Tangy Tomato Brocolli Penne Pasta

Ingredients:
Penne Pasta - 200gms
Tomato - 3
Brocolli - 10 florets
Garlic - 3-4 pods
Green olives - 2
Jalapeno - 1
Toamto ketchup - 3tbs
Mixed herb - 1tbs (Oregano,Basil,Rosemary)
Dry red chilly flakes - 1/2tbs
Red paparika powder - 1/2tbs
Sugar - 1/2tbs
Olive oil - 1 tbs
Butter - 1/2tbs
Water - 5cups

Method/Vidhiee:
1. In a pan pour 4cups of water and few drops of oil-1/2tbs of salt and bring it to boil.
2. Once it starts boiling add the Penne pasta and cook they are done.
3. You can sense the softer version of pasta if its fully done.
4. That's the time you need to drain them and immediately run them thru cold water.
5. Meanwhile boil the tomatoes. Peel them and puree them (Its better to have lovely red tomatoes)
6. Finely chop the jalapeno,olives,garlic
7. Wash the brocolli and cut them into florets.
8. In a sauce pan add olive oil and butter.
9. Once they get heated up add the garlic and saute them.
10. Pour the tomato puree and add brocolli florets. Do not soften them they have to be crunchy.
11. Boil them. Add olives,jalapenos, remaining salt,sugar.
12. Add Penne and mix well.
13. Add tomato ketchup and mix well.
14. More juicier you want more puree or ketchup can be added.
15. At the end to finish add red chilly flakes and mixed herbs.
16. Mix well. If you get fresh herbs it great :)

Serve hot by topping bit of butter. Enjoy :)

Fibre Rich Homemade Vegetable Sweet Corn Soup

Few days back had a box of sweet corn piled up in my refrigerator. Planned to make a sweet corn soup. But, as iam always experimental towards food i wanted to make a sweetcorn soup little different and thus this soup formed up. Its a wholesome meal. Pardon if you are looking for a typical restaurant sweet corn soup :)

Soup for 4 people

Ingredients:
Sweet corn kernels - 150gms
Carrot - 1/2
French beans - 2
Onion - 1
Garlic pods - 4
Ginger - 1inch
Olive oil - 1tbs
Butter - 1tbs
Green chilly - 1
Oregano leaves dry/fresh - 1tbs
Amchoor -1/2tps
Salt - 1 1/2tbs
Sugar - 1/2tbs
Water - 6cups
White pepper powder as per taste

Method/Vidhiee:
1. Finely chop carrot,french beans,ginger,garlic,onions,chilly.
2. In a heavy bottom pan add 1/2 tbs olive oil saute half part of onions that are chopped.
3. Add 50gms of sweet corn kernels,carrots,french beans,chilly, ginger,garlic (If you prefer garlic to be seen in soup hold some chops)
4. Add 3 cups of water and close the pan with lid. Let it boil for 20mins.
5. Once the vegetables are done drain the water in separate bowl and let the veggies cool.
6. Once they cool grind them to paste or coarsely.
7. In the same pan add butter and rest of olive oil.
8. Add the rest of garlic and onions. Saute for 10secs.
9. Add the 100gms corn kernels, salt, sugar, amchoor powder.
10. Mix well and add the drained vegetable stock made before.
11. Add the remaining water and bring to boil.
12. Boil till the corns turn soft.
13. Add the ground mixture and mix quickly before they form lumps.
14. Add oregano and white pepper powder.
15. Bring them to boil and stir well.

Serve a bowl along with tomato sauce, vinegar chillies, dark soya sauce, crisp bread sticks.

Vegetable Semiya Upma

One of the basic Upma apart from the usual rawa/sooji upma. Seen from childhood my mom making it!!
Thought to share the same with everyone.

Ingredients:
Semiya/Sevaiyan/Vermidelli - 100gms
Carrot - 1
French Beans - 4
Toamto - 2
Onions - 2
Green peas -10gms optional
Potato - 1 big
Curry leaves - 2 arc
Green chilly -2
Ginger - 1inch
Green coriander leaves - 4arc
Asafatida - 1tps
Mustard - 1tbs
Channa dal/Kadala parupu - 1tbs
Turmeric powder - 1/2tbs
Water - 4
Oil - 3tbs
Salt to taste

Method/Vidhiee:
1. Wash and finely chop the vegetables.
2. In a pan add oil temper mustard seeds,channa dal, curry leaves,asafatida.
3. After tempering add ginger and green chilly.
4. Saute for 10secs and add onions.
5. Saute till onions turn transparent.
6. Add tomatoes and other vegetables.
7. Add turmeric and 2 cups of water and boil vegetables.
8. Once the vegetables turn soft add salt and the Semiya.
9. Mix well and add rest water.
10. Stir occasionally. Do not smash the Semiya.
11. If needed add 1tbs of oil for getting glaze on top.
12. Upma is ready to serve as soon as the water evaporates.
Garnish with green coriander leaves. Serve with tomato sauce, mint chutney, curd.

Alternate method: You can par boil the veggies before or steam them to cut short time and water.

Wishing everyone a colourful and joyous holi!!!
Wishing all Women Folks HAPPY WOMENS DAY!! Your actions,aspirations,joy makes the world!!
Keep Smiling and make the people around you smiling bcoz it really changes the moments of life :)