Cheesy spaghetti casserole

Delicious cheesy spaghetti with goodness of vegetables and chunks for Sausage for a foolproof dinner on a cold winter evening. Pure bliss !!

Ingredients

• Spaghetti - 1 pack
• Carrot - 4, chopped
• Cabbage - 1/2, chopped
• Capsicum - 1, chopped
• Sausage - 5, cubed
• Cheddar Cheese - 2/3 block
• Tomato - 4, pureed
• Salt, dried herbs
• green chilli - 1

Cook the spaghetti as per cooking instruction and keep aside. Now in a oak, add oil. Then add the chopped carrots and stir fry quickly.  Then add the capsicum and Cabbage, When half cooked, add the salt and dry herbs. Next goes the tomato puree and green chilli paste. Cook till the vegetables are soft. Add chopped sausages and cook for 3 more minutes.

Now toss the spaghetti in the sauce and mix so that the spaghetti is well coated with the sauce. Put it in a casserole. Grate the cheese, ( I didnot have the grater, too lazy to find any, so I chopped the cheese and sprinkle, however grating is a good option). and sprinkle all over.

Pre-heat the oven at 170 degree.

Put the casserole in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. 

Enjoy hot bubbly cheesy spaghetti casserole with your loved ones.

Cauliflower Mac N Cheese

Cauliflower is in season and this is the right time to prepare our all time favorite - Cauliflower Mac n Cheese. I had some Kalimpong  cheese in my pantry, made good use of it and a lovely dinner is ready.

Ingredients

• Salt
•  Macaroni - 1 pack
• Olive oil - 1 tbsp
• Cauliflower - 1, cut into florets
• Milk - 2 cups
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• Onion - 1, finely chopped
• Garlic - 1 tbsp , finely chopped
• flour - 1 tbsp
• Black pepper, nutmeg
• Mixed herbs - 1 tsp
• 1/2 cup kimpong cheese
• Spring Onion - chopped

Cook the pasta as per the package instruction and keep aside. Steam the cauliflower florets and keep covered.
 In a pan, add the olive oil and butter. Add the chopped onion with chopped garlic and fry for 2 minutes over low heat.

Add the flour and then fry quickly. 

Add the milk and whisk well to mix the flour. There should not be any lump.

Next add the salt, black pepper, herbs, nutmeg and mix well.

When thickened, add half of the cheese and mix well. 

Add the steamed cauliflower.

After a minute, add boiled pasta. Stir well to cover with the pasta sauce.

Transfer the cooked pasta to a baking dish, top with remaining cheese.

Bake at 180 degree for 35 - 40 minutes till the cheese melts. Garnish with spring onion and serve hot.

Mushroom in White Sauce

Button Mushrooms, this cute little white beauties are a favorite in our dining table and hubby made sure that he brings it on every Friday so that I can make something during weekends. So this time, it is mushroom in white sauce, we all loved it too much, topped it onto pasta and enjoyed every bit of it.

Ingredients:

• white button mushrooms - 2 packs
• Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• flour (white) - 1.5 Tbsp
• milk - 1 Cup
• salt and pepper to taste
• Green chilli - 1, chopped (optional)

Heat a pan over medium heat. Add a tbsp of olive oil and then, add mushrooms. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms just begin to release their juices.

Add garlic paste and stir. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have released their juices and garlic is nicely cooked. Transfer mushroom/garlic mixture with juices to a bowl and set aside.
Wipe the pan and put it back onto heat. Melt the butter. When melted and beginning to bubble and foam, sprinkle flour over melted butter and whisk continuously to form a roux. Once the roux has darkened slightly, add milk a few tablespoons at a time, whisking smooth between each addition.

When all of the milk has been incorporated, add mushroom mixture back to the pan and bring to very slow simmer. 

Add Salt and pepper to taste. I have also added finely chopped green chilli and a tiny sprinkle of sugar.

To serve, pour sauce over hot, cooked pasta or noodles and enjoy!!!

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

This Spaghetti dish with Shrimp is our family favorite and makes a great dinner without any fancy cooking. I just love garlic and use lots and lots of chopped garlic in this dish. You may adjust the amount of garlic as per your preference. Another unusual ingredient used in this dish is chopped coriander leaves. I was hesitant about using it initially but was quite surprised to see the outcome.  I urge all of you to try this combination to discover a completely new flavor.

