Do you know how to make a delicious vegetarian appetizer for your weekend party? (Adrian Johnson Jr.)

This weekend you would be having a small party at your place and you also invited your best friend. But this has also made you a little tensed, as your best friend is now vegetarian. Your mother being a seasoned cook, shares with you her delicious vegetarian appetizer recipe; it is stuffed mushrooms.

How do you prepare this vegetarian appetizer?

You are aware that your friend loves mushrooms. This delicious appetizer has been very popular in the various parties that your mother had arranged in her home. The basic ingredients needed to prepare stuffed mushrooms are:
Whole mushrooms: 12
Any type of vegetable oil: 1 tbs
Finely chopped garlic: 1 tbs
Fresh Parmesan cheese: ? cup
Ground pepper: ? teaspoon
Onion powder: ? teaspoon
Ground cayenne pepper: ? teaspoon

Below is the preparation process to make stuffed mushrooms appetizer.

Before you start preparing the delicious appetizer you have to clean the mushrooms properly with a damp towel. Do not directly wash the mushrooms with water, as their texture would get softened and the whole taste of the appetizer would be spoilt.
Once cleaned, break and remove the stems of the mushrooms. Now chop the stem portion of the mushrooms finely, discarding any rough ends.
Prepare a baking tray and spray it lightly with cooking oil. Then preheat the oven to around 350 F.

In a skillet heat oil till heat reaches medium temperature. Now in the heated skillet add the finely chopped garlic and the chopped mushroom stem portions. Your mother told you that at this stage, your kitchen would now be filled with aroma of this delicious appetizer when the mushrooms are being fried. You should take care and prevent the garlic from burning. Otherwise, the burnt garlic would add bitterness to the appetizer and your hard work would go in vain.

Once the mushrooms have been properly fried and the moisture has been removed from them you can leave them to cool off to room temperature.
Now in a clean glass bowl, add the fried mushroom and garlic mixture. In the same mixture add the other ingredients, which would make the appetizer delicious. These are parmesan cheese, black and cayenne pepper and onion powder. Blend all the ingredients well and the stuffing mixture should have a thick consistency.
Now with a small spoon, add the mushroom stuffing gently to the crown of the mushrooms.
Place the stuffed mushrooms gently on the baking tray. You do not want to break the mushrooms and destroy the presentation of this delicious appetizer.
In the preheated oven, the stuffed mushroom appetizer is baked for around twenty minutes.
The stuffed mushrooms are cooked until the cheese has melted.
That is how you prepare this vegetarian appetizer for your friend. At the end of the day, this will become a hit food and you promise to your guests, that you would make more of these stuffed mushrooms on the next party. For preparing easy appetizers(also called nemme forretter by the Danish chefs) like a pro, you should take advantage from some of the best Isabellas ideas and recipes.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Do you know how to make a delicious vegetarian appetizer for your weekend party? (Adrian Johnson Jr.)

This weekend you would be having a small party at your place and you also invited your best friend. But this has also made you a little tensed, as your best friend is now vegetarian. Your mother being a seasoned cook, shares with you her delicious vegetarian appetizer recipe; it is stuffed mushrooms.

How do you prepare this vegetarian appetizer?

You are aware that your friend loves mushrooms. This delicious appetizer has been very popular in the various parties that your mother had arranged in her home. The basic ingredients needed to prepare stuffed mushrooms are:
Whole mushrooms: 12
Any type of vegetable oil: 1 tbs
Finely chopped garlic: 1 tbs
Fresh Parmesan cheese: ? cup
Ground pepper: ? teaspoon
Onion powder: ? teaspoon
Ground cayenne pepper: ? teaspoon

Below is the preparation process to make stuffed mushrooms appetizer.

