Salmon Pie Recipe

It has been a while since I experimented something new, well if you don't include the bread/buns, of course! I have been stuck in routine of making similar rice & curry/stew dishes because the kids dig rice. And there is nothing better than seeing them enjoy their dinner of rice after school every day.

Back to trying something new, it always happens in the spur of the moment that I get triggered to try a new dish, and then off I go rummaging for the ingredients. It is a bonus if I find them right in the pantry, and if I don't, I have to plan a trip to the store which means I would have to plan the dish for another time.

Which is why its always fun to be able to make something new with the ingredients readily available at home. 

I have been following the blog Table for 2, and been tempted to make salmon pie. However, it is always a turn off when I see the recipe calling for whipping cream. Which not just means an extra trip to the store, also possibly unused leftover in the fridge later on, and not to mention it costs so much. 

So I gave a try using my regular UHT full cream Dutch Lady milk, and guess what, it worked! However the steps in the blog seemed a little bit elaborate. My lazy-self prefers to just use one pan, do the sautee, roux and creaming all in the same pan. I even cook the salmon in the same pan before doing the sautee, all the more flavour. Minimal mess, minimal clean up. And it sure is a blessing when you are your own cleaner/cook.

Also to make it a one dish meal I added in some boiled potatoes for extra nutrition and quantity.

So here goes, the recipe.

You need:
500gm salmon, marinated with salt and black pepper
leek, chopped
garlic, chopped
mushroon, chopped
spring onion, chopped
potatoes, diced
cooking oil
1tbsp butter, some extra for brushing
1tbsp flour
1.5 cup UHT milk
1 piece of frozen prata
Method:
1) Boil the potatoes in a pot full of water, for 15 to 20 minutes. Once done set aside.
2) Heat the pan with little cooking oil, and slowly place the salmon pieces and sear on both sides. Pour in about half cup of water, and cover the pan to let it cook at low heat. Keep turning the pieces every 3 mins to cook evenly. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
3) Take out the salmon, and flake it, carefully take out every bone. Save the water for later.
4) Sautee the leek and garlic in cooking oil, for 5-10 minutes. Add the mushroom and cook some more.
5) Add the butter and once melted add in the flour, and keep stirring to create the roux.
6) Then you can add in the balance water (from salmon) and milk. Keep stirring while it cooks.
7) Add in the potatoes and keep stirring.
8) You will see the mixture to turn really creamy. You can add in the salmon, and season with salt and black pepper according to taste.
9) Once done pour into baking dishes. Sprinkle some spring onion. Cover with frozen prata and give a little brushing with butter.
10) Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 160C.

Mine turned a little brown because I left it in the oven to keep warm for hubby and we got dark brown crust. Oh well, it still tasted just as good!

Try it, easy peasy one dish meal!

The Little Artist

The boys have picked up a new hobby, cultivating a new talent. Aside from collection little lego man, they have started drawing them! Sanju, in particular, has an eye for detail, and he remembers the unique feature from each character and puts them on paper.

Here's presenting Spongebob & Patrick. A while later Sanju even drew Squidward, but I did not catch a snap of it.

Here is the family heirloom workbook from late 90s that Sanju inherited from my sister, proudly wrote his name over it. This book has now been honoured to house doodles by Sanju.

Can you guess this? This guy's hands and head are on fire, and his bike too, is on fire.

Yes, it is the Ghostrider. And this is the antagonist of the Ghostrider, notice the gothic kohl-eyed look?

This is the black Spiderman from the third sequel.

And here is the octopus-look-alike villain from the Spiderman movie. Notice the goggled eyes?

 Here is Green Lantern, but don't ask me about the hair.
*Note: I showed this post to Sanju and he corrected me. This guy is actually Loki, hence the fancy illustrations on the head.

Wolverine is next, check out the wolf-like ear details, and the claws, man!

And the Incredible Hulk!

The blond Thor, and his hammer, and check out the packs.

And this one is no brainer, Ironman!

And here is Captain America, with some sort of antenna.

While Sanju draw all kinds of superheroes, Jeev is in his own world writing random word he learns everyday. And he gets very intense in it too.

And proudly writes the title of the movie, PK.

While the kids are at it drawing and coloring, mummy has to be on her feet every time cleaning the mess, especially from vigorous erasing that I had to procure workhorse heavy-duty minimal mess erasers. Happy kids make mummy happy.

Homemade Granola Recipe

Welcome to another episode of I-can-make-it-at-home-for-nothing. Today we will be making nutritious and yummy granola right in the comfort of your home. By the end of this blog you will realise how easy it is to make healthy snacks or breakfast on-the-go right at home, for nothing, well not exactly nothing. With ingredients price going up (plus GST & inflation) this is surely not that cheap but for sure cheaper than buying outside. Also you can avoid unnecessary preservatives and artificial flavours. 

Now, spoken like a true Aunty! I don't know if you are familiar with the British TV comedy show Goodness Gracious Me. It's a hilarious show on the integration of Indian and British cultures, in short, of NRIs! There is always one Aunty who pops out of no where and tells 'I-can-make-it-at-home-for-nothing', and lately I have been feeling so much like her, minus the white hair and haggard suit of course!

So here is the long & proper recipe for the granola by Chef Michael Smith. I had shared this before on my blog, but this time I realised how boring and lengthy it gets to read a well formatted recipe. 

Over the times, I have stopped bothering over the recipe though. I have come to devise my own formula for it. I substituted the vegetable oil with virgin coconut oil (you can never go wrong with it). 

The wet ingredients are 1 part VCO, 1 part honey (or more if you like it thicker), 3-4tsp of brown sugar, half tsp of cinnamon powder. Mix this in a saucepan over low heat till it dissolves, and turn off the heat, set aside. Then mix in a mixing bowl whatever nuts/flakes you have. I like to go with almond flakes, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, corn flakes, cashew nuts, peanuts, walnut and rolled oats. Pour the wet ingredient over and mix it well.

Then line your baking tray with baking paper, and pour the mixture over it. Flatten and compact it nicely. Bake in a preheated oven at 160C for 30-40 minutes. Once done bring it out and let it cool down and harden up. Or if you can't control yourself with the lovely aroma, just pig-in right from the tray itself.

Here is a short video of the said aunty in case you are interested. And let me warn, you might get addicted and end up watching the rest of the episodes on Youtube!