Gougeres, irresistible little cheese puffs in 20 minutes

Gougeres, the French version of the most irresistible little cheese puffs!

Then there are the days when you want some bite sized savoury delights to accompany a drink. Of course, you can run to the nearest store and pick up a pack of ready made ones. Or you can try out something new and interesting. Which is just what I did.

Gougeres are the French version of little cheese puffs, usually served as an appetizer with wine or cocktails. They are really easy as well as quick to make. I tried them out last evening and was quite pleased with the way they turned out, fist time around.

 Method-All you need to do is to whip up an egg and cheese batter, pipe it onto a baking sheet, and bake the gougeres until they are puffed and golden. 

I timed it for 20 minutes and my oven was pre heated to 120 degrees C.Sure enough, 20 mins later, they were done.

These  little pastries fill the kitchen with a fantastic aroma and are best eaten straight out of the oven. Try keeping them any longer and even the strongest resolve will break down- sooner rather than later!

Healthy eating, if only we could make effort to...

"You are what you eat" is a line which occurs  to me every now and then.Particularly after I've eaten a whole bar of chocolate or gorged on a big pack of Caramel popcorn at my favourite cinema. (Mind you all of the above is accompanied by....a diet soda of course.)

So on such an occasion, I head to my kitchen and look for the nearest piece of fruit  that's readily available and make sure that I have it, right away if possible.But if something has to be cut or sliced there's no way that I would make the effort. 

But imagine going to a morning 'do' where this absolutely mouthwatering fruit platter was beautifully laid out.All ready and begging to be eaten..
Well that's a different ball game altogether and I certainly didn't complain. Getting busy, just like the rest of my companions and before long this beautiful plate lay empty!

Yes, I really did eat my quota of fruit for that day, along with ensuring that I got a lovely set of photographs just so that I could happily sit back and remember that lovely day in February this year.

The Balancing Act- Calories, Calories.. Topped by a Diet Soda

See that Diet Soda?

Show me one person who doesn't love their ice cream and I will show you the Loch Ness Monster! Ice Cream is one of the most goodies irresistible under the sun and I confess, I'm addicted!

And of all the brands that I can think of, my all time favourite is the Cold Stone Creamery. Every now and then, when I go to the Qurum City Centre here in Muscat, I find myself heading towards their outlet, where I'm greeted by the most friendly and smiling sales team that one could ever hope for.

Who then proceed to make me the most decadently delicious Berry concoction which probably gives me my week's  quota of calories, but at that precise moment I'm not really too bothered. 

Savouring that delicious concoction seems to be the most important thing to do, but after a while I get thirsty. 

So I'm forced to get up and order a soft drink, and that's when reality of some kind begins to bite and a diet soda it is ....

Tell me am I the only one who thinks like this or are there more of you around ?.??.

Quick and Super Easy Vegetable Puffs

Super quick and easy vegetable puffs

You look in the frig and find that you have a few leftover vegetables. 

Teatime's approaching and you decide to dig  deeper into the frig and see what else is available. 

I always keep a block of Cheddar cheese and low fat puff pastry so that I can make a some super easy and quick vegetable or chicken puffs as the case may be.

So here are my ingredients for 11 large Vegetable ;puffs

Some cooked paneer( cottage cheese)

Some cooked peas and carrots

One egg to coat the sealed puffs

Grated cheddar cheese

Light puff pastry

Pre heat oven to 100 degrees c and prepare the filling. 

Separate the puff pastry sheets and fill them with the mix.

Shape and close each of the puffs

Brush lightly with egg wash. This helps to give the light golden colour and makes the puffs more flaky.

Gently move them into the tray and then into the oven

All Set to bake

Set timer for 20 mins first.Watch carefully while baking. 

If required, bake for a further 5-10 ,mins

Wait till the colour is a golden brown and the puffs look crisp

They are ready

Bring the tray out. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes

Serve with chili. mustard and ketchup

Top  with a large mug tof tea

Try them, they make  a great teatime/anytime snack!

First ever 'Best Chef Oman' making waves...

Earlier this evening I was at the Oman Exhibition grounds where I had the opportunity to see some chefs at work. There was a Sandwich competition already in progress and this was to be followed by the Barista competition as well a Ladies cooking competition. The atmosphere was one of fun and enthusiasm and I had a really great time! 


Omanexpo, in association with Oman's celeb chef Issa Al Lamki, has organized 'Best Chef Oman', the first culinary competition for traditional Omani cuisine which aims to showcase the talent of local cooks as a part of this Expo.The competition is intended to test each dish based on taste, style and technique and the key objective is to display showcase Omani food and promote the local food industry. Best Chef Oman is running simultaneously with the eighth Food & Hospitality Oman exhibition at the Oman International Exhibition Centre today and tommorrow. Food & Hospitality Oman is the biggest annual event for the food and hospitality sector in Oman.

Oman Air In Flight Menus on display

I had a chat with Chef Issa Al Lamki and he shared how pleased he was with the quality of food being put up by the participants. Made entirely of local produce and using the best and freshest ingredients possible, the contestants have really surprised everybody. Shortly after I left the ladies competition was about to commence and from what i saw as prep materials already set up, I'm sure the quality of food put up would have been super!

Chef Issa Al Lamki

The Sandwich competition in progress

Judge the quality of this for yourself!

Good to see a lady chef participating too

So for those of you who would like to check it out for yourselves, do make the effort tomorrow- I'm given to understand that there will be a Five course cookery competition from 530 pm and the organizers are always looking for tasters ....