Mac n Cheese with Chicken, Broccoli and Mushrooms (Lunch box friendly)

I have always been asked to share lunch box ideas and recipes. A few days back I happened to post this Mac n Cheese that I kept in my girl's lunch box. Since there was a lot of requests for the same, I thought to share it as a video. So finally here you go! This recipe is delicious and you may deduct the veggies or chicken (protein) from the recipe. I added them so that the meal is wholesome and filling. I love how versatile Mac n Cheese is. No matter how wrong you make it, you can't go wrong with this one!

 

To make your morning packing easier, you may boil and keep the pasta in the fridge for easier cooking in the morning. Usually, all purpose flour is used as aa thickening agent, but here, I haven't used any! As cooking down the milk makes the sauce thick. Also, if you plan to cook this, you may make it less thicker and saucier by decreasing the boiling time of the milk. I like to cook up the milk well, so that it is mess free and non sticky when the Mac n Cheese cools down.

 

Make this for your kid's lunch box and see how they bring back an empty box. What makes a mommy happier than seeing their kids finish their lunch boxes?! =D

Also you may add chopped onions (or onion powder) to the butter before adding the veggies for better flavor, and if your child dislikes the flavor of garlic, feel free to not add garlic too. Still tastes amazing!!

Ingredients :

• 1 cup Elbow pasta
• 4 cups Boiling water
• Salt, as required 
• 1/2 cup Broccoli, chopped
• 1/2 cup Mushrooms, chopped
• 2 small Garlic cloves, finely chopped (optional)
• 100 gms Chicken Breast, sliced
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 1/2 tsp White Pepper Powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4- 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
• A dash of Oregano

Instructions:

1. In a pot boil water, add salt and boil pasta according to package instructions ( do not over cook), drain and set aside.
2. In a pan, add butter and finely chopped garlic, sauté for a few seconds and add in chicken breast pieces.
3. Next add white pepper powder and salt as required. Sauté for around 5 minutes. 
4. Move the chicken pieces to a side on the pan itself and add another tbsp of butter and add in your mushrooms and sauté well with a dash of water to chele cook the mushroom easily. Add broccoli and salt as required.
5. Next add the milk and allow to come to a boil, and add in the shredded cheddar cheese. Allow the sauce to thicken well.
6. Finally finish off with a dash of Oregano and add in your pasta and combine everything well and enjoy! Bon appetite!

 

Notes:

If you want it saucier do not boil the milk for too long, the cheese will help bind the sauce together.

Do try this recipe and don't forget to share your experience/feedback with me here in the comments or feel free to send me a mail. Also, do tag me at #taystedit if you try out my recipes on Facebook, Instagram etc so that I can see when you make it. ♡♡♡♡

Pulled BBQ Chicken loaded potatoes

Chicken and potatoes for a snack are match made in heaven. And to top it all, if it’s cheesy, even better. 

I was planning to film video of another recipe while it’ll I had this sudden craving for bbq chicken flavored snack. I had some potatoes looking at me from the kitchen counter top.

Well, my idea was just to dump in the readymade bbq sauce I had in my refrigerator and just do a quick loaded potato, that’s when I realized not everyone has bbq sauce in their pantry. So I made it from scratch so that everyone could try it too. Let me tell you, be ready for a war if you don’t make individual loaded potatoes for each person at home. It’s that good. I have witnessed it. 😆

The recipe is super easy, where the potatoes are half way boiled and then roasted in the oven for crustiness of the potatoes, whose inner core is removed and mixed with chicken that has been slow cooked in bbq sauce and pulled. With some cream cheese and other ingredients, finally topped with a hell lotta cheeeeese, you will know it’s the best loaded potatoes you would ever have had!😋

Not boasting or anything, but everyone here were fighting for more. So, now you know, it’s a must try!🤤

 Lets get started with the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 Potatoes cleaned and unpeeled 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, as required
• 150 gms Boneless chicken
• 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tbsp dark brown sugar *
• 1 tsp Crushed Black Pepper
• Salt, as required
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Paste
• 1 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce (optional)
• 1 tsp Paprika/ Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 Red Chilli Flakes
• 1/4 cup Corn Niblets
• 2 tsp Cream Cheese
• 1 tbsp Butter
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Chopped Parsley

