Odds and Ends

The past week was about making the best of odds and ends lying in the fridge. With work schedules bordering on crazy, 'visit supermarket' was just another unchecked item on the list. But happy to report that we have survived and, re-stocked!

I learnt how far a few boiled potatoes, 1/2 a cabbage, 1 brinjal, 1 tomato, 2 onions, rice, dal, crackers can actually go. And I learnt exactly how useful it is to have ready-to-eat dim sums stocked in the fridge.

With some help from the folks at Secret Ingredient, we ended up having a fancy meal as well!

Making it all on our own is the most rewarding feeling ever. Bumps on the road hurt while they last but as always, in hindsight, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" (Kelly Clarkson singing in my head)!

Two days, two smoothies: Recipes inside

With the cold winds picking up, weekend laziness is setting in. And it's a good thing the husband and I are not averse to a liquid diet. So it's time to bring on the smoothie experiments!

Started the weekend with hot lime water and a fruit, while waiting for the husband to wake up.

And then head to the fridge, scour for fruits and chop-chop, put them in the blender!

Very berry smoothie -
Strawberries, blueberries, black grapes, 1 big apple and coconut water. Whizzzz and drink up!

Fibrous and filling smoothie -
2 apples, 1 big pear, 2 heaping spoons Greek yogurt, 1/4 glass milk. Whizz it.

Two smoothies for two days of the weekend!

Have a great week ahead everybody... And a Happy Diwali!!

Pasta in mushroom sauce: A recipe

What's been cooking?

 

Well, nothing much! Just emerging from a crazy work schedule (which involved eating Korean food in Korea!!), and all set to dive into more of the crazies starting next week. Been keeping the cooking, and definitely the experimenting, to the minimum. The husband's been busier than me and lets accept it, it's really not much fun cooking for one every single day. Thank god for online delivery websites - of which there are aplenty in the 'Kong.

 

Yesterday I made wheat pasta in mushroom sauce. It was fun to make and yum to eat. Here's the recipe for all of you pasta lovers out there!

 

Ingredients -

1. 2 packets mushroom
2. 1 big capsicum 
3. 1 1/2 tomatoes
4. 1 big onion, finely chopped
5. 1 zucchini, thinly cut round slices
6. 7-8 baby corn, cut into small chunks
7. 1 packet rigatoni semolina pasta
8. Salt, pepper, chilli flakes, oregano, basil 
9. 1 tablespoon olive oil
10. 1 cup water 
11. 1 teaspoon butter 
12. Some feta cheese/ parmesan flakes/ grated cheese

Prep -

Boil and drain the pasta as per instructions. Reserve some of the pasta water.

Cut the mushrooms, capsicum and tomato into chunks, add 1 cup water and give it a whir in the blender till it has a purée like consistency 

In a pan, heat the oil and add onions. Sauté. 

Once onions are slightly pinkish, add zucchini, baby corn and all the seasoning 

After zucchini has become slightly soft, add the purée. 

Bring it to a boil adding some of the pasta water if the sauce is too thick 

 

 

Just before adding the pasta, pop in some cheese (but not too much as the pasta water would already make it slightly creamy) and 1 teaspoon butter. Mix well. 

Add the pasta and coat it well with the sauce, cook for 2-3 minutes. 

Serve.

Make sure you enjoy the thick, creamy chunky sauce! :D