Cheesy Beans on Baguette......& Gong Hei Fat Choy/ Jai Hind !

“Red beans and ricely yours."

Louis Armstrong loved red beans and rice so much he signed his personal letters thus.

Who says cooks don't need breaks....well certainly I do. Its Chinese New Year (Gong Hei Fat Choy) and the biggest holiday time here. Made some delectable stuff about which I will post later(please be patient!)

Its the 2009 Lunar New Year Cup soccer tournament and hub is having friends over so will have to make some (read 'a lot') snacks and drinks for everyone. And I am making my popular (by demand) Cheesy baked beans on Baguette with some Masala Cola.

Baked beans are a classic example of a "loss leader", a product sold by supermarkets for an abnormally low price, often less than cost. If you are in the US, you might ask where can I get Baked Beans. There are a number of places I know in the Seattle area, Cost Plus (various locations), English Pantry (Redmond), you can also ask the guys at the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub in North Seattle.
Baked beans are to be found everywhere and its a great way to sneak in proteins in vegetarian diets and kids who are picky eaters.

This is one appetizer I serve when I have surprise guests or large crowds to please. I have been making these for as long as I can remember. They were a hit when I made these for my friends when they were over at my place for "group-studying"...supposedly.

Its simple and is put together in just two minutes...no I am not exaggerating. My version is tasty, simple and extremely quick.


Cheesy Beans on Baguette
Ingredients-
1 baguette (or any other crusty bread)
1 can baked beans (Heinz or any brand)
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
handful of black olives, sliced in halves
1 cup grated cheddar cheese


Method-
In a microwave safe bowl, pour the canned baked beans. Add salt, cayenne pepper, garlic, olive oil and mix well. Microwave for 40 seconds on high.

Meanwhile, slice up the baguette and toast the slices, in the middle rack of your oven for 30 seconds.

Place the baguette slices on the serving plate. Spoon out a tablespoon of the beans on it. Top with grated cheddar and olive slices. Heat for another 20 seconds or so.

Voila! Its done.


I send this over to the SuperBowl night at Cathy's place.

And to all fellow Indians out there--- A very happy and cherished Republic Day! Jai Hind!

Heal the world...

"People over the world...reach out your hand..touch one another...we have one life to live..so much to share and so much to give...there is love to be found...so look around..there's happiness there..."

This was a hymn we so often sung in my school quire practice. It means so much...children taught to love human kind and live life just as God had planned for each one of us. What happens when we grow up? What goes wrong in the way....God must be ashamed of his very own creation today.....why have we become so short sighted and selfish?!!

We are not in our motherland currently, but our hearts still cry at the innumerable innocent people gunned down ruthlessly and for no good reason in Mumbai (the Trade Capital of India).

It pains to see that one man inflicts injury on another so easily and quickly, when the same is not true when it comes to seeking friendship or sharing love. Why do people cringe from amiability but can hit/hurt another easily on instigation....I am yet to discover the answers to these questions.

As for now, all I can do is PRAY....ask God for forgiveness and mercy to the world. Pray that, may good sense prevail and that people and the families affected have the strenghth to endure what has come to them. I still have hope...hopes of a brighter future...a better tomorrow...hope that something good comes out of this dreaded act and terrible times.

I choose to be hopeful and share the love of God. Optimism is my choice !! (Everything happens for a reason.) I know its easy for me...sitting miles away...but will my hatred for the terrorists or my pity for the dead/injured help in anyway...NO. We can't undo what has been done but yes I can instill hope ..atleast try, 'cause I know that for one hand that injures...there are a dozen hands that caress and heal. The Good will outnumber the Bad..one day!

This post goes out to the martyrs and those who are no more with us, as a result of the Mumbai Attacks '08.

Its over now...but the bruises will take time to heal.

Life goes on....and so we live...drink and eat. These incidents remind us to be thankful for each day and the fact that we are safe and blessed.

I made a simple dinner today....just a mix of all that I had in the fridge to make a delicious dish...(rhetorically like all the people from around the globe that make this world beautiful!)

Shiitake Fried Rice

Ingredients-

2 cups rice,cooked the previous night and left in the fridge

1 cup shredded shiitake mushrooms

5-6 olives minced

1/2 cup finely shredded carrots

1/2 cup finely sliced bell peppers/capsicum (I used all three colours-red yellow & green just to give more colour)

3-4 stalks of spring onions, finely chopped

2 eggs

1/2 tsp dried ginger powder ( can be substituted with1 tsp fresh ginger paste)

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp minced green chilli

a pinch of sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce

a dash of sherry or chinese cooking wine(optional)

salt to taste

4 tbsp cooking oil

Method-

In a wok, heat oil. Saute' the onions till translucent in colour. Add the sugar.

Now, add the ginger, garlic, chillies,olives,mushrooms,carrots and peppers. Stir.

Add the soy sauce and sherry. Cook open for a minute so that all the alcohol evaportes and what remains is the rich flavour.

Beat the eggs in a bowl.Now, push the vegetables aside to create a space in the middle of the wok, pour the beaten eggs and carefully with one corner of your spatula keep breaking the omelette as it gets cooked; so that you have broken pieces of cooked egg/omelette.

Now add the cooled rice and mix well. Sprinkle with salt.

Serve hot.

Tips:

• Cold cooked rice is important to use as it won't stick together to form lumps.


• All the vegetables are chopped finely to facilitate quick cooking.


• You can also cook the omelette separately. Break it and mix with the fried rice in the end.(if cooking in the same wok is a little difficult)

This is a dish made from Shiitake Mushrooms which bring an earthy flavour to the dish. Its the most common type of mushrooms found in this region (HK).

N.B. This also goes out to a great event Rice Mela hosted by Srivalli.