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

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse, a light fluffy dessert,  perfect for entertaining guest and the presentation makes them happy and for chocolate lovers, its hard to resist the indulgence of this light ,fluffy smooth textured dessert.

Ingredients
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tspn butter
1/4 cup fresh raspberries for garnish
3/4 cup heavy Whipping  cream
1/4 cup sugar 
1/4 Vanilla extract
1 tspn Fine sugar
4 Eggs , separate the yolks from whites.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Mousse

Method
1. Using a medium size heat proof bowl, over simmering water (double broiler) melt the chocolate chips and butter, over little heat, stirring well till  chocolate appears melted well and smooth.
2. Remove from heat and add in egg yolks one by one carefully incorporating into the melted chocolate, add in 1/4 tspn vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to form peaks,adding in 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whisk till  peaks are formed.
4. Gently add in  whisked egg whites into the chocolate mixture.Next  beat the whipping cream with 1 tspn sugar till it gets thickened and forms peak, now gently fold in the whipping cream into the chocolate mixture.
5. Fill the cups (ramekins) about 3/4 th with the  ready chocolate mixture , cover each cup and refrigerate for couple of hours. Serve garnished with dollop of whipped cream , chocolate shavings, or fresh raspberries.

Chicken breast with creamy mustard sauce

I wanted to try out some new chicken dish, so when I came across this recipe I knew we would like it , it's chicken breast cooked in a creamy  mustard sauce and broccoli on the side.

Let's begin by getting these ingredients.

Ingredients
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
Salt to taste
2 tspn crushed black pepper
1 tspn chilli flakes for heat
2 tspn Olive oil
2 tspn Butter
1/4 cup white wine  ( used in the sauce) If you don't like wine just omit it.
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tspn coarse mustard
1/2 tspn  Dijon mustard sauce
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1  pack frozen broccoli

Ingredients

Preparing mustard sauce

Cooked chicken in Mustard creamy sauce

Cooking chicken

Mustard chicken

Method
1.Wash and clean chicken breast, approx 4 medium sized chicken breast come in a pack .  Using a skillet knife , place your palm lightly on chicken breast in the middle and carefully using the knife divide each chicken breast into  2 halves , continue with the remaining chicken breast and you will have approximately 8  thinner chicken breast .
Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of each chicken breast , keep aside for about 10 minutes.

2. Heat  a tspn  each of  butter and oil in a skillet, add the seasoned chicken breast and cook on both sides for approximately 5 minutes each side, till they appear golden brown in colour. Continue till all the chicken breast are done. Remove and keep aside.
For the sauce
3. In the same skillet  put 2 tspn butter ( perfect for getting colour) add 1 tspn.  olive oil if needed and add crushed garlic, sauté for a minute. Next add in 1/4 cup white wine, careful while adding wine as it can flare up so reduce heat. Next add in chilly flakes for some heat and add both mustards in the skillet. Continue cooking ,stir  in heavy cream and add chicken stock and this brings the creamy sauce together.
 4. Add in cooked chicken and cover to cook for about 10 minutes . Plate this dish with 2 chicken breast placed on palate , with some hot creamy sauce on top, yummy :) and on the side add steamed broccoli . Dinner is served.
If you are using frozen broccoli, microwave for  2 to 3  minutes. Heat skillet, add 1 tsp butter, add broccoli  , sauté for a minute's add in 2 tsp  whipping cream,salt to taste , black pepper  to make the broccoli creamy (optional)  or just enjoy steamed broccoli is good too.

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. 

Crunchy coated nuts

This week I'm hosting our Diwali party for friends and family  and we thought why not make some crunchy nuts to go along  with cocktails, I came across this recipe and was waiting to give it a try...
You may  use any nuts, depending on your liking . I have used... 
Ingredient's
250 gm unsalted cashews
250 gm unsalted walnuts
100 gm almonds
100 gm pecans
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tspn salt
2 tspn red chilli powder
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 sticks fresh rosemary chopped finely

Ingredients

Mix all the nuts together

Nuts on baking sheet

Bake at 350 degrees  

Crunchy baked nuts

Perfect with cocktails and entertaining guest

Method.
1.Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, Spray oil on to baking sheet or use 1 tablespoon oil to coat the baking sheet .Arrange  nuts on baking sheet. Add oil , maple syrup ,orange juice,brown sugar,salt,red chilli pepper for heat  and finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves. Mix all together nicely and bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees . Keep checking.
2.Remove from oven and mix with a spoon  to separate nuts, that may stick together. Check for seasoning , sprinkle on top 1/4 tspn rosemary and check for salt, if less add little more,depending on taste.
3. Enjoy golden brown crispy , coated with sweet and spicy,  flavourful nuts with your favourite drink or cocktail.

Paneer Makhani

Paneer Makhani

Don't kids just love eating this ,like their favourite dish at a party, and adults  include this dish in their list of entertaining dishes.
Also, we love eating  this dish  but fear from the hassle !! I have a recipe to share with all that will not only eliminate the laboriousness work but also give it that party look and taste.
Just follow these simple easy steps and enjoy home made but party looking dish!!

Paneer Makhani 

Ingredients
4 medium sized red tomatoes pureed or use a 8 oz can of pureed tomatoes
500 gm Paneer (cottage cheese) cut in inch cubes, available in Indian stores
1/4 cup powdered cashews
2 tspn freshly grated ginger
1/4 tspn green chillies chopped finely
Salt to taste
1 tspn red chilli powder
2 tspn butter
2 tspn cooking oil
1 tspn honey
1/4 cup full cream (can also use half-and-half)
2 to 3 cloves,1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1 inch cinnamon stick,3 to 4 green cardamoms seeded
2 tspn garam masala powder (Indian spice mix)
2 tspn freshly cut coriander leaves for garnish

Paneer Makhani

1.Heat a medium sized pan over low to medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, add oil and then butter.
Next add in cloves,cumin seeds,cinnamon,cardamom seeds. Add ginger and green chillies.
 For seasoning add salt, red chilli powder and stir in cashew powder., allow it to turn slight golden brown for a minute, Next stir in  the tomato puree.Cover and boil over low to medium heat, allowing the curry to sizzle for a few minutes,
2. Add in paneer cubes and continue to cook another  10 minutes. Lower the heat and add in  full cream and garam masala, and honey. Cook for another 5 minutes.Garnish with dried fenugreek leaves (available in Indian store) or garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
And there you have it , restaurant style creamy and silky smooth paneer makhani. Enjoy hot with Indian bread or rice.

Cottage cheese (Paneer cubed)

Canned Tomato puree and whole spices 

Heat oil add the whole spices

Grind cashews to powder

Add cashew powder to kadai 

Add tomato puree , spices and cream to form gravy

Mix Paneer with the gravy

Allow to cook

Makhani paneer ready