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Continental quickies

Whet your appetite with these easy bakes

BREAD `N' BAKES Some Continental dishes need just the basic ingredients

Baking savoury dishes or even continental food is not as difficult as it seems. Some dishes can be whipped up in a jiffy with only basic ingredients at hand. Show off your culinary skills to your friend and family and serve these delightful bakes with fresh crusty bread and homemade herb butter. Yummy!

Sweet corn in creamy spinach sauce

Ingredients:

American sweet corn: 220 gms or 1 small can
Butter: 2-3 tbsp
Spinach leaves: 30
White sauce: one-and-half cups
Fresh cream : 100 gms
Grated cheese : 4-5 cubes
Salt and pepper to taste

Method: Boil or steam the spinach leaves by adding water. Drain the water and blend to get a thick spinach puree. To the puree, add the white sauce, cheese, cream, salt and pepper and mix well. Stir fry the corn niblets in butter for a few minutes. Add it to the spinach sauce. Sprinkle cheese and cook on a low flame till the cheese melts. Serve hot.

Cheesy macroni delight

Ingredients :

Cut macroni : 250 gms
Butter: 2 tbps
Onions: 2, finely sliced
Capsicums: 2, finely sliced
Tomatoes: 2, finely sliced,
White sauce (not very thick): 3 cups
Tomato ketchup: quarter cup
Grated cheese: 4-5 cubes
Salt and pepper to taste

Method :

Cook the macroni and keep it aside. Heat the butter in a frying pan. Stir-fry the onions and capsicums for a few minutes. Add the macroni. Add the tomatoes, tomato ketchup white sauce, salt and pepper and cheese to the macroni. Cook on a low flame till the cheese melts serve hot.

Baked vegetables

Ingredients:

Mixed boiled vegetables (French beans, carrots, green peas, cauliflower, potatoes): 3 cups

Capsicum: 2, finely chopped
Onions: 2, finely chopped
White sauce (thick): 4 cups
Butter: 2-3 tbsp
Salt and pepper to taste

Method: Heat the butter in a frying pan. Stir- fry the onions and capsicums for a few minutes till the onions are light brown. Then add the mixed boiled vegetables and stir- fry some more.

Add the white sauce, salt and pepper and mix well. To the above mixture add a bit of the grated cheese. Cook on a low flame till the cheese melts. Grease a baking dish, pour the above vegetables into the dish cover the vegetables with cheese. Bake in a hot over for 15-20 minutes till the cheese turns golden brown. Serve hot.

To make white sauce:

For one cup of white sauce:

Butter - 1 tbsp
Plain flour - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1 teacup
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:

Melt the butter in a frying pan. Add the plain flour and keep stirring (without browning) on a low flame Add the milk gradually and stir continuously till the sauce thickens and that there are no lumps. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Use as desired in your dishes.

SUJATA MALANI

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