Homemade bread and the Panasonic bread maker.

I love waking up to the smell of homemade bread. There is nothing better than the aroma of fresh bread wafting from the kitchen. It helps to wake the grumpiest person in our household with a smile. Making bread can be a laborious task and it needs a lot of time and patience. To make bread from scratch, a lot of stages are required such as mixing, kneading, proving, kneading again and proving again before the final bake. Although it can be therapeutic, one needs a lot of spare time before you can savour the freshly baked bread.

If like me you too enjoy fresh homemade bread but don't really have the time to bake it, what you need is a bread maker. There are many bread makers available to buy on the market, but I particularly like the Panasonic range. The bread makers are simple and easy to use with many integrated features such as a temperature sensor that adjusts programmes processes according to the surrounding temperature. They have 33 programmes, a nut and raisin dispenser that evenly distributes fruit and nut throughout the bread. The added facility of a digital timer that can be preset up to 13 hours is really excellent as it enables you to programme the bread maker the night before so that you can wake up to a fresh loaf of bread.

Included with the bread maker are accessories that help you create and measure the ingredients correctly. The variety of programs can create a basic loaf or you can make speciality breads without too much complications.

The bread makers come in 6 different models and there is a choice of colours; black, white or chrome, making them suitable for any style of kitchen.

The Panasonic bread makers start from £89 and range upwards depending on the facilities each model offers. If you enjoy baking bread, investing in a breadmaker would save you a lot of time and give you a lot of pleasure in creating different varieties of homemade breads.

This is a collaborative post, all views and opinions expressed in this post are unbiased and my own.

Gingerbread Latte

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Gingerbread Latte

by Nayna Kanabar December-28-2015

A delicious creamy aromatic gingerbread latte with aromatic spices.

Ingredients:

• 200 ml Full cream milk
• 40 ml Espresso coffee
• 1.5 teaspoons  Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger paste
• 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar

Instructions

1. In a saucepan add the milk, sugar, ginger paste,1 teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon and bring the milk to boil. Once it's boiled remove the milk from heat and strain it into a glass jug.2. Using an electric whisk or milk frother froth the milk.3. In two tall latte glasses, divide the espresso coffee equally.4. Top the espresso with hot milk and spoon the froth over the coffee. Sprinkle with the remaining nutmeg and serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 2 mins Cook time: 5 mins Total time: 7 mins Yield: 2 servings

Tidbits in my pantry- Healthy Snacks

During the months of November and December, I have had a lot of foodie gifts either sent to e by companies or gifted to me by friends and family. I love the whole collection of these delicious healthy goodies.

1. Liberation Nuts- these selection of nuts are perfect for nibbles, party nibbles and snacking. Three delicious varieties  making these perfect for all tasted.They come in small single serving packs or larger packs for sharing.

• Oven baked Salted cashew and peanuts.
• Oven Baked Chilli and Lime Cashews, peanuts and roasted corn
• Oven baked peppercorn, peanuts with cashewnuts, habas fritas and crunchy beans

2. Quinoa Chips made by Eat Real, a super grain vegetarian and vegan snack that is delicious and healthy. These come is assorted flavours and are so moreish.

3.Raw Gorilla Munchies- Grain free cereal free snacks.

Raw Cacao and Lucuma fruit and nut bites.

4.Elephant Food- Superfood snack

• Coco Chomp-coconut, raw cashew, cocoa.buckwheat clusters and cranberries
• Nuttin but energy, raw cacao,brazil nuts,almonds,sunflower seeds and buck wheat clusters

 

5.Planet Organic Gnaw on Nature Raw 46- mini bite size snacks made with natural goodness.
These nibbles are free from grains, gluten,dairy and refined sugars

6. Dr.Karg's Organic crispbread Emmental Cheese and pumpkin seed crackers. these delicious and healthy bites a have pumpkin seeds and linseeds and are made with 100 % wholegrain flour.

After the indulgence of food during  of the festive period, these delicious snacks are perfect if you want to have a guilt free snack for the new year.I was sent the liberation nuts to review all other products were bought for me by friends and family.

Spicy Carrot Soup ~5-2 Diet

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Spicy Carrot Soup

by Nayna Kanabar December-17-2015

Indo Chinese flavours in this carrot soup makes this perfect for a winter  warmer starter soup.

Ingredients:

• 4 Large Carrots
• 1 Medium Potato
• 1 Red Chilli(sliced and deseeded)
• 1 clove Garlic (peeled)
• 1 inch Stalk lemongrass
• 1 teaspoon Light Soya sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon White Pepper
• 150 ml Water
• 1 teaspoon Toasted sesame seeds
• 1 sprig Sprig fresh coriander finely chopped

Method:

1. Peel and dice the carrots and potatoes.2.Add the carrots, potatoes, water, garlic, lemon grass, salt, soya sauce and red chilli in the Thermocook and cook on the auto thick soup option.3. Once soup is cooked you can add boiling water to adjust the consistency of the soup to preference.4. Serve soup in bowls garnished with chopped coriander leaves and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 20 mins Yield: Serves 4

This soup is suitable for the 5-2 diet

Calories per Serving	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
74	17	1	2	495	5

I cooked my soup in the ThermoCook which I have been trialling. I love the versatility of the ThermoCook.

What is the ThermoCook?

ThermoCook is a multi-function cooking appliance that has loads of functions. It consists of a large 2 litre stainless steel power blender that blends as well as cooks and steams.  It has over 20 functions that include stirring, steaming, kneading, cooking, blending chopping, whipping, mixing, emulsifying and milling.

