I have used different pastas in this recipe. I have tried egg noodles, small penne pasta, farfelle, macaroni etc. I usually buy whole wheat pasta. I cook the pasta till it is soft, so that he can eat it easily. I use different vegetables to make it taste different.
I used to buy marinara sauce earlier. Then I asked the expert . And as usual, he did not disappoint. Pelicano gave me a very easy recipe for marinara sauce and I have stopped buying the sauce ever since. Never knew making this sauce was so easy. I usually make the sauce once a week and refrigerate it, since I have not attempted canning so far.
Here is how I make the marinara sauce – Bring a pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes in it and leave for couple of minutes. Then take them out of water and peel them. Break the tomatoes with fingers. Now in a pan, heat a little olive oil. Add a clove of garlic and cook it for a minute. Do not burn it. Add the tomatoes, dried basil, pepper, a little sugar (optional, was not in original recipe, I add it sometimes for my son) and salt. Cook till the sauce thickens. Cool to room temperature, then put in a air tight container and refrigerate.
Ingredients : 1/2 lb any small cut pasta like farfarelle or penne or egg noodles 1 cup marinara sauce 1 cup long strips of vegetables like sweet potato, carrot, capsicum(bellpepper), onion, peas Butter or Olive oil 1 garlic clove(optional) Salt Parmesan cheese (optional)
Method : In a thick bottomed pan, heat butter or olive oil. Add the vegetables, garlic, stir fry till they are soft. Now add the marinara sauce, mix well. Add the pasta and mix. Spread cheese (optional). I usually do not add cheese for my son.
Serves : 3-4 Preparation time : 15mins
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April is a month of birthdays in my home. Starts with V’s birthday, then Ishaan’s and then mine. I used to religiously bake a cake (or order one) for V’s birthday earlier. But last couple of years, I got so busy (or just lazy) to do anything. I am one of those, who really loves birthday parties. So I thought, I should start it again. V being a huge Apple (the company) fan, I decided to make the cake look like Apple logo.
I have never carved a cake before. So I was a little nervous about this. I did not plan it well, even though I had been thinking and googling for months to decide on the cake. I baked the cake on the previous day and wanted it to be a surprise for him on his birthday. But I ran out of cream and had to ask him to bring some from grocery store. So he came to know about the cake, but he still did not know what exactly were my plans. It was a good surprise for him.
Now, coming to 1-2-3-4 cake. I had seen this cake on TV many times, but never baked it. I wanted to make two layered cake with cream and pineapple in between. Couple of weeks ago, I borrowed the book The perfect cake by Susan G. Purdy from library. This book also had this same cake recipe.
According to the book, This is a 19th century cake with easy to remember, simple to prepare and foolproof recipe. It has 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour and 4 eggs. This was taught to beginning bakers.
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter 2 cups sugar 3 cups sifted all purpose flour 4 eggs 1 tbl spn baking powder 1/2 tea spn salt 1 cup milk 1 tea spn vanilla extract
Method: Preheat the oven at 350F for about 10mins. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt. Set aside. Separate the eggs. Beat sugar and butter together until soft. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each yolk. Add a little flour mixture, a little milk and then again flour mixture. Mix slowly. Continue till all the milk and flour is added. Now add vanilla and mix. In another bowl, with a clean beater, beat the egg whites till they form soft peaks. Slowly fold in the egg whites into the batter. Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake for about 40mins or till done. Cool it completely and then decorate as required.
I used whipping cream and store bought buttercream icing for decorations. I used canned pineapple. Soaked the cake with juice from the can and spread the pieces in between two layers.
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