Bread Pudding with Apple Raisin Sauce..

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

You gotta love Trinbago...another public holiday!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating Emancipation Day!

But what does this mean for us? A day to relax or go to the beach? 

It's more than that...it commemorates the abolition of slavery.

With that said, I wanted to share with you one of my Mom's superb comfort food recipes..perfect for this Emancipation Holiday.

OLD FASHIONED BREAD PUDDING WITH APPLE RAISIN SAUCE

Bread Pudding:

10 slices whole wheat bread

1 egg

3 egg whites

1-1/2 cups skim milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/4  cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

2 tsp sugar

Apple-Raisin Sauce:

1-1/4 cups apple juice

1/2 cup apple butter

2 Tbsp molasses

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp orange zest (optional)

To prepare Bread Pudding:

     Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8- x 8-inch baking dish with vegetable spray.

     Lay the slices of bread in the baking dish in two rows, overlapping them like shingles. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the egg, egg whites, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, the brown sugar and vanilla.  Pour the egg mixture over the bread.

     In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and 2 tsp sugar. Sprinkle the spiced sugar over the bread pudding.   Bake the pudding for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it has browned on top and is firm to the touch.  Serve warm or at room temperature, with warm Apple-Raisin Sauce. Makes 9 Servings.

     To prepare Apple-Raisin Sauce:

     Stir all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Let the sauce simmer 5 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 2 Cups.

Serve with Vanilla Ice Cream

ENJOY

Tip of the day: Clear water bags can keep those pesky flies away!

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."



Why flies and water bags just cant get along...

I was baffled at the first time I saw my Mom filling clear plastic bags and placing them on the kitchen counter where she had been mixing her cake batter...

Apart from licking the bowl with my fingers when she was done, my job was also to scoot those pesky flies which some how seemed to smell anything sweet from a mile away.

TO MY ASTONISHMENT THE MINUTE MY MOM PLACED THOSE CLEAR BAGS FILLED WITH WATER THEY WERE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN!

She explained that apparently light refraction caused by the clear water bags somehow confuses the fly and causes them to fly away.

Genius...Mom is always full of surprises..Try it! it really works! 

Thanks Mom..

Eid ul Fitr is Upon Us!!!!!

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

I'm not of Muslim faith but I remember as a child growing up, it was tradition that at every Eid ul Fitr my mom would make this delicious dessert called Sawine. 

Sawine is a rich, creamy and delicious dessert made from vermicelli noodles, milk, flavoured with ginger, cinnamon and sometimes other aromatic spices.

Since Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow, I just wanted to share with you my Mom's spectacular recipe for Sawine...

Indulge a little...TRY IT!!!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 package of vermicelli (about 7 oz)
5 cups water
1 stick cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 can evaporated milk, 12 oz
1 can condensed milk, 14 oz

Optional(use any combination of the following): 
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup raisins


Method:

1. Add 2 tablespoons butter(I always use organic) to a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
2. When the beutter is melted, break vermicelli into small pieces and place into pan.
3. Toast until golden brown constantly turning to brown evenly and prevent burning.
4. Add 5 cups water, cinnamon stick, ginger and bring to a boil.
5. When it comes to a boil, lower heat and cook for 10-15 mins until vermicelli is soft.
6. Add evaporated milk and condensed milk 
7. If using raisins, chopped maraschino cherries, sliced almonds or crushed peanuts, add to pan now.
8. Allow to simmer for about 3 mins 
9. Serve hot or cold..whatever your preference may be.

ENJOY...

EID MUBARAK!

Household Cleaning Products Mom swears by....

 


 "Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

 

UNSIGHTLY MILDEW STAINS BETWEEN YOUR BATHROOM TILES???

DIRTY FLOORS???

STAINS & DIRT BUILD UPS ON WALLS?

Mom says, "Those other fancy products just have a wonderful scent. Breeze diluted in a Clorox solution is guaranteed to saying bye bye to dirty stains and annoying mildew build up around your home."

Thanks Mom..

Tip of the day: De-clump your Brown Sugar with Marshmallows

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

Is your clumpy Brown Sugar  ruining your stews and baking?

