GO- GREEN PASTA -GUEST POST BY NANDITA PAI

                       Iv been blogging for about 9 months now....and quite often Iv seen bloggers inviting other bloggers to do a guest post on their blog! sounds like fun right? well.....

                      About a month ago I bumped into Nandita on google plus! She's from the same city as me, down south in India and in no time we were chatting like old friends!  YES! Iv never met her or spoken to her before!

                      So, If im going to ask someone to do a guest post on my blog its GOT to be Nandita Pai. She's got a lovely page with over 80 recipes! phew! She's definitely got a talent for baking .....be it cupcakes or cakes or even buns!! Iv been eyeing her vanilla cupcakes with butterscotch and choco chips. You'll definitely see it on my blog soon ;)

                      I love the way she plays with her pasta sauces.....makes it so healthy trying out various veggie combos! ...........pumpkin...spinach...!!! who would have thought???
She has a huge array of vegetarian side dishes and stuffed parathas.....YUM!! Just like her blog name....Nans Yum Yums!!

                     For todays guest post on my blog, she has cooked up an absolutely healthy, delicious pasta dish........Over to you Nan......:)

Yay! My first guest post! And when it’s for a good blogger friend, it’s even more delightful!! :D
I have known Farah for a few months now, and her posts are something I wait for! Her delicious recipes and witty comments make me smile every time I am at her page  Glad to do a guest post for u Farah…. Here goes!



It is a real delight to see something that you have imagined up in your head to turn out so perfect and good to eat. This makes you want to go again and experiment some more. This is exactly what is happening to me currently. I am in that experimental frenzy when it comes to Pasta.

After my successful attempt at bringing to the table an unusual pairing in pumpkin and spinach pasta, I have been itching to try out yet another pasta variety. And having made a Red, White and a Yellow Pasta... I wanted to Go-green! :P

So when Farah asked me to do a guest post for her, I did not have to think too much to decide what am going to make for her! :D



 I checked my fridge to see what I have in hand to get a green sauce. Spinach! Oh yes, that would give me a rich green sauce. Then just to add some flavour, I chose to team it up with some green peas too.

So with my base as a healthy Spinach and Green Peas sauce... and an interesting combination of Broccoli, Capsicum and Baby corn as the veggies to accompany my pasta, I took off and created this Pasta in Green Sauce :)



 A must try for a pasta lover!


Ingredients

Pasta - 2 cups
Capsicum - 1 cup, thinly sliced
Baby Corn - 1 cup - thinly sliced
Broccoli - 1 cup, small florets
Onion - 1 medium, sliced
Green peas - 1/2 cup
Spinach - 1 bunch (1 1/2 cup chopped leaves)
Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Pasta Seasoning - 2 tsp
Red Chilli Flakes - 2 tsp
Pepper Powder - 2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Cheese - to taste


Method
  • Put the pasta in a pan of water, such that all of the pasta is covered with water. Cook for a few minutes until the pasta turns slightly soft. Check if you can cut the pasta with a fork, if yes, they are done. Strain the water and keep aside the pasta for later use.



  • Thinly slice the capsicum, baby corn and onions. Cut broccoli into tiny florets.
  • Par boil baby corn and broccoli, drain water and keep aside.




  • Roughly chop the spinach bunch. Place the chopped leaves in a microwave safe bowl, pour in the green peas in the same bowl and microwave for a minute.
  • Take it off the microwave after a minute and allow to cool.
  • Once cooled, grind into a smooth paste by adding little water, not much. Keep aside.



  • Heat oil in a pan and add the sliced onions.
  • Once they turn slightly brown, add in the capsicum slices.
  • Allow to cook for a few minutes and then add in the par boiled baby corn and broccoli florets.
  • Add salt and half the pasta seasoning and stir well.
  • Pour in the green peas - spinach puree in the pan and mix well to bring in all the ingredients together.


  •  Now, add the cooked pasta and combine all the ingredients well.
  • Add pepper powder, chilli flakes and mix well.
  • Garnish with grated cheese and serve hot with garlic toast or simple butter toast. 



