Chicken Bread

I simply love baking. Its been a really long time since I actually baked anything. I got this amazing bread recipe from Shab's Cuisine. It is so amazing and simple to make, that I have already made two loaves, with requests for more. I just halved the ingredients. Also, for the filling, I used leftover minced chicken which I cooked for dinner the previous night.  And the filling can be made with anything...not just chicken.

Ingredients:
For the Dough
Plain Flour or Maida: 2 cups
Yeast: 1/2 tbsp
Milk Powder: 1 tbsp
Salt: a pinch
Oil: 2 tbsp
Egg: 2 (1 is for the eggwash)
Castor Sugar: 1tsp
Lukewarm water: 1 cup
Sesame seed: 1 tsp for sprinkling

For the Chicken Filling:
Minced Chicken: 200gms
Green Peas: 50gms
Onion finely chopped: 1
Tomato finely chopped: 1
Ginger garlic paste: 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder: 1/2tsp
Corriander Powder: 1/2tsp
Cumin Powder: 1/2tsp
Garam Masala:1/2tsp
Corriander leaves: for garnishing

Method:
For the Dough

• In a bowl, mix together flour, salt, caster sugar, milk powder and yeast. Mix well
• Make a well in the center of this and add a beaten egg and oil. 
• Knead it to make a medium soft dough using the lukewarm water.
• Leave it to rise, for 2 hours or till it rises to double the size.
• Punch it back and divide the dough into two parts.

For the Filling

• In hot oil, saute the onion. 
• Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell leaves.
• Then add the tomatoes and cook a bit.
• Add the dry masalas and salt and cook covered on a medium flame.
• Garnish with corriander leaves.

The assembling

• Dust the working surface with flour. I did this on the baking tray because it is a bit difficult to move the bread once the assembling is done.
• Roll the dough into a rectangular shape.
• Place the filling in the center of the dough horizontally, leaving some space on both ends.
• Cut the edges with scissors, and fold each cut part from each side, so they overlap each other.
• Tuck in the ends.
• Brush the top of the bread with a beaten egg and sprinkle sesame seeds.
• Leave it to let it rise, for around 20 mins.
• Bake the bread at 200 degree C for 25 mins, or it turns golden.
• Take it out of the oven, and brush butter all over it while it is hot. 
• Enjoy it hot!!

I was really surprised and delighted to receive these awards from my new blogging friend Teenz' Yummy Delights.

 I pass these awards to
Julie
Tina
Mama's World
The Kitchen On the 28th floor

Vanilla Cake

Though my parents were not here with us on their 35th Anniversary, I decided to bake this Vanilla Cake to keep my boys happy and in a celebratory mood. My 6 year old boys helped me, so we had a bit of fun doing this.

Ingredients:
Maida/Refined Flour: 100gms
Powdered Sugar: 100gms
Vanilla Essence: 2 tsp
Baking Powder: 1tsp
Milk: 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Butter: 100gms
Egg whites: of 3 eggs

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 175 degrees C
• Sieve together the flour and baking powder.
• Combine the butter and the powdered sugar till it becomes soft and creamy.
• Next add the egg whites to it, and beat well.
• Then, alternately, add the flour and the milk into the egg mixture. Start by adding the flour, and end by adding the flour. Mix well with a wooden spoon
• Mix in the vanilla essence.
• Pour the batter in a greased cake dish and bake at 175 degrees C for 45 minutes.
• Prick a fork or a knife in when it is baking to see if it is done. If the fork or knife comes out clean, then the cake is done.
• Transfer the cake on a wire rack to cool it.

I would like to enter this post to the event Christmas Delicacy hosted by Erivum Puliyumm.

Macaroni Chicken Cheeese Bake

Got this wonderful recipe from "Cooking with Chicken. Recipes from East and West". This is a very old book that belongs to my mom. The only difference is that I added carrots, peas and beans along with the capsicum. This recipe was a loved by my whole family, especially the kids, and I will definitely make it again. It is very simple to make. I use macaroni of different shapes so my boys have more fun eating it.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chicken (boiled and shredded)
75 gms butter
60 gms flour
2 cups milk
seasoning to taste
2 egg yolks
2 egg whites (stiffly beaten)
1 cup chopped, seedless capsicum
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup mushroom
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup beans
3/4 cup grated cheese
120 gms fresh cream
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 cups boiled macaroni
2 large firm tomatoes, sliced
25 gms cheese
25 gms dry breadcrumbs

Method:
1. Saute all the veggies and keep aside
2. Prepare a white sauce with the butter, flour and milk.
    i. Melt butter over a low flame.
    ii. Stir in the flour. Using a whisk, stir the butter and flour mixture until it bubbles.
    iii. Cook and stir for 2 mins.
    iv. Remove from heat and slowly add the milk, stirring with the whisk.
    v. On a slow flame stir and cook till the sauce becomes thick.

3. When the sauce has thickened, add seasoning and beaten egg yolk and cook, stirring constantly, till it becomes a little thick.

4. Add the veggies, 3/4 cup grated cheese and chicken shreds.

5. Whip the egg whites till they are stiff and fold them into the mixture.

6. Cool and add the whipped cream and ketchup.

7. Check for seasoning.

8. In a large greased pie dish, put one cup of the boiled macaroni, then pour half the mixture on it and spread evenly.

9. On top of this, arrange the tomato slices, overlapping each other.

10. Do the same with the remaining macaroni and mixture.

11. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs.

12. Bake in an oven for 40 mins.

13. Serve hot.