Mom says, "Keep your brown sugar soft by storing with a couple of marshmallows!"

HOW

Marshmallows have their unique ability of holding moisture in nearly all conditions.

So what are you waiting for? Throw in a couple of those marshmallows in with your Brown Sugar and keep those clumps away! 

Thanks Mom...

Mom's recipe for fantastic Dhal Puri

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."
                            

Who ever said making Dhal Puri was impossible! 

I'm about to share with you my Mom's recipe for fantastic Dhal Puri..So simple and delicious you'll wonder what the fuss was about all along...

• 1 cup split peas
• 1/2 tsp saffron powder
• 5 cloves garlic
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 branches karipulay
• 1/2 cup chopped chives
• 1/2 cup shadow beni
• 3 pimentos
• 1 1/2 tbsp geera
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 tbsp salt

Split Peas

• Place cup of split peas in boiling water, add saffron and 1 tbsp of salt. Allow to boil until split peas are tender and then strain.

Cast iron mill

• Using a cast iron mill grind split peas, garlic, chives, shadow beni, pimentos and karipulay leaves. If you do not have a cast iron mill, a food processor can be used. However, the food processor usually grinds the split peas very course as opposed to the mill. This affects the softness of the roti. 

TIP :The softer the split peas are boiled the softer the Dhal Puri!

• Now its time to patch the mixture. In a preheated pot, add oil. Add mixture into the pot and stir. Add geera and salt to taste. Once mixture starts sticking to the bottom of pot, continue stirring and then remove from heat. Empty mixture in a bowl and allow to cool. 

THE HARDEST PART IS OVER!

Soft dough

• Now it's time to knead the flour. In a bowl add flour, salt, baking powder and water and knead into a soft dough.

Loya





• Make dough into 6 balls (loya) and leave to rest.

Open Loya

• Open each loya one at a time

Filling Loya

• Fill each loya with split peas mixture

Close loya

• Once loya is filled, simply pull ends together to close loya.

Roll out dough

• Use rolling pin to roll out dough very thin ensuring that dough is dusted with flour to prevent sticking.

Rolled out dough on preheated tawa (iron plate)

• Place rolled out dough on preheated tawa (iron plate) depending on tawa size, most likely it should be done individually. Dough should be allowed to cook for 10 secs before it is flipped. Add a light coating of oil to the top, flip again and then apply to the other side. Once the dough swells, remove from heat.

Dhal Puri

• And thats how it's done!

USUALLY GOES WELL WITH ANY CURRIED VEGE OR MEAT

Enjoy!!!!

Her Success to Life

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

So how does she do it?



I remember sitting with her one day asking her, "Mom, how do you do it all? How did you manage life taking care of three kids, giving us three square meals a day and having to work!"

Her response was simple:

• Prayer
• Love
• Respect
• Communication
• Exercise
• Understanding
• Patience

Coming soon...Mom's secret recipe to fantastic Dhal Puri   

Tip of the Day...Mom's Secret Weapon for Ink Stains

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret..."

That toothpaste actually remove ink stains from fabric????

YES....IT REALLY WORKS!!!

I still remember the day when my pen broke and spilled ink onto my favourite shirt..I was inconsolable.. then along came my MOM ..she simply:

• Applied a generous amount of toothpaste to the ink stain
• Allowed the toothpaste to sit on the stain for a few minutes
• Ran the shirt under cold water while rubbing the stain with her knuckle
• Then she washed the shirt as normal .

AND JUST LIKE THAT.. IT WAS GONE!

Thanks Mom

Welcome to "Inspired by Mom"

"Where her secrets never have to remain a secret.."

Isn't it utterly amazing how she does it?

From managing a career to managing a household to being our best friend especially when you need her the most..

This blog is inspired by my Mom  as her marvellous talents have never ceased to amaze me.

as I  take this journey reminiscing of my Mom's fantastic recipes, stunning treats and daily tips which will leave you hungry for more. 

I anxiously welcome any comments and contributions you may have about YOUR remarkable mom to add to this blog.