Cooking Hacks And Recipes for new moms

If you are a new mother, we are sure your newborn would need 90% of your time, so finding time to cook and do other chores can be difficult. Mothers often neglect to give themselves the nutrition and well-cooked meals they deserve in the joy and excitement of having a newborn in the house. Finding ways to simplify cooking is a huge deal, especially for new moms. Below are some of the hacks that will save a lot of time and energy.

• Prepare a Meal List – Deciding what to cook for three meals can be very time-consuming. It is advised to make a list of your meal for a week so that you don’t have to worry about what you have to cook each day and focus on your child and your well-being.
• Make Enough For Two Nights – When you are a new mom, there is hardly any time for yourself to relax. Decide a day that is suitable for you; on that day, you can cook in bulk for 1-2 days or prepare half meals for a few days so that you can rest and relax. 
• Steam Eggs Instead Of Boiling – When peeling boiled eggs can be time-consuming. Instead, try steaming them over boiling water for 10-15 minutes; the shell will come off in no time. 
• Put Water In The Microwave To Preserve The Moisture – Whether it’s leftover or meal-pepped treats, your microwave is a powerful tool. But you’re always at risk of drying out your food when you use it. We’ve got a simple way to avoid it. Toss a glass of water into the microwave with your food to give it a little extra moisture.
• Grate You Butter – When you have to use butter for some recipe, forget to melt it. Try grating it. Grab a grater and grate a block of butter; you will have soft butter. 
• Apple Slicer For French Fries – Craving some french fries but cutting a perfect wedge takes time and practice. For perfect fries, just use an apple slicer. 

Below I am putting down some recipes that new moms can experiment with to ensure they get proper nutrition without spending too much time cooking. 

Chicken & Mushroom in Thai Red Curry

This delicious Thai main course is sure to tantalize taste buds and give you a taste of the exciting Asian island right in your living room!

Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes 
• 10-12 fresh button mushrooms, halved 
• 3 tablespoons red curry paste 
• 10-12 baby corns, sliced diagonally 
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil 
• 2 medium onions, chopped 
• 1 medium tomato, chopped 
• Salt to taste 
• 12-15 fresh basil leaves
• 5-6 broccoli florets
• 1 cup thin coconut milk 

Steps

1. Preheat Wonderchef Nutri-Pot by pressing the Sauté button on it.  
2. Add the oil and once it is hot, add the onions and stir for a minute. 
3. Add the red curry paste and stir for a minute.  
4. Add the tomato and chicken cubes and stir for 2-3 minutes.  
5. Add the mushrooms, and baby corn and mix. 
6. Add the salt and mix. 
7. Add the basil leaves, coconut milk and broccoli and ½ cup water and mix.  
8. Press cancel, cover and cook on veg curry mode (i.e. for 15 minutes).
9. After 5 minutes the pressure will be released. 
10. Lock the pressure by turning the whistle in the left or right direction and let it cook for the remaining time.  
11. Once 15 minutes are over, Nutri-Pot will go on “Keep Warm” mode, press “Cancel” and let the pressure settle down. 
12. Open the lid. Transfer into a serving bowl and serve hot with steamed rice.

Your dish is ready to serve! 

Imli Til Ke Chawal

This simple rice dish was a staple in my home growing up.  My mom would put this together on days she was too busy to prepare a lavish meal for us and with some curd and pickle, it used to be the highlight of my day post school. It’s easy to cook and tasty to boot with simple ingredients that can be prepared very quickly, especially when cooked in the Nutri-Pot Electric Pressure Cooker with 7-in-1 functions.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups brown Basmati rice, soaked for 30 minutes 
• 2 tablespoons tamarind pulp 
• 3 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds (til) 
• 3 teaspoons coconut or vegetable oil. You can also use ghee
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste 
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder 
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 
• Salt to taste 
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves

Steps

1. Preheat Wonderchef Nutri-Pot by pressing the Sauté button on it.  
2. Add oil and once it is hot, add ginger paste and garlic paste and stir-fry for 1 minute.  
3. Add turmeric and chilli powder and stir for a few seconds.  
4. Add tamarind pulp and stir for 2-3 minutes. 
5. Add salt to taste and mix well.  
6. Add rice, roasted sesame seeds and 2 ½ cups of water.  
7. Press cancel, cover the lid and cook on rice mode (i.e. for 10 minutes).
8. Once 10 minutes are over, Nutri-Pot will go on “Keep Warm” mode, press “Cancel” and let the pressure settle down. 
9. Open the lid.  
10. Sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves and serve immediately.

Author : Alina Gufran, writer and film-maker, who loves the outdoors and reading.