Ingredients:

• Shrimp / Prawns - Medium size, 12-14
• Spaghetti / Noodles - 2 Packs
• Milk - 2 cups
• Garlic - 1, whole, peeled and chopped
• Chopped cilantro - 1/2 cup
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Grated Cheese - 1/3 cup
• Salt, Pepper to taste
• A dash of chili flakes

Cook the spaghetti following package directions and drain. Add a spoonful of olive oil and keep aside.
Place the butter and oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add the peeled shrimp with sprinkle of salt and pepper and stir for about 5 minutes, until the shrimp turns opaque. Transfer to a dish and keep covered.

In the same skillet, heat the garlic and after 30 seconds the cilantro. Add extra olive oil to the skillet if needed. Sauté for 2 minutes or garlic is just started turning brown. Sprinkle chilli flakes.

Add the milk, salt, and chili flakes. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add the grated cheese.

Add the shrimp and mix to incorporate. Cook for 30 seconds. Adjust the seasoning.

Add the spaghetti and mix to incorporate. Cook for 2 minutes or the milk is reduced.

Transfer to a serving dish and  Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Pasta with Carrot Puree

Ok, so this is another week of 'Know Your Food Blogger' event and this time it is Indrani Dhar who blogs from 'Recipe Junction'. I really look upto her as one of my inspiration, a mother of three who is raising her children beautifully and following her passion for cooking at the same time. Her blog has a good collection of my type of dishes, which I like the most and often refer to her blog to decide on our Sunday Menu. 
One thing I really love about her blog is, wherever possible, she adds some writeups on the key ingredients used and that way you get to know the benefits the dish imparts. 
I have decided to cook one of her Pasta recipes ( There are plenty). Our Saturday dinner is usually a bit special, since we could really enjoy our meal together as a family on Saturdays only, thanks to the busy schedule of all three family members. This dish is a complete one pot meal, I have added some boiled chicken breast to get some extra kick and used carrot puree instead of pumpkin, rest her recipe is followed blindly and our Saturday meal was fabulous.   
You may find the original recipe here. Please visit her blog and leave a note to appreciate her talent.

Ingredients

• Pasta of your choice
• Carrots - 1 1/2 cup, roughly chopped
• Boneless Chicken breast - 200 gms
• Green peas : 1/2 cup
• Garlic : 1 tbsp, finely chopped
• Flour : 1 tblsp.
• Butter : 1 tblsp.
• Milk : 1 and 1/2 cup
• Grated cheese : 1/3 cup, I have use Gouda
• Salt to taste
• Black Pepper to taste
• Red Chilli flakes : a pinch
• Dried Italian herbs : 1 tsp.
• Olive Oil : 1 tblsp.

Cook pasta in big bowl of water with 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. oil until al dante. Drain and set aside.
Boil carrots and peas until just done, then mash the carrot using backside of a spoon. Reserve the liquid. Marinate the chicken with a spoonful of vinegar and a pinch of salt for 30 minutes. Add chopped garlic in a frying pan where you have heated the olive oil. When it starts turning brown, add the marinated chicken and stir fry till almost cooked. 

Next add the mashed carrot and green peas.

Fry well with salt and pepper. Add the stock and let it get cooked till chickens are done thoroughly.

Increase the heat and let the chicken veg mixture dried up. Remove from heat and keep aside.
For the white sauce, take butter in a pan, add flour, saute for a minute before it changes its color, then add milk in there.

 Mix well. Add  pepper powder.

Add grated cheese in the sauce. Stir the sauce until cheese melts well. 

Add the chicken vegetable mix and incorporate well. 

Next goes the cooked pasta. Keep the heat minimum or else the things will dry up. Add chilli flakes and herbs. Adjust the seasoning.

Cook for few minutes, if you feel the pasta is looking dry, you can add little milk in the pasta and cook some more.
Enjoy!!!

Sending this entry to 'Know Your Bloggers 2014' event organised by 'Kolkata Food Bloggers'.