Before you start preparing the delicious appetizer you have to clean the mushrooms properly with a damp towel. Do not directly wash the mushrooms with water, as their texture would get softened and the whole taste of the appetizer would be spoilt.
Once cleaned, break and remove the stems of the mushrooms. Now chop the stem portion of the mushrooms finely, discarding any rough ends.
Prepare a baking tray and spray it lightly with cooking oil. Then preheat the oven to around 350 F.

In a skillet heat oil till heat reaches medium temperature. Now in the heated skillet add the finely chopped garlic and the chopped mushroom stem portions. Your mother told you that at this stage, your kitchen would now be filled with aroma of this delicious appetizer when the mushrooms are being fried. You should take care and prevent the garlic from burning. Otherwise, the burnt garlic would add bitterness to the appetizer and your hard work would go in vain.

Once the mushrooms have been properly fried and the moisture has been removed from them you can leave them to cool off to room temperature.
Now in a clean glass bowl, add the fried mushroom and garlic mixture. In the same mixture add the other ingredients, which would make the appetizer delicious. These are parmesan cheese, black and cayenne pepper and onion powder. Blend all the ingredients well and the stuffing mixture should have a thick consistency.
Now with a small spoon, add the mushroom stuffing gently to the crown of the mushrooms.
Place the stuffed mushrooms gently on the baking tray. You do not want to break the mushrooms and destroy the presentation of this delicious appetizer.
In the preheated oven, the stuffed mushroom appetizer is baked for around twenty minutes.
The stuffed mushrooms are cooked until the cheese has melted.
That is how you prepare this vegetarian appetizer for your friend. At the end of the day, this will become a hit food and you promise to your guests, that you would make more of these stuffed mushrooms on the next party. For preparing easy appetizers(also called nemme forretter by the Danish chefs) like a pro, you should take advantage from some of the best Isabellas ideas and recipes.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Do you know how to make a delicious vegetarian appetizer for your weekend party? (Adrian Johnson Jr.)

This weekend you would be having a small party at your place and you also invited your best friend. But this has also made you a little tensed, as your best friend is now vegetarian. Your mother being a seasoned cook, shares with you her delicious vegetarian appetizer recipe; it is stuffed mushrooms.

How do you prepare this vegetarian appetizer?

You are aware that your friend loves mushrooms. This delicious appetizer has been very popular in the various parties that your mother had arranged in her home. The basic ingredients needed to prepare stuffed mushrooms are:
Whole mushrooms: 12
Any type of vegetable oil: 1 tbs
Finely chopped garlic: 1 tbs
Fresh Parmesan cheese: ? cup
Ground pepper: ? teaspoon
Onion powder: ? teaspoon
Ground cayenne pepper: ? teaspoon

Below is the preparation process to make stuffed mushrooms appetizer.

Before you start preparing the delicious appetizer you have to clean the mushrooms properly with a damp towel. Do not directly wash the mushrooms with water, as their texture would get softened and the whole taste of the appetizer would be spoilt.
Once cleaned, break and remove the stems of the mushrooms. Now chop the stem portion of the mushrooms finely, discarding any rough ends.
Prepare a baking tray and spray it lightly with cooking oil. Then preheat the oven to around 350 F.

In a skillet heat oil till heat reaches medium temperature. Now in the heated skillet add the finely chopped garlic and the chopped mushroom stem portions. Your mother told you that at this stage, your kitchen would now be filled with aroma of this delicious appetizer when the mushrooms are being fried. You should take care and prevent the garlic from burning. Otherwise, the burnt garlic would add bitterness to the appetizer and your hard work would go in vain.

