One Day At A Time!

Hey everyone! Hope you all are doing well! Weather is cloudy, yet pleasant in my part of the world. Today's post is about my kiddo's favorite food. I call this Semi-homemade Cooking . Recently, my 10 year old has started enjoying pasta. Alfredo for pasta and Pesto for pizza. These store bought sauces make my everyday cooking easier. Feel free to share your family's go to meals. Ingredients: Alfredo Sauce Tomato Sauce Pesto Sauce Chickpea Pasta Black Pepper Powder Sliced Onions  Sliced Bell Peppers Sour Cream Oil Salt How to cook Chickpea Pasta in 3 different ways: Boil chickpea pasta according to the package instructions.  Drain the water and put the cooked pasta in a microwave safe glass container. I don't add salt while cooking pasta. My kiddo doesn't like veggies in pasta. For my kiddo, I add about 1 - 2 tbsp store bought Alfredo sauce, pinch of salt, pinch of black pepper powder to the cooked pasta. Microwave for about a minute or so. Voila, Alfredo Chickpea pas...

Hey everyone! Hope you all are doing well. It is super hot in Texas. I have been cooking a lot of light meals. More vegetarian and vegan food. Today's Gluten Free Pasta is ideal for vegetarians. And for foodies who like Low Carb Recipes. I like pasta because I can sneak in multiple veggies for my kiddo. Let me know some of your summer recipes. Ingredients: Dry Uncooked Chickpea Pasta - 2 cups Sliced Onions - 1/2 cup Sliced Bell Peppers - 1 cup Tomato Pasta Sauce - 3/4 cup Full Fat Whole Milk - 1/2 cup Cream Cheese - 1/4 cup Red Jalapeno Garlic Seasoning - 1/4 tsp Olive Oil - 1/2 tbsp How to cook Veggie Chickpea Pasta: Prep the veggies of your choice. I used onions and bell peppers. Based on what is available, I change the veggies. Spinach, kale, spring greens all taste good with this pasta. Boil water in a big pot and cook pasta according to the instructions. I do not add salt for cooking pasta. While pasta is getting cooked, heat oil in a pan. Add sliced onions and sauté for a ...

A bright Sunday afternoon in my part of the world. I am watching a Korean movie "Kimchi War" while getting our lunch ready in a microwave. Enjoying my long weekend! Hope your day is going well too! Today's menu... Cheesy Microwave Penne Pasta with loads of rainbow colored vegetables. Ingredients: Dry Penne Pasta - 2 cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables - about 2 cups Half n Half - 1/2 cup Cream Cheese - 1/4 cup Mexican 4 Cheese - about 1/2 cup Italian Seasoning - 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp Granulated Garlic - 1/2 tsp Salt How to cook Penne Pasta with Vegetables in a Microwave: Microwave frozen veggies in a big microwave safe plate/bowl for 2 minutes. Check with a fork if all the veggies are cooked, depending on how soft or crunchy you want the veggies. Microwave another 30 - 60 seconds if required. Set the cooked veggies aside in another bowl.  In the same microwave safe plate/bowl, add dry pasta of any kind you like. Add 1 cup of water and microwave for 2 minutes. Sti...

Hello foodies! How is everyone?  Today's photo credit goes to my six year old. My kiddo is my sous chef these days. And photographer -:)  Lately, I have been cooking pasta in my 2 quart rice cooker. Its convenient and quick. If you have one, try this One Pot Creamy Colorful   Vegetable Pasta . Ingredients: Uncooked Spaghetti Pasta - about 1 cup Mixed Frozen (or fresh) Veggies - about 1 cup Cream Cheese - 2 oz. Mexican 4 cheese - about 1/2 cup Canned Tomato Sauce - 1 tbsp. Italian Seasoning - 3/4 tsp Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp Garlic Herb Seasoning - 1/4 tsp How to cook Colorful Veggie Pasta in a Rice Cooker: Pour 1 cup water, pasta, Italian seasoning, black pepper powder and garlic herb seasoning in the rice cooker. Put the lid on and switch it on. Meanwhile, microwave the frozen veggies for about 2 minutes. The frozen veggie mix I used had broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, green beans, yellow beans. Instead of water, you can use vegetable broth or chicke...

