Spinach Feta pasta

Ingredients
Spaghetti - 1 box
Onion- 1 medium diced
Garlic- 2 cloves minced
Roasted Tomato- 1 tbsp chopped 
Mushrooms- 2 cups sliced
Baby spinach- 2 cups packed
Oregano- 1 tsp
Cayenne pepper- 1/2 tsp (optional)
Black Olives- 2  tbsp sliced
Feta cheese- 1/4 cup or more according to taste
Salt and Pepper- as needed

Method

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve a cup of pasta water.
2. In a large pan heat olive oil and saute the onion and garlic.
3. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, oregano, cayenne powder and cook until the mushrooms are soft.
4. Add spinach and cook until the leaves are wilted.
5. Pour the cooked pasta to the pan, sprinkle the feta cheese and black olives.Mix well. Add pasta water if the dish is too dry.
6. Serve warm.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Ingredients
Macaroni- 1 lb whole wheat
Chicken breast- 3 skinless, boneless diced small
Onion- 1 chopped
Garlic- 3 cloves minced
Red pepper- 1 chopped
Mushrooms- 8 oz chopped (any variety)
Tomato sauce- 15 oz
Basil- 1 tsp
Oregano -1 tsp
Red chili flakes- 1 tbsp
Cream cheese- 4 tbsp lite
Salt and pepper- as needed

Method

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In a pan heat oil and cook chicken with salt and pepper until no longer pink. Set aside.
3. Saute onion, garlic, mushrooms and red pepper. Cook until veggies are soft.
4. Add basil, chili flakes and oregano. Cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add tomato paste, salt,pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer the heat and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add cream cheese to the sauce and mix well.Remove from heat.
7. Mix the cooked pasta and chicken to the sauce.
8. Serve warm with a side of bread stick.

Spicy Egg noodles with ground turkey

Ingredients
Egg noodles- 1pack whole wheat
Onion- 1 medium diced
Garlic- 2 clove minced
Tomato- 1 15 oz can petite diced
Black beans- 1 15 oz can
Frozen roasted corn - 1 cup thawed
Chili powder- 1 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Cayenne powder- 1/4 tsp(optional)
Ground turkey- 1 lb
Mexican cheese blend- 1 1/2 cups shredded
Sour cream- 2 tbsp

Method

1. Preheat oven at 350*F.
2. Cook noodles according to package directions and set aside.
3. In a pan heat oil and saute the ground turkey until well browned.
4. Add onion and garlic to the pan,cook until soft.
5. Add tomatoes, black beans and corn.Sprinkle all the powders and bring the sauce to a boil.
6. Cook for 5-7 mins and remove from heat.
7. In a large bowl mix sour cream, noodles and the sauce.
8. Transfer the noodle mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the cheese evenly on top.
9. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly approximately for 15- 20 minutes.
10. Serve warm.

Baked vegetable ziti

Ingredients
Ziti- 8 oz
Carrot- 2 chopped fine
Zucchini- 1 chopped fine
Marinara sauce- 3 cups
Provolone cheese- 4 slices
Mozzarella cheese- 2 cups

Method

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Preheat oven at 350* F.
3. In a pan heat 1tsp of oil and saute the veggies until soft.
4. Transfer the veggies, marinara sauce and pasta into a large bowl. Mix well.
5. In a baking dish, spray cooking oil and pour half the pasta mixture. 
6. Arrange the provolone cheese slices on the top and add the remaining pasta.
7. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on the top and cover the dish with aluminium foil.
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes.
9. Let it rest for 5 minutes and serve warm.

Cajun Chicken Fettuccine

Ingredients
Fettuccine pasta- 
Chicken breast- 2 skinless, boneless diced
Red onion- 1 medium chopped
Garlic -3 cloves minced
Green pepper- 1 small chopped
Red pepper- 1 chopped
Cajun seasoning- 2 tbsp
Light cream- 1/2 cup
Salt and pepper- as needed

Method

1. Marinate the diced chicken with 1 tbsp of Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and toss with 1/2 tsp of olive oil. 
3. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp of oil and cook the chicken.Remove from pan and set aside.
4. In the same pan, add onions, garlic, red pepper and sprinkle with remaining 1 tbsp of Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper.Cook till onions are soft and add the chicken. Mix well.
5. Add the cream and  boil till desired sauce consistency.
6. Add cooked pasta and toss well.
7. Serve warm.

