Microwave Dates - Nuts Bread Pudding

This is a simple and easy bread pudding that I saw on one of the cook shows I used to watch earlier. The pudding takes altogether about 10 minutes from start to finish in a microwave and is a yummy way to use up any leftover bread one might have. I usually like to prepare this in small bowls for individual servings and so have given measurements for that as well.

Ingredients:
1/2 liter boiled and cooled milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 tbsp. custard powder
6 whole wheat bread slices
1/2 cup chopped dates
10 gm. each - raisins, cashews & almonds

Method:
* Add sugar to milk and stir until it dissolves. Then add the custard powder to the milk and whisk/ blend until there are no lumps. Keep it aside.
* Chop off the edges of bread slices. Cut each bread slice diagonally into 2 triangles.
* Arrange the 3 cut bread slices in a microwave safe pan in a single layer next to each other and sprinkle dates on top. Next sprinkle raisins, cashews and almonds uniformly. Place the remaining 3 triangular slices of bread over them and sprinkle dates and the other nuts as in the previous step.
* Pour the custard powder - milk mixture over the bread slices and let it sit for 2 minutes to soak up the milk.
* Microwave for 5 minutes and serve immediately. Garnish with honey if desired.

Ingredients for 2 individual servings:
2 & 1/2 whole wheat bread slices
3/4 cup boiled and cooled milk
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. custard powder
1/2 cup nuts and dry fruits (I used chopped dates, walnuts, cashews, dried cranberries and raisins.)

Method:
* Trim off the edges of the bread slices and tear them into small pieces.
* Take one cup sized microwave bowl and arrange the bread pieces in a single layer. Try to fit as many pieces as you can at the bottom of the bowl so that there are no gaps and no overlapping.
* Sprinkle about 2 tbsp. of dates and other nuts used, uniformly over the bread slices.
* Repeat the bread and nut layers one more time.
* Add sugar to milk and stir to dissolve. Next add custard powder and whisk until lump free. Pour half of the milk mixture over the bread and nut layers and let it sit for 2 minutes.
* Take another one cup sized microwave safe bowl and repeat the above steps with the remaining ingredients.
* Microwave each bowl for 5 minutes and serve immediately.

This is my entry to
1. Blogging marathon #58
 
2. Srivalli's Kids' Delight event, hosted by Kalyani this month under the theme 'Cooking with Whole Grains'.

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Virtual Baby Shower for PJ ~ Eggless Custard Powder Cake in 5 Minutes

We came to know during last blogging marathon that PJ, a blog buddy is expecting her second child in a few weeks and we marathoners thought of celebrating this joyous occasion by throwing a virtual baby shower to her. Each one of us are cooking from her blog and bringing her a delectable platter to enjoy, virtually of course. Check the following bloggers' links to know what has been brought to this party.

Aarthi    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com
Cool Lassi(e)    http://pangravykadaicurry.blogspot.com
Gayathri Kumar    http://gayathriscookspot.blogspot.com
Kalyani    http://itsnotmadrasi.blogspot.com
Kaveri    http://palakkadcooking.blogspot.com
Mireille Roc    http://gourmetglobal.blogspot.com
Pavani    http://cooks-hideout.blogspot.com
Pradnya    http://pumpkinfarmfood.blogspot.com
Priya Srinivasan    http://enveetukitchen.blogspot.com
Priya Suresh    http://priyaeasyntastyrecipes.blogspot.com
Srivalli     http://spicingyourlife.blogspot.com
Sushma    http://sushmapinjala.blogspot.com
Vardhini     http://vardhiniskitchen.blogspot.com
Veena     http://veenasvegnation.blogspot.com

Aarthi came up with this beautiful logo using the images from posts.

I chose to go with her Microwave eggless custard powder snack cake since it was my kind of dish - a quick and easy one. I have baked earlier three different kinds of microwave cakes and they turned out pretty good. I so guessed that this one would be delicious as well and tried it. One can have this cake ready to be served by the time a convection oven gets preheated.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup - All purpose flour / Maida
5 to 6 Tbsp (a little more than 1/4 cup) - Vanilla flavored custard powder
Scant 3/4 tsp - Baking powder
1/2 cup Sugar
5 Tbsp / 75 grams Butter, at room temperature (I just melted it in microwave.)
1/2 cup /125 ml Milk

Method:
* Sieve the flour and custard powder. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
*  Beat milk, butter, sugar until creamy. Add the dry ingredients to it and whisk till you get a smooth batter.
* Grease a microwave proof dish and pour in the batter.

* Microwave on high for 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove after 5 minutes, cut into slices and enjoy.

PJ mentioned to check it for doneness from the 4th minute onwards since microwaves vary. Mine was exactly done in 5 minutes. It doesn't raise much as my other microwave version cake and so use a baking utensil accordingly.

Verdict:
It is eggless and baking time is five minutes. What can get better than that? :) From preparation to plate, it hardly takes 15 minutes including the waiting period and an apt one for snacking as the title of the original recipe says. This is a good one for those who enjoy vanilla custard since this cake is just that; filled with that flavor. The texture is perfect as you notice from the image.
The only drawback was that I could not get the cake by inverting the bowl but I am not complaining. It is sliceable but a thin layer of cake at bottom was sticking to the bowl.  

Check here to know what my fellow marathoners in BM#11 are cooking today.

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Custard Fruit Salad

A bowl of colorful fruits is definitely an eye candy and of course beneficial when consumed. :) An addition of creamy, sweet custard takes it to a whole new level. Fruits and custard together form a delectable combo, I would love to say.

Custard fruit salad / fruit custard is a simple and easy option when looking for hasslefree, quick desserts or when you are bored to eat plain old fruits. Custard can be made in a jiffy; it can be made ahead and refrigerated for a couple of days.

Ingredients: (6 servings)
2 cups milk
2 cups fruits (chopped into cubes)*
2.5 - 3 Tbsp Vanilla flavored custard powder
Sugar to taste
* I used apple, banana, pear, strawberries, nectarine and jackfruit. Any combination of fresh fruit would work but try to use a colorful mixture for the fruit custard to look appealing. 

Method:
* To a bowl, add 1/2 cup of milk (that is at room temperature). Or if the milk is cold, just warm it in the microwave. Add custard powder to it and mix well so that it blends well with out any lumps. Don't try to add custard powder to cold milk. It just doesn't blend.
* Meanwhile, bring the rest of the milk to a boil. Add the custard - milk mixture and sugar to it. Lower the heat and go on stirring since the mixture starts to get thickened. Keep stirring till a creamy consistency is attained and the raw smell disappears.
The custard further thickens after refrigeration and hence stop cooking a little before the desired consistency is reached. And no need to panic if it thickens. Just add extra milk to it.
* Let cool the custard. Add the prepared fruit and chill the mixture before serving.
* Add a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream for a pleasant surprise while serving.

This cool salad is going to be my 5th day entry of blogging marathon - 9th edition. I am also sending this to "Soups & Salads Mela" by Srivalli.

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