Showing posts with label Rice Cooker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rice Cooker. Show all posts

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Kids Chuck and Bung Veggie Curry


OK, so yesterday I was Wonder Woman! 


School run without hiccups; packed lunches remembered, ironing done, Jeremy Kyle watched (it makes me realise how good my life it compared to those muppets!), hoovered and found out when tickets for the local JLS concert are going on sale!  That was all completed just in time for 11am coffee!!


Kids in from school - my son announced "I only want fruit and vegetables for tea Mummy!" OK - like the idea, but I bet I'd choose the wrong ones.....  I suggested the children collected the veggies together they wanted to eat - to my amazement this was the result!


Vegetable Curry - we call it a Chuck and Bung dish (you chuck it all in a pan and bung it on the stove!)

Any veg you want to use - we chucked together:  Onion, Carrots, Broccoli, Mushrooms, Pepper, French Beans, Asparagas, Tomatoes, Spinach, Celery, Root ginger, Garlic
Other things we bunged in:  Dessicated coconut, Sultanas, Garam Masala, Chilli powder, Turmeric, Curry powder, Chopped tomatoes, Tomato paste, Honey
Optional:  Double cream or Natural Yoghurt

What we did:
On Cutting Board, chop onion using Chefs Knife, place in Stir-fry Skillet. 
With Food Chopper chop ginger and then crush garlic using Garlic Press - add to pan.  Toss in a couple of handfuls of dessicated coconut and saute.  Stir occasionally using Small Mix n Scraper until coconut is toasted (I wish you could smell this it's so good!)  If you need to 'hide' vegetables, the Food Chopper is a great tool to use (sneeky Mummy - I did with the Spinach!)
Add rest of chopped vegetables, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, honey and sultanas.  Combine and bring to the boil.





Measure spices using Adjustable Measuring Spoons.  For the rice use the fabulous Rice Cooker (I use it for everything and rice!!! More to follow on that in later posts...)  Measure 1 250ml Prep Bowl of rice and add 1.5 - 2 Prep Bowls of water.  Microwave as per rice packet instructions.  The insert in the lid of the Rice Cooker catches all the starch and leaves you with perfect results - every time!

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Yorkshire Puddings and Posh Alternatives!


Sunday lunch just isn't the same without Yorkshire Puds - this recipe is a favourite as it always works!  Cooked from cold, yes that's right - cold, in a stoneware muffin pan with just a spritz of oil these are a low fat, healthy variation to the traditional "heat beef dripping until you see a blue haze, " method.  No more smoke alarms ringing, mascara melting or steamed up glasses when you open the oven door!
Leave the cooked Yorkshires on the side for a few minutes and simply lift them out of the well-seasoned muffin pan.  A winner from every angle (and they are crisp, with a soft bottom - nothing better!!!!!!)

Yorkshire Puddings
  • Plain flour
  • 3 eggs
  • Splash cold water
  • Milk 
Preheat oven to 220oC / 210oC fan
Measure 1 small Prep Bowl (250ml) of flour and put in Classic Batter Bowl
Crack eggs into Prep Bowl and top up with cold water add to Batter Bowl
Measure 1 Prep Bowl of milk
Whisk well using Stainless Whisk until batter is smooth
Using Kitchen Spritzer, spray a little oil into each cup of the 12 Cup Muffin Pan
Evenly divide batter between cups (stone should be cold – no need to preheat).    
Bake for 20 – 30 minutes

Posh Puds!  -  These make a tasty alternative and can be served as a snack or picnic item (warm or cold) in their own right.

Italian
To standard ingredients add 2 cloves of crushed garlic (Garlic Press), measure 1 – 2 tsp Italian dried herbs  using the Adjustable Measuring Spoons and whisk.  Once batter in muffin pan grate the parmessan with the Fine Microplane Grater and dump a good amount of grated cheese on each prior to cooking.

British Beef!
Use the Food Chopper to finely chop some roast beef.  Mix a little with horseradish and cream – divide batter into muffin pan and drop a teaspoon of beef mixture into centre of each one prior to cooking.
Ham and Mustard
Mix a little finely chopped ham with grainy mustard – divide batter into muffin pan and drop a teaspoon of beef mixture into centre of each one prior to cooking.
Sunshine mix!
Mix a little finely chopped sundried tomato, yellow pepper, basil and olives  – divide batter into muffin pan and drop a teaspoon of mixture into centre of each one prior to cooking.
Sweet Treats!

Autumn Glory
Cook traditional Yorkshire Puds but serve as a dessert.  Peel and chop apples and place in Rice Cooker, add 1 tablespoon water and cook on high until soft.  Mash to smooth sauce using Mix n Masher – place a slit in the top of the pud and spoon in some hot sweetened apple sauce and sprinkle over some cinnamon sugar. 

Yorkshire Profiteroles
Cook traditional Yorkshire Puds but serve cold filled with whipped cream (use Double Balloon Whisk to whip the cream and Easy Accent Decorator to fill with cream).  Melt chocolate in Prep Bowl or Double Boiler and drizzle over stacked profiteroles. 

As we say here in Yorkshire,  "They're grand, lass!"