June 30, 2009

Pasta Helps You Get Dinner on the Table in No Time

by Jaimie Leaven

Pasta is one of your finest options for a quick and simple dinner. The pasta just needs to be added to boiling water and can be cooked in under 15 minutes. And while the pasta is cooking you can make your desired sauce. Whether you go with a tomato based sauce, pesto or a creamy topping, you will be finished in an instant. Here are several guidelines for a quick and simple pasta dish.

Avoid adding the pasta to the pot before it reaches a complete boil. This will keep the noodles from getting limp and sticky. Additionally, keep the water at a boil constantly. You can help the pasta remain firmer if you add some salt to the water. Be aware that you must not cover up the pan after you add the pasta. You have to check occasionally to see if the noodles are done. Pasta cooks rather rapidly and leaving it too long can give rise to soggy noodles. When the pasta is done, take it out of the water at once. It will keep cooking if it remains in the water.

And now, half of your preparation is accomplished. The other half is making the topping. The great thing about pasta is that there are innumerable options for adding to it. If you’re a pasta lover then keeping one or two kinds of toppings stockpiled in your pantry is the best route to go.

Pesto is a quick and simple sauce. Add some garlic, mushrooms or maybe some Italian sausage, top it with a handful of shredded cheese, and you have a tasty dinner in a flash. Some canned or bottled sun-dried tomatoes also work with pasta and allow you to enjoy tomato based pasta without the usual sauce. Cover with shredded parmesan and partner it with some fresh bread for a satisfying repast. If you are in the mood for a creamy topping, simply combine some sliced olives, cream, and oregano. Top it with a handful of grated parmesan cheese. It’s a straightforward topping but very flavorful.

Olive oil is also a staple with pasta and can be rather simple to use too. Try mixing olive oil with canned seafood or slices of meat or sausage. You can throw in some basil for flavor and don’t overlook the shredded parmesan. If you wish to be daring, try including some highly spiced meat such as pepperoni.

With pasta, you’ll have a meal served in a flash. In just 15 to 20 minutes you will be able to prepare a filling dinner of pasta blanketed with a variety of delicious sauces. With all the potential alternatives, it’s a quick and easy cooking dinner that you won’t ever become bored with.

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Filed under Pasta Dishes by Jaimie Leaven

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June 29, 2009

Choose Pasta For a Quick and Easy Meal

by Kim Allarie

Pasta is one of your best options for a fast and easy mealtime. The pasta merely has to be placed in boiling water and can be cooked in under 15 minutes. And at the same time as the pasta is boiling you can make your preferred topping. Whether you choose a tomato based sauce, pesto or a creamy topping, you can be finished in an instant. Here are a few tips for a quick and easy pasta dinner.

Don’t add the pasta to the pot before it arrives at a full boil. This will keep the noodles from getting mushy and sticky. As well, maintain the water at a boil continuously. You can help the pasta remain firmer if you add some salt to the water. Keep in mind that you should not cover up the pan after you add the pasta. You need to check periodically to see if the noodles are cooked. Pasta cooks rather quickly and leaving it too long can result in soggy noodles. When the pasta is finished, take it out of the water as soon as possible. It is going to keep cooking if it remains in the water.

And now, half of your preparation is finished. The other half is preparing the topping. The best thing about noodles is that there are innumerable options for dressing it up. If you’re a pasta lover then keeping several kinds of sauces stockpiled in your pantry is the best way to go.

Pesto makes a fast and simple sauce. Add a bit of mushrooms, garlic or possibly some Italian sausage, top it off with a handful of grated parmesan, and you have a flavorful meal in no time. Sun-dried tomatoes, either canned or bottled, also work with pasta and allow you to have the benefit of tomato based pasta without the traditional sauce. Cover with shredded cheese and accompany it with some garlic bread for a filling repast. If you feel like a cream-based topping, simply mix some sliced olives, cream, and oregano. Top it with some shredded parmesan cheese. It’s a basic topping but very flavorful.

Olive oil is also perfect with pasta and can be quite simple to use as well. Try mixing olive oil with some sliced sausage or canned seafood. You can add some basil for flavor and don’t forget the grated cheese. If you wish to experiment, try adding some spicy meat such as pepperoni.

With pasta, you’ll have a meal served in no time. In a span of 15 to 20 minutes you will be able to cook a filling meal of pasta covered with a range of tasty toppings. With all the potential variations, it’s a quick and easy cooking meal that you won’t ever get tired of.

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Filed under Pasta Dishes by Kim Allarie

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February 20, 2009

Prepare a Healthy Pasta using Simple Pasta Recipes!

by Doug Schlette

There was a time when pasta was thought of as fattening and having little nutritional values but with time the importance of pasta in our diet has been realized by the nutritional experts-especially when prepared using simple pasta recipe. Pasta is a source of complex carbohydrates and fiber.

