Spinach Rice Casserole

Lately we had been enjoying more vacations than working days put together! 
Ultimate enjoyment too comes with a price..Tanned hands and legs, weight gain and laziness!!!! After effects are affecting me so bad. Did I let sloth win over me or has my body completely reconciled with stress or is my overactive Omy boy not a subject of concern anymore... Is he starting to join hands with peace??Eh?
Only thing I force myself to do now is cook! Only because I HAVE to! I admit it.. what a lazy mortal am I?

I find 'one pot meals' the most trustworthy among the dishes!

Its easy, simple,  involves very less execution time and they come with a minimun 90% 'yummy' guarantee. When Rajani of MyKitchenTrials came up spinach casserole, I knew that was gonna be my dinner the same day. 

Well, I did tweak the recipe, rather say indianised it!
Daddy and baby found themselves digging the baking dish for more!

Spinach                    - 200 grams (I used Green giants frozen spinach)

Oil                            - 1 tbsp

Onion                       - 1 thinly sliced

Mustard seeds          - 1/2 tsp

Urad dal                   - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves             - 1 stick

Chilli powder           - 1 tbsp

Cooked Rice             - 2 cups

All purpose flour       - 1 tbsp

Milk                          - 1 cup

Bread crumbs            - 1 cup

Mozzarella cheese     - 1 cup

Salt, Pepper               -  to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a rectangular baking dish.
2. In a pan, combine the butter, flour and milk. Heat, stirring continuously to get a smooth, lump free sauce. Dilute with water or stock, if the sauce is too thick. 
3. In a pan, heat the oil, splutter mustard seeds and add the urad dal and fry for a few seconds. To this, add the onions, curry leaves and saute. Once onions are translucent add the chilli powder, salt and pepper to taste.
4. Microwave the frozen spinach for a minute and add the spinach. 
5. Once the spinach has wilted and everything mixed up, add rice and the milk sauce to it.Mix everything till combined.
6. Transfer to the baking dish, press lightly. Spread cheese evenly on top, then spread the bread crumbs all over it.
7. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes till the top turns brown.

That's my baby enjoying the sun, food & stroller in NY