Quick and easy pasta with béchamel(white) sauce!

    Welcome( or Welcome Back!)to mykitchenodyessey, your Central for traditional south Indian recipes! Everything is just the way you remember it, except that I'm taking over! You can expect tons of delicious recipes from all over the globe, right here in your kitchen!

Pasta with béchamel(white) sauce

    Happy new year friends! To celebrate, I will be sharing one of my favorite pasta recipes, Pasta with White Sauce! Originally from France, a mother sauce of the french cuisine, white sauce is widely enjoyed around the world. This easy pasta is a lovely meal whether eaten at lunchtime or dinnertime.  After all, good food brings people together!

So, What are you waiting for? Let's get started!

Pasta, Pasta water, All-Purpose Flour, Oregano, and salt not included in this photo

Ingredients-

Pasta- We use about 2 cups of organic Garofalo pasta in the recipe.

All-Purpose Flour- Flour stabilizes the sauce and thickens the sauce as well. We use a very small amount in this recipe.

Garlic- Garlic makes the sauce authentic. Mince( finely chop) one clove of garlic for the sauce.

Butter- Butter fries the garlic so it can get it's ultimate taste and you don't have to eat raw garlic.

Milk- Milk is one of the original ingredients in béchamel sauce, and is vital to the sauce as well. We use about 1/2 cup milk in our white sauce.

Cheese- adjust based on preference, I used about 2-3 tablespoons of cheese.

Pasta water- We use drained pasta water to thin the sauce. It also adds flavor. Adjust the pasta water to preference.

Black pepper cloves- Freshly grind about 1/2 teaspoon black pepper cloves to use in the sauce. Adjust pepper based on preference.

Oregano(optional)- Pasta always needs a touch of oregano!

Salt- Adjust salt to taste.

Pasta with Bechamel(white)sauce!

Quick and tasty pasta- perfect for any cook, whether you are a beginner or a pro!

Cuisine: Italian     Prep time: 15 minutes  Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 25 minutes  Serves- 2-3 servings/ people

Ingredients:

Pasta-

About 2 cups of organic Garofalo pasta

Enough water to boil

Sauce-

About 1 tablespoon of butter

About 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1 clove of garlic; minced

About 1/2 cup of milk(Adjust based on preference)

About 2-3 tablespoons of cheese( Adjust based on taste)

Enough pasta water to thin the sauce( Adjust based on preference)

About 1/8 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Adjust salt and oregano to taste

Method:

For pasta-

1. Fill a pot with enough water to boil them down evenly. Let the water boil.

2. When water comes to slight boil, add salt for flavor.

3. When rapidly boiling, dump the pasta into the boiling water. Cook for about 7-9 minutes till al-dente.

4. Drain pasta. Save some pasta water for the sauce.

For sauce-

5. Heat up a pan, and fry the garlic in butter until the raw smell is gone and it is fried well.

6. Add the flour and mix until the mixture reaches a sandy consistency.

7. Based on preference, use milk and water accordingly.

8. Mix well to reach a sauce consistency. Adjust the sauce based on your preference.

9. Add in the pasta. Mix the pasta and the sauce.

(Note- If you do not want the pasta to observe all the sauce quickly, toss pasta in olive oil before adding it into the sauce.)

10. Add in the cheese and mix.

11. Add all the seasonings( salt, black pepper, and oregano) and mix well. Taste and adjust based on preference. ( Note- Make sure not to add too much black pepper as it will alter the taste completely to an unlikable flavor.)

12. Serve hot and enjoy!

                                         

 

Berry Best Blueberry Muffins!

Welcome back to mykitchenodessey, your Central for traditional South Indian recipes and trendy modern ones too!

Anyways, today I am going to share my most terrific blueberry muffin recipe. You will immediately fall in love with these muffins after taking a big bite of moist, cakey insides with a hint of delicious ripe blueberries at the perfect level of sweetness.

Here at mykitchenodessey, we consider our readers as family. And today, I'm going to share with my family the best blueberry muffins you will ever stumble upon. After all, good food brings people together, right?

Ingredients 

Flour- This recipe uses all-purpose flour, but substituting it for whole wheat or gluten free flour works well too!

Sugar- This recipe calls for granulated sugar, but any other type of sugar works well!

Oil- Unlike many baking recipes, this recipe calls for oil. We use canola oil, yet any oil would work really well! Using butter, though, might not translate to tender muffins.

Milk- Milk really helps moisten these muffins  and helps the leavening agent create fluffy muffins! Whole milk works well, but non-dairy options work fine as well!

Eggs- Our little egg friend here, helps to stabilize and give structure to these muffins. Feel free to use a flax seed egg in place of a hen's egg if you are vegan!

