Penne Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino

Don't get intimidated by the name..It simply translates to pasta with garlic,olive oil and dry red pepper.This is a very simple,quick and inexpensive pasta dish.The original recipe calls for spaghetti.But I substituted Penne You can use your favorite pasta.

Ingredients:

Penne Pasta - 1 lb

Onion - 1 chopped finely(optional)

Dry red pepper flakes - 2tsp(or according to your spice level)

Garlic - 2 cloves 

Olive Oil - 4 tbsp

Fresh parsley - 1 sprig(I substituted coriander leaves because I didn't have parsley)

Capsicum - 1 chopped(optional)

Salt to taste

Method:

Bring a large pot of water to boil.Add the pasta,little bit of oil,salt and cook the pasta aldente.Drain in a colander and keep the pasta ready.

In a pan heat the oil.When hot,add the pepper flakes,garlic.When the garlic turns slightly golden add the onions and cook till translucent.

Then add the capsicum and cook for 2 minutes.

Now add the pasta,salt and toss together.Let it cook for 2 minutes.

Finally add the chopped parsley and garnish with grated cheese if you like.

Serve hot.

Eggless Nutella filled Banana muffins

Who loves Nutella?I think I should've asked who does'nt?

My favorite way of eating Nutella is to just eat it with a spoon:)Me and my elder son love nutella ..

For all the nutella lovers out there..World Nutella day is Feb  5th...
So I thought I would make something with this yummy goodness.

I tried to make use of Nutella in my muffins..I swirled nutella on top of some of the muffins and filled in the rest..

Here goes the recipe..

Ingredients:


All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup

Baking soda - 1tsp

Baking powder - 1tsp

Sugar - 2/3 cup

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Melted butter - 1/3 cup

Mashed Banana - 4

Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Chopped walnuts - 1/2 cup

Nutella - 1/2 cup


Method:


Preheat the oven to 360 deg F.

Line the muffin tin with muffin liners.In a medium bowl add the all purpose flour,baking soda,baking powder,salt and mix well.

In another bowl,add the mashed banana,sugar,melted butter,vanilla essence,chopped walnuts and mix well.

Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix.The mixture would be lumpy.Don't tend to over mix.

Fill up to 1/2 of the muffin liner.Spread the mixture evenly on the sides so that when you fill the nutella it will not come out through the sides of the muffin.Then add a tablespoon of nutella in the middle.I worked with my finger cuz I felt so easy to indent the nutella.Then fill the muffin up to 3/4 th.

You can also fill the muffin liner upto 3/4 th and then add a tsp of nutella on the top and swirl with a toothpick.

My swirl did not come out that good because nutella was sooo hard to work with..

Bake for about 15 minutes or until the tester when inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack and store in air-tight container.