Pasta with White Sauce

I love Pasta. I rarely make it with white sauce, I usually make Pasta - Fatafat style. But this time, I decided to make multiple layers with white sauce and bake it. So I made a bed of potatoes, then a bed of mushroom and Broccoli, then the pasta and the white sauce. SO I am going to write the recipes layer by layer.

Based on your taste and time, you can make all layers or just make couple of layers and enjoy. If you do not have a OTG, you need not bake it, you can just leave it on low flame on the stove top.

Ingredients

Pasta - 2 Cups (Pasta of your choice, cooked as per instructions in the packet till it is Al Dente)
Potatoes - 2 (Skin peeled and Sliced)
Broccoli - 1 (Large Floret)
Tomato Puree - 1/2 Cup
Garlic - 15 Pods
Button Mushroom - 10 Nos
Maida - 1/4 Cup
Unsalted Butter - 1/4 Cup
GarlicPowder - 1/4 Teaspoon
Milk - 1/2 Cup
Black pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilly Flakes - 3 Tablespoon or to taste
Italian Seasoning Mix - 2 Tablespoon (Available readily in supermarket) or else use any dry herbs like Oregano,Thyme,Rosemary etc
Cheese - As per your choice (I used Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese)
Olive Oil and Salt

Method

First Layer - Potatoes
In a Pan, add some olive oil. Once it s warm, place the Potatoes slices on the pan. Cook till it is done and then flip it again. Season it with Red Chilli flakes, Italian herbs and Garlic powder.

Second Layer - Mushroom
In the pan, add some olive oil to this add about 4-5 crushed garlic, tomato puree and cook well. Then add some red chilli flakes,salt, Italian seasoning and saute. To this add the mushrooms and cook for 5- 8 minutes and keep it aside.

Third Layer - Broccoli
In a pan, add some olive oil and 2 crushed garlic and add the Broccoli and saute for 3-5 minutes or till it is cooked. Season it with chilli flakes, Italian seasoning and salt.

Final Layer - Basic White Sauce 

In a pan add the butter and once it starts to melt add the Maida and roast for 5-8 minutes or till the raw flavour of the maida leaves. Now, remove it from flame and allow it o cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, boil the milk.

Once the Maida - Butter mixture (it is called as Roux) is at room temperature, slowly add the warm milk and mix. Add the milk little by little to Roux and mix. I generally use whisk to make the mixture. Mix till it becomes a smooth mixture.

Now place this on the stove on a low to medium flame and cook it. We will know it is done when the mixture nicely coats the back of the wooden spoon. It will be of Dosa Batter consistency.

You can make this White Sauce in advance and store it in refrigerator.

To this add Black pepper powder, Chilli flakes, Italian Seasoning and salt.

Now take a baking tray and smear some olive oil on it. First place the potato slices, then add the

Mushroom layer and spread it nicely, then place the Broccoli on them , then add the cooked Pasta and finally pour the White sauce.On top of it spread some grated cheese.

I added grated cheese, Italian seasoning between each layer , this step is optional.

I baked this layered Pasta at 180C for 20 minutes , this step is completely optional. I did it to melt the cheese. If your ingredients are even slightly warm the cheese will melt.

Rava Idly

This is one breakfast recipe that sneaks into my kitchen at least once in a week. This is my Mom's favorite. I love this as it is easy, tasty and always is a HIT whenever I make it.

Usually people say to use sour curd,however I make curd the day before and use to make this recipe. In this way, I think the idly is soft, fresh and has the right amount of sourness.

Dont get demotivated by the long list of ingredients, you can pick and use whatever ingredients you have in your pantry.

Ingredients

Rava - 1 Cup
Curd - 1/2 - 3/4 Cup (Depends on the sourness of your curd)
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Cashewnuts - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Gram Dal - 1 Tablespoon
Urad Dal - 1/2 Tablespoon
Roasted Peanuts - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Green Chillies - 2 (Finely Chopped)
Ginger - 1/2 Inch (Finely grated)
Peas - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Carrot - 1 (Finely Grated,Optional)
Turmeric Powder and Hing - A pinch Each.
ENO - 1 Tablespoon
Curry Leaves and Coriander - As per choice
Oil and Salt.

Method

In a pan, add a tablespoon and once it is hot, add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.

Then add the Peanuts,Gram Dal and saute for 30 seconds and then add the cashewnuts and Urad dal and saute for 30 seconds. Then add the green chillies, curry leaves,Asafoetida and Turmeric Powder and saute.