Baking soda- Our leavening agent in this recipe is baking soda. Leaving agents are really important in baked goods because otherwise, you would end up with flat, dense goods.

Buttermilk- Since we are using baking soda in this recipe, we must use an acidic ingredient to let the muffins properly rise. If you have yogurt, you can just churn it and add a squeeze of lemon to make buttermilk.

(Note: If you have baking powder and would like to substitute it for baking soda, add x4 of the amount of baking soda added in this recipe; and exclude the buttermilk. The exact amount of baking powder ideal to make these muffins would be 2 teaspoons)

Salt- Salt adds deliciousness into baking goods. Just a pinch should be enough!

Blueberries- Fresh or frozen- pretty much any type of blueberries works in this recipe!

Vanilla extract- Vanilla extract gives that extra pizzazz, that cherry on top. It's optional, but don't hesitate to use this flavorful spice if you have it!

Berry Best Blueberry Muffins!

Cuisine: American           Prep time: 10 minutes             Cook time: 20 minutes          Total: 30 minutes

Source: Inspiredtaste.net

Makes about 8 big-topped muffins/ 10 standard sized muffins/ 20-23 mini muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup vegetable/ canola oil

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/3 to 1/2 cup of buttermilk( adjust based on preferance)

About 1 cup of blueberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare baking tray by lining the muffin cups. ( Line 8 cups for big-topped muffins; line 10 cups for standard sized muffins, or line 23 cups for mini muffins). 

2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

3. In a large jug that can hold up to 1 cup; add the oil, egg and fill the milk up to the 1 cup line- and add the vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.

4. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and then use a fork to combine the ingredients. The batter will be thick; do not overmix. Fold in the blueberries. 

5. Divide the batter between muffin cups

6. Bake the muffins for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees, or until the tops are no longer wet and an inserted toothpick comes clean with no batter remnants.

7. To store these muffins; place in a plastic bag and store at room temp. for up to 2-3 days. To freeze; place in freezer bags. These muffins last up to 3 months in the freezer.

 

 

                                                                    

Indian Style Chickpea Water Gravy Recipe | Bassaru Recipe | Karnataka Specials

   Bassaru - is an Indian style chickpea cooked water gravy also called rasam.This is being prepared/cooked in especially northern parts of  Karnataka as an accompaniment for ragi mudde and also for idli or plain rice.Famous combination for this recipe is palya.Palya is nothing but a dry curry/sundal with the lentil which we used to get the water from. So we are not wasting anything and also getting all the nutrition from the lentil.

Indian Style Rava Toast Recipe | Bread Recipes

       Rava toast one of the quickest snack /breakfast you can make at home for kids/adults.Eating plain toast every day can be boring sometimes.Also, this can be helpful at times when you don't have anything to cook, but you want something spicy and Indian. You can make your snack/breakfast in a jiffy and satisfy your hunger.

Puffed Rice Upma Recipe | Uggani Recipe

       Puffed Rice Upma  a filling and yummy breakfast of north Karnataka. 'Pori' we call in Tamil is made by puffing the rice in steam over a sand filled oven. It is considered to be healthy with iron content. This can be  a snack as is while they are crunchy along with roasted gram,roasted coconut,some sweet candies and sure is healthy and filling  for kids and adults.Even I make kara pori and pori urundai with mandakki(called in north karnataka and andhra).
 

Sweet Ragi Malt Recipe | Finger Millet Porridge With Instant Powder

        Ragi malt is a nutritious drink prepared with gluten free finger millet. Flour is prepared by Washing,soaking,cleaning,drying keppai for a day or two then, ground in mills to a fine powder along with some nuts and some spice like cardamom.This is easily digestible than the whole grain  because it is in powder form. People living abroad has no benefits of this finely home prepared powders and has to rely on the products they get in local Indian markets/shop.Use whichever type is accessible to you.

South Indian Capsicum Chutney | Idli Dosa Side Dish

         Bell pepper one of the crunchiest vegetable available after celery and cabbage. That's why it play's the main role while preparing fried rice.It has a unique flavor that makes any dish so flavorful. To make the dish tastier, cook this veggie in slow fire. So you won't lose the nutrients and also the taste. Have you tried bell pepper sambar?.It is one of the yummiest sambar. You sure will forget to make another type after trying this one.
                                       

Graham Crackers Recipe | Whole Wheat Crackers For Kids

      Graham Crackers a healthy cookie originally created with graham flour by Sylvester graham. Graham flour is a combination of finely ground unbleached wheat flour and coarsely ground endosperm,wheat bran . It is considered as a health food as a part of graham diet.Graham diet is a special diet following vegetarianism and not to use alcohol .There is abundant of  fresh vegetables,fruits and also has milk and milk by-products. 

