Banana Nutella Bread

One of the most divine pairing of ingredients has to be that of Chocolate & Banana. It gets more better when the chocolate is in the form of Nutella. There is no way a dish can go wrong with these two ingredients and it also becomes difficult to highlight who is the hero when they both are present. 

In the mood to get into some indulgence, I was scouring the internet for some yummylicious combination as I had plenty of time this Sunday afternoon. After several recipes, this recipe struck me as the best of the lot and knew that this was exactly what I needed to change the boring Sunday into an exciting one

Serves: 1 Loaf

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Oven time: 60 minutes

Resting time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Maida/All Purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 1 1/4 cup Ripened Bananas - Mashed
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 1 tsp Vanilla Essence
• 3/4 cup Nutella

Method:

1. Set the oven to pre-heat at 175 C.
2. In a bowl, add the flour, baking soda and salt and whisk well to ensure they are mixed.
3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter with a electric mixer at medium speed.
4. Once it resembles a creamy consistency, add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
5. Now add the bananas, milk and vanilla to the large bowl and blend until all the ingredients are blended.
6. Add the flour mixture slowly into the large bowl beating at slow speed until flour mixture is well incorporated.
7. Heat the Nutella in a microwave for 15 seconds. Add 1 cup of the bread batter to the nutella and stir until blended.
8. Butter the insides of bread loaf tin and then spoon the plain bread batter and the nutella batter alternatively.  
9. Using a knife, gently swirl the layers to get add texture to the bread.
10. Bake for 50 - 60 mins and then allow it too cool for a further 15 mins.
11. Now remove the loaf from the pan and allow it cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Chef In Training

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Butter Chicken Masala

The most favoured dish amongst the North Indian cuisine for me is the Butter Chicken/Paneer Masala. Incidentally this is also one of the first gravy dishes that I began my cooking with. Being in UK during my student times, cooking it always made me feel close to home. Some weeks ago I received few packets of home made masala's for different dishes from "Zaiqa - The Spice Store". One amongst them was for Butter Chicken Masala. The aroma of the masala made me cook up my favourite curry once again. And this time, it's here for you to try too.

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg boneless Chicken pieces
• 4 Tomatoes (boiled & pureed) or 1 cup Tomato puree
• 4 medium Onions finely chopped
• 2 tbsp Ginger-Garlic paste
• 2 tbsp Zaiqa Butter Chicken Masala for marination
• 3-4 tbsp Zaiqa Butter Chicken Masala for gravy
• 1 tsp Fenugreek leaves
• 1 cup Milk
• 3-4 tbsp of Cream
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tbsp Oil
• Salt to taste

(Zaiqa Masala's)

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken pieces with 2 tbsp of Zaiqa masala and required amount of salt. Allow to rest for 1-2 hours refrigerated. (You can substitute Zaiqa masala with regular fry masala)
2. Heat the oil and butter in a deep cooking pot.
3. Add the finely chopped onions and sauté till the onions turn slightly brownish. 
4. Now add the ginger-garlic paste and mix well.
5. Add the marinated chicken and allow it to cook in the mixture on a low flame. This should take about 7-10 minutes.
6. Next add the tomato puree and close the lid for about 5-7 minutes. Once the puree is cooked, add the Zaiqa masala, fenugreek leaves, milk and cream. Allow it to simmer till the mixture thickens. (You can substitute Zaiqa masala with some Garam Masala and Methi leaves)
7. Remove from the stove and garnish with some more cream and butter.

Best served with Butter Naan, Roti and Fried Ghee Rice.

(Ready to be served)

Variations

• Vegetarians can substitute Paneer for Chicken. If using Paneer, mix them with the masala and shallow fry them before adding to the mixture.
• If you want a very rich creamy gravy, add more cream.

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Garlic Bread at Home

Who doesn't love Garlic breads. If there is any accompaniment that goes well for majority of European cuisines, it has to be the mighty Garlic Bread. Aren't there times we used to spent a fortune for garlic breads when we go to restaurants and eat it by proportioning it between all those present on the table. Well gone are those days. Here you will find how to make different varieties of Garlic bread in a quick, easy and consistent manner.

Serves: 3-4

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Oven time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette of plain French Bread
• Available at all bakeries - Prefer the one at Star Bazaar/Hot Breads/French Loaf
• 100 gms of butter (No harm in putting more)
• 3 cloves of Garlic 
• Can also use 1 tsp of Garlic paste but make sure u strain it.
• Oregano/Parsley seasoning
• Can also use Garlic Bread Seasoning from Keya - Available at Amma Nanna, Adyar

(French Baguette)

Method:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 C
2. Place the butter in a microwave oven and heat it for 15 seconds on High. This will melt the butter sufficient enough to mix our ingredients yet preventing it from melting into liquid state.
3. Crush the cloves of Garlic using pestle and mortar (in case you do not have one, just place the gloves on a flat surface and crush them using the side of a broad knife).
4. Mix the garlic paste, butter and seasoning (according to taste) in a bowl.
5. Make diagonal slices on the baguette carefully by ensuring you do not cut it all the way down.
6. Spread the mixture between the diagonal pockets as shown.
7. Smoother the remaining butter on top of the baguette and around its sides.
8. Wrap the baguette in alumnium foil and place it in the pre-heated oven in the middle tray.
9. After 10 mins, turnover the baguette and leave it for a further 7-10 mins.
10. Remove it from the oven and slice the cuts all the way down and serve it.

(Garlic Butter mixture smoothered)

(Fresh from the Oven)

Variations

• You can also mix in shredded cheese slices to give it a cheesy flavoring.
• After removing from the oven, you can even place some cheese and chicken cubes on top of each slice and place it back on the oven for a few minutes to have a Cheese Chicken Garlic Bread.

If this recipe interested you, please share it so others maybe interested too.

Please feel free to leave your comments.

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