Romaine Lettuce Salad

Salads are a favorite amongst many and it can be served either as an appetizer,side,main course or even as a dessert.As a child,salads were a definite part of our weekend lunch menu...usually cut veggies tossed with salt and pepper. Traveling across a bit,exposed me to the various kinds of salads available. I must admit, even now I can't have salad for a meal :)

My husband is a salad freak and i try to make some fresh salads for him at home whenever i can. That said,there is no big list of must have to make a salad. Feel free to toss the veggies,lettuce,spinach,nuts,fruits,raisins etc with a simple dressing of lemon juice,salt and pepper.

Here is my version of salad.

Time:Making Time (10 mins)

Difficulty level:Very easy

Ingredients:

• Romain lettuce - 1 chopped 
• Craisins - 1 tsp (dried cranberries)
• Walnuts,almonds  - 3-4 finely chopped
• Croutons - 1 tbsp ( * I used Garlic flavoured)
• Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing - 1 tbsp 
• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Feta or Goat cheese - 1/2 tsp for garnish (optional)
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, mix the lettuce,craisins,chopped nuts,croutons and toss them well.
2. Now add the salad dressing, salt,pepper to this and mix well. Toss the salad to make sure the ingredients and the dressing is mixed well.
3. Garnish it with some Feta or Goat cheese, if you like. Salad is ready.

Chef's Tip :

- Serve the salad immediately else the croutons won't be crunchy for long.
- I used Raspberry vinaigrette dressing from Trader's joe. A simple alternative is to use olive oil,lemon juice,salt and pepper.Tastes equally great.
- You can even add fruits like Apples,oranges etc to this

Romaine lettuce Salad served with Raspberry Vinaigrette 

Basil Pesto Pasta

Pasta recipes are my best go to options when i don't want to eat rice or roti and at the same time want to make a quick meal.Pasta is generally a simple dish,but comes in large varieties because it is a versatile food item.Pasta sauces also vary in taste,color and texture. I haven't had a chance to experiment with making pasta sauces at home,except for the Alfredo sauce. But my personal favorite is the Basil Pesto sauce.The flavors of fresh basil, crunchiness of the nuts and parmesan cheese makes an excellent combination.Here is another quick recipe with store bought Basil Pesto sauce.

Time:Making Time (20 mins)

Difficulty level:Medium

Ingredients:

• Penne Pasta - 1 cup (i used Whole wheat)
• Vegetables (Broccoli,Sun dried Tomatoes,Bell peppers) - 1 cup finely chopped
• Garlic - 3-4 finely chopped
• Basil Pesto sauce - 3 tbsp ( From Trader's Joe)
• Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
• Oregano Seasoning - 1 tsp
• Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Grated Parmesan cheese - 1/2 tsp for garnish (optional)
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Cook the Penne pasta in water with a drop of oil for 10-15 mins . Drain the water and keep aside.(Take care not to overcook the pasta.Run the pasta through cold water to avoid it being sticky.)
2. In a pan, add 1 tbsp olive oil,chopped garlic and sauté for 2-3 mins
3. To this,add the vegetables along with a little salt and simmer until the vegetables are half-cooked. I used just broccoli and sun dried tomatoes in this recipe.
4. Now add 2 tbsp of Basil Pesto sauce sauce and stir well so that the veggies and sauce mixes well.
5. Add the cooked Pasta and mix well. Then add Black Pepper Powder,Oregano and salt to taste and sauté for few mins
6. Garnish it with some grated parmesan cheese. Yummy,hot pasta ready :)

Variations :

- Feel free to add on more veggies like Bell peppers,Mushrooms etc.
- I prefer to use Sun Dried Tomatoes when making pasta as it has a unique flavor to it. 
- You can add grated cheese for an extra flavor and extra calorie ;)
- Safeway or Trader's Joe has a variety of good Pasta sauces. You can alter the same recipe by using other sauces like Garlic Alfredo or Arabiata or Basil Pesto.
- You can also use other types of Pasta like Fettuccine,Linguine,spaghetti,macaroni,farfelle etc

Basil Pesto Penne

Baked Kale chips

Are you looking for an alternative to Potato chips? Wanna make your family eat more of the healthy greens? This baked Kale Chips recipe is a healthy,crispy and fun way to eat your greens. My family loves this and every time i make it, the contents vanish away in a jiffy.Its super quick and easy to make. Thanks to a dear friend at work for sharing this recipe with me :)

Time:Making Time (20 mins)

Difficulty level:Easy

Ingredients:

• Kale - 1 bunch
• Olive Oil - 1/2 tbsp 
• Black Pepper - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 300F. Line a large cookie tray with a layer of parchment paper.
2. Remove the leaves from the stems of the Kale.Wash the Kale leaves,drain all the water completely and pat dry. 
3. Transfer to a large bowl and add 1/2 tbsp olive oil,pepper powder and salt. Mix and toss them well so that the Kale leaves get coated well.
4. Now layer the kale leaves on the baking sheet.Make sure to spread them out.
5. Bake it in the oven for 15 mins or so. Rotate the cookie sheet so that the leaves are baked evenly. Bake for another 10 mins or until crisp.
6. Take it off the oven and let it cool for 2-3 mins. Fresh homemade,baked healthy kale chips snack is ready to be eaten :)

Chef's Tip:

- The kale leaves need to be totally dry before putting it in the oven. Else the moisture won't let it become crispy.
- I used just salt and pepper to season. Feel free to vary the seasoning with Kosher salt,Cajun Pepper,Garlic Powder or even Red Chili Powder.

Freshly Baked Kale Chips