Indian Style Moong Dal Salad Recipe | Kosambari With Carrot Recipe

    Kosambari is an Indian style moong dal salad prepared especially in the state of Karnataka in Udupi and North Karnataka cuisine.This is a raw salad which is served as an appetizer just before the meal. In every occasion, be it dusshera, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ugadi, Makara Sankranthi,Ram Navami there is an important place for this Hesaru Bele kosambari. Just Like In Chettinad, Urad dal vada is being prepared every occasion.

Oven Roasted Edamame Recipe | Garlic Roasted Edamame

      Edamame roasted in the oven - is a healthy snack to munch on an evening or mid noon. Edamame is a Japanese name of the immature soybean.'Eda'  means branch 'mame' means bean. So the bean is still with the branch.Let's see some detail about  this vegetable.

One Bowl Chocolate Cup Cake | Easy Cup Cake Recipe

   Chocolate cupcake- a go-to snack recipe. Very easy and airy cake with less calorie.Great for kids lunch box/ snack. Usually, while making the cake I use two bowls, one for mixing the dry ingredients and other for the wet ingredients. But this recipe needs only a bowl so have less work while you clean.Also, no tension in the order of ingredients you add.You can add in the way you want.Only thing is first to mix up dry ingredients then mix wet one by one.No need to follow any procedure.

Rasmalai Recipe | Rasmalai With Rasgulla | Easy Method

       Rasmalai one of the best known Bengali sweet recipe of India. I love rasgulla and rasmalai for its soft spongy texture. I tried this easy dessert recipe at my friend's house once we went for a get-together. I really liked it. She said it's quite easy to make at home.So I am all ears for the recipe.

Egg Pepper Roast Recipe | Chettinad Muttai Varuval | Easy Lunch Ideas

    Egg pepper roast: One of the easiest side you will every make.Can a vegetarian eat eggs? Yeah !! according to me they can. Because I am one of them .hehe, I am an eggetarian.So I try including it once in a week in the form of  Kulambhu , curry ,Omelette,Bonda  or just boiled. There are so many nutrients present including the daily intake of protein and cholesterol.

South Indian Style Coriander Rice Recipe | Step by Step Pictures

            Coriander rice a simple rice recipe that can be made very quick. This is a south Indian style recipe which is different from a Mexican cilantro rice. Have some leftover rice? Yes !! I never want to waste my food.I feel very bad if I am throwing something. You can make fresh white rice there is no harm in that too. When talking about the taste,We got mesmerized really and loved the simplicity. Even bachelors can make an attempt on this simple meal.

Gobi Manchurian Dry Recipe | Indo chinese recipe

     Gobi Manchurian - one of the hugely popular food in Indian restaurants. Loved by kids and adults for its unique flavors and most importantly the deep fried cauliflower florets. For your information:' gobi' is a Hindi name of the vegetable cauliflower.

9 Easy Indian Spinach Recipes | Palak Recipes

     Spinach - one of the highly consumed leafy vegetables in India. It is commonly called 'palak' and there are so many mouth watering recipes you can make with this green.Today I am going to share with you a collection of recipes from mykitchenodyssey.Before goign to the collection lets see some nutrition information.

Dates Nuts Rolls Recipe | Bakery Style Dates Nut Roll | Video Recipe

     Dates roll one of the easiest and healthiest Snack /Sweet/Dessert. With Holi around the corner, I just want to wish the readers with  a sweet recipe to try on that day. I don't want to disappoint weight watchers as well so sharing a sugar-free healthy snack. This is a perfect energy booster like a granola bar,Indian trail mix.That said you can pack it while going on a long trip,Hike or in the cute little kids snack box along with a simple spinach sandwich or peanut butter banana sandwich.

Spinach Pasta Recipe | Kids Pasta Recipes | Kids Lunch Box Ideas

      Spinach pasta another one of a very easy kids favorite meal.I remember the day I made this for my daughter, she was begging me to do this the next day for her lunch box.My Little one is not so choosy though but nowadays she wants to choose her lunch.she is like "I don't want idli, chutney.No this, not that etc..".So I need to find a way to feed her favorite which is healthy and filling too.

Indian Masala ButterMilk Recipe | Summer Recipes | Majjiege

                Masala Butter Milk - a very easy Indian style thirst quencher.It's called by various names 'majjige' in Kannada,'neer mor' in Tamil,'Chaas' in Hindi and 'Sambaram' in Malayalam. Like the names, the ingredients added will differ from state to state but the Star Ingredient  remains the same.

Pongal Kuzhambu | Chettinad Style Mixed Vegetable Kulambhu | Step By Step Picture Recipe

     Pongal kuzhambu - a spicy, tangy mixed vegetable curry prepared during the harvest festival of Tamilnadu.Curry  is made with the freshest vegetables available that season.Those veggies make the gravy so delicious.