[Recipe] Quick Fix Pasta

I had been busy cleaning up the house, and other chores that it completely slipped my mind that I had to cook lunch. Only when I was talking to a friend who mentioned she was just winding up lunch did it hit me.  Walked into the kitchen knowing I had only a few items there..

An idea formed in my head and within 25 mins Lunch was ready. What did I make? A Quick fix pasta with the ingredients in my cupboards.

Ingredients:
Pasta - penne- 1 cup
Garlic- 1 pod crushed
Cabbage- few leaves finely chopped
Beans- cut lengthwise [1 inch long pieces]
Capsicum- 1/4- finely chopped
Baby corn- 3- finely chopped
Almonds or walnuts- 4 to 5 chopped up
Pesto sauce- 1 tsp
Sundried tomatoes- 1
Olive oil- 2tsp
Cheese- 1 small piece
Salt- to taste

The process:
In a pan, add enough water, a pinch of salt, a tsp of oil and allow pasta to cook  [al dente]. I went ahead and added the baby corn to this water to allow it to cook well [you can cook it separately]. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it out , saving 1 tbsp of the water.

In another pan I added 1 tsp of olive oil, the garlic and other vegetables, allowing them to saute for a few minutes. To this I added the pesto sauce, almonds, sun dried tomato and salt. Add the water [in which you boiled the pasta]  and finally sprinkle the grated cheese and serve hot..

It tasted good, even if I do say so myself...

Serving portion - 1
Cooking time- 20mins
Prepping time- 10mins

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Colorful Salad

So I was in one of those weird moods today, and that is all I needed to whip up this salad. I opened the fridge, stood in front of it, till it started beeping. Pulled out a few items and off I went to the kitchen [yes, at grandparents house, the fridge is not in the kitchen]  This is what I whipped up..

What I found- 

Purple cabbage- 1 small 

Lettuce- few leaves

Walnuts- a handful

Paneer - dunno when it had been bought but looked pretty beat

Herbs- a bottle of mixed herbs

Olives- green pitted olives

Pesto- plain pesto sauce

Honey- 1 tbsp

Olive oil- 1 tsp

Salt & Black pepper- a pinch

Optional

Other vegetables [par boiled beans esp]

Crushed garlic

Onions

Boiled pasta

What did I do?

Take a large bowl - add oil, walnuts, salt, black pepper, honey, pesto sauce and mix them well

Now, to this add the chopped up purple cabbage, ripped up lettuce leaves, crumbled paneer pieces, olives and toss

Sprinkle the herbs and toss

Taste and add seasoning/spice depending on your preference.

It was absolutely yummy. So fresh, crunchy and delightful. 

Health facts :

Purple cabbage, more commonly known as red cabbage, is a colorful variety from the brassica family. Purple cabbage has a relatively high ratio of nutrients and vitamins to calories and fat, which makes it an ideal choice for dieters. It is common in salads, coleslaw, braised dishes and pickled treats.

The vitamin and mineral content of raw purple cabbage is the most significant reason to consume this vegetable. A single serving of raw purple cabbage contains about 20 percent of your DRI for vitamin A, at 993 international units. It also contains around 80 percent of your DRI for vitamin C at 50.7 IU per 1-cup serving. Other vitamins and minerals in a 1-cup serving include notable levels of folate and vitamin K; 40 milligrams of calcium; 14 milligrams of magnesium; and 216 milligrams of potassium.

[Source: http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrients-purple-cabbage-1160.html]

Cabbage is a great store of vitamin C and vitamin K. The rich deep colour of this vegetable is due to a high concentration of anthocyanin polyphenols (strong dietary antioxidants, possessing anti-inflammatory properties), making it have even more phytonutrients than a green cabbage. A few studies also show that anthocyanins may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. It is rich in anti-oxidants which makes skin supple and clear.

[Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-27/diet/31046849_1_purple-cabbage-green-cabbage-sweet-and-sour-cabbage]

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Eco Cafe, Chennai

There i was, wading through thick traffic trying to make sure i got to Eco Cafe before 8pm [well, i am normally on time, but this particular evening i had succumbed to the chaotic one way streets and road blocks] .. Anyways, i reached and discovered most of the troops were already there plus a few new faces.. After a quick Hi hello and hey, nice to see you again, i found a seat and started chatting up. The wall with photographs transported me to Goa, i peered into them, but all i managed were a few dates and years. There was also an antique [finish] curio cupboard placed near the wall, that had quite a few random curio pieces...

Eco Cafe is a place i connect with fond memories, meeting friends, catching up with ex-colleagues and a quiet few hours sipping on a hot chocolate while waiting for a friend to finish her afternoon at the spa across the road.

 

A few sketches on the wall along the staircase towards the cafe...