Shells and Sausages

Ingredients
Pasta- 15oz box of whole wheat shells
Chicken sausage- 5 links sliced into rounds
Garlic- 1tbsp minced
Shallots- 2 thinly sliced
Tomato- 1 28oz can, whole peeled
Green pepper- 1 large sliced lengthwise
Basil- 1tbsp
Oregano- 1 tsp
Chili flakes- 1 tbsp
Salt and pepper- as needed
Parmesan cheese- 2 tbsp

Method
Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve a cup of pasta water.
In a large pot, heat 2tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and shallots and saute for few seconds.
Add sliced pepper and spices to the pan.Mix well. 
When the peppers are soft, add sliced sausages and tomatoes with its juice.
Add salt and pepper and cover the pot with a lid. Cook for 15- 20 minutes
Break the whole tomatoes with a spatula. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Cook for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve warm.

Farfalle with sun dried tomatoes

Ingredients
Farfalle- 1 8oz box
Sundried tomatoes- 1/4 cup in oil
Onion- 1 small diced
Garlic- 1tsp minced
Feta cheese- 1 cup
Fresh basil- 1/4 cup roughly chopped
Red chili flakes- 1tbsp
Oregano- 1tsp


Method

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
2. In a pan, heat 1tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and onion and saute till soft.
3. Sprinkle oregano and chili flakes to the onions and mix well.
4. Add the sundried tomatoes to the pan.Saute for few minutes.
5. Add cooked pasta and feta cheese. When the cheese is slightly melted, sprinkle with basil and mix well.
6. If the pasta is too dry, add some reserved pasta water.
7. Serve warm.

Using fresh basil is very important for both flavor as well as taste.

Masala macaroni

Ingredients
Whole wheat shells- 12oz
Frozen mixed vegetable- 2 cups
Onion- 2 large diced
Tomato Sauce- 1 (80z) can
Chili powder- 1tsp
Coriander powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala- 1/2 tsp


For tempering
Oil- 2tsps
Cinnamon- 1/2"
Cloves- 2


Method

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. In a pan heat the oil and saute the cinnamon and cloves.Add the onion and saute till translucent. 
3. Now add the mixed vegetables and salt.Sprinkle with powders and cover with a lid.
4. When the veggies are soft, add tomato sauce and bring to a boil.
5. Add the cooked pasta and mix well.
6. Serve warm.

Spaghetti and turkey meatballs

Ingredients
Whole wheat spaghetti- 8oz 


For sauce
Olive oil- 2tbsp
Onion- 1 large sliced very small
Garlic- 3 cloves minced
Crushed tomatoes- 1(32 oz) can
Basil- 2 tbsp
Oregano-1tbsp
Red chili flakes- 1tbsp
Sugar- 1/2 tsp
Salt and pepper - to taste


For meat balls
Turkey- 1 lb
Egg- 1 large
Bread crumbs- 1/4 cup
Parsley- 2tbsp
Salt and pepper- as needed


Method

1. Mix all the meatball ingredients and leave in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. In a large pan, heat olive oil and add the garlic and onions.
3. When the onions are soft, add basil, oregano and chili flakes and saute well.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper.
5. Cover and simmer the heat. Let the sauce cook for 20 minutes.
6. Remove the bowl from fridge and make small golf sized meatballs.
7. In a shallow pan, heat 1tbsp of oil and cook the meatballs for 10 minutes on each side or until cooked well.
8. Remove from heat and add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 15 more minutes.
9. Cook spaghetti according to package directions and toss with the sauce.

Serve the spaghetti with warm garlic bread.

Tri color spaghetti with asian flair



Colorful Treat

Ingredients
Tricolor spaghetti - 8oz
Baby corn-5
Sugarsnap peas-10
Beans-1 cup chopped
Carrot-2 chop into matchsticks
Water chestnut-1cup
Broccoli- a small bunch seperated
White sesame seeds-1tsp
Soy sauce-2tbsp
Green chilli sauce-1tbsp
Sesame oil- 1tsp
Salt and white pepper as needed


For extra hot sauce
Sesame oil-2tsp
Canola oil-2tsp
Salt- a pinch
Chilli flakes-2tsp
Mix well in a small bowl.


Method

1. Dry roast sesame seeds until light brown.
2. Combine sauces,brown sugar and sesame seeds in a small bowl.
3. Cook spaghetti aldente in a pan of salted boiling water. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
4. Mix sesame oil to the spaghetti and set aside.
5. In a pan heat oil and stir fry the vegetables in high flame for 3 minutes. 
6. Pour the sauce mix, reserved pasta water to the stir fried vegetables 
7. Bring to a quick boil.
8. Add spaghetti to the pan.Toss till the sauce is well coated.

Serve it with extra hot sauce.