Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse, a light fluffy dessert,  perfect for entertaining guest and the presentation makes them happy and for chocolate lovers, its hard to resist the indulgence of this light ,fluffy smooth textured dessert.

Ingredients
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tspn butter
1/4 cup fresh raspberries for garnish
3/4 cup heavy Whipping  cream
1/4 cup sugar 
1/4 Vanilla extract
1 tspn Fine sugar
4 Eggs , separate the yolks from whites.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Mousse

Method
1. Using a medium size heat proof bowl, over simmering water (double broiler) melt the chocolate chips and butter, over little heat, stirring well till  chocolate appears melted well and smooth.
2. Remove from heat and add in egg yolks one by one carefully incorporating into the melted chocolate, add in 1/4 tspn vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to form peaks,adding in 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whisk till  peaks are formed.
4. Gently add in  whisked egg whites into the chocolate mixture.Next  beat the whipping cream with 1 tspn sugar till it gets thickened and forms peak, now gently fold in the whipping cream into the chocolate mixture.
5. Fill the cups (ramekins) about 3/4 th with the  ready chocolate mixture , cover each cup and refrigerate for couple of hours. Serve garnished with dollop of whipped cream , chocolate shavings, or fresh raspberries.

Home made Pizza

All kids love pizza, and at my home we believe there's no pizza like home made pizza. I have previously made home made pizza sauce that my kids absolutely love to have by spoon too:))
Recipe below is for a semi home pizza made with store bought dough, it saves time . Now you can use store bought sauce or look at my blog recipe of home made sauce , making pizza at home is not only delicious but totally worth it as all can get together in the preparation fun , and get to add toppings that we love. Kids can get involved in the making , so lots of fun for them too:))

Ingredients
1 pack ready dough
 1 cup store bought or home made marinara sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2  tspn salt 
1cup thinly sliced bell peppers
1/2 cup thinly sliced tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or Parmesan cheese
2 to 3 fresh cloves of finely minced garlic
1tspn chilly flakes
1tspn freshly chopped rosemary herb or 1 tspn store bought Italian seasoning herb mix
2 tbsp butter

Ingredients 

Home made pizza sauce 

Ingredients 

Making pizza  from dough

Pizza ready to bake

Pizza

Method
1 Heat butter in a sauce pan, add in crushed garlic. Cook for a minute or two, next add in fresh or store bought herbs , close burner. Keep aside.
2. Divide the dough into equal proportion and form each divided dough into medium sized ball.   Sprinkle little flour on a board, so that dough won't stick to the board. Work with each divided ball sized dough , one at a time .Place dough on board and using the palms of your hand gently pat dough,to flatten it using circular motion. , simultaneously work with your hands to kind of stretch the dough , like a rubber , as you try to make an oval or circular shape pizza  , pressing with your fingers ,note that it should be evenly uniform and  1/2 inch or less in thickness and approx 8 to 10 inches diameter. You can also use a rolling pin instead.
3.Using a baking sheet, sprinkle few drops olive oil to grease the baking sheet and place the flattened pizza onto the baking sheet. Adjust the shape, if required.
 Sprinkle each pizza with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle little salt over it.
Now comes the fun part, where kids can take turns too:) for the toppings
4.For  garlic lovers use the  prepared garlic herb butter as first topping that you can brush right onto the surface pizza , using a pastry brush. 
5.Next add a layer of marinara sauce and top with shredded cheese, sliced bell peppers and tomatoes and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees and until the crust appears golden brown. Enjoy with friends and family or a treat just for your self.
Different toppings like mushrooms,pineapple little cubes,spinach,grilled  chicken pieces, mango pieces,  can be used to create a pizza of your choice.

Chicken breast with creamy mustard sauce

I wanted to try out some new chicken dish, so when I came across this recipe I knew we would like it , it's chicken breast cooked in a creamy  mustard sauce and broccoli on the side.

Let's begin by getting these ingredients.

Ingredients
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
Salt to taste
2 tspn crushed black pepper
1 tspn chilli flakes for heat
2 tspn Olive oil
2 tspn Butter
1/4 cup white wine  ( used in the sauce) If you don't like wine just omit it.
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tspn coarse mustard
1/2 tspn  Dijon mustard sauce
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1  pack frozen broccoli

Ingredients

Preparing mustard sauce

Cooked chicken in Mustard creamy sauce

Cooking chicken

Mustard chicken

Method
1.Wash and clean chicken breast, approx 4 medium sized chicken breast come in a pack .  Using a skillet knife , place your palm lightly on chicken breast in the middle and carefully using the knife divide each chicken breast into  2 halves , continue with the remaining chicken breast and you will have approximately 8  thinner chicken breast .
Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of each chicken breast , keep aside for about 10 minutes.

