscovado sugar
  • 75 g caster sugar
  • One large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 175 g plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 100 g milk or dark chocolate chips
  • 25 g cornflakes
  • 125 g mini eggs

Directions:

  1. First, in a large bowl, beat butter and sugars, using a handheld electric whisk until it becomes light and fluffy. Now add in the egg and vanilla, followed by the flour, soda, and chocolate chips, until they have combined well. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes to allow it to set.
  2. Now line three baking sheets with baking parchment. Put the cornflakes into a bowl and crunch them with your hands. Roll the dough into golf ball-sized balls, along with the cornflakes, and place them spaced out on the lined sheets.
  3. After that, flatten out each ball slightly with the palm of your hand and press the mini eggs on top of them. Chill them again for about 15 minutes.
  4. Now, preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan) and bake for 15-20 minutes, until they turn golden. Cool them out entirely on the sheets.

Your mini-egg, chocolatey delight is ready to be munched!

Final Words

So, what are you waiting for? Get-set-baking today!




The Top 3 Muffin Recipes to Try Out

August 31, 2020 by

Does the smell of freshly made muffins drive you crazy? Are you craving these delightful bakes? Well, you have arrived at the right place! We have curated a list of five exclusive muffin recipes for you to try out at home and have a wonderful time.

Pumpkin Oat Muffins

To make these tasty, munchy muffins filled with oats’ goodness, you will need the following:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of all-purpose flour 
  • 1/2 a cup of sugar(preferably light brown)
  • Two teaspoons of baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (ground)
  • 1/2 a teaspoon of regular salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ginger (ground)
  • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • One large-sized egg
  • 3/4 cup of pumpkin (canned)
  • 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup of fresh milk
  • One teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of chopped dates
  • 1 cup regular, plain oats 
  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of butter at room temperature

Directions:

  • First of all, preheat your oven to 190 degrees C. Then, gather all the ingredients listed above, and you are ready to start!
  • Now, take a large bowl and add to it a cup of flour, half a cup of brown sugar, baking powder, about a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, ginger, and baking soda. Now mix them well.
  • After that, separately in a bowl, whisk in the egg well along with the vegetable oil, milk, pumpkin, and vanilla. Make sure that all of them blend nicely.
  • Now, into the dry ingredients pour in the mixture containing pumpkin and stir well. Once the blending is adequately done, add the oats and pumpkin to it.
  • Once you are done till here, grease your muffin molds with butter, and pour in the mixture you just made. 
  • Then for the topping, mix in one and a half teaspoon butter, half teaspoon cinnamon, one-third cup brown sugar, a tablespoon each of flour and oats.
  • Now, pour this as a topping on each of your muffin mixes in the molds. 
  • Bake for about 20 minutes and check to see if they are ready.

Your delicious muffins are ready for consumption!

Cheese and Onion Muffins

When cheese and onion combine, it is an explosion of tastes! So check this one out.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4th cup of finely chopped onions
  • Two and a 1/2 tablespoons of butter
  • One properly beaten egg
  • 1/2 a cup of milk
  • 1 and 1/2 cup of Bisquick or any biscuit mix made at home
  • 3/4th cups of shredded good quality cheddar cheese 
  • One tablespoon of poppy seeds ( this is optional)

Directions:

  • First of all, you need to heat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Now take a tablespoon of butter and melt it over medium-low heat. Put in the onions and cook them until they turn soft and golden brown in color. This will take you about 9-10 minutes.
  • In a bowl, mix the egg with milk, biscuit mix, and stir well. Keep stirring until the whole mixture has moistened. 
  • Now add to this mixture, the onions, and the cheddar cheese.
  • After this, prepare the muffin molds by greasing them with butter.
  • Pour the mixture evenly into each mold, and top off with the remaining cheese and poppy seeds.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes at 190 degrees C. Don’t forget to check with a toothpick or fork if they are ready.

The cheesy muffins are now ready!

Nutty Banana Muffins

This is a wonderful muffin recipe loved by kids. You can have fun with it and check it out!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter kept at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Two large eggs
  • Two large ripe bananas mashed
  • One teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • One teaspoon salt
  • One teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

Directions:

  • First of all, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
  • Now beat the butter and sugar until it becomes creamy and fluffy. Then one by one beat the eggs and add them. i
  •  Next, add the bananas and vanilla, and beat the mixture well until a smooth consistency is reached.
  • Now, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  • After that, combine the flour mixture into the butter mixture, along with the sour milk or buttermilk. 
  • Next, add the walnuts.
  • Prepare the molds by greasing them with butter, and then pour the batter into them.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180 degrees C.

Your muffins are ready to be served!

Conclusion

Enjoy these recipes with your friends and family today!




Top 3 Custard Recipes to Try Out

June 8, 2020 by

Custard is a delicious dessert loved by most of us. There are a variety of custard recipes that you could try out, and here are our top five choices!

