These days my cooking has been limited to very basic and easy dishes. As any moms with a year old toddler would agree with me, I hardly have any free time on hands. I try my best to make fresh lunch and dinner every day. Most of the dishes on the menu are decided based on what Ishaan likes to eat. The hardest part for me so far has been deciding his lunch. It has to be fresh, healthy and also something he can eat by himself. Most of the days I end up making some pasta or noodles dish. I try to sneak in as many vegetables as possible. This is one such dish which he really loves. This is actually one of my favorite lunchbox item too.
Ingredients: 1/2 pack spaghetti (I normally use wheat spaghetti) 2 tomatoes 1/2 cup onion 1/2 cup carrots 1/2 cup red bellpepper Olive oil/butter Black pepper (according to taste) Salt
Method: Cook spaghetti in salted water according to package instructions. Blanch the tomatoes in hot water for few minutes. I just add the tomatoes to the pot in which I cook spaghetti for a few minutes. Then take out the tomatoes. Heat oil or butter and add onions, carrots, red bellpepper. Cook on a medium heat till the vegetables are soft. With a spoon, take out half the amount of this vegetable mix and grind it with tomatoes to a smooth paste. Add the paste and spaghetti to remaining vegetable mix. Add salt and black pepper. Cook for a min and serve hot.
Serves : 2 Preparation time : 30mins
Pictorial:
This is almost the end of mango season here. This must be one of the easiest and very popular dishes prepared with mango. It is usually made with coconut milk. At my home, we make it with normal milk. This is served during festivals in many homes. This is also prepared with bananas. This can be consumed as a sweet dish on its own or as a side dish with chapati.
Ingredients: 1 cup ripe mango pieces 2 cups milk or coconut milk 2 tbl spn sugar Cardamom powder
Method: Add sugar to milk (or coconut milk) and mix well. Squish about 1/4 cup mango pieces with fingers to make a paste and then add the paste to sweetened milk. Add remaining pieces of mangoes. Add cardamom powder. Serve as a sweet dish or as a side with chapatis.
Serves : 2 Preparation time : 10mins
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