Mushroom Pasta

Good morning everyone and since I havent been updating my blog for awhile, I hope it is still not too late to wish all Muslims, Eid Al Mubarak.  Alhamdulillah, although away from home, we had a sweet and meaningful Raya with my family.

Recently I cooked this Mushroom Pasta for our family dinner and the children loves it.  Its easy and simple to make and always a hit with my children.

Here's the recipe:-

4 turkey/chicken bacon slices (diced)
200 gm mushrooms (chopped)
350 gm pasta (of any shapes)
50 gm Parmesan cheese, grated
2 egg yolks
4 tbsp cream or evaporated milk
1 big onion (diced)
1 garlic (minced)
small bunch parsley, finely chopped
some basil leaves, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste


Method:-

1.  Cook the pasta following the pack instruction and drain and reserving 1/3 cup of the cooking water.  Set aside.
2.  Fry the bacon and mushrooms till golden brown and set aside.
3.  In a bowl, mix the cream, parmesan cheese, egg yolks, parsley and basil.  Set aside.
4.  Heat oil in pan and fry the garlic and onion till soft.
5.  Add the pasta and mushroom mixture.  Mix well and over low heat, add the sauce and balsamic vinegar.  Season and quickly mix, add a little cooking water if its too thick.
6.  Add some Parmesan cheese shavings and parsley before serving.

p/s  If you like, you can also use some sausages to replace the turkey bacon or simply omit it for a Vegetarian Meal.

Happy Cooking.

Beef Lasagne

This is a hit with my children and I usually make them if I do not have much time to cook fresh food to serve them immediately. I made this last Friday, as I had to go to school to see my Princess's performance. She has worked very hard for this show and it has been months of preparation and towards the end before the actual performance, it was days of long hours rehearsal. I truly enjoyed the play put up by  the Year 12 and the cast and the whole production were simply awesome. Well done Princess and the rest,  I am so proud of you guys.   To Mosha and PIC...here's the recipe.  Dah tampal ni jangan kata tak bagi pulak resipi.  Tips, I sometimes, make 2 portion and satu simpan dalam freezer, bila2 emergency keluarkan dan bakar.  Kadang2 tu kan ada masa yang kita terlalu sibuk dan tak sempat nak ke dapur atau tiba2 ada kawan datang, boleh kita hidangkan.  Selamat mencuba.

Ingredients:-

500 gm minced beef or chicken
1 large onion (chopped)
1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (its fine if you dont have any)
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp dried basil leaves (takde pun tak apa)
1 tsp sugar
1 can of 400 gm chopped tomatoes + 2 tbsp tomato puree...if you dont have just use tomato ketchup
5 large sheets of uncooked lasagna
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
3-4 tbsp oil  (I prefer using olive oil)
2 tsp black pepper

Method:-
1. In a pan, heat oil and cook onion and garlic till the onions turn limp.
2. Add the minced beef and cook till the meat is no longer pink.
3. Add black pepper, salt, sugar, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, chopped fresh herbs, dried oregano and continue to cook, stiring occasionally. Simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened. Adjust salt and season to taste. Set aside.
4. In a pan of boiling water add 2 tbsp oil, cook the lasagna sheets for 7 minutes. Remove and drain the lasagna sheets.
5. Spread the beef mixture onto ungreased 9 x 9 inch glass baking dish and top with the lasagna sheet. Spread the beef mixture and top it with white sauce. Repeat the process.
6. Sprinkle with the grated mozzarella cheese and cover with aluminium foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 20 minutes before cutting.

p/s  Kalau suka, boleh juga letak celery dan carrot.  Selalu nya I letak supaya budak2 boleh makan sayur tu tanpa dilihat zahirnya....hahahaha

White Sauce 
Ingredients:-
100 gm butter
1/4 cup plain flour
1/4 tsp salt a dash of pepper
3 cups milk

 Method:-

 1. In a pan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat.
2. Gradually add in milk. Heat to a boiling, stirring constantly until sauce thickens.

Cheesy Rigatoni Casserole

Good day all!
The weather has not been kind past couple weeks, so foggy and wet where I am staying but that shouldn't be a lame excuse for me to bundled myself in the warm blanket. Having growing up children, u r on your toes all the time and I believe that's what keeping me busy.

This dish was a hit with my children and so happy to see them ate all. As promised, here's the recipe my friends.


Cheesy Rigatoni Casserole

Ingredients
300gm uncooked rigatoni pasta
350 gm minced meat
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 cup mushroom pieces and stems
1 bottle (400 gm) of tomato pasta sauce (any flavour but I used tomato basil pasta sauce)
2 garlic - minced
1 big onion - cut into cubes or slice whichever easier
250 gm shredded mozzarella cheese
3 tablespoon olive oil
salt and ground black pepper

Method:
1. Heat oven to 170C. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2. In a pan, heat oil and fry the garlic and onions till soft and add the mince meat , fry until the meat is brown and the juice evaporates. Add ground black pepper.
3. Add the tomato sauce, cook for another 2 minutes and seasoned accordingly.
4. In a bowl, mixed together the meat sauce, rigatoni, sliced olive and mushroom until all combined.
5. Grease your casserole dish with olive oil and put the rigatoni mixture in it. Spread with cheese.
6. Cover and bake about 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake further 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Baby's Quick Pasta

This recipe is from baby, who learned to make this during her baking lesson in school.

Ingredients:-

250 grams penne (boil till el dente)
2 garlics (crushed)
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 cube chicken stock or vegetable or soup or beef
olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

Method:-

1. Boil the pasta till el dente.
2. Heat pan with olive oil and fry the garlic till fragrant.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and the chicken cube. Stir well.
4. Add the chopped basil and simmer.
5. Put in the pasta and add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve immediately and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.