Agnolotti Pasta

 I was introduced to Agnolotti pasta after coming to Australia. Agnolotti is very similar to ravioli. The difference between the two is that ravioli is prepared from two pieces of pasta cut into squares, while agnolotti is made from a single piece that is folded over. My daughter calls it wonton pasta 😃.

You can make agnolottis from scratch or use the store bought ones. I used store bought one for this recipe as it was for a weekday dinner. I got spinach and pumpkin agnolotti from Aldi but you also get a variety of these in Coles and Woolies too.

Ingredients

- Agnolotti - 3 cups

- Broccoli cut into florets - 1 cup

- Carrots cut into wedges- 1 cup

- Chicken mince- 1 cup

- Chicken stock- 1 cup

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Garlic powder- 1 tsp

- Olive oil- 2 tbsp

- Butter- 1 tsp

- All purpose flour- 1 tsp

- Mint leaves- 1/2 cup

 Method:

- Boil enough water to cook the pasta and put 1 tsp salt in it. Add 1 tsp oil too as this prevents the pasta from sticking to each other.

- When water comes to a boil, add in agnolotti.

- In a separate pan add olive oil and all purpose flour.

- Stir the all purpose flour and when raw smell is gone add chicken mince to the pan and stir till cooked. Add the veggies and cook them.

- Check on the pasta. Once it floats to the top of the water, drain it. 

- To the chicken and veggies now and stir till half cooked.

- Add the pasta, butter and chicken stock. 

- Add salt and pepper.

- Stir well. Before switching off the flame, add mint leaves and garlic powder. 

- You can add some Italian herbs as well if you like them.

- Serve hot and fill your tummy with yummy food.

Shell Pasta in White Sauce

There is nothing better than pasta in white sauce. You can have it for dinner or breakfast. I personally prefer having it for breakfast. Breakfast is the  most important meal of the day. It should be filling, nutritious and healthy. To make it healthy I add in a lot of fresh vegetables. You can also add some chicken or prawns if you want. This does not take much time to prepare and is very tasty - hence perfect for any weekday breakfast or dinner.

 Ingredients:
- Shell Pasta(small)  (3 cups)
- Tomatoes (small 1 julienne)
- Capsicum (1 cut into long thin strands)
- Carrots (1 julienne)
- Garlic (1 clove crushed)
- All purpose flour / Maida(1 tbsp)
- Milk ( 2 cups)
- Salt(Acc to taste)
- Cheese of your choice (2 tbsp)
- Olive oil ( 3 tbsp)
- Pepper powder (1 tsp)

Preparation:
- Boil water in a pan.
- When the water is boiling medium the flame and add in pasta. Also add in 1 tbsp olive oil. This prevents the pasta from sticking together.
- When the pasta is cooked (it should be soft yet firm; make sure not to overboil it) drain the water and put some cold water on the cooked pasta. Drain the cold water too.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil a skillet and add thegarlic to it. When garlic turns golden brown add the vegetables to it. Saute the veggies for 2-3 mins. Keep aside.
- Now for preparation of the sauce, add 1 tbsp oil in the wok. When the oil is hot add in Maida and fry it till the raw smell of flour goes.
- Now add in the milk, salt and stir so that no lumps are formed.
- When the sauce is a bit thick add the cheese, veggies and pasta. Cook together for 2-3 mins. Add in the pepper powder and mix.
- Serve hot.

:)

This is my entry for Cook Click and Devour.

Happy New Year and Welcome back with Pasta!!!!!

Hello Friends and wish you all a very happy new year... I have been away from blogworld for quite a few days now. I have a valid reason for that. My parents were here :)  and I hardly cook anything when my Mom is at my place... She does not like my intervention in the kitchen. :(. As the saying goes "Too many cooks spoil the broth". So I leave it to her and just sit back and relish all her dishes..

So guys if you thought I am done with food or cooking there is nothing further from truth than that. So I welcome you and myself back to Blogworld with a simple pasta recipe for breakfast.

Ingredients:
- Pasta (1 cup)
- Capsicum (1 cut into thin long pieces)
- Carrots (1 cut into thin long pieces)
- Green Chilli (2 halved)
- Beans (9-10 cut into long pieces)
- Olive oil (2 tsp)
- Tomato puree (3 tbsp)
- Tomato ketchup (3 tbsp)
- Milk (4 tbsp)
- Onions (1 sliced)
-  Pepper powder (acc to taste)
- Salt (acc to taste)
- Cheese (acc to taste)
- Garlic (2-3 cloves crushed)

Method: 

- Boil 1 cup pasta until cooked. Drain the water and keep it aside.
- Peel and chop the onion.
- Peel and crush the garlic.
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan.
- Add beans,onion and garlic and saute.
- Add capsicum and carrots and saute for some more time.
- Add tomato puree, tomato ketchup, and stir for 5 mins.
- Add milk, cheese, salt and pepper.
- Add boiled pasta and cheese and mix well. Serve hot.

Instead of adding cheese you can add cheese sauce.

Happy cooking  :)