Its been around 6 months now in Miami. I am really enjoying the sunny weather here. My kiddo especially loves her park time. I am missing the beautiful fall colors of Michigan though. Anyways, lets talk about food now. These days I have been trying to include more leafy greens in our diet. Jowar Methi Thepla , Palak Paneer Paratha , Kale White Bean Soup and today's Spinach Pasta are our family favorites. If you are looking for some healthy delicious recipes, try these and let me know. Ingredients:   Dry Elbow Pasta - 2 1/2 cups Baby Spinach Leaves - about 250 gm (8 oz) Grated Parmesan Cheese - 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese - 1 cup Whole Milk Sour Cream - 1/2 cup Red Onion - 1 medium Roma Tomato - 2 medium Garlic and Herb Seasoning - 1 1/2 tsp Red Chili Flakes - 1/2 tsp Olive Oil - 1 tbsp. How to cook Spinach Pasta: For the pasta sauce, finely chop onions. Puree tomatoes in a food processor and set it aside. Finely chop the spinach leaves. I used a fo...

I love this time of the year. This bright sunny weather is a perfect time for picnics. This weekend, we are meeting our dear friends in a nearby park for a picnic lunch. I am making a pasta. Pasta makes everyone happy, both kids and adults. While the toddlers run around the grass, we grown ups can chitchat. I am looking forward to this fun day. Now the best part, let me tell you how I made our family favorite Tomato Pasta . Ingredients: Dry Tricolor Rotini Pasta - 3 cups Heavy Whipping Cream - 1/2 Quart (473 ml) Roma Tomatoes - 3  Onion - 1 small Garlic - 2 cloves Dry Italian Seasoning - 1 1/4 tsp Black Pepper - 1/4 tsp Spanish Paprika - 1/2 tsp Olive Oil - 1 tbsp Salt  How to cook Rotini Pasta in a Whipping Cream Tomato Sauce: Finely chop onions and garlic.   Blend tomatoes in a juicer to a fine puree. Do not add water. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add onions and garlic. Sauté until onions turn slightly brown. Next, add dry Italian seasonin...

Lately, I have been cooking Italian couple times a week. Cooking pa sta is easy and quick. Pastas are deliciously perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Last night, I made a Creamy Pasta Salad  with some of our favorite veggies and everyone was happy.

Some weekdays are so busy, I hardly find time to cook. Preparing pasta is the easiest thing to do. I know its high in carbohydrates, but I think its fine once a week. To complete our menu, I cook some veggies like zucchini, brussel sprouts, broccoli in the oven. Today's Italian delight is a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce to go with vegetables enriched rotini pasta.

Italian Pastas and Pizzas are globally popular. I love both. For pastas, I like white Béchamel sauce and Alfredo sauce more than the tomato sauce. If you like it too, try this Farfalle or Bow-tie Pasta in a creamy Béchamel Sauce with Spinach. Ingredients: Pasta - 2 cups Milk - 1 1/2 cups Baby Spinach - about 1 cup Butter - 1 1/2 tbsp All Purpose Flour/Maida - 2 tbsp (leveled) Garlic - 2 cloves (minced) Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp Dry Oregano - 1/2 tsp Nutmeg/Jaiphal - 1/8 tsp Cinnamon/Dalchini - 1/8 tsp (optional) Salt How to cook White Bechamel Sauce Pasta: Cooking Pasta: Heat 5 - 6 cups water in a big pot. When water starts boiling, add pasta and salt. Cook the pasta for 10 - 12 minutes or as per the package instructions. Use any pasta of your choice. I have used bow-tie / farfalle pasta. You could use any other kind. Whole wheat pasta would taste good too. Preparing  Béchamel Sauce : Heat butter in a thick bottom pan. Add all purpose flour to the mel...

An attempt to make pasta using some Indian spices.  Generally basil, parsley is used in Italian Cuisine.  I used cilantro instead.  If you like more sauce, double the amount of tomatoes, onions, carrot.  If you are looking for an Indian version of pasta, try this tasty spicy pasta recipe.  Ingredients: Penne Pasta - 1 cup Tomatoes - 2 medium Yellow Onion - 1 big Carrot - 1 Garlic - 4 big cloves Chopped Coriander/Cilantro leaves - 1/2 cup Chicken Masala or Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp Chat Masala - 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper/Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Olive Oil - 2 tbsp Salt Method: 1. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.  After it starts boiling, add about 1/2 tsp salt and penne pasta.  Cook (uncovered) for 10 - 15 minutes depending on the softness you like.  Drain the water and keep the pasta aside. 2. Chop onions, tomatoes medium or fine.  Finely chop cilantro and garlic.  Grate the carrot. 3. Heat...