Christmas is almost here and that is why I baked these delicious little bundles of joy. Banana Strawberry Jam Muffins are flavorful banana muffins filled with liquid strawberry jam. And as you bite into the muffin, luscious melted strawberry jam oozes out…hmm…yum.

Prepare them for Christmas breakfast or give them as Christmas gifts.

Ingredients: (Makes 12)

4 large ripe bananas,

Strawberry Jam as required,

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour,

1/2 cup granulated sugar,

1/2 cup salted butter; melted at room temperature (or place it in the Microwave oven for 20 seconds),

1 egg; lightly beaten,

1 tsp baking powder,

1 tsp baking soda (soda bicarbonate),

1 tsp vanilla extract/essence,

Other -

Muffin baking tray and disposable muffin cups.

Method:

Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar, with a whisk, until smooth and soft. Then add beaten egg, vanilla extract and whisk the mixture for around 5 minutes. Mash the bananas in another bowl and add them to the butter and sugar mixture.

Lightly fold in the mixture until mashed bananas are evenly mixed. Add half of the sifted flour mixture to the bowl. Lightly fold the mixture until well mixed.

Repeat for the remaining flour and mix the batter until even. At this point, you may feel the batter is thicker than usual. But that is the perfect consistency.

Preheat the oven at 180° C (350° F). Line up the muffin cups in the tray. Scoop out a spoonful of mixture and fill the cup to 1/3rd of its capacity.

Spread some strawberry jam over it.

And then spread little more muffin batter over the layer of jam. Do not fill the cups till the rim, as they will expand when they bake.

Place in the preheated oven at 180° C (350° F) on the low rack for 20 minutes. Let them rest on the rack for few minutes before you take them out.

NOTE: I prepared this recipe using my Microwave Oven.

TIPS: Top it with some fine granulated sugar, if you like.

Scrambled eggs is a favorite breakfast in Britain. I used to have it almost everyday while I was there some time ago. Its healthy and the recipe is fairly simple.

Ingredients:

4 eggs,

1/2 cup heavy cream,

Salt and pepper to taste,

2-3 tbsp butter,

1/2 cup processed cheese; grated (optional).

Method:

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, add cream, season with salt and pepper. In a pan, melt butter and then pour the egg mixture onto it. Let it cook on low-medium flame for few minutes. When you see the egg leaving the sides of the pan, using a spatula mix gently to scramble the eggs. Cook for few minutes, stirring ocassionaly. Add cheese, mix well and remove from flame. Serve with your choice of bread or assorted breads.

Ingredients:

1 packet of Instant noodles (Ramen/Maggi or any other noodles with tastemaker); cooked as per instructions on the packet,

2 medium size potatoes; boiled and mashed,

4 hard boiled eggs; shelled,

1 egg; beaten and seasoned with some salt and pepper if you like,

Bread crumbs to coat,

Oil for deep frying.

Method:

Mix together noodles with mashed potatoes, to prepare a sort of a dough. Divide this mixture into 4 equal portions. Then take a portion and flatten it, spread it to prepare a cup. Place an egg into the center and cover it completely with this mixture. Prepare remaining eggs similarly. Meanwhile heat oil in a wok for deep frying. When oil in hot, reduce the flame to medium. Dip each coated egg into egg mixture and then roll into the bread crumbs and drop into the hot oil. Fry at a golden brown color until crisp. Cut lengthwise and serve hot.

Ingredients:

2 bananas; mashed,

3/4 cup brown sugar,

1 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat flour is best),

1/2 tsp fennel seeds,

1/4 tsp baking soda,

1 tsp vanilla extract,

1 large egg; beaten,

Milk as required (to thin the batter),

Butter,

Maple syrup to serve with.

Method:

Mix together all the ingredients except butter and prepare a medium thin batter of pouring consistency. Heat a pan/griddle and smear with butter. Scoop a tablespoon of batter and drop it in the shape of pancakes on the griddle. Similarly drop 4-5 pancakes on the griddle (depending upon the size of the griddle) at the same time. Pour some melted butter from the sides of the pancakes and cook on low-medium flame until they turn golden brown color at the base. Smear some butter on the top and flip them over, cook well from this side and transfer to a serving dish. Pour some Maple syrup over them and serve.

TIP:

Replace brown sugar with jaggery and use whole wheat flour to prepare healthy pancakes.

This sandwich is healthy and is loved by kids. It could be a good option for their lunch box or picnic box.

Ingredients:

4 chapatis/rotis (Indian Bread) or Tortilla,

2 eggs,

1 small onion; finely chopped,

1 small tomato; finely chopped,

1/2 -1 small green chilli; finely chopped,

1-2 cheese cubes; grated,

Salt to taste,

1 tbsp Chopped coriander leaves,

Oil for frying.

Method:

Spread some butter on the chapatis/tortillas and keep them aside. Mix together all the ingredients except oil, in a mixing bowl. Heat a griddle (tava) and add some oil to it. When oil is hot, pour half the egg mixture and spread to prepare an omelette. Cook it properly from both sides at a light golden color and transfer to a dish. Prepare the second omelette similarly. Now place each omellete between 2 chapatis/tortillas and cut each sandwich into 4 pieces. Pack them into aluminium foil before you pack them into your kid’s lunch box.

TIP:

You can use leftover chapatis to make this sandwich.