2. Heat  a tspn  each of  butter and oil in a skillet, add the seasoned chicken breast and cook on both sides for approximately 5 minutes each side, till they appear golden brown in colour. Continue till all the chicken breast are done. Remove and keep aside.
For the sauce
3. In the same skillet  put 2 tspn butter ( perfect for getting colour) add 1 tspn.  olive oil if needed and add crushed garlic, sauté for a minute. Next add in 1/4 cup white wine, careful while adding wine as it can flare up so reduce heat. Next add in chilly flakes for some heat and add both mustards in the skillet. Continue cooking ,stir  in heavy cream and add chicken stock and this brings the creamy sauce together.
 4. Add in cooked chicken and cover to cook for about 10 minutes . Plate this dish with 2 chicken breast placed on palate , with some hot creamy sauce on top, yummy :) and on the side add steamed broccoli . Dinner is served.
If you are using frozen broccoli, microwave for  2 to 3  minutes. Heat skillet, add 1 tsp butter, add broccoli  , sauté for a minute's add in 2 tsp  whipping cream,salt to taste , black pepper  to make the broccoli creamy (optional)  or just enjoy steamed broccoli is good too.

Goodness of Oats

Oats are type of  grains that have lot of nutritional value and are eaten as porridge, also one can use oats to make cereal bars , or even make oatmeal cookies. I like to have a warm cup of freshly made oatmeal with brown sugar, and nuts. It is the ultimate comforting food in the morning.Oats have number of good benefits , they are high in fibre, also they help lower the cholesterol levels, and maintain good health.

Basic recipe below  to prepare Oats and start your morning with a cup of warm oats :) with nuts or fresh berries... perfect beginning to the day. You can also make the oats ahead to save time. Enjoy a cup of oats with fresh fruits, nuts, honey. Also some people eat them the savoury way, like prepare oats initially cooking it with water , after they are cooked add in your choice of savoury ingredients, like cheddar, and spices.

Adding brown sugar and nuts to cooked oats

Ingredients
 2 cups old fashioned  rolled oats
1 cup water
1 cup 1 % milk
2 tspn brown sugar
1/4 cup mixed nuts
1 tspn fresh berries (optional)

1. Prepare the oats using 1 cup water ,cook together in medium sauce pan for about  10 minutes covered with a lid, on medium heat. Check to see if  oats have cooked and softened.
2. Add in 1 cup milk, stir in brown sugar and after adding nuts cover the lid again for another 5 minutes to allow the nuts to cook in the steam.
Ready to serve, put into a bowl and enjoy with fresh berries or extra nuts, or adding little more milk, which ever way you like it .

Stuffed Pastry shells

When you make starters using pastry shells  appetizer's get the winning look and bright smiles of guest who wonder how much effort you took to prepare all this, but trust me by using pastry shells and dough your work time gets reduced in almost half.
Using a pastry puff dough or pastry puff shells is the smartest way to make home made starters that not only look classy but also keep the guest's surprised and wow your hard work!!
There are many options for filling's that can be  used to fill these shell's  like for vegetarians one can use a mixture of goat cheese ,herbs and topped with sliced tomatoes. Another one you do is  stuff  shells with a mushroom and cheese mix , or even spinach with potatoes mixture, try olives in the recipe ,possibilities are endless , you can do sweet fillings like pecans with berries for a sweet fill , just be creative , use your own combination. For now  I tried out bell peppers chopped finely with garlic and onions, cooked in a sauce and sprinkled with cheese,   follow this recipe and you are sure  to impress your guests.

Ingredients
1 pack frozen pastry shells contains about 24 pastry shells
1 medium sized onion diced
1 cup chopped bell pepper , colourful mini bell peppers are great to use :)
2 to 3 cloves of garlic minced
1/4 cup finely chopped mushroom (optional)
1 tspn chilli garlic sauce (store bought)
2 tblsp   tomato ketchup
salt  to taste
2 tblsp vegetable Oil

Mini delights

Ready to Bake 

Veggie delights 

Method;
1.Heat a  medium sized skillet with 2 tblsp  oil, add in garlic and onions, allowing  onions to brown a little , n add in bell peppers, continue cooking another 3 to 5 minutes, till bell peppers soften.
2.Now add in spices and sauces and mix together, close burner and filling mixture is ready. How easy is that :)
3. Preheat oven to 350 F , arrange pastry puff shells, on baking tray and carefully with a teaspoon fill ea h pastry shell , about  half way with the prepared mixture, sprinkle shredded cheese, I prefer mozzarella , but you can use a cheese of your choice.
4 . Bake these shells for approximately 10 minutes and  remove and Serve warm.