This is the longest unplanned school closing . The snow , way below freezing wind chills make it hard to get out of the house . Kids are tired of such a break and their boredom leads to constant " I am hungry " and " Give me something good to eat "state. Here I come with another fusion recipe that is kid as well as mom pleasing . It's a savory cake that is packed with nutrition . The house was filled with an aroma that could not keep the kids away from it .
Ingredients :
Pasta :
3/4 cup Thalipeeth Bhajani ( homemade blend of mixed flours )
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
water to cook pasta
Spicy Paneer and vegetable mix :
1 cup cubed Paneer
4-5 baby corns cut in roundels
1/2 cup mixed peppers , cubed
1/4 cup mushrooms ,cubed
Marinade :
3/4 cups Yogurt
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
1/2 tsp ajwain/ carom seeds powder
1 tsp fennel seeds powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp kasoori methi , crushed
1 tsp oil
juice of 1/4 lemon
2 tsp salt
1 tsp chaat masala
Sauce :
3 Tomatoes , deseeded and chopped
1 cup spinach , shredded
2 cups of heavy cream
5 Tbsp cornflour
a pinch of salt
1 cup grated cheese
To Proceed :
1) Preheat oven to 400 F .
2) Grease the pan you want to bake the cake in .
Pasta :
1) Using enough water knead a firm dough .
2) Roll it in 1/4" thick big roti .
3) Cut in diamond or vermicelli / spaghetti shape using a pizza cutter .
4) I cut it like vermicelli with the help of ruler and a pizza cutter .
5) Let it air dry for a few minutes , about 3-5 minutes.
6) Cook in boiling water for 4-5 minutes .
7) Strain and keep aside .
Spicy paneer and vegetable mix :
1) Mix all the ingredients of the marinade and add vegetables and paneer to it .
2) Let it marinate for 15-20 minutes .
Sauce :
1) Mix cream and corn flour in a deep bowl .
2) Add spinach, chopped tomatoes and spicy paneer and vegetable mix to it .
3) Add grated cheese to it .
4) Add pasta to it and toss very gently .
5) Add this to the greased pan and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean .
6) Serve warm .
Enjoy !!!
*** You can substitute any kind of pasta in place of homemade one .***
Which kid does not like pasta and chocolate . One sunday morning when Princess Pea and I were enjoying our quiet time together in the wee hours , somehow the talks drifted to food . She started talking about how she had always dreamt about pasta in chocolate sauce . A thought flashed in my mind and I decided to make the recipe exactly the same way she was telling me . Belive me , I was not sure of the outcome but still decided to go ahead only to please Princess Pea . When we tasted this dish , it was absolutely divine . Let me not waste my time and tell you how this dish was created .
Ingredients :-
1 cup pasta of your choice ( we used penne)
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup freshly sqeezed orange juice
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp butter
1/8 tsp vanilla
strawberries ,banana sliced
oranges wedges
To proceed :
1) Cook the pasta according to the pakage directions and drain the water . Refresh in cold water , drain and keep aside .
2) Melt heavy cream and white chocolate chips in a double boiler till the chocolate is melted and thickened to coat the back of the spoon .
3) Melt butter in a heavy bottom pan . Add orange juice and honey and cook till the sauce is thickened .
4) Melt the semi sweet chocolate chips .
5) Toss the pasta in white chocolate sauce .
6) Add sliced bananas ,strawberries and orange wedges.
7) Garnish with melted semi sweet chocolate .
Kane's Coop just loves avocados and pasta is always a hit with the kids . Diwali is approching and kids are busy with their practices in addition to regular activities . Pasta is a kind of meal I can count on when kiddos are tired . One of my friends was telling me how she would love pasta with some green sauce on red and green themed dinner for christmas and I knew what I was making for dinner tonight . Princess Pea loves beans so I try to add beans in every meal I make . I found a recipe on US Masala and tweaked it according to my family's taste . The sauce is smooth and creamy and goes well with any kind of pasta . I prefer Penne or Rotini or something that will hold more sauce than spaghetti .
Pasta :-
1 box of whole wheat garden rotini
*** you can use any pasta of your choice ***
Sauce :-
3 ripe avocadoes
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup cilantro
4 cloves of garlic
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup toasted walnuts
salt to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas/chhole
Pasta :-
Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box . Drain .Reserve 1/2 pasta water and keep aside .
Sauce :
1) Blend together avocados , spinach ,cilantro,garlic ,walnuts and half of the garbanzo beans to a smooth paste .
2) Use oil instead of water to make into a smooth paste .
Add salt and lemon juice and blend again .
Assembly :
Toss the pasta in prepared avocado sauce . Adjust the consistency by using reserved pasta water . Mix with rest of the garbanzo beans . Serve with garlic bread and soup .