Instructions:

1. Half way cook the unpeeled and cleaned potatoes in water seasoned with salt for almost around 10 minutes.
2. Drain water from the potatoes, place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and poke holes in the potatoes using a fork. 
3. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt, as required.
4. Roast the Potatoes for around 15-20 minutes at 180 deg C.
5. Next, into a pot add in your cleaned chicken pieces and add in your sauces and spices like tomato ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce (optional), brown sugar, black pepper powder, garlic paste, and paprika/ red Chilli powder. Mix well.
6. Slow cook the chicken for around 15-20 minutes without adding any extra water. Cook until when the chicken pieces pulled with fork, pulls easily.
7. Pull the BBQ chicken, combine the thickened BBQ sauce in the pot with the chicken itself.
8. Next, add in your red Chilli flakes, corn niblets, and cream cheese and butter. Mix well and set aside.
9. Once the potatoes have cooled to the touch, scoop the inner core of the potatoes, keeping the potatoes peel intact and add the scooped potatoes to the pulled chicken and mix well.
10. Load the potatoes with the chicken potato mix and top with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and brook until cheese melts.
    
    
    
11. Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!

Notes: 

You may completely avoid the sauces if you have readymade BBQ sauce.

Cheesy Chatti Chicken

Ingredients :

Instructions :

Notes:

Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake topped with Mashed Potato dumplings

Ingredients:

Homemade Fajita Seasoning:

Instructions :

Ingredients :

Instructions :

Turkish Pide

Turkish Pide resembles pizza just like the name suggests. It is one of the most popular foods in Turkey. A flatbread that is boat-shaped consists of meat toppings (minced meat etc), chopped veggies which includes onion, tomatoes etc herbs such as parsley and spices along with some cheese or egg mixture which is completely optional; it is what Turkish Pide comprises. The flatbread is similar to pita bread or the Italian pizza crust. It is known as their fast food that is "slow-cooked". Lahmacun is another dish that is similar to the Turkish Pide. Turkish Pide is made into a boat shape/oval flatbread whereas lahmacun is round in shape made of thin dough topped with minced meat and vegetables. Another name for Turkish Pide is Kiymali Pide.

The flavor-packed Turkish pide is much thicker and they are served in slices. Some people like to bake the pide with raw meat filling, but I like to cook my filling first to be on the safer side and then top it up with the filling. Cooking the meat mince first with the other ingredients like the veggies, spices and herbs helps the flavors to combine well so, we can make sure if the filling is well seasoned/cooked etc.

If you are somone like me who loves simple and easy recipes for lunch/dinner then thi sis defineely one recipe you got to try! The steps seem very intricate and the dish itself looks very sophisticating but I guarantee you one you are done you are going to feel it was so easy and so much FUN to make it! I myslef when I tried it for the first time I was surprised that it was done effortlessly rather I enjoy making it! If you have a kid grab him/her along to bake these 'Pides'. Ask them to help to make the boat shape or maybe to brush some egg wash on already prepared 'Pide'. I bet they are going to love it; not only to bake them but to gorge into them too. This Turkish Pide recipe is BOMB.

I hope you enjoy recreating this Turkish speciality with your loved ones! 

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 350 gms/ 2 and ½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Active dried Yeast
• 1 cup Warm Water
• 3 tsp Olive oil 
• Salt as required

For the Filling:

• 400 gms minced meat (beef/lamb)
• 1 medium Onion, chopped finely
• ½ Green Capsicum/ Bell pepper, chopped finely
• 1 medium Tomato, chopped
• 1 medium Carrot, chopped finely
• 3 Cloves of Garlic
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1tbsp Butter
• ¼ tsp Black Pepper powder
• ¼ tsp Paprika
• ¼ tsp Cajun Spice/ Oregano
• Salt as required
  

Instructions: 

