Spicy Chipotle Pasta

Chipotle peppers are found in the Southern parts of Mexico and South America. Basically jalapeno pepper that are left to dry  become red in colour. Later they are processed and given a smoky flavour .When added to the pasta sauce , this Adobo chipotle pepper sauce  adds a kick to the dish with its spicy flavours.
We have tasted  Spicy Chipotle pasta dish  at Cheese Cake Factory, a restaurant close by, and it is an absolute favourite. Till my daughter experimented  this recipe and made this dish at home and its now a favourite for all of us.

Last weekend we planned a get away with 2 other family friends. We booked a vacation home, in Sonoma county for a 2 day get together. We decided to cook there and the dish my daughter made is this Spicy Chipotle Pasta, it turned out so good  everybody loved it's taste and wanted to know how to prepare this dish. Here you go.. enjoy making it with love and have a good time with friends and family.
Talking about this place where we went its close to Russian River in Sonoma county, up in the hills with stunning views of the the valley below and the pretty starry nights as the sun sets. Oh yes and the rising sun was very peaceful too.
We took lots of pictures , very scenic and the got the opportunity to star gaze at night time!! It was magnificent and magical views !!!
The kids, enjoying kayaking in the river,  was a great trip.

Ingredients
1  pound box Penne Pasta 
2 medium bell pepper's ( red and yellow preferably)
1 medium white onion (diced in tiny cubes)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 small can  ready chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce (store bought)
Salt to taste
2 tspn Honey
4 cloves garlic ( don't worry we won't use all  the garlic in the sauce, save some for later,will let you know )
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese 
1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped finely for garnish
1 packet tortilla strips colourful for garnish (available in American grocery stores)

                                                

Saute onions

Add veggies

Bake asparagus

 Pasta sauce 

Party time with spicy pasta 

                                         
Method: 1. Using a chopping board, dice onions into tiny cubes, next dice both the bell peppers, keep aside. Finely chop cilantro , and keep aside. Remove the outer skin of 4 to 5 cloves of garlic and finely chop.
Clean, and trim off the heads of the asparagus  and chop the asparagus into medium size pieces.Using a a mixing bowl,add olive oil 2 tspn, add salt, black pepper and the asparagus. Stir and keep aside.
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, and lay the cut asparagus on an oven tray, and allow to bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Take a large boiling pot, fill with 1/2 water,add 1 tspn salt, 1/4 tspn oil and allow  water to boil. Add in  pasta and cook for about 15 to 20  minutes,making sure the pasta are well done :) Strain and keep aside. 
3. For preparing sauce, heat a medium sauce pan on medium heat,add in butter and olive oil, add in the diced onions, as they begin to appear translucent add the finely chopped garlic, cook for another 30 seconds till the onions and garlic appear well mixed. Add in 2 tspn honey. Next add the diced bell peppers, and stir to cook the peppers for about 4 to 5 minutes, add 2 to 3 tbsp of  adobo sauce(for that smoky flavour)
4. Now add in peas, continue stirring for about a minute. Check for salt, and add 1/4 tspn if required.  Reduce heat and stir in  2 cups of heavy cream. This will give a softness and richness to the sauce. Add the pasta, next add parmesan grated cheese and allow the sauce to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes as it thickens, close the burner.
Serve warm pasta , garnished with freshly chopped coriander leaves and tortillas strips.


With  the remaining garlic pods I have another interesting side dish to go along.
3 to 4  remaining garlic pods
2 tspn olive oil
2 tspn balsamic vinegar
1 tspn salt 

Method:
Simply cut off the top of  whole garlic's, drizzle a few drops of  olive oil, on each garlic, wrap it in foil and bake on a baking sheet for about 20 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees, till garlic appears soft and little browned in colour.Open the foil and sprinkle each cooked garlic pod with balsamic vinegar and enjoy this cooked garlic with toast or bread 
A complete dish , have fun with friends, over a glass of white/red wine......enjoy:) Will post some pictures of baked garlic soon

Stuffed Pastry shells

When you make starters using pastry shells  appetizer's get the winning look and bright smiles of guest who wonder how much effort you took to prepare all this, but trust me by using pastry shells and dough your work time gets reduced in almost half.
Using a pastry puff dough or pastry puff shells is the smartest way to make home made starters that not only look classy but also keep the guest's surprised and wow your hard work!!
There are many options for filling's that can be  used to fill these shell's  like for vegetarians one can use a mixture of goat cheese ,herbs and topped with sliced tomatoes. Another one you do is  stuff  shells with a mushroom and cheese mix , or even spinach with potatoes mixture, try olives in the recipe ,possibilities are endless , you can do sweet fillings like pecans with berries for a sweet fill , just be creative , use your own combination. For now  I tried out bell peppers chopped finely with garlic and onions, cooked in a sauce and sprinkled with cheese,   follow this recipe and you are sure  to impress your guests.

