Italian Cooking 101

I finally decided to get outta my laziness and do something nice for my parents. I thought of the least effort way I can introduce something new to their taste buds. I whipped up this complete Italian Dinner for them. It took me matter of less than 30 mins.

Menu:
Tomato Soup
Garlic Bread
Vegetarian Pasta
Apple Juice (since they don't drink alcohol)
Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Icecream

I also served bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar as they waited for the food :). You can buy both the ingredients right off the shelf in your local grocery store. The rest of the items are detailed below.


Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
1. V8 :) - I took the flavor that was spicy

Method de Preparation
1. Just heat up some V8 in the microwave
2. A small drop of butter and some chopped cilantro to garnish.
3. Ready to serve and be enjoyed!

Garlic Bread

Ingredients:
1. Baguette - sliced
2. Just garlic bread spread :)
3. Butter

Method de Preparation
1. Mix equal portions of the garlic bread spread and butter
2. Spread it on the sliced baguette
3. Set the oven to Broil and pop the baguette pieces in for 10 mins (till they turn crispy brown)
4. Ready to be enjoyed!

Vegetarian Pasta

Ingredients:
1. Pasta - any kind
2. Bell Peppers - 3 nos
3. Marinated Artichokes
4. Garlic Cloves
5. Pesto
6. Pasta Sauce

Method de Preparation
1. Cook Pasta in a bowl of water. You can add some salt to the water while boiling the pasta.
2. Slice the Bell Peppers into halves and broil them in the oven. In about 10 mins, the peppers will be well cooked and the skin will be peelable. You can use any color. More the merrier. Peel the skin and slice the peppers
2. In a deep vessel, add some olive oil. Add the chopped garlic cloves and sautee. Add the chopped bell pepper.
3. Marinated Artichokes are available right off the shelf in any grocery store. Just add as many as you like.
4. Drain the boiled and cooked pasta and add it to this mixture
4. Both the pesto and pasta sauce is also off the shelf. Add the two finally and mix well. As a vegetarian, I usually get the pasta sauce that contains some veggies in it, just so that it isn't too plain.
4. Garnish with chopped corriander leaves and serve!

Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Icecream
Ingredients
1. Chocolate Cake - bought from the local grocery store
2. Vanilla Icecream - again bought from local grocery store

Serving Ideas
1. Slice the cake and serve with a scoop of vanilla icecream. You may garnish with Chocolate syrup or raspberry syrup.

Bon App!

Pasta sans marinara

I am gearing up to leave for a 2 week break. This means time to clear the fridge! My husband enjoys pasta, but has never liked marinara (huh? yah..). Luckily, I did not have pasta sauce yday in my pantry and we were craving some good Italian food. With not too much energy left to go out, this is something I spruced up last night and served with some delicious sidees.
Ingredients:
1. Pasta - fettucini, linguini..your pick
2. Pesto sauce
3. Mixed vegetables - carrots, beans, cauliflower florets..your pick
4. Onions and garlic (must have for Italian)
5. Italian seasoning
6. Lemon Zest

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Method:
1. Boil the pasta with a dash of olive oil. This helps the pieces of pasta stay separate without sticking
2. On another stove, boil the mixed vegetables
3. After both pasta and veggies feel rightly cooked (check if you can squish them with just right pressure, not too soft, not too hard). Add the pesto sauce to this mix
4. Heat some olive oil in and when hot, add some onions. Cook onions till brown
5. Add the pasta and the cooked vegetables in layers, one after the other. This helps the two blend in evenly.
6. Add some Italian seasoning (usually a blend of thyme, rosemary and so on).
7. Take off the heat after coupla minutes
8. Serve on a dish with some zest of lemon
9. For sides, just heat up some bread in an oven with a layer of your favorite cheese.
This usually comes out as a little dry pasta. Add some roasted/toasted pine nuts for extra kick..
Bon App!