Other than providing the body with carbohydrates, which is in turn a source for minerals, energy and vitamins in our body, pasta is also known for its low fat content and calories. The toppings and sauce over the pasta are a major contributing factor to calorie intake and not the pasta.

Having mentioned pastas nutritional values now you dont need to worry about your health when eating pasta. Pasta can be easily prepared at your home using simple pasta recipes. Lets start with the basics of cooking pasta. The basic method adopted by many for preparing pasta is boiling. Alternatively, you can deep or stir fry or bake as well. The necessary equipments required are large pot, a spoon (large) and colander. It is recommended to use perforated insert with a stock large pot.

You can either buy pasta or prepare it fresh at home with the help of simple pasta recipes. When preparing it at home, add a maximum of cup of semolina flour instead of same quantity of all-purpose flour. Also, if at any point the pasta dough is felt sticky, sprinkle flour on it as well as rolling pin and cutting board.

When preparing home-made pasta you can follow simple and easy tips that are helpful in preparing tasty pasta. When mixing the dough you can use a processor to do so as it will save you some time and is less tiring. When you are cutting the strips, save the same left-overs. At the end join them all and make some more strips. After you are through with the cutting leave the strips for a minimum of fifteen minutes to dry and firm up. During cooking part, when you are to boil the strips, add them in plenty of water and stir to avoid pasta from sticking together. Also, you can add salt to the water to allow pasta to firm up.

You can find a number of simple pasta recipes. One of these recipes is given below. Just follow this simple recipe and prepare tasty pasta.

The ingredients that you need for this simple pasta recipe are: a. Egg-1 (beaten) b. Salt- tsp(for dough) c. Salt-1-2 tbsp(for cooking) d. All-purpose flour- 1 cup e. Water- 2 tbsp(for dough), 4-6 quarts of water(for cooking)

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl of medium size. After this make a hole in the middle and add the beaten egg to it. Mix thoroughly. Your dough will be stiff now. Add 2 tbsp of water as per requirement to the dough. After this knead dough for at least three minutes. Now use a rolling machine for thinning dough. Cut the strips and allow them to dry for about fifteen minutes. Finally add the strips to large pot of boiling water and cook till slightly firm.

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Filed under Pasta Dishes by Doug Schlette

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February 13, 2009

Preparing Pasta was never easier with Simple Pasta Recipes!

by Doug Schlette

There was a time when pasta was thought of as fattening and having little nutritional values but with time the importance of pasta in our diet has been realized by the nutritional experts-especially when prepared using simple pasta recipe. Pasta is a source of complex carbohydrates and fiber.

Other than providing the body with carbohydrates, which is in turn a source for minerals, energy and vitamins in our body, pasta is also known for its low fat content and calories. The toppings and sauce over the pasta are a major contributing factor to calorie intake and not the pasta.

Having mentioned pastas nutritional values now you dont need to worry about your health when eating pasta. Pasta can be easily prepared at your home using simple pasta recipes. Lets start with the basics of cooking pasta. The basic method adopted by many for preparing pasta is boiling. Alternatively, you can deep or stir fry or bake as well. The necessary equipments required are large pot, a spoon (large) and colander. It is recommended to use perforated insert with a stock large pot.

Pasta can be prepared at home as well using a simple pasta recipe. Alternatively, you can buy it from a nearby store. If preparing at home, you can replace all-purpose flour by adding same quantity of, a maximum of half cup, semolina flour. Secondly, if at some point you feel that the dough is sticking then dust flour on the dough as well as the rolling pin and other equipments in use.

Before actually moving on to the simple pasta recipe you should follow the given tips to prepare perfect and tasty pasta. You can use processor for mixing pasta dough. It will take less time compared to kneading by hand. When cutting the strips for pasta, save the trimmings and at the end join together, reroll and make additional strips. Before cooking, let the pasta strips for at least 15 min to allow them to firm up. When added in boiling water, use plenty of water and stir the pasta so as to avoid it from sticking together. Add salt to the pasta to firm pasta and bring out its flavor.

There are many simple pasta recipes available. Given below is one of these simple pasta recipes that you can follow to prepare your own pasta at home.

The ingredients that you need are: 1 slightly beaten egg, tsp of salt for dough, 1-2 tbsp of salt for cooking, 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 2tbsp of water for the dough and 4-6 quarts of water for the cooking.

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl of medium size. After this make a hole in the middle and add the beaten egg to it. Mix thoroughly. Your dough will be stiff now. Add 2 tbsp of water as per requirement to the dough. After this knead dough for at least three minutes. Now use a rolling machine for thinning dough. Cut the strips and allow them to dry for about fifteen minutes. Finally add the strips to large pot of boiling water and cook till slightly firm.

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Filed under Pasta Dishes by Doug Schlette

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