Then add the Rava and roast till nice aroma comes, say for 5 minutes. Now remove it from the flame and keep it aside to come to room temperature.

Now whisk the curd nicely and to this add the Ginger,salt,vegetables and the roasted ingredients to make a thick batter. You can alter the quantity of water and curd as per your taste. As I use only fresh curd I make it fully with curd.

After mixing, keep it aside for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the Idly Plates ready.

Place the Idly Pot with 2 inches of water (as per the size of your pot) and switch on the stove so it comes to a boil.

Meanwhile, grease the idly plates with a coking oil generously.

We have to add ENO into the batter Just before pouring the batter into the Idly plates.

Once the water is boiling in the pot and all the plates are greased, add ENO to the prepared batter and give it a quick stir and add batter into the prepared idly plates and steam for 12-15 minutes or till it is done.

Apple Oats cake

I love apples and always have stock of apples in my pantry. So I also continuously search recipes using apple and found this recipe here. I have already made Apple Roulade with Apple. This is one more apple recipe.

Ingredients

Shredded Apple - 1 Cup
Maida - 1 Cup
Oats - 1 Cup
Buttermilk - 1/2 Cup
Baking powder - 2 Teaspoon
Butter - 1 Tablespoon
Cinnamon Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon

Salt - 1/2 Teaspoon
Brown Sugar - 1/2 Cup

Method

In a mixing boil, mix the sugar,buttermilk and butter well. To this add the apples,Maida and Oats and mix well it is all mixed well. Now add salt,Cinnamon Powder, baking powder and mix till done.

Pre heat the Oven at 180 C. Pour the prepared batter into a greased tray and bake for 30 minutes or till it is done.

Cool it completely and cut into pieces. I baked it in the evening. My take on this cake is that it tasted great the next day for Breakfast rather than having it hot.

Back of the Bag Oatmeal Rolls 

It is been quite sometime that I did some baking. So I decided to bake something. I had got a new Bread loaf Mould so wanted to make a Bread. With the recipe I was able to bake a Big Loaf of Bread and 4 rolls. This recipe has loads of Oats too. I got his recipe from kingarthurflour.

Ingredients

Yeast - 2 teaspoon
Warm Milk - 11/4 Cup (Not hot, just warm)
Maida/All Purpose Flour - 3 Cups
Rolled Oats - 1 Cup
Unsalted Butter - 2 Tablespoon
Honey - 3 Tablespoon
Salt - 1 1/2 Teaspoon
Sugar - 1/2 Teaspoon
Oats - For Sprinkling on the top

Method

In a bow, add the warm milk,salt and sugar and mix well. To this add the Yeast and allow it to rest for 5 minutes or till the yeast rises.

To this add Honey, Butter,oats,Maida and knead into a soft dough. Let it rest for 1 hour or it is doubled.

Now, take it to a greased surface, punch the dough down and knead it.

Roll it into a log or ball and place it in a greased loaf mould or in Baking tray.

Allow it to rest for 1 hour or till it doubles.

Pre heat the oven at 180C in the bake mode.

Slightly brush the surface of the loaf or Bun with some milk or water. Add some oats on the top.

Bake it at 180 C 20 minutes.

If you are making Bread, cut the loaf into slices when the loaf has completely cooled down.

You can toast this or have it with Jam and Butter. 

Simple Dal Tadka

Dal is a staple food in any of our house. There are so mnay ways, in which we all make Dal. This Dal Tadka is a simple yet very tasty Dal.

It tastes great with Rice.Jeera Rice or Roti.

Ingredients

Thoor Dal - 1/2 Cup
Water - As required
Onion - 1 (Small,Chopped)
Green Chilly - 2 (Finely Chopped)
Garlic - 3 (Finely Chopped)
Ginger - 1/2 Inch (Finely Chopped)
Cumin Seeds - 1 teaspoon
Oil or Ghee - 1 Tablespoon
Asafoetida and Turmeric Powder - a Pinch each
Curry Leaves and Coriander Leaves - For Garnishing
Salt - As required

Method

Wash and soak the Dal for 30 minutes (Soaking Dal is optional, I do as it saves time)

Cook it in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles. Add Turmeric Powder and Hing while cooking the Dal in the cooker.

In a tadka pan, add some oil or Ghee and once it is warm, add the Cumin Seeds and once it crackles, add the onion and Saute well. Once the Onion is half done, add the Garlic,Green Chilies,Salt and Ginger and Saute well.

Transfer the Dal into the serving bowl, and add the Tadka on the Dal before serving and Garnish with Curry Leaves and Coriander Leaves.