Every meet of ours is different, some filled with awesome amazing food & experience, while some have good conversations but not great food and others a whole lot of interesting insights extending beyond food.

As the night wore on, i understood the true meaning of "eat with your eyes", but if only that were true!! I managed to catch the eye of a waiter and placed my order. A strawberry+orange drink and Sun dried tomato sandwich. 

I noticed Doc had a drink in front of him that many were tasting and analyzing, so i too jumped in, tried it and figured it was something to do with Chocolates and almond... Not really my kinda drink... And then arrived a blueish greenish thick drink which was a Blueberry shake, but had more of Banana flavor to it. Atleast it was cool, against the harsh summer evening. 

The food slowly trickled in, and i waited for quite some time, reminded the man behind the counter of my order and then waited some more... We were seated at the far end of the room, where the lighting was dim and AC was well, barely there, it was fairly warm. The table adjacent was perfect- the AC right next to it and the lights overhead. So, the food made it to that table 1st with all the cameras going click click click before spoons, and forks sneaked in. It was quite a sight.  There were a few who dragged their chairs and plonked on that table... and it was amusing watching each one fight to taste what they had ordered before it went cold and limp. We nibbled on the potato wedges and took a bite of the bruschettas [ one with tomato, one with pesto, two with different kinds of olives] as we caught up on life.

 

An antipasti salad made with Pasta, zucchini, pesto and aubergine arrived, it was to have a vinaigrette dressing, but alas, it was quite dry, the pasta was rubbery and each ingredient stood separate, lacking sauce and flavour. The Vegetable Chowder soup was alright, the garlic bread accompanying the soup was good. Finally, after quite a bit of waiting, my drink arrived- it was quite strong, i had tried it once before and liked it. But that night i wasnt sure if it was the same drink.

And then, suddenly i noticed my sandwich arrive, and enjoy its 15mins of fame under the limelight. The french fries accompanying it were good.One bite into the sandwich and i took a pause, trying to figure out that one overpowering flavour.. There was the tanginess of the sun dried tomatoes and the basil leaves which burst in my mouth. I did enjoy it, but just wish the bread was tad softer. 

 

Pancakes & Sun dried Tomato sandwich..

The girls had ordered a Pasta with Pesto, and quesadilla, which came in a few minutes. I did try the pasta, which was tad overcooked but had a nice creamy sauce, alas the pesto was once again overpowering. The quesadilla i dint get to taste, saw it arrive and then poof, it was gone...

while i chatted with a few left in the table i noticed a few make a beeline for the table at the other end of the room, and spotted a plate with a cute looking orange Caramel Custard with a few orange slices neatly arranged around the dessert.

 

It was quite tasty, with the orange flavour coming through beautifully. As i bid adieu i could hear the laughter and chit chat of the guys who were digging into a Bass fish dish that had landed on their table.

Yet another interesting day comes to end....

Ambiance: 8/10 

Food: 5/10 [I love their hot chocolate, but they should notch up their food, flavours and sauces]

Service: 6/10

Address:
#85, Chamiers Road
Chennai- 600028
Phone:  (044) 42030734, (044) 42030733


Directions: When you drive down TTK road, you turn left at the signal and will find Eco cafe on the right, bang opp Oryza spa.
 

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Pastas

The last weekend when i was away and travelling, i ate Pasta atleast once a day, not because i love it that much, but because it was the only item on the menu apart from the boring Rice and Roti.... :-)

Back home too, i enjoy cooking Pasta- everytime i try to bring home a different kind of pasta, experiment with different sauces/pesto and recipes [ all of which are created by yours truly] and dish it out.. I can proudly say that till date it has not disappointed me.. Am happy about my taste palate... :-)

Even though pastas originated in Italy, it has become quite common here in India too... And a good alternative to rotis, rice, pizza and sandwiches... 

Some of the different kinds of Pastas are- 

 

Farfelle- Bow Pasta, which is my alltime favourite- cos they look so cute :)

 

Fettucine, long flat noodle kind of pasta.. i like these, but grandparents find them difficult to eat, so they are the last resort

Fussili- twirly pasta... Love these as well..

 

Spaghetti is a long, thin, cylindrical pasta, ideal for pasta made with sauce

Conchiglie, these resemble little shells and come in 2 sizes, small and big...

Penne, the traditional small pipe shaped pasta... Most commonly found and used... These come in single colour and Tricolour as well..

Fusili pasta made with Wheat flour.. These take a bit longer than the maida ones to cook, but are healthier... 

 

Lasagna, pasta in the form of sheets that is used by layering the sheets between vegetables, topped with chees e and baked in the oven.. I havent made this, but have had it in restaurants..

I have seen a few more varieties on the net and heard from Friends who live abroad, but not seen them as part of the menu .. 

Which is your favorite???? 

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