FUN COOKING: pasta

Today I will share with you all a very delicious creamy pasta with roasted pumpkin topping. This dish is a blend of creamy sweetness. It may seem a little heavy as cheese and cream and milk all are added but I also use pumpkin which is an extremely nutrient dense food, meaning it is chock-full of vitamins and minerals but low on calories.
Pumpkin is one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant known to give orange vegetables and fruits their vibrant color and which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Consuming foods rich in beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, offer protection against asthma and heart disease, and delay aging and body degeneration.Eating pumpkin is good for the heart! The fiber, potassium and vitamin C content in pumpkin all support heart health. Consuming adequate potassium is almost as important as decreasing sodium intake for treatment of hypertension (high-blood pressure). Other foods that are high in potassium include cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, oranges, spinach and bananas.
Increased potassium intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.
For women of child-bearing age, consuming more iron from plant sources such as spinach, beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, and beets appear to promote fertility, according Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications. The vitamin A in pumpkin (consumed as beta-carotene then converted to vitamin A in the body) is also essential during pregnancy and lactation for hormone synthesis.
Plant foods like pumpkins that are high in both vitamin C and beta-carotene offer an immunity boost from their powerful combination of nutrients.
Creamy pasta with roasted pumpkin topping is not only a delicious dish but loaded with health benefit. So what are you waiting for give it a try and enjoy a delicious fall recipe.

Pasta With Roasted Pumpkin
Ingredients

1 cup penne/ ratatouille pasta cooked
1tsp garlic finely chopped
1/4 cup milk
3 tbsp grated cheese
1 tsp flour
1/4 cup fresh cream (optional)
1 cup cubed pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp butter / diet butter
to taste freshly crushed pepper
to taste salt
1/2 tsp mixed Italian herb (optional)
1/2 tsp lemon juice (optional)
1 tsp grated cheese for garnish

Cooking Directions

Boil water in a steamer and steam the pumpkin cubes till little tender. Heat 1 tsp butter in a pan. Add chopped garlic. Place steamed pumpkin cubes ( with it I added few cubes of green bell pepper and red onion to add more color n crunch . You may or may not use it ) in an even layer across the bottom of the skillet and allow to pan-fry until lightly browned on the underside.Sprinkle salt and freshly crushed pepper. Put off the flame. Meanwhile cook the pasta.
Heat 1/2 tsp butter on another pan. Add chopped garlic. Then add flour. Fry a bit util you get a mild frying flavor then add milk. Let it come to boil. Then add cheese, salt pepper and mixed Italian herb if using.Let the cheese melt and as the gravy thickens add cooked pasta and cream. Mix well. Put off the flame.Spread the creamy pasta top it with roasted pumpkin. Sprinkle grated cheese and lemon juice ( a dash of lemon juice act as a palate cleanser in this dish) skip if you want to. I am sure you will love this yummy creamy awesome creamy pasta with roasted pumpkin topping.

Be Happy And Stay Healthy.

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Hello friends returning to blogging after a long break. Hope all you are doing well. Today I 'm sharing with you a very delicious pasta recipe Pasta tomatina. It's truly drool worthy. In this recipe I use farm fresh ripe red tomatoes. The tomato has been referred to as a "functional food," a food that goes beyond providing just basic nutrition. Due to their beneficial phytochemicals such as lycopene, tomatoes also play a role in preventing chronic disease and deliver other health benefits.Tomatoes are also an excellent source vitamin C, biotin, molybdenum and vitamin K. They are also a very good source of copper, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B6, folate, niacin, vitamin E and phosphorus. Pasta is a perfect foundation for healthy, nutritious and satisfying meals.Pasta tomatina is such a delicius healthy recipe filled with antioxidant-rich tomato sauce and protein-packed cheese with little dash of fiber rich vegetables. So enjoy yummy Pasta tomatina.

Pasta Tomatina

Ingredients

100 g pasta of your choice
1 cup tomato puree
1 tbsp red chilly sauce (optional)
1 tsp mixed Italian dried herbs
1/2 cup cream cheese
1 1/2 tbsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup chicken / vegetable stock
1 onion big slices (optional)
4 tbsp finely chopped beetroot (optional)
2 tsp finely chopped green beans (optional)
to taste salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

Boil the pasta in water adding salt and a teaspoon of oil.
In a pan add a teaspoon of butter fry the sliced onion and with toss finely chopped beetroot and green beans with little salt and pepper. Keep aside.
In another pan heat a teaspoon of butter add garlic. Fry a little. then add tomato puree. Stir well. Add dried herbs, red chilly sauce if using want little heat , salt and pepper. Mix well . Then add 1/2 cup of stock. Let it boil. When the sauce thickens. Add cream cheese. Mix well. Add boiled pasta and let the sauce get well coated now you can add fried onion and veggies. Mix well. Put off the flame.Serve hot a delicious whole meal pasta tomatina.

Be Happy And Stay Healthy.

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My friends who are with me for long they already know my love for pasta….in any form and shape. Today’s recipe is one which is bit similar to pasta omelets but the main twist is I use veggies and scrambled egg base which make this simple pasta bit unique and healthy. I slightly fried the veggies but if you are a weight watcher use raw vegetable, you can also skip butter used in the egg mixture and while you sprinkle the cheese on top don’t be so generous ( haha) . With this low fat variation the taste will differ a bit but still you can enjoy very delicious pasta. I am on a happy mood so generously used cheese and butter but you chose what is better for you and go for it and let me know how you liked it.

Pasta with Roasted Pepper Sauce

Ingredients

2tbsp finely chopped carrot
3 tbsp finely chopped red green and yellow bell pepper
1tsp chopped garlic
1tsp chopped ginger
1tsp finely chopped fresh coriander
1tsp finely chopped fresh mint
1/8 tsp thyme
5 to 6 eggs
1 1/2 cup boiled pasta
2 to 3 tbsp roasted pepper sauce
1 tsp tomato sauce ( optional )
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp butter
5 tbsp shredded mozzarella
a pinch sugar
to taste salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a skillet. Add the chopped ginger fry it till brown and little burnt then add chopped garlic fry a bit then add the veggies. Add little salt and pepper. Toss and keep aside and let it cool down.
Whisk egg in a bowl now add the fried veggies, butter and fresh mint and coriander, thyme with a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well till bit fluffy. Swirl 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan. Then add the egg mixture. Watch that as the eggs start to cook. As soon as this starts happening, move the mixture around the pan with a spatula to scrape the cooked eggs from the bottom to the top of the mixture Put the heat low add the boiled paste. Mix tomato sauce if using with roasted pepper sauce and spread on the pasta. Now generously sprinkle cheese over it and cover and cook for few minutes till the cheese is melted.
This is a very delicious full meal you can have it in your breakfast, lunch or dinner. Scrambles flavored egg below above it saucy pasta topped with melting creamy cheese a yummy combo to make your day.You can also add bacon or shredded cooked chicken if you want to make it more delicious.