Once the mushrooms have been properly fried and the moisture has been removed from them you can leave them to cool off to room temperature.
Now in a clean glass bowl, add the fried mushroom and garlic mixture. In the same mixture add the other ingredients, which would make the appetizer delicious. These are parmesan cheese, black and cayenne pepper and onion powder. Blend all the ingredients well and the stuffing mixture should have a thick consistency.
Now with a small spoon, add the mushroom stuffing gently to the crown of the mushrooms.
Place the stuffed mushrooms gently on the baking tray. You do not want to break the mushrooms and destroy the presentation of this delicious appetizer.
In the preheated oven, the stuffed mushroom appetizer is baked for around twenty minutes.
The stuffed mushrooms are cooked until the cheese has melted.
That is how you prepare this vegetarian appetizer for your friend. At the end of the day, this will become a hit food and you promise to your guests, that you would make more of these stuffed mushrooms on the next party. For preparing easy appetizers(also called nemme forretter by the Danish chefs) like a pro, you should take advantage from some of the best Isabellas ideas and recipes.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Do you know how to make a delicious vegetarian appetizer for your weekend party? (Adrian Johnson Jr.)

This weekend you would be having a small party at your place and you also invited your best friend. But this has also made you a little tensed, as your best friend is now vegetarian. Your mother being a seasoned cook, shares with you her delicious vegetarian appetizer recipe; it is stuffed mushrooms.

How do you prepare this vegetarian appetizer?

You are aware that your friend loves mushrooms. This delicious appetizer has been very popular in the various parties that your mother had arranged in her home. The basic ingredients needed to prepare stuffed mushrooms are:
Whole mushrooms: 12
Any type of vegetable oil: 1 tbs
Finely chopped garlic: 1 tbs
Fresh Parmesan cheese: ? cup
Ground pepper: ? teaspoon
Onion powder: ? teaspoon
Ground cayenne pepper: ? teaspoon

Below is the preparation process to make stuffed mushrooms appetizer.

Before you start preparing the delicious appetizer you have to clean the mushrooms properly with a damp towel. Do not directly wash the mushrooms with water, as their texture would get softened and the whole taste of the appetizer would be spoilt.
Once cleaned, break and remove the stems of the mushrooms. Now chop the stem portion of the mushrooms finely, discarding any rough ends.
Prepare a baking tray and spray it lightly with cooking oil. Then preheat the oven to around 350 F.

In a skillet heat oil till heat reaches medium temperature. Now in the heated skillet add the finely chopped garlic and the chopped mushroom stem portions. Your mother told you that at this stage, your kitchen would now be filled with aroma of this delicious appetizer when the mushrooms are being fried. You should take care and prevent the garlic from burning. Otherwise, the burnt garlic would add bitterness to the appetizer and your hard work would go in vain.

Once the mushrooms have been properly fried and the moisture has been removed from them you can leave them to cool off to room temperature.
Now in a clean glass bowl, add the fried mushroom and garlic mixture. In the same mixture add the other ingredients, which would make the appetizer delicious. These are parmesan cheese, black and cayenne pepper and onion powder. Blend all the ingredients well and the stuffing mixture should have a thick consistency.
Now with a small spoon, add the mushroom stuffing gently to the crown of the mushrooms.
Place the stuffed mushrooms gently on the baking tray. You do not want to break the mushrooms and destroy the presentation of this delicious appetizer.
In the preheated oven, the stuffed mushroom appetizer is baked for around twenty minutes.
The stuffed mushrooms are cooked until the cheese has melted.
That is how you prepare this vegetarian appetizer for your friend. At the end of the day, this will become a hit food and you promise to your guests, that you would make more of these stuffed mushrooms on the next party. For preparing easy appetizers(also called nemme forretter by the Danish chefs) like a pro, you should take advantage from some of the best Isabellas ideas and recipes.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Day 14 - Christmas Parade and Carols

In New Zealand, most of the work places shut down fully or partially around 15th December for a month. Yes, for a full month, work comes to a halt! Except the essential stuff, of course. Offices send out the year-end holiday shut down dates via email as early as May-June so that people can plan their holidays.
Most of the public Christmas events, parties and school functions are done with, by Dec 15th. After which people set out for their personal or family vacations, celebrations and escapes!
The Kiwis take their annual summer holidays very seriously. Holiday homes, villas and beach rentals are booked out well ahead in time (we found that out while looking for our December retreat). Home leases and employee contracts are signed up till Jan 15th and not Dec 31st, so that nobody in inconvenienced to look for new tenants or employees in the middle of their vacation.