Ingredients
1 pack frozen pastry shells contains about 24 pastry shells
1 medium sized onion diced
1 cup chopped bell pepper , colourful mini bell peppers are great to use :)
2 to 3 cloves of garlic minced
1/4 cup finely chopped mushroom (optional)
1 tspn chilli garlic sauce (store bought)
2 tblsp   tomato ketchup
salt  to taste
2 tblsp vegetable Oil

Mini delights

Ready to Bake 

Veggie delights 

Method;
1.Heat a  medium sized skillet with 2 tblsp  oil, add in garlic and onions, allowing  onions to brown a little , n add in bell peppers, continue cooking another 3 to 5 minutes, till bell peppers soften.
2.Now add in spices and sauces and mix together, close burner and filling mixture is ready. How easy is that :)
3. Preheat oven to 350 F , arrange pastry puff shells, on baking tray and carefully with a teaspoon fill ea h pastry shell , about  half way with the prepared mixture, sprinkle shredded cheese, I prefer mozzarella , but you can use a cheese of your choice.
4 . Bake these shells for approximately 10 minutes and  remove and Serve warm. 

French crepes

When we think of France it just captures our imagination and makes  us imagine of petite beautiful things, well crepes is also among those things. They not only are great to look at but are great tasting and a treat for our taste buds!!
The other day we got this treat from our sweetie pie daughter who made them at home and what a pretty display that I just couldn't resist sharing this  recipe and pictures of these crepes and its perfect for a holiday morning breakfast or brunch, also as a desert.
Crepes are like very thin pancakes and made from flour batter, that has flour, milk, eggs and we like to add vanilla essence . Crepes are eaten sweet or savoury.
This recipe are sweet crepes. 

Ingredients 

1 cup Flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4  tspn vanilla essence
1 tspn sugar
1/4 tspn salt
1 tbsp white butter melted
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries or raspberries
1/2 cup jelly of your choice
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup store bought whipped cream

Method

1.In  a medium bowl milk together, flour, with salt, gradually add in the eggs and  milk.
Next add sugar ,salt and vanilla essence,continue to mix to form a smooth batter.
Finally add in  melted butter and stir together.
2.Heat a flat 8 inch non stick griddle over medium heat. Pour 1/4 th of batter into the pan tilting to  to cover the base of the pan. Cook for 2 minutes and flip once until it turns golden.Repeat with remaining batter till all crepes are ready.
For filling , you can fill with ingredients of your choice, like some like nutella spread onto  warm crepes and some like jelly spread Add berries and whipped cream. Enjoy the smoothness of crepes and the goodness of fruits to make it the perfect sweet treat.

                                                                           

                                                                     

                                                                                

Batter

Making Individual crepes  

 Crepes 

French Crepes

Lasagna with a tasty ~ twist

In my family we all love Italian food , be it pasta, salad or garlic toast. But  our absolute  favorite is Lasagna, made with a twist ~Vegetable Lasagna,, we love to make it at parties and get together s and enjoy it with our friends. 

Vegetable Lasagna

Ingredients
1 box Lasagna
4 cups water
4 cups Pasta Sauce (store bought)
500 gm Ricotta cheese
500 gm cottage cheese
200 Shredded Italian cheese
1 medium capsicum chopped into little  cubes
1 medium onion chopped small cubes
200 gms chopped /frozen spinach
50 gm pineapple chunks
1 tbsp black olives
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp oil
4 tsp hot sauce
3 to 4 tbsp sweet&sour sauce


Method

• Using a large pot, heat 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water.
• In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese and cottage cheese. Add ½ tsp salt.
• Chop onions & capsicum into small pieces. In a frying pan, add 3-4 tsp olive oil and heat it. Add chopped onions, capsicum & spinach. Sauté it for 8-10 minutes. Add few pieces of pineapple chunks. Add ½ tsp salt and mix it well. Add 3-4 tsp of hot sauce and sweet & sour sauce. Stir it for 5-7 minutes till it is well cooked. Remove it in a bowl.
• Place 1 sheet of lasagna noodle on the bottom of a rectangular dish, for layering, take a spoonful of ricotta and cream cheese mixture and spread on the lasagna first layer, pour some pasta sauce over it and cover with another lasagna noodle, alternate with the onions, spinach and capsicum mixture, cover it with a lasagna noodle. Pour some pasta sauce on top of it. Repeat layers. Cover last layer with remaining mixture.
• Once you have completed the layers, pour some past sauce on top. Sprinkle shredded cheese on the top layer and garnish with black olives.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the lasagna dish in the oven. Let it bake for 20-25 minutes, and till the sprinkled cheese has melted and the top is golden brown.Allow to cool before serving in a plate.