Baked French Toast Slices

I don't like spending too much time in the kitchen for making breakfast. I always prefer recipes for breakfasts that can be prepared within 15-20 minutes. French toast has always been my favorite breakfast recipes especially on lazy Sunday mornings when we wake up late and most of the time it is a brunch or very light breakfast. If you ask my son what he'd like to have for a quick breakfast, the answer is always the same - Either it is pancakes or french toast. He usually has oatmeal or cornflakes before going to school everyday which he finds very boring. But as he is a very slow eater, I have very limited choices to give him for breakfast during school days. 

This version of baked french toast is so delicious and trust me no one can ever go wrong with this recipe.. This recipe is always a hit. It is really very simple and quick to make. Crispy outside and fluffy inside with sugar and a bit of buttery taste - these french toasts are absolutely yummy or should I say tremendously decadent. If you want, you can serve these french toast drizzled with syrup of your choice or eat it as it is. Do try these fantastic baked french toast slices and enjoy.

Ingredients:-

• 8 slices of bread
• 3 eggs
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• few drops of yellow color (optional)
• bread crumbs 
• butter

Method:-

• Cut each bread slice into three pieces.
• Grease a baking tray with butter and keep aside. 
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
• In a wide bowl, add eggs, sugar, yellow color, vanilla essence. Beat well with a whisk.
• Add milk and beat again until the mixture is well blended.
• Dip each bread slices in the bread mixture. Do not over-soak. Just coat it completely.
• Roll in breadcrumbs.
• Place on a greased baking tray.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
• Remove and brish the tops with melted butter.
• Flip to the other side and bake for another 5 - 10 minutes.
• Serve with drizzled syrup.

Notes:-

• You may avoid rolling the bread slices in breadcrumbs.
• You may cut the bread into half to form triangles instead of slices.
• Adjust the sugar as per required. 
• If you do not want to bake them, just grease a pan with oil or ghee, dip each bread slices in the mixture and fry on low heat on both sides till golden brown.. Do not use breadcrumbs if you are frying it in a pan. 

Happy Cooking!!!

Sending this to :- Arthy Shama's Healthy Snacking and WTML & Gayathri’s Announcement Page and Vardhini's Bake Fest # 25 

Spooky Witches' Fingers - Home Baker's Challenge # 6

October is the month of Halloween and for the first time in my life I have made something creepy as this. This month's challenge for Home Bakers Challenge was announced by Nalini's Kitchen . She gave us four choices for Halloween  - chocolate glazed pumpkin cookies, spooky witch fingers, Halloween whoopie pies and ghostly cupcakes. 

I was really excited to make these unique and creative spooky witch fingers. They were quite simple, easy and delicious to make for such a realistic and impressive outcome. These spooky witch fingers, according to my husband were hilarious but a little more horrid at the same time. My son loved these frightful cookies especially when I was taking the pics - the whole dramatic blood and all.

On this note, I hope everyone has a scary (but safe) Halloween this year!

Ingredients:-

• 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 cup butter (at room temperature)
• 1 cup icing sugar 
• ¾ cup whole almonds
• 1 egg  
• 1 tsp almond extract 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract  
• 1 tsp baking powder  
• 1 tsp salt 

Method:-  

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.  
• Line your cookie sheet with a parchment paper. 
• Combine butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl and beat well.
• Gradually add flour, baking pdr, and salt. Beat well to form a soft dough.
• Wrap in a cling film and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and scoop 1 heaped teaspoon at a time.
• Roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. 
• Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. 
• Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. 
• Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.  
• Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes or until the cookies are slightly golden in color.

Notes:-

• For the eggless version use the same dough for Thumbprint Cookies  just omit the strawberry crush. 
• If the almonds keep falling after you've baked them, Just add little jam and stick the almonds back to the fingers.

Happy Baking!!
 
Sending this to :- Sharanya's Let's Celebrate Halloween Event 

 5.11.13 - +Joerg Sterner  tried the spooky witches fingers I made for October Home baker's challenge... Thanks Joerg for sharing your feedback... God bless..  

Semolina Kheer / Sooji Ki Kheer

I made sooji ki kheer for my son today for breakfast as he was craving for something sweet. As I made it, I felt really nostalgic remembering my Mom. She always used to make this for me and I totally loved it. This is the most simplest, easiest and tastiest kheer and can be made in almost no time. It is very good for confining mothers, just make it of thin consistency. Kids will love it for sure.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup semolina 
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 litre milk
• 2 tbsp clarified butter / ghee
• ¼ tsp cardamom pdr
• roughly chopped pistachios (for garnishing)

Method:-

• Heat ghee in a wok and add semolina and cardamom pdr. Stir continuously on slow flame till well roasted.
• Add to it milk and sugar. Mix well on slow flame and cook till required consistency.
• Garnish with pistachios and serve warm or cold.

Notes:-

• Adjust the sugar as per your taste.
• You may use any dry fruits for garnishing.
• Remember this kheer thickens up when cool so switch off the flame a little before the desired consistency is obtained.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- Cook With White announced at Merry Tummy and Hetal's 1st Anniversary Celebration Giveaway and Srivalli's Kid's Delight Potluck Party and Amrita's Party Event  

 

Moong Dal Sambar

Sambar is a popular and loved dishes in any South Indian cuisine. Any South Indian meal is incomplete without sambhar. Every South Indian family will have their version of sambar with lots of variations to it. Today, I'd like to share my version of moong dal sambar. Moong dal is a rich source of protein and fiber. Also, it is low in fat and cholesterol free. It is very easy and quick to make, especially in days when you’re too bored to cook. In fact, I like this more than the regular sambar. I love to have moong sambar poured over piping hot idlis. Definitely my kind of comfort food!! This sambar is a perfect accompaniment to idli, dosa, upma, pongal and even rice.  

Ingredients:-

• ½ cup moong dal / yellow split lentils
• 2 tbsp sambar powder
• 1 tbsp ghee / clarified butter
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp red chilli pdr  
• ¼ tsp mustard seeds 
• 5-6 curry leaves
• 3 tomatoes (finely chopped)
• 2 green chillies 
• 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• a pinch of asafoetida
• small ball of tamarind (soaked in water)
• salt to taste
• few chopped coriander leaves (for garnishing)

Method:-

• Boil moong dal along with 2½ cups water and 1 tsp oil.
• When done, whisk the dal well and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a wok.
• Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, garlic and asafoetida.
• Saute well and add onions and whole green chillies.
• When onions are soft, add tomatoes and cook till oil separates.
• Add the dal, salt, tamarind pulp and sambar powder.
• Cook till you get required consistency.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

Notes:-

• You may add 2 drumsticks (cut into small pieces) after adding curry leaves.
• You may add chopped vegetables (brinjals, lady finger's or potato) to the sambhar along with tomatoes.
• You may increase the amount of water as per required consistency.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- Healthy Diet–Lunchbox Recipes & Priya's Healthy Diet page and SIC–South Indian Cooking & Anu's Page and Srivalli's Side Dish Mela