Panzanella Salad (Bread and Tomato Salad)

These days its been really hot. Temperatures are rising alogwith the urge to eat something light and healthy also increasing.
Yesterday I  flipped to so many magazines, cookbook, to try a simple and yet healthy salad.
There I come across this Panzanella Salad which is a sure delight. Its the best you can make in the Summers.
Its from the land of Tuscany which will give u goodness of tomatoes and crunchiness of the bread.

The salad is not only a feast for the stomach but also for the eyes. As it looks really beautiful..

Ingredients:

For the Bread:
French Loaf (Cut into Big Chunks) approx. 7-8 chunks
2tbsp Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
7-8 Basil Leaves (Chopped)
4-5 Garlic(minced)
(If u r using some flavoured loaf of bread like garlic, cheese then omit garlic, salt and pepper)

For the salad:
1 ripe Tomato (Cubed)
I used Cherry tomatoes u can use the normal tomatoes too.

1 small Red Bell Pepper (Cubed)
4-5 Basil Leaves
1tsp Vinegar
Salt to taste
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Lemon Juice (Optional)

Procedure:

• Preheat oven at 180 degrees celsius for 10 min
• In a baking tray mix in the bread + garlic + basil leaves + salt + black pepper + oil.
• Mix it well.
• Let toast ofor 10 minutes at 180 degress, till it beconmes crisp.
• In the meanwhile, prepare the dressing for the salad.
• Mix in vinegar + salt + blackpepper + lemon juice + chopped basil leaves
• In the bowl add in tomatoes + bell peppers + toasted bread. Mix
• Now add in the dressing.
• Give it a gentel mix.
• Serve.
  

Chocolate Eclairs

Baking has become my passion lately, just want to experiment with new things. But still there is a long way to go.
But cooking or baking in this case is really challenging when u have a little one at home who just wants to play with u all the time and not sleep.
Nevertheless I keep pushing myself more and more.
I was seeing this food food channel where chef Shipra Khana made these awesome eclairs, which tempted

me then and there to try them out.
I checked my pantry, and hurrah!! I had all the stuff available.
so next step was to START.
I mad my little one sit in his bouncer, played some music and i was all set o bake this awesome delight.

Ingredients:
65gms Flour (maida)
1tbsp granulated sugar
55gms butter
120ml water
2 eggs

For topping
Whipped cream with vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

Procedure:

• Pre-heat the oven at 200degree Celsius.
• Place a parchment paper on the baking tray.
• You can also use aluminium foil, brush it with butter. This is equally good as using a parchment paper.
• In a bowl whisk the flour with sugar.
• In a pan heat water and butter together.
• Close the flame add in the flour into it.
• Whisking regularly.
• Cook it till it starts  sticking to the pan.
• Remove from flame.
• Beat the mixture till it becomes lukewarm.
• Then add in the lightly beaten eggs.
• Continue to mix till the batter is a thick paste.
• Put the mixture in a pastry bag with a large pin.

• pipe the mixture in oblong shapes on the baking tray.

• Bake for 15 minutes at 200dregress and reduce it to 180 degrees.
• Continue to bake for another 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven and place it on a the wire rack

Assembling the eclairs:

• Slit open the elcairs lentghwise.
• Dip top part of the eclair into the chocolate Ganache.
• Fill the bottom half with whipped cream
• Place the other half on top of it.
• Chocolate Eclares are ready to be eaten. :)