Caramel Custard

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients,

  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup curd/yogurt, thick
  • ½ cup cream
  • ½ cup condensed milk/milkmaid
  • 1 tbsp custard powder, vanilla flavored
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  • First, caramelize the sugar and, after that, transfer it into a bowl.
  • Allow it to set and cool for about five minutes.
  • Now, in a large bowl take ½ cup milk, ½ cup curd, ½ cup cream, and ½ cup of condensed milk.
  • Add 1 tbsp of custard powder and 1 tsp vanilla extract into the bowl.
  • Whisk until everything is mixed properly.
  • Pour out the mixture in the caramelized set bowl.
  • Now, steam the bowl for 30 minutes.
  • Once this is done, allow it to cool and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Your caramel custard is ready to be served!

Mango Custard

Ingredients you will need,

  • 2 cup milk
  • 3 tbsp custard powder
  • ¼ cup cold milk
  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • ¾ cup mango, cubes
  • 3 tbsp pomegranate
  • Six grapes, chopped
  • ¼ apple, chopped
  • 3 tbsp mango, chopped
  • 2 tbsp almond, chopped
  • 2 tbsp pistachios, chopped
  • 2 tbsp cashew, chopped
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder

Directions:

  • First, in a large pan boil 2 cups of milk. Make sure to stir frequently.
  • In a separate small bowl, pour the cold milk and custard powder and mix well, until the custard milk is prepared with no lumps.
  • Now, add the custard milk into the pan of boiling milk, while stirring it continuously, for about two minutes until both of them combine properly.
  • Now add ¼ cup sugar and mix well.
  • Cook on low flame for about 10 minutes and wait for the milk to thicken and turn creamy.
  • Let the mixture cool down completely.
  • Now, add ¾ cup of mango pulp.
  • Whisk until the custard and mango pulp has smoothly combined.
  • Now you can add the fruit pieces, dry fruits, and ¼ tsp of cardamom powder.
  • Mix all the ingredients properly and then refrigerate it for an hour.

Enjoy the delicious mango custard enjoy with your family!

Chocolate Custard

Ingredients needed for this recipe,

  • ½ cup custard powder, vanilla flavored
  • ¼ cup of cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup of sugar
  • 5 cup milk
  • 1 cup cream 

Directions:

  • First of all, in a bowl, take ½ cup custard powder, ¼ cup cocoa powder, and ¾ cup of sugar.
  • Now, add 1 cup of milk and mix well using a whisk.
  • Once you see that it has formed a smooth lump free mixture, pour the custard batter into a pan.
  • Now, add 1 cup of cream and 4 cups of milk. 
  • Keep stirring while keeping the flame low at all times.
  • Continue stirring until the smooth, silky consistency turns thick. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
  • Once the desired consistency is reached, transfer the chocolate custard into small cups.
  • Let it set in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
  • Sprinkle some cocoa powder and top it off with any chocolate of your choice.

The chocolate custard is now ready for you!

Final Remarks

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and try these custard recipes today!




How to Improve Your Baking Skills?

May 25, 2020 by

We all love the smell of freshly baked delights coming from the kitchen. From pieces of bread to muffins, cakes to biscuits, the world of baking is a culinary explosion. But right now, the current pandemic has shut down bakeries, and our favorite croissants and bagels are out of reach.

So, how about improving your own baking skills and making all those delicious things you love at home?

baking skill

Here are some tips and suggestions that can help you become a better baker!

Check the Recipe

Everything in the recipe, from preheating the oven to greasing the pan, and the amount of baking powder needed, follow some well-tried proportions. Keeping that in mind, try to stick to the recipe as much as possible. As you mature as a baker, you can make some tweaks and add your own tricks, but until then, follow the recipe proportions to get the desired results!

Measuring Ingredients

Baking is like chemistry. If you put in the ingredients in correct proportions, then you can expect great results.  So always keep a measuring cup if you are trying to follow the instructions on the amount of flour or milk or any other thing you are adding.

Dough Time

Give enough time to make the dough and then knead it properly. Depending on what you are making, your dough would require some specified amount of time before it is ready to go into the oven.

Freshness

Whatever ingredient you are using should be fresh. Especially, check the baking powder before using it, to make sure the expiry date has not crossed. This way, you can ensure the quality of your baked delights.

Check your Oven

Your oven should be able to support the temperature ranges mentioned in the recipe you are following from preheating temperature to the ones for baking. In case it doesn’t, try to calibrate the most suitable range possible using the oven you have. But all these need to be done before-hand, you don’t want to start baking without setting up where to do it!

List All Ingredients

Keep a list of all the ingredients that you would need for your recipe. Arrange them before starting, so that you can have a hassle-free baking experience.

Butter Paper

This is one thing that is going to be useful for a lot of baking recipes. So always keep some extra in your kitchen.

Patience

Baking is all about patience. So it is better to keep enough time in hand to dedicate to the process. Avoid working around after making the dough because if you let it sit too long, the consistency might change, and the baking process might be affected.

Ingredient Mixing

Try to make it a habit to mix the dry and wet ingredients separately. Especially if you are making a cake, separate mixing of the dry and wet parts before making the final batter gives a better consistency.

Final Thoughts

Finally, I would like to say that whatever ingredients you are using, don’t forget to add a dollop of love at the end to make your baked goodies, even more delicious!




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