Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread | Mexican style cornbread

Soft, moist cornbread with pop-in the mouth corn niblets
11/11/2016 9:49:48 PM vindhyadesai

Generally most of us eat regular white bread or nowadays health conscious people eat whole wheat bread. But did you know that different countries especially like India, Mexico, Italy, France have their own specialty breads. In India, of course we have rotis, phulkas, chapathis, kulchas, naans, yes, the list is endless. Similarly in Mexico they have different types of bread like tortillas, corn bread etc. They are a corn loving nation and their corn tortillas are so good!
Corn bread is a very different bread and unique in taste. It is so moist and soft almost like a cake that it can be served just on its own without anything on the side. Here I have served it with guacamole, a Mexican condiment like our chutney. Corn bread has these pop-in the mouth corn niblets with tiny puddles of corn sweetness filled in them. Yum, to say the least! ... “Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread | Mexican style cornbread”

Mediterranean Platter 1

Mix and match Mediterranean nibbles and snacks platter with dips
09/30/2016 9:52:55 PM vindhyadesai

Mediterranean cuisine is a very vast cuisine. It covers various regions with a wide variety of dishes. Over the last few days I have posted recipes which are simple dips from the Mediterranean cuisine. These dips can be easily converted into a big party platter, forms a great starter with simple nibbles to munch on. The dips included Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Tzatziki. This platter is great for parties or potlucks. Very easy to prepare, easy to put it all together and is very portable. Nibbles and snacks can include very simple things like sliced avocado, pita chips and even tortilla chips (ok may be not Mediterranean but tastes awesome!). Other common things from the Mediterranean region like olives, some Greek Feta cheese (available in most supermarkets) all make up for great snacks on this platter. Include other things if you want to like slices of toasted pita bread, roasted aubergines etc. Restaurant quality dishes at home ready in few minutes. Easy on the stomach and on your pockets! A colourful photo fest below đŸ™‚ ... “Mediterranean Platter 1”

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | How to make red pepper hummus dip?

Hummus dip with notes of sweet roasted red pepper and creamy feta cheese
09/28/2016 9:48:05 PM vindhyadesai

In continuation to my previous post, plain hummus dip, this recipe is a simple extension of it. I wanted this recipe to searchable so I am posting it as a separate one. This is one of the most delicious variations of a hummus dip. It has roasted sweet red bell pepper and creamy Greek Feta Cheese. Feta cheese is available in superstores easily these days. If you cannot procure Feta cheese you can skip it or add some fresh paneer/cottage cheese in place of it, squeeze in some lime/lemon juice before using it. The texture will not turn out to be very creamy but paneer is a good substitute. In keeping with the Mediterranean cuisine, I will reveal the Mediterranean platter in tomorrow’s post. I prepared the platter with these hummus dips featuring in it. Wait and watch this space! ... “Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | How to make red pepper hummus dip?”

Mixed Veg Enchiladas | How to make Mexican Enchiladas?

Hearty, filling, mixed vegetable Mexican Enchiladas
9/08/2016 7:48:02 PM vindhyadesai

Enchiladas is a Mexican tortilla based dish. Tortillas covered with sauce, finished off with cheese and baked in the oven till cheese melts. This is very hearty and filling, spicy and cheese’y and how can that not taste good! I have used leftover Mexican mixed bean veg chilli which I have posted earlier. Any kind of tortillas can be used, corn, whole wheat, plain tortillas, anything you like. I have also used hung yogurt to make the filling for the tortillas instead of sour cream to cut the calories. I have also used sliced avocado for the filling but you can use boiled corn, olives, onions, tomatoes, anything you like. This is one of those dishes you can make it your own. Add anything you like, make variations and enjoy! Other Mexican dishes to try. ... “Mixed Veg Enchiladas | How to make Mexican Enchiladas?”

Mac n Cheese

Creamy rich, kids favourite mac n cheese
08/21/2016 4:54:27 PM vindhyadesai

Every kid loves mac n cheese, it is creamy, tasty and it has oodles of cheese. It starts with a basic white sauce or bechamel sauce. Cooked macaroni, a type of pasta is added to it and finished with cheese and is baked in the oven till the cheese melts. Different kinds of flavours are added to this. This is Dish 7 of the World Cuisine Series and this is from America (ori. English as per wiki) but extremely popular in American and Canadian region. Enjoy with a slice of plain garlic bread. Make the dish creamy and not dry. Macaroni is made using tube or elbow macaroni pasta generally but any kind of small pasta which holds the sauce well can also be used. Here I have used small shell pasta. ... “Mac n Cheese”

Baked Gem Squash | Roasted Gem Squash – South African style roasted squash

Sweet roasted gem squash with creamy corn filling – A South African vegetarian delicacy
08/18/2016 9:56:16 PM vindhyadesai

