Simple Noodles

Quick and easy noodles with mild flavors that taste pleasing to the palette. A one-dish comfort food that is healthy, balanced and nutritious.

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I am a noodle person! I love noodles all the way.

Of course, my all time favorite is Maggi noodles! However, I do have a homemade favorite, mom’s noodles. Gosh, how much I love it.

Colorful vegetables stir fried on high flame and tossed with noodles and sauce. A one-dish meal with vegetables, starch, add in some tofu or chicken for protein, all in one bowl makes it a healthy, balanced and nutritious dish.

This is not a rich, sophisticated dish containing bold flavors. It is more towards light, simple, mild flavors and a soothing taste. It is such an unassuming dish but so pleasing to the palette. It will definitely catch you by surprise – something made with simple ingredients and plain flavors can taste so good.

Simple Noodles

Makes - 2 servings

Egg noodles/Soba noodles	– 1 pkt	Soy sauce	- 2 tbsp
Onion	- 1 chopped	Vinegar	- 2 tbsp
Capsicum	- 1/2 cup chopped	Sriracha/Chilli sauce	- 1 tbsp
Cabbage	- 1 cup chopped	Brown sugar	- 1 tsp
Carrot	- 1	Oil	- 3 tbsp
Green Beans	- 1/2 cup	Ajnimoto(Chinese salt)	- 1 tsp (Optional)
Ginger	- 1/2 tsp minced	Salt	- to taste

Boil noodles as per the instructions on the packet. Keep aside.

In a bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, sriracha sauce. Set aside.

Heat oil in a pan or wok, add minced ginger and stir till it flavors the oil.

Add the vegetables and stir-fry until they are tender and cooked but still crisp.

Add the cooked noodles to the pan and mix.

Add in the sauce, salt, and mix to coat the noodles and vegetables.

Stir on flame for 5 minutes to give the noodles some time to absorb the sauce.

Remove from stove and serve hot.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Looking for an easy,super fast and yummy starter? Cheesy garlic bread is crispy with garlicky buttery flavor and bubbly with melted cheese.

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It's holiday season and we were hosting a dinner party for our friends. I put together a fool proof menu but was undecided on the last appetizer. Keeping in mind the preping ,cutting , frying and cooking I already had in line I safely settled for the cheesy garlic bread. They are extremely easy, super fast to make and of course, very yummy!

I dabbed some butter on the french baguette, dusted a little garlic powder, sprinkled parmesan cheese and seasoning ,then generously topped with mozzarella cheese and baked'em ! Out of the oven came these bad boys crispy and bubbly with melted cheese.Each bite had just the right amount of crunch and cheesy, garlicky flavor.

These warm pieces of bread are very simple and unassuming but absolutely delicious. Garlicky, cheesy and buttery, this bread is off the charts in flavor and ease. As you bite into the bread piece, the hot cheese stretches into long strands and the garlic flavor really comes through. These are best when served warm with marinara sauce.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Makes - 10 - 12 Servings

French Baguette	- 1
Butter	- 4 tbsps
Parmesan Cheese	- 1 cup
Mozzarella Cheese	- 2 cups
Garlic Powder	- 2 tbsps
Italian Seasoning	- 2 tbsps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice bread in half lengthwise and place the two halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet.

Spread butter on cut surfaces.

Sprinkle garlic powder, seasoning and Parmesan Cheese.

Top with Mozzarella cheese and some more Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 10- 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cut the bread into 1 to 2-inch pieces, and serve warm with marinara sauce.

Creamy Spinach

A lusciously rich, softly spiced and mildly sweet dish. It is so creamy that it coats the palette leaving a taste that will linger around

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Many of us have this habit. We try to mimic a dish we had in a restaurant or at a party, right?

I love an Indo-Chinese restaurant and often visit it when I am in the neighborhood. I think I have pretty much tried everything on the menu! One item I specifically remember is ‘Creamy Spinach Masala’. I loved it so much that I tried to make it at home. As much as it is fun, it is also challenging to reconstruct a dish just from the taste. I can’t say if I was even close but definitely the creamy spinach I prepared was a tongue-tickler!

A creamy blend of spinach, shallots, tomatoes and heavy cream, makes a rich and flavorful dish. This lusciously creamy dish has the earthy flavor of spinach and delicate sweetness of cream. It is softly spiced, mildly sweet, and so creamy that it coats the palette leaving a taste that will linger for a long time.

Creamy Spinach

Makes - 4 servings

Spinach	- 2 bunches	Garam Masala	- 2 tsps
Cream	- 3 cups	Pav Bhaji Masala	- 2 tsps
Green Peas	- 1/2 cup	Cloves	- 3
Onion	- 1 small	Cinnamon	- 1 inch stick
Tomato	- 1 medium	Salt	- to taste
Oil	- 2 tbsps

Heat oil in a pan. Add cloves, cinnamon, and fry for a minute.

Add chopped onions and cook until soft and translucent.

Add chopped tomato and cook until it becomes soft and mushy.

Now add chopped spinach, green peas and mix.

Close the lid and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure it does not burn.

Spinach gives out water as it cooks. If there is not enough water, you can add some.

Now add salt, masalas, and mix and cook for few more minutes.

Pour in the cream and cook for 5 more minutes till all the flavors blend.

You can add some green coloring to give the dish a nice bright color.

Turn off the heat and serve hot with rice or rotis.

Apple Crisp - Warm Fall Dessert

A simple dessert that combines fresh fruit with a topping. Warm baked apples coated with crunchy brown sugar oat streusel, a dessert that gives the feeling of fall and warmth for the season.

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The temperature has dropped down to 50’s, leaves have changed color and its dark by 6pm. Fall is here!

So what does this mean?

It’s time for sweaters, soups and warm comfort food. Also, it’s the season for abundance of apples!

Apple crisp is a dessert of warm baked apples topped with a tasty crust. It is a simple dessert that combines fresh fruit with a topping. Soft chunks of sweet-tart apple covered in a crisp and crunchy topping made with flour, sugar, butter, oats and nuts.

Warm from the oven with a dollop of ice cream, apple crisp is the ultimate comfort food dessert. Soft fruit coated with a crunchy brown sugar oat streusel gives the feeling of fall and the warmth for the season!

Apple Crisp

Makes - 6 - 8 Servings

For Topping		For Filing
Flour	– 1 1/3cup	Apples	– 6
Brown Sugar	– 1 1/3 cup	Sugar	– 1/2 cup
Oats	– 1/2 cup	Cinnamon Powder	– 1 - 2 tsps (optional)
Butter	– 8 tbsps or 1 stick
Pecans/Walnuts	– 1/4 cup (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a baking dish.

For topping, mix the flour, brown sugar, oats and nuts (optional) in bowl.

Blend the butter into the mixture until it’s crumbly. Set aside.

Peel the apples and cut into 1 inch pieces.

I use two varieties of apple; Granny Smith and Gala. Granny smith is tart and Gala is sweet. I do this to give a combination of sweetness and tartness. You can use any sweet apple variety and if you like, add lemon juice for the tartness.

Add sugar and cinnamon powder (optional) to the apples and toss to coat well.

Place the apples in the greased baking dish and spread the topping evenly over the apples.

Bake for 40 – 50 minutes until apples are bubbly and, topping turn golden brown.

Remove from oven and let it cool a little.

Serve warm with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream.