Chocolate Hazelnut/ Nutella Banana Shake

'Healthy breakfast ideas with Nutella'...how many of you there have heard this and wanted to really freak on this maddening Choco- Hazelnut Spread to find the real benefits and pleasure?

Well, if not you, I am surely that one who would love to do so and you have to bear with me on this for the next few posts where Nutella will be reigning. ;)

A few days back while flickering channels, I suddenly shot upon Master Chef India's repeat telecast ( I'm a big fan of this show yet have to miss all the episodes because of my sweetheart) and there I found this Nutella back with exciting new recipes by the connoisseurs. Here's one of those basic recipes that I have replicated just with a small change. 

Also, banana is one great fruit that I barely eat as a fruit, but I love to use in all other ways, be it baking, shakes, smoothies, fries, rolls, salad, chaat, custard, pudding or whatsoever, and I'm always looking for new recipes with it so that I don't miss on the minerals I can yield from it. 

So, banana together with Nutella is a perfect combination, and that too loaded with some raisins...wow! You can just imagine how tasty and healthy it would be, especially for kids who are finicky eaters and run away from plain milk. The Master Chef recipe uses almonds with Nutella and Banana but I have altered it a bit by replacing almonds with raisins just because I don't like to eat raisins directly otherwise, so a blend of that with the chocolate will surely not keep me away from it then :)

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT/ NUTELLA BANANA SHAKE:

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: Nil

Serves: 2

Health Meter:

The goodness of banana, milk, hazelnut and raisins, flavored with chocolate; what better could I ask for a healthy morning breakfast than this?

For those who haven't heard about Hazelnuts: 

A hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as a cob nut or filbert nut according to species. The kernel of the seed is edible and used raw or roasted, or ground into a paste. 

Hazelnuts are rich in protein and unsaturated fat. Moreover, they contain significant amounts of thiamine and vitamin B6, as well as smaller amounts of other B vitamins.

Ingredients:

1. Ripe big bananas: 2

2. Milk: 1 glass

3. Sugar: 2 tsp or as per taste

4. Nutella spread: 3 tbs

5. Raisins: a handful

Method:

1. As easy as it appears, simply take all the ingredients in a mixer and blend well.
2. Ornament with raisins and chocolate sauce/ syrup.

Suggestions:

1. You could add more milk if you do not want the shake too thick.
2. Raisins could be replaced by any dry fruit you wish, or it could simply be Nutella Banana Shake as Nutella already has the goodness of Hazelnut.
3. Serve immediately to avoid deterioration of milk.
4. If you do not have Nutella ( haha, most of you would be waiting for this line I know, like I used to unless I had it), you could add some chocolate syrup/ drinking chocolate or even a dairy milk (wow, now that sounds logic!) and some other nuts like walnuts/ cashews/ pistachios/ almonds. ( who says that only Hazelnuts are flooded with protein and minerals?? )
5. Aesthetics work for kids at least, so pour in a beautifully curved glass or a cup with some cartoon on it; hope this helps a bit. :)

  

The recipe goes to:
Cooking Made Easy With Chocolates/Cocoa
Breakfast Club  by Food, Je t'Aimee and Fuss Free Flavors
Kid's Delight  by Veg Junction and Srivalli
Chocolate Lover  by Daily Cuppa
 New 'U'  by Vardhini's Kitchen

Milk Shake Event by Foodies Nest
World Nutella Day  by Ms Adventures in Italy, Bleeding Espresso

Corn Capsicum Bhel/ Salad

Bland food! I just want to know your first reaction to these two words; some of you with your taste buds enticed and spiced would surely be reacting in a 'Nah' fashion and others who are deeply in love with their sensitive tummies or lifestyle would be perfectly alright with it. Well, if you ask my reaction, I am always a neutral bird who can go chilly-folly at times and better-keep-it-less the other time. But in all this dilemma of going for spices or not, the Indian within me will never let me  run away from them and then surely an Indian version (though not very spicy, just balanced) has to emerge out for that so-called bland recipe.

I'm not sure about you guys, but I am a big time lover of Paav Bhaji and Bhel, so anything close to that can soon be transformed into any of them. 

Now say about a week back, we had a very special guest from Romania who happens to be my husband's colleague, but for my daughter, she is someone who will really spoil her silly.  Since she is not much in love with chillies and strong spices, so I had to screen for a menu that makes her fall in love with Indian food but at the same time matches her style too. So, there I was, shooting from the starters to the dessert and make her feel home. 'Corn' and 'Capsicum' happen to be her classmates I believe, because I usually find them in most of her recipes, so I was up with an Indian Style Corn Capsicum Salad; better call it 'Bhel'. :P

CORN CAPSICUM BHEL/ SALAD: (Microwave Method)

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking (Microwaving) Time: 5-7 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1. Corn kennels: 2 cups (approx 200 gms)

2. Capsicum: 1 (very finely chopped)

3. Tomato (big): 1 (very finely chopped)

4. Onion: 1 (very finely chopped)

5. Coriander leaves/ Parsley: 3 tbs

6. Dried Mint leaves/ herb: 1 tbs

7. Lemon juice: 2 tbs ( of one lemon usually)

8. Salt: as per taste

9. Ground Pepper/ Black Pepper Powder: 1 tbs

10. Cumin powder: 1 tsp

11. Red/Black Salt : 1 tsp

12. Bhel Sev/ Aloo Bhujiya/ Regular Bhujiya

13. Green Coriander Mint Chutney (optional): 2 tbs

Method:

1. Wash and boil/steam/ microwave the corn kennels till they go soft and tender. I usually microwave them for 3-5 minutes.
2. Finely chop the capsicum, tomato and onion.
3. Now add these chopped veggies to the corn.
4. Throw in salt, black salt, cumin powder, ground pepper, parsley/coriander and dried mint. Mix well.
5. Microwave for about 2 minutes.
6. At last add lemon juice and fold.
7. Spoon some chutney if you wish and blend it with the bhel.
8. Finally serve it with crunchy bhel sev/ bhujiya on the top.

Suggestions:

1. I always prefer using the microwave but this can be prepared by steaming on gas stove also.
2. Always add the sev/bhujiya towards the end, just before serving, else it will become soggy.
3. This can be served hot or cold; just your wish!
4. Do not steam/ microwave after adding lemon juice as it might pour in some bitter taste.

The recipe flies off to:

Lets Cook for Christmas- Red and Green by Nayna
Jingle All The Way  by Edible Entertainment

Srivalli's 365 Days of MW  Cooking ,

 and Microwave Easy Cooking by Kavi and Srivalli