The Optimum ThermoCook includes auto-programs that are pre-set to make Smoothie, Quick Soup, Thick Soup, Chop, Sauté, Stir, Steam, Stew, Warm, Reheat, Boil, Yoghurt, Rice, Porridge, Kneading. You can also use the ThermoCook to create your own recipe and save the programme to come back to it again and again.

If you like the sound of the ThermoCook this is what it comes with:

• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee – Includes Return Postage

• 2.0 Litre detachable stainless steel jar for blending and cooking 

• Butterfly and kneading blade 

• Stainless steel blade assembly 

• Large 70x50mm LCD screen 

• Separate Precise Glass Scale 

• Soft silicon rubber spatula 

• Simple pre-set auto programs and unique DIY program 

• Adjustable timer and temperature gauge 

• Dishwasher proof (non-electrical parts only) 

• Comprehensive recipe book 

Currently the ThermoCook is on special offer at £549.00, it may sound steep for a gadget but trust me it really does do everything it states and much more. You can actually prepare your whole meal using this one gadget.Think of all the washing up you will save.

If you want to take advantage of this awesome gadget you can check it out here. 

For more recipes using the ThermoCook do check  some of these awesome recipes by my friends.
Apple and mixed Berry Jam
Mogo Bhel (Spicy cassava salad)

Mogo Bhel (Boiled cassava salad)

Mogo or better known as cassava or yucca is a very common vegetable eaten in South America, India and also African countries. In East Africa cassava is a staple just like potatoes are in the west.

Cassava root is long and tapered, the vegetable has a thick outer brown skin and a white flesh. The tough outer skin/ rind  has to be peeled before cooking. It can be eaten boiled, fried, mashed or dried made into flour too. It is also known as Tapioca. Cassava roots are high in starch and contain lots of calcium.It is high in vitamin c , folic acid and potassium.

Bhel is an indian name given to a street food type cold salad / snacks made with any vegetables such as potatoes, chickpeas, corn  and is garnished with onions tomatoes, crunchy puffed rice and served with a dressing called chutney.


We eat cassava a lot in our household, the easiest and tastiest way to cook it is to boil it and eat it as a warm side salad or snack.I am sharing here my simple yet yummy Cassava Bhel recipe cooked in my new ThermoCook. You can boil the cassava on the stovetop  in a normal way too.

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Mogo Bhel (Boiled cassava salad)

by Nayna Kanabar December-11-2015

African style  mogo, spicy, tangy and garnished with red onion, green and red peppers and coriander leaves.

Ingredients:

• 480 g Frozen Cassava
• 1/2 each Red pepper /Green pepper/ Yellow pepper
• 1 Small Red onion
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Mild Olive oil
• 1.5 teaspoons Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Red chilli powder
• 1 Red chilli
• 2 sprigs of fresh coriander

Method:

1. Place the frozen cassava chips in the thermocook and add 150 ml water.Add 1 teaspoon salt and the turmeric powder and cook on boil function for 25 minutes or until cassava is fully cooked and soft.2. Cut the red onion in half and slice it into thin slices.3. Dice the peppers into small pieces.4. Slice the red chilli into thin round slices.5. Chop the coriander finely.6. Once the cassava is cooked remove from the thermocook and discard any water.7. Pat the cassava dry with kitchen paper and cut it into 1cm diced pieces.

8. In a large bowl put the chopped cassava, sliced onions, diced peppers, lemon juice, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilli powder, red chillies, olive oil and chopped coriander and toss together. 9. Transfer to serving plates and serve warm or cold.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 40 mins Yield: 2 servings

I cooked my cassava in the ThermoCook which I have been trialling. I love the versatility of the ThermoCook.

What is the ThermoCook?

ThermoCook is a multi-function cooking appliance that has loads of functions. It consists of a large 2 litre stainless steel power blender that blends as well as cooks and steams.  It has over 20 functions that include stirring, steaming, kneading, cooking, blending chopping, whipping, mixing, emulsifying and milling.

The Optimum ThermoCook includes auto-programs that are pre-set to make Smoothie, Quick Soup, Thick Soup, Chop, Sauté, Stir, Steam, Stew, Warm, Reheat, Boil, Yoghurt, Rice, Porridge, Kneading. You can also use the ThermoCook to create your own recipe and save the programme to come back to it again and again.

If you like the sound of the ThermoCook this is what it comes with:

• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee – Includes Return Postage

• 2.0 Litre detachable stainless steel jar for blending and cooking 

• Butterfly and kneading blade 

• Stainless steel blade assembly 

• Large 70x50mm LCD screen 

• Separate Precise Glass Scale 

• Soft silicon rubber spatula 

• Simple pre-set auto programs and unique DIY program 

• Adjustable timer and temperature gauge 

• Dishwasher proof (non-electrical parts only) 

• Comprehensive recipe book 

Currently the ThermoCook is on special offer at £549.00, it may sound steep for a gadget but trust me it really does do everything it states and much more. You can actually prepare your whole meal using this one gadget.Think of all the washing up you will save.

If you want to take advantage of this awesome gadget you can check it out here. 

For more recipes using the ThermoCook do check  some of these awesome recipes by my friends.
Apple and mixed Berry Jam
Pineapple and Coconut Thermocurd
Coconut and Medjool date balls
Curried Vegetable Soup