It's All in the Mix - Michaeline Singh

For someone who started to figure out how to peel onions at 26, Michaeline Jennifer Ann aka Mickey aka Mix, has come a long way. Her debut book 'It's All in the Mix' is a delightful, easy-to-read, easy-to-hold-and-implement book; one you can keep in the kitchen to help you discover and expand your culinary talents.

The 175 page book is a nice size which makes it convenient to hold, has nice pics and a font size that is comfortable on the eye. Its glossy finish gives it longevity which also indicates that the author is in the business for good - she means business.

Divided into seven sections - Breakfast, Snack and Starters, Dals, Rice Dishes, Vegetarian dishes, Non-vegetarian dishes and Desserts, 'It's All In The Mix' dishes out 72 mouthwatering recipes which look great to eat and easy to try. There are tips given at the end of each recipe to take care of the small issues that one might encounter in the process of cooking that particular dish.

Here's the menu on display then.

Breakfast - Bread Upma, Cheese Omelette Bake, Egg and Cheese Bruschetta, Egg Rolls, Garlic Bread with Cheese and Oregano, Grilled Chicken Mince Tikka Sandwich, Omelette Stuffed Cheese Toasties, Pull Apart Bun, Semolina Appe and Semolina Upma.

Snacks and Starters - Aloo Poha Cutlets, Butter Murukkus, Chapli Kabab, Chicken Mince Croquettes, Chilli Cheese Toast, Maggi Noodle Cutlets, Moon Dal Cutlets, Pan-Friend Meatballs, Potato and Paneer Patties, Rice Tikkis

Dals - Channa Dal, Dal Maash, Moong Dal, Palak ki Dal, Panchmel Dal

Rice Dishes - Curd Rice, Kheema Pulao, Lime Rice, Onion Fried Jeera Rice, Peanut and Capsicum Fried Rice, Peas Pulao, Sausage and Egg Friend Rice, Tomato Rice

Vegetarian Dishes - Aloo Dum, Aloo Gobi Capsicum Sabji, Aloo Stuffed Capsicum Rings, Aloo Tamatar ka Saag, Arvi Masala, Bhendi do Pyaaza, Boiled Egg Curry, Chigur ki Bhaji, Dil Wale Aloo, Lobia, Mooli ki Sabji, Pala Dill Sabji, Palak Paneer, Paneer Tikka Masla and Paneer Methi Chaman

Non-vegetarian Dishes - Afghani Murg, Badami Murg, Butter Chicken, Chicken Korma, Chicken Peshawari, Garlic Flavored Mutton, Kadai Mutton, Lal Maas, Chicken Rogan Josh, Patiala Chicken, Pudina Chicken, Spicy Chicken Curry, Tomato Kheema, Zafrani Mutton

Desserts - Apple Halwa, Badam Halwa, Gajar ki Halwa, Khajur ki Kheer, Vermicelli Bites, Mishti Doi, Mango Phirni, Cake Pops, Badam Coconut Laddoos

Mickey gives a bit of her history, the way she grew up in a large family and how she was pampered as the youngest and did not really have to learn to cook until she went to Dubai, where she found her soulmate Satish (who loves his food) and discovered her love for cooking at about the same time. It is a testament to their love that she has grown to be  great cook and has produced this wonderful book - showing what love can do to improve the craft, to deepen relationships. Their young sons Nikhil and Rahul are also good cooks apparently. Satish has been a great support to her through the tedious and frustrating process of getting a book published. 

As a non-cook - my range extends to tea, omelette, rice - I was impressed by the fact that this book somehow made me look at cook books differently. After flipping a few pages I chanced upon Mickey's Bread Upma and felt like I could try it out - and perhaps a few more. This is a huge change for someone who found all other cook books very complex. I think that feeling itself is a good validation that Mickey has got something right in this book. It has the potential to interest beginners and amateurs apart from seasoned cooks.

Its not easy to write and publish a cook book - pictures, details etc. But Mickey pulled it off from a concept stage eight months ago to actually launching it last week. Wishing Mickey and the book all the success and nice things they so deserve.