Breakfast Ideas

Scones

| Rekha Vengalil

The first time I made scones it turned out to be sore. Not sure what went wrong but it was so terrible that If I hit someone and they could bleed.  Hmm some days are not just yours .  Nevertheless, I gave it another try over the weekend.  I first made some mini scones and then went on to make a whole batch after the mini scones tasted perfect.

Mini scones
The recipe is adapted from BBC good food. 


You need-
  • Self-raising flour , 350 grams + plus extra for dusting
  • Salt – 1/4 teaspoon
  • Baking powder – 1/2 teaspoon
  • Butter – 85 grams, cubes
  • caster sugar – 3 tablespoons
  • Warm milk – 175 mls
  • Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
  • Beaten egg , to glaze

How to –

Pre-heat the oven to 200 C.

In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, Sugar, salt and baking powder. Add the butter and rub with your figures until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add the vanilla essence to the milk and stir. Make a well in the middle and add the milk. Slowly mix the flour to form a soft dough.


Sprinkle the work surface with some flour; place the dough and gently shape into a ball and smooth. Brush the excess flour and roll the dough till its 2 cms thick. Cut the dough using a 5 cms cookie cutter. To ensure the dough does not stick to the cutter, dip the cutter into the flour before plunging into the dough. 

Place the scones on the baking tray. Brush the top with beaten egg and bake for 12 minutes or till golden on top.

Remove from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes. Serve warm with butter, Jam or sour cream.



Banana Bread

| Rekha Vengalil


Realized that I haven’t baked anything for little more than a month. The last I baked was on 12 mar for hubby’s birthday. So set out on baking. But in no mood for a cake and zeroed on a bread. I haven’t baked bread before and this is very much my first. 



Its a love-hate affair I seem to have when it comes to baking.  Every time I think of baking; the thought tires me up. But then when I get started off, I seem to enjoy this the most. I guess  it’s  a tactile thing. The bread turned out to be a hit.  my daughter simply feasted on it.  Now that has set me in a mood for more bread making. What better than a home made bread!


You need –
  • Plain flour – 2 cups
  • Caster sugar – ¾ cups
  • Baking soda – 1 teaspoons
  • Salt – ½ teaspoons
  • Over ripe bananas – 2  1/2, mashed
  • Butter – 90 grams
  • Eggs – 2 nos, at room temperature
  • Vanilla yogurt – ¼ cup
  • Vanilla essence – 1/2 teaspoon
  • Loaf pan – greased with butter

How to –

Preheat the oven to 180 C.

In a large bowl whisk the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda and salt) together. Set aside. In another bowl combine the mashed bananas, butter, eggs, yogurt and vanilla.

Stir the wet ingredients to the dry and fold gently till everything is just combined.  Do not over mix the batter should be chunky.

Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or till the toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the loaf.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing.


Strawberry and oats breakfast smoothie

| Rekha Vengalil

Call it a breakfast on the go! A healthy start indeed.


You need –
  • Rolled oats – ½ cup
  • Fresh strawberries – ½ cup
  • Low fat strawberry flavour milk – 1 cup
  • Fresh cream (optional) – ¼ cup
  • Sugar – 1 tablespoon
  • Ice cubes – 5-6


How to-

Everything into a blender; process till smooth and the ice cubes are crushed.



Serve chilled.


Sending this recipe to – Foodabulous Fest Event organised by Simply TADKA and host by Daily Chores

Semiya upma

| Rekha Vengalil


You need –
  • Dry Roasted Semiya/Vermicelli made from hard wheat – 200 grams
  • Onion – 1 medium
  • Ginger – 1 cm, thinly sliced
  • Green chilli – 1, slit (de-seed if need)
  • Curry leaves – 1 twig
  • Mustard seeds – ½ teaspoon
  • Urad dal – ½ teaspoon
  • Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
  • Dried red chili – 1
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil – 1 tablespoon
  • Hot water

How to –

Heat oil in pan and add the mustard seeds and allow crackling. Tip in the dried chilli and urad dal and curry leaves. Fry till the urad dal turns golden brown.

Add the onion, green chili and ginger; fry till the onions turn golden brown. Add the turmeric and cook briefly. Add the roasted vermicelli and mix well. Add 2 – 2 ½  cups of hot water  and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low; cover and cook till done and the water has evaporated.



Serve hot.

Cinnamon pancakes with store-brought strawberry syrup

| Rekha Vengalil
Cinnamon pancakes with store-brought strawberry syrup


You need –
  • All purpose flour – 1 ½ cups
  • Baking soda – ¼ pinch
  • Baking powder – ¼ pinch
  • Salt –as per taste
  • Cinnamon – ¼ teaspoon
  • Egg – 1
  • Caster sugar – 1 tablespoon
  • Melted butter – 2 teaspoon
  • Milk – ½ cup

To serve –

  • Strawberry syrup – as required
How to –
  • Mix all the above ingredients and make a batter. Make sure the batter is not too runny.
  • Heat a flat griddle. Pour 3 tablespoon of the batter.
  • Once you see the bubbles start to appear, flip and continue to cook till golden brown on both sides.
  • On to a serving plate, drizzle the strawberry syrup and serve hot.

Cheesy French toast

| Rekha Vengalil
Cheesy French toast
You Need –
  • Eggs – 2
  • Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon
  • Sugar – 2 teaspoon
  • Cinnamon – ¼ teaspoon
  • Butter- 1 tablespoon
  • Bread – 4 slices
  • Grated Mozzarella – 1/3 cup

How to –

  • Mix eggs, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla in bowl and beat well.
  • Melt the butter in a skillet.
  • Soak the bread slices . Sprinkle the grated cheese on one side and place the soaked bread with the cheese side down in the skillet.
  • Sprinkle the cheese on the other side and toast until golden brown on both sides.