The Wellington City's annual Christmas parade was last weekend. It was all that you expect from a parade and more. Here are glimpses from the parade and the party that followed.

It was a riot of colours!

The white ice queen

Summer sun = Fedoras and Hats!

The end of the parade

The party begins!

Darth Vader and his li'l fan!

Li'l girls in oh-so-cute-tiaras

Hospi (from Wellington Children Hospital) giving out free hugs

Crowds colourful and happy

The party goes on until evening and late night

The lights on the huge electric Christmas tree are turned on

Little sparkles of joy - my favourite pic of this lot

So much colour! Another facet of the previous pic

Listening to carols in candle light err saber light!

Happy Holiday season!! Just 10 more sleeps until Christmas eve :)

This post is part of the Marathon Blogging December 2012.

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Day 2 - Beach, Pizza, Talaash and Rajma Chawal!

The Marathon Blogging event where a group of us bloggers have resolved to write every day for the month of December is on! Check out the badge on the sidebar. 
To join us this month, send an add request to the Marathon Bloggers FB Group. 

Yesterday was Saturday and a not a very windy day (like it typically is, here in Wellington)! We drove down to Paraparaumu beach and spent time there. There were fluffy white clouds in the sky. The Tasman Sea waves were lapping up against the shore one after the other. Was a beautiful sight, close-my-eyes-and-lie-down-here-types!

N had a lot of fun, trying to catch the water in his fists, running behind and then away from the waves, playing with the stuff the water brought along.

We even drew some hearts in the sand; one for each of us, sized to match our heights. 

This was followed by a much needed tummy filling pizza lunch at Hell's Pizza. Hell's is a locally owned chain started in NZ and now spread across Australia and UK. Loved their collection of veggie and chicken pizzas. 

From here we proceeded to a quaint li'l modern village square with local shops, a farmer's market and ice cream, candy and honey stores along with other stuff.
I was amused by this sign on the door to an art gallery and gift store. Usually stores have the opposite sign. I thought this was cute and a stand-out!! I did go into the store with my double cream and cookies cone :) 

S and I looked at each other and thought "What next?" I am a big watch-movies-in-the-theater buff and this activity had reduced in frequency for some time after N was born but now we are back in action. We decided to watch Talaash, the latest Aamir Khan flick. And as expected with almost any Aamir Khan movie, it was a treat. Loved the taut, well edited and directed thriller. Well done Reema Kagti, Bravo!!

Came back home, had rajma chawal - a favourite in our house. Was inspired by Archana's post about making this. Loaded the dishwasher and while the hubby put the kid to bed I started on this post. All in all, it was a day well spent!

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Busy Bee

Busy is good. Busy is fun. Busy is tiring too! We have been up to a lot lately :) 

I wrote a guest post for ShopHealthy's blog. It is my recipe for Oatmeal and Walnut cookies, a slightly healthy-er version :) Check it out here! For the un-initiated, ShopHealthy.in is an online market place for all things healthy!! They deliver to almost everywhere in India. You can buy everything at one place, check out recipes and share yours too. It is a blogger friend's venture with her husband, in their quest to pay more attention to what they eat. Like they say, eat well, feel well and live well!

N has started a 5 day week at his school/kindy (kindergarten, as a lot of us call them). His earlier schedule of 3 days a week wasn't going too well with him or me. It was actually a bit unsettling. It feels much better now. He gets to play, learn and burn out the testosterone! I get time to clean, cook, read, write and watch Grey's Anatomy (we shall come to that in a bit!). Weekends seem to be a bit busy with trying to fit in the visit to the library, beach (summer is here in NZ), play area, skate park and hiking but that is good! 