Another recipe, Dish 5 of World Cuisine Series and this time it is from the beautiful country of South Africa. Like I mentioned in the 1st post of world cuisine series, it is always best to eat and source vegetables that are available locally in season. For this recipe use any kind of small squash/pumpkin. The sweet flesh of a squash is very fibrous and is very tasty. It just melts in the mouth when baked/roasted. It is used differently in different types of cuisines. I have adapted this recipe from this blog. There are so many resources out there to learn about new cuisines and new dishes. Make this with any type of squash you can get your hands on and enjoy the flavours. It is gluten free and it can be made vegan by adding a vegan cheese or even skipping it, just roasted will be just as nice! Here I have used gem squash which is a green skinned, yellow fleshed squash(picture below) and is ideal to share for two. Eat the pulp/flesh of the squash and discard the hard/tough skin of the squash ... “Baked Gem Squash | Roasted Gem Squash – South African style roasted squash”

Spinach Corn Cheddar Cheese Muffins | Mexican Savoury Muffins

Packed with a punch of jalapenos, with cheese, corn and spinach – Mexican style muffins
08/17/2016 9:53:27 PM vindhyadesai

I have a soft spot for anything savoury đŸ™‚ Whenever I get an opportunity, I try to make savoury things to nibble on. This is Dish 4 of the World Cuisine Series and it is from Mexico. One of my favourite cuisines to prepare and of course to eat (gobble ’em all up). These are muffins with Mexican flavours, corn, jalapenos, cheese, what is not to like about them. Whenever I bake anything I try to make them all with whole wheat. Along with whole wheat flour, I have also used yellow cornmeal which is maize flour, easily available in stores/supermarkets. It gives a nice texture to the muffins, you also get to incorporate another grain and cornmeal is widely used in Mexican cuisine! The most important thing about muffins is not to overmix the batter/mixture which will make them chewy and hard. Mix and make muffins, enjoy them as a snack or for a quick nibble with a glass of milk in the morning. Also try other Mexican recipes! ... “Spinach Corn Cheddar Cheese Muffins | Mexican Savoury Muffins”

Fig And Goats Cheese Pizza With Arugula

Pizza with sweet caramelized onions, figs, goats cheese and crisp arugula
07/28/2016 10:43:45 PM vindhyadesai

To open the pizza recipes account on FOI, I would like to post an unusual pizza recipe generally not available to order online. Just ripe, heart shaped slices of figs (anjeer), creamy goats cheese (can be substituted with mozzarella or pizza cheese), sweet caramelized onions and crisp arugula also known as rocket leaves (can be substituted with basil or any light salad leaf if rocket leaves are not available) are the toppings in this recipe.
Substitute ingredients depending on their availabilities. These are a super combination, this is infact a classic recipe of pizza. Goats cheese and figs are the new ‘jodi’ like bread & butter or cheese & grapes. Adding figs do not make the pizza sweet or fruity, they lend a beautiful flavour with the onions because they caramelize really well. Goats cheese is a soft cheese which does not melt. I have used homemade onion marmalade(jam) for this recipe as the base sauce, it can be substituted with a slightly less sweet jam or even tomato sauce or ketchup.
... “Fig And Goats Cheese Pizza With Arugula”

Potato Corn Chowder

Creamy potato corn chowder with rustic dinner rolls
06/29/2016 6:20:41 PM vindhyadesai

A bowlful of creamy potato corn chowder after a long day, perfect! Chowder is a type of soup made using vegetables or seafood in a cream based sauce. It has it origins in England. The sauce is creamy and smooth generally thickened with a roux. Corn chowder is one of the most comforting foods, sweet corn kernels popping inside the mouth with thick cream based soup and potato chunks in the background, it is a super combination. Season with lots of black pepper for a lot of flavour. Enjoy this on a rainy night or a dull winter evening with some dinner rolls or bread toast. I served it with homemade wholewheat rustic dinner rolls. ... “Potato Corn Chowder”

Spinach Avocado Caramelized Onion Quesadilla

Melty quesadillas with spinach, avocados and sweet caramelized onions
06/23/2016 10:34:34 PM vindhyadesai

Quesadilla (pronounced: ‘kesa-Deeya’) is a famous dish from Mexico. They are made by stuffing tortillas with different types of fillings on the open side with cheese and roasted till cheese melts. The filled tortillas are folded into a semi-circle or half moon shape and served. Sometimes they are cut into quarters or 6s or 8s and they make a great starter dish for a party. There are many ways of making a quesadilla. It is really all about the different types of fillings. Fresh homemade tortillas are the best to hold the quesadilla together. Tortillas are like thin rotis without any oil, made using whole wheat flour or corn flour or white flour. Here, I have used fresh homemade whole wheat tortillas. Slowly caramelized onions taste sweet along with with some sweet red chillis. Quesadillas need patience while assembling, an easy way is to put together all ingredients, making them will then be a breeze. ... “Spinach Avocado Caramelized Onion Quesadilla”