  •  If you like it a little creamier, you can add a mixture of 1 cup milk with a teaspoon of corn flour and another teaspoon of all purpose flour/maida. The colour may turn lighter green, but you would end up making your pasta gcreamier if you like it that way! :)






OATS ADAI/ OATS AND LENTIL PANCAKES

                 Since we are on a healthy run, Im always on the look out for healthy recipes! I recently saw this recipe on sharmis passions and tried it out today. Came out really well....and it did'nt feel like we were eating oats on anything healthy....coz I always say " If it tastes good, its not healthy"! Guess I just proved myself wrong!

                   Tastes awesome with sambar, puli chutney and/ or idli podi! yummy!.....A fulfilling meal! So, with a full satisfied tummy,  I post this recipe.


INGREDIENTS:
1 cup powdered oats
1/4 cup moong dal
1/4 cup toor dal
1/4 cup channa dal
1 onion, finely chopped
1 dry red chilli
4 garlic pearls
2-3 green chillies, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
a pinch of asafoestida
1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped
6 curry leaves
2 tbsps carrot, finely chopped
salt


PROCESS:
  • wash and soak the dals for an hour. Drain and grind the dals together with red chilli, garlic, cumin seeds. Grind to form a thick paste with little water.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the dal paste, oats, onions, carrots, green chillies, salt, asafoetida.
  • In a saucepan add 1 tsp oil and add the curry leaves. saute. Add this to the mixing bowl.
  • Mix everything together with the water to form a batter. 
  • Add coriander leaves . 
  • keep aside for an hour.
  • In a tawa greased with oil, take 1 ladle full of the batter and spread it.
  • Drizzle oil and cook on both sides till browned.

BREAD HALWA

                Eid Mubarak to all my fellow bloggers! :) Just had a happy day with family praying....eating....eating......and  eating! :D
             
               This Bread Halwa is quite popular with the muslim community in India. Dont under estimate this dessert with just the name. This dessert might be made with just bread.......amongst other things like GHEE! :O .....So, If you want people to eat this especially after your hardwork....shhhhh!!.....dont tell them its made out of tons of ghee! ;)

                Bread absorbs lots n lots of ghee when fried. You just wouldnt know where it disappears! I used ghee and oil to fry.
           
                I made this dessert by the request of a friend of mine, who wanted this recipe. I got this recipe from priyas feast. She has done an amazing job!Thanks priya.
             
               The original recipe used cucumber seeds. Since I couldnt find them, I substituted pumpkin seeds instead. Also, she has used khoya which would make it even richer and tastier. Again, since I dont live in India I had to skip that step.

               A tasty dessert very farrrrrrrr from being healthy! Lol.


INGREDIENTS:
10 slices of white bread
1 - 1 1/4 cup sugar ( depends on how sweet you like it)
800 ml milk (I used milk powder)
2tbsps pumpkin seeds
6-7 cashew nuts
ghee or oil to fry the bread

PROCESS:
  • Deep fry or toast the bread in ghee/oil till it turns dark brown. but dont over do it like in the pic. I made mine tooo black. it tasted a bit bitter :(

  • Boil the milk and add the fried bread slices one by one. Let it turn soggy and then brreak it with a ladle.

  • Once 3/4th of the milk is absorbed, add the sugar and keep stiring
  • In another wok add 1 tbsp of ghee and fry the cashews and pumpkin seeds.

  • Add it to the halwa and keep stirring, till it thickens and switch of the flame when you get the desired consistency as in the picture.


CUSTARD POWDER COOKIES RECIPE

                    First saw these cookies on jeyashris kitchen. she has such a lovely blog! will be trying more recipes from her blog! but for starters I HAD to try out these custard powder cookies!
               
                    These cookies are the EASIEST cookies ever!!!!!The perfect and ideal cookies to make with your children. Did  I mention TASTIEST???? They tasted simple awesome...melt in the mouth cookies!
                
                    I personally loved the fact that we used granulated sugar in this recipe and we did'nt have to beat the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer. So with every bite, you could taste the crunchy sugar granules!!.......