1. In a small bowl stir in the yeast to ½ cup warm water. Close the bowl with a lid and set aside for 5-10 minutes for the yeast to activate and froth.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt and make a well in the middle and pour in the olive oil and the yeast mixture.
3. Pour in the remaining ½ cup water and combine to bring the dough from the sides of the bowl and scrape the dough from the bowl completely onto a clean countertop and knead well using your hands.
4. Work the dough for 3-5 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth. The more you work with the dough it might start to get sticky, add in a couple of tbsps of flour and olive oil to hep shape into a soft dough.
5. Transfer the dough into the large bowl and cover the bowl with a cling film and set aside for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. While the dough rises the filling can be prepared.
7. In a heavy large pan add a tbsp of butter and pour in some olive oil, once the butter is melted, add the chopped onions and saute well.
8. Season with some salt for the onions to cook faster.
9. Next, add the minced garlic and saute well until fragrant.
   
10. Now add in your veggies - carrot, capsicum, tomatoes and cook well in medium flame.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Now season with salt and pepper and spices like paprika, cajun/oregano etc and squeeze in a tbsp of lemon juice.
12. Once the veggies are done add in some tomato paste which is optional so that it makes the filling look more colorful. 
13. Add in the minced meat and salt and pepper as required.
    
14. Cook until the meat renders some water and the water is reduced. Add in some chili flakes for some fire.
15. Preheat the oven to 350°F/ 180°C
16. Now take the risen dough and place it on a lightly floured countertop and knead for a minute and divide the dough into 4 equal portions.
    
    
    
    
17. Next, roll the dough balls into 4 boat shape/oval shape and transfer the rolled dough into a baking tray lined with baking paper sprinkled with some semolina which helps in even baking.
    
    
    
    
18. Now place and spread the filling leaving the edges with no filling about 2 cm border. (Please see images for better understanding)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Fold the edges to act as a barrier so that the filling stays intact. Press the dough at the 2 ends of the oval shape to form a pointy boat shape.
20. Beat an egg in a small bowl with some olive oil and brush the dough with the mixture using a pastry brush.
21. Bake the Pide for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Notes:

It is easier to fill the flatbread with the topping while the flatbread is placed on the baking tray.

Do try this recipe and don't forget to share your experience/feedback with me here in the comments or feel free to send me a mail. Also, do tag me at #taystedit if you try out my recipes on Facebook, Instagram etc so that I can see when you make it. ♡♡♡♡

Bubbly Hot Spinach Frittata

Are you that kind of person who is tired of having the old-fashioned sunny side up, omelette, poached eggs etc and you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen right in the morning? Well, this recipe is for you. Frittata is basically an Italian omelette, they are started on the stovetop and then finished in the oven and if you're anything like me; loves garlic, cheese; then this concoction is going to blow your mind and I promise you this is going to be you and your family's favorite go-to breakfast recipe. I tried this recipe with 'a pinch of salt', not sure if it was going to be tasty or filling. When I discovered Frittatas are so versatile that you can pretty much add any veggies like mushrooms, broccoli etc and it will taste so out of the world, I was enlightened. Not only are frittatas delicious, but they are also super nutritious and health packed with all those omega 3 eggs and veggies. So if you are looking for some way to make your kids eat healthy, this recipe is super easy and they are gonna love it. Let's move on to the ingredients to make the perfectly yummified Spinach Frittata:

Ingredients: 

• 5 Omega-3 Eggs
• ½ cup of Milk
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 small cloves of minced Garlic
• 4 cups of Fresh Spinach
• ½ cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• ½ cup of Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
• ½ tsp Pepper
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, cook the garlic in the olive oil over medium heat for about 1 minute, add the spinach and cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute or until the spinach is wilted.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, parmesan, half of the shredded mozzarella and salt and pepper, set aside.
3. Remove the lid from skillet and give the spinach a toss, pour in the egg mixture and using a wooden spoon pull in the set eggs from the sides of the skillet. Let it cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the frittata is almost set.
   
   
   
   
4. Preheat your broiler.
5. Sprinkle the top of the frittata with the remaining mozzarella and some more parmesan.
   
   
   
6. Pop it under the broiler for a couple minutes or until the top is golden brown and the frittata is set. Cut and serve hot.

Do comment below and share the happiness. If you try out this recipe, please do tag me at #taystedit, so that I can find all your lovely creations. Lots more great recipes coming up. Stay tuned!