Recipes With a Twist
pasta
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
Aug 18th
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
I wanted to try making it ever since I noticed my son liked a ‘Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta’ from a local Italian restaurant. That inspired me try making Basil Pesto Sauce and this is what I made first using the Pesto sauce. This is not a perfectly low calorie dish. I can say it might be lighter than what I have looked online for an easy Alfredo or white sauce. It makes a creamy, indulgent and very flavorful pasta (thanks to the Basil Pesto) that I think everyone should enjoy once in a while. I used elbow macaroni as my More >
Presto Basil Pesto (Nut Free)
Aug 10th
Basil Pesto
Pesto, an aromatic herb sauce or paste, originated in Northern Italy and is used very commonly in Italian cooking. Traditionally it is made with toasted pine nuts but there are nut free variations as well. Every now and then I have tried different pesto based dishes and always amazed how this fragrant and flavorful perks up otherwise plain pasta or chicken recipes. However, it wasn’t until I noticed that my son liked a Pesto Chicken Fettuccine dish from a local Italian restaurant that I decided to give it a try in my every day cooking.I read this recipe in More >
Toddler Approved Spaghetti with Collard Greens and Broccoli
Jun 24th
Toddler Approved Spaghetti with Collard Greens and Broccoli
So what do you do if your skinny little one gets most of his carbohydrates from pasta? Well try to invent recipes that makes the same old pasta taste different with some added nutrition. Sometimes I use traditional Ragu pasta sauce with some meat or make white sauce with some cheese and Spinach. So different variations for same old pasta! This time I had little bit time on hand, so I tried to make pasta with a homemade onions, tomatoes, and vegetables sauce. This also gave me some satisfaction of putting together a meal More >
Tortellini with roasted vegetables
May 27th
Tortellini with Roasted Vegetables
Here is a great example of under 500 calorie dinner. Very easy to prepare and great on taste buds. 500 calorie dinners are part of Fitness magazine’s popular diet plan when combined with moderate exercise helps you lose weight in a healthy manner.
Tortellini pasta is anyways filling and addition of roasted vegetables adds a lot of flavor and bulk without adding too many calories.
You need:
1/2 cup boiled tortellini pasta (I used 3 cheese filling) 1/2 cup pasta sauce (about 90 calories ) 3/4 cup roasted vegetables 1 tsp grated parmesan cheese dash of Tobasco or red pepper flakes (optional)
1. More >
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
Apr 1st
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
I make this creamy spinach sauce when I am just not in a mood for regular heavy alfredo or even any store bought pasta sauce. I also put lot of spinach and it is in disguise so ‘not so spinach lovers’ may not even notice. Although, I think I can put even little bit more spinach than what I put last time I made it. My little one also likes this sauce with rice.You need: 1/4 cup cream (whipping cream/fresh cream) 1 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen, thawed) 1 cup tomato sauce (you More >
Low Fat Chicken Noodle Soup
Mar 11th
Chicken Noodle Soup
On cold winter evenings, I love having a big bowl of chicken noodle soup for dinner. It is a nutritious, hearty and low fat meal that does not need too many ingredients. Moreover, this is one of the dishes my entire family enjoys including my 2 year old son. I thought I should make one more batch while it is still little chilly in my part of the world. I have experimented with different types of noodles and pasta shapes. This time I mixed tri color egg ribbon pasta with some spiral pasta (my son loves both!). However, please More >
Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese
Nov 21st
Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese
1 cup steamed potatoes and butternut squash1 cup milk1/c cup chicken broth/water1/2 cup grated Cheddar Cheese1 cup cooked elbow macaroni1 tbsp butter 1/2 tbsp all purpose flourgarlic salt/garlic powder/garlic spread seasoning to tastesalt to taste (if not using garlic salt)
Add steamed veggies, milk to a blender and puree.Add some water if the puree is very thick.
In a sauce pan, melt the butter. Add garlic (seasoning/powder).Add flour and stir briskly. Add the puree andbroth and bring to Boil. Simmer for few minutes and add cheese. Once the sauce is smooth,cheese is melted add pasta and cook for couple More >
Veggie Pasta-Really?
Nov 8th
Veggie Pasta-Really?
1 cup steamed veggies – carrots, potatoes, broccoli1/4 cup cream1/2 cup milkgarlic salt/garlic powder/garlic spread seasoning to tastesalt to taste (if not using garlic salt)pinch of oregano1 cup cooked pasta of your choice-my son likes thin spaghetti, small elbow macaroni works well as well. The picture shows sauce with tri-color egg noodles1 tbsp butter (optional- I add it for my skinny LO)1/c water/chicken broth
Add all ingredients to a blender and puree. For small batches I use my Magic Bullet.Add some water/chicken broth if the puree is very thick. Add the puree to a sauce pan and bring to Boil. More >