                    I also added a bit of salt which worked wonders! This recipe uses no butter and no eggs!........So stop drooling and get to the kitchen people!! :)


INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup custard powder( I used vanilla flavoured)
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
a pinch of salt



PROCESS:
  • Sift together the flour, custard powder, baking powder and baking soda, Add the salt. keep aside
  • In another bowl, mix together the oil and sugar.
  • Pour the oil mixture into the flour mixture and combine to form a smooth dough.
  • Line a baking tray with butter paper and grease it.
  • take small balls of the dough and place it on the tray. flatten it with a fork.
  • Bake at 170 deg celcius for 10 mins.
  • Take it out of the oven and cool on a wire rack. The cookies will be soft. But will become crisp once it cools.


CAULIFLOWER AND MUSHROOM PULAO

                    What do you do when you open the fridge each time to see a huge big cauliflower staring back at you??........I know alot of 'smart' people will tell me not to open the fridge door! hmphhhh!!!                    
                     well...but lets face it!.... there it is!.....the only dish  I can think of is ...vegetable kurma! but kurma= fat! so its an absolute NO NO!... So after a whole NIGHT of thinking and shortlisting.....voila...my cauliflower and mushroom pulao! :D Tasted soooo good with roasted papadums and cucumber raita! simple and healthy!
                    Sorry for boring u guys! but that cauliflower was a pain!


INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups cooked rice (approx)
3/4 cup cauliflower florets
1/2 cup white button mushroom, sliced
3/4 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 big onion, chopped finely
1/2 tomato, chopped finely
3 green chillies ( I used 1 big red chilli)
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
3/4 tsp coriander powder
a handful mint leaves
salt


PROCESS:
  • Heat oil in a wok and saute the onions.
  • Add the onions and saute till light brown
  • Add the green chillies and saute. Add the ginger garlic paste
  • Add the tomatoes and saute. Add the cauliflower stir 
  • Add the spices and salt.
  • Stir till the cauliflower is well coated in the spices.
  • Add the mushrooms and mint leaves. cook for a few minutes till the masala comes together.
  • Add the cooked rice little by little and stir till the rice is coated with the masala.

KADAI PANEER


INGREDIENTS:
200 gms paneer, cubed
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 onion, cubed
1/2 tomato, chopped
1-2 green chillies, slit lengthwise
1/2 cup capsicum, cubed
2 tbsp tomato puree
1-2 tbsp chilli sauce
a pinch of garam masala
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
salt
oil


PROCESS:
  •  Heat oil in a wok and heat the oil. Saute the garlic and then add the cumin seeds.
  • Add the onions and chillies and saute till they soften.
  • Add the chopped tomato. saute
  • Add the capsicum. stir for a minute.
  • Add the tomato puree and stir.
  • Add the spices and salt. stir and cook for a few mins
  • Add the chilli sauce.
  • cook for 2 minutes and switch off.
  • In another saucepan add a few drops of oil and toast the cubed panner on all sides till slightly brown. Drain on a kitchen towel.
  • Add the paneer to the tomato mixture and serve hot.





SCRAMBLED EGG MASALA - BLOG HOP WEDNESDAY - 21

             

                  Extremely sorry for my long absense....But its all good! My lil sista is getting married!:) So was a bit busy with the engagement ...and the get togethers ......and the list goes on! So Im finally back home in kl and hope to be a bit more regular here coz the wedding is still 4 months away!!
                 My daughter has finally started school!!! yay!....which means more time on my hands....double yay!!! Hope im not being too evil!!  :O Muahahaha.......:)
                 My apologies to smitha from kannada cuisine with whom I was paired with, for this months blog hop and Radhika of tickling palates for posting my entry so late.
'                Kannada cuisine ' has so many lovely recipes I would have loved to try out...But since I didnt have much time, I had to choose a recipe that was easy, quick and of which I already had the ingredients. So after much browsing and shortlisting.......the winner was "egg masala"!!.................A true winner!


INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs
2 green chillies, cut lengthwise
1/2 onion, chopped finely
1/4 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 tomato , chopped
a pinch garam masala
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1 big tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
1 tbsp oil
salt
a pinch of dried rosemary (optional)



PROCESS:
  •  Heat the oil in a wok and saute the onions. Add the green chillies. When the onions turn slightly brown add the ginger garlic paste. 
  • Add the tomatoes. stir
  • On low flame add the eggs and the spices and scramble the eggs. Add the salt, rosemary and coriander leaves.

sending this recipe to blog hop wednesdays hosted by radhika of Tickling palates

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