I have started volunteering at a local community shelter. For now, once a week. Its a new experience and something I wanted to do some day. I have the time and perfect opportunity now. I look forward to learn something, to share and to broaden my horizons. I believe every time we do something new we learn a lot about ourselves too - our strengths, weaknesses. We test our beliefs, value system and even add a new skill to our repertoire! 

S started playing in a local cricket league, which I am very happy about. This way, he gets to play his fave sport, it helps him to stay fit, sometimes injured too (yes, when cricketers in their mid-30s try to take catches as if they were in their early-20s, they end up hurting themselves!!). He also gets some time away from me and N doing something that he likes which we all like to do in this family. 

I started watching this TV drama series - Grey's Anatomy which I have become hooked to ever since I saw Season 1, episode 1. Am totally loving it, finished Season 1 and on to the 2nd season now. 

I have been doing some fun cooking and a lot of cuisines - some new pastas, salads, pizzas,  frittatas, Mexican quesadillas and corn salad, desi gobhi parathas and dry choley veggie and grilled asparagus (yummy!). The husband says "I like it when you cook, keep at it." Why wouldn't he? He gets to eat all of it ;) 

N and I are doing pretty good this year in the 2012 PaperTigers Reading Challenge! Read details here... :) 

N has started reading and writing some words/letters. He is showing some great drawing skills too *Note the proud mommy effect*. He signed off Thank You cards for his birthday party with his name. 
He also co-relates things very well and has a fantastic memory in terms of things, places and people (but we do not r'ber mommy's instructions. Now that would make life so simple for mommy, and we wouldn't want it, would we?) 

Being busy is good, it makes vacations and days-off so much more fun!! Looking forward to a big, fun break in December with a lovely set of friends. 

Stay busy, stay happy!!

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Chinese Checkers

N and his daddy decided to play some Checkers a few weekends ago (the game was one of the gifts for his 4th birthday).
I decided to play photographer :)

Little things in life are the big ones, don't miss 'em!!

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Exploring Wellington

New Zealand is naturally beautiful all over. Every where you look there is some scenic view, some trail waiting to be walked upon, some flora and fauna waiting to be discovered. This place offers a lot to do, for all tastes, in a small area.
There are some activities that S, N and I enjoy as family activities and hiking or tramping is one of them. We have been to about 3 or 4 of them so far and want to do more in the summers.
Last weekend we covered part of another long trail called the City to Sea Walkway. We found a park on the way and the kid loved it!!

While some chose to run and bound through the green grass trying to catch the blue skies...

... others decided to hitch hike!!

We went downhill...

And looked up at tall trees.

Found some HUGE trees...

And swung high on swings in the park...

And New Yorkers we have our own Central Park too :) ...

Looking forward to more tramping. Keep in mind the hiking motto "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footsteps"!!

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Otaki trip and farm stay

A few weeks back, we visited a home stay/farm in Otaki about an hour north from Wellington. We went along with another family so N had company ;)
We went via a scenic route along the west coast of North Island along the Tasman Sea.
Once we reached the place, we were welcomed into our cabins by this stunning blue necked beauty!

We set off to explore the place immediately; because it all looked so inviting and exciting. And we wanted to see everything before the sun went down.

The farm is very Bali-inspired. They have their head office in Bali hence a lot of Buddha statues all over the place. 

Some elephants-having-fun statues too!

There was even a cute li'l wishing well and the kids dropped coins into it and made their wishes :) 

There were lots of birds and animals on the farm roaming around freely. Some hens. 

Some geese, roosters and birds-I-don't-know-names-of. 

There were some deer. 

The best part was when the peacock decided to spread his feathers and strut about.

Then it was time for sight seeing around the town of Otaki. And it had so many hues to offer. It was a pure visual delight! 

At the Otaki Beach we saw these seagulls resting.

Ended the day with some delicious food at the local Indian restaurant.

The next morning we had a gorgeous visitor at our cabin door!

Beautiful, isn't it?? 

New Zealand is a beautiful place and here is to many more trips!! 

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