Ratatouille

This movie Ratatouille which is about a rat who wants to be a chef is in a way cute and in some ways disgusting. But I think it made the dish Ratatouille popular. Well...being from a different part of the world than where  this dish is made I wouldn't have known about it if it was not for the movie
               First thing because it has no meat and next thing because it is supposed to be peasant's food. Another thing because I hardly search for any recipes with the vegetables in this dish. I made it and hubby dear loved it. So here it is

Ratatouille (Very healthy baked vegetable dish)

Ratatoille

Ingredients:
1. 1 medium zucchini, 1 medium yellow squash, 1 Japanese eggplant, 1 small red bell pepper, 1 medium small onion, 2 roma tomatoes
2. 1 small can of tomato puree
3.1 teaspoon thyme
4.1 tablespoon olive oil
5.3 big cloves of garlic minced
6. ½ to ¾ cup roughly chopped fresh basil
7. ½ teaspoon cumin, salt, pepper
8. ¼ cup finely chopped onion
9.2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cut the vegetables in ingredients (1) to ⅛ inch discs.
In a pan heat the oil and sauté the onions till tender. Add garlic and cumin and fry for a couple of minutes. Now add tomato puree, basil, thyme, salt and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.
In a baking pan add the above tomato puree and arrange the vegetable discs in a row, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover and bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove the cover sprinkle with Parmesan (if using) and continue to bake for 10 more minutes. Enjoy over couscous

Warm Tortellini

After my kid started eating mac and cheese I started looking at pasta in a whole new different way. Plain old mac and cheese was just that for me-Plain old. I started searching for ways to jazz it up a bit and then I discovered Tortellini and Ravioli. And the best Tortellini I found was at Trader Joe's. Their Tri-Color mini Tortellini is just perfect for a quick meal for a hungry toddler.

             I discovered that pasta or tortellini or ravioli if made properly can me made for a cold winter night or for a hot summer evening.  And both kind of nights can be filled with warm and fuzzy feelings.

Tortellini with Artichokes and Olives

Tortellini with Artichoke hearts and chicken

Ingredients:

1. 3 cups cheese filled dried tortellini or your faviorite tortellini cooked according to package directions
2. 1 cup or more cooked and chopped chicken
3. 1 bottle marinated hearts of artichokes drained and chopped rough
4. 1/2 can chopped or whole black olives drained
5. 2 tablespoons olive oil
6. 1/2 cup chopped onions
7. 2 garlic cloves minced (leave it, if you are making it for a hot evening)
8. 1/2 teaspoon salt and fesh ground pepper
9. 1 cup marinara sauce (optional)
10. 2 tablespoons Alfredo sauce or Philadelphia Cooking Creme or Sour cream or milk (Optional)

In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till tender. Add garlic if using and fry for a coupld of minutes. Add cubed zucchini and fry for five minutes. Add chicken and fry for a few minutes. Add artichokes and olives and  and salt and pepper and stir well. If you want a little gravy in the Tortellini add the marinara sauce and the alfredo sauce (or its substitutes) and stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the Tortellini to a bowl and add this mixture over the tortellini. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve warm. Your creamy Tortellini dinner is ready