A is for Alfredo, at least in our home :)

Dec 4th 2009

K loves cheese in any which form it will come, so it is no surprise that Italian is very high in his favorite cuisine list. The original recipe for the alfredo sauce is from here: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1855,140166-232207,00.html. It is a great recipe, and extremely easy. However I would definitely recommend using some milk instead of the recommended half and half fully because it made the sauce very heavy and thick.

Modifications I made to the alfredo sauce include sauteing some garlic and then some red onions in the butter. I also added some chopped walnuts before adding the cream cheese. Biting into the walnuts tasted good, yum!

This would taste very good with any thin pasta - spagetti, angel hair, linguine etc. However it would be too boring I thought, just pasta and Alfredo. So I used the butternut squash ravioli from Costco, cooked it per instructions and then poured this sauce over. That provided some extra taste and flavor. A quick meal and very yummy..but not so good for the tummy line :P

Next time, I think I will saute some peppers in with the onions and then use plain old spaghetti, for a change.

Stir Fry Noodles

Dec 4th 2009
These noodles were really good, if I may say so myself. Very easy to make, a good change and amounted to decent quantity too.

Ingredients
Store bought Japanese pan fry style noodles with seasoning mix
Sweet and sour chilly sauce
Wok with me schzewan sauce
Soy sauce
Vegetables of choice (garlic, onion, carrots, bell pepper)
Extra firm tofu
Oil

Method de Preparation
1. If you have a wok, you have been dying to use, now is the time to take it out J Take oil in a pan and fry the tofu as required. Slightly roasting till they brown would do or you could take it deeper. Keep aside.
2. Add some more oil, and then sauté the vegetables.
3. Add the 3 sauces (soy, chilly and schzewan) and sauté some more. Keep on med to high flame so veggies are crisp.
4. Follow instructions on noodle packet for the rest, I did add some water so that the noodles would be moist and not too dry.
5. Throw in the seasoning mix too. If you want any more of the other sauces, add some and then keep on stove for a bit.
6. Remove and Enjoy!

Banana Bread

Dec 4th 2009

This is one of the easiest things I have baked, and tastes wonderful. This is an especially good snack for afternoons when you want to munch on something and nothing is around. And the reason I so love this dish is because you get to use the really ripe bananas that you actually don't like to eat. The recipe is from " The Los Angeles time California cookbook".


Difficulty level: Easy (Novice Baker)


Preparation Time: 10 min ( preparation), baking time (50 min or 25 min)


Ingredients: 

• 2 cups mashed banana (ripe ones work best)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Method de Preparation:

1. Combine banana, eggs, oil and vanilla and mix well.
2. Sift together flour, sugar, soda and salt and add to the banana mixture. ( I usually just mix them well, have never sifted :) )
3. If you like nuts, add finely chopped walnuts.
4. Pour batter into greased and wax-paper-lined 9x5 inch loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees 50 min or until done. Or fill greased muffin pans 3/4 full and bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes.