Sauces are a quintessential ingredient when it comes to preparing any kind of pasta. They complement the bland taste of the boiled pasta with their tanginess which hides a burst of flavor of herbs. Pasta has been relished by Italians and Europeans alike since centuries. Its ease of preparation with minimal ingredients is what makes them popular even today. Pasta is not at all an Italian cuisine in the current age. It has migrated from countries to continents and has molded itself accordingly. But the basic ingredients remain the same.
The most common type of pasta that is relished all over the world is spaghetti pasta with meatballs. The popular sauce which gives it the tangy flavor is called the marinara sauce. You don’t have to head to a restaurant or a diner every time you crave for pasta. You can replicate your own version of spaghetti pasta right from preparing the marinara sauce. Canned or bottled ready to use marinara sauces are available out there in the stores but that will just take out all the fun that is there in preparing a cuisine right from scratch.
To make a marinara sauce, you will need tomatoes. Now the authentic marinara sauce demands Italian tomatoes which you may or may not get in stores. You can still use tomatoes that are grown locally. If the pasta that you are preparing is for two persons then you will need 3 medium size tomatoes. Cut them into pieces, blend and keep them aside. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and add finely chopped garlic to it. Add tomato puree and simmer it while adding two parts salt and one part sugar with a hint of black pepper.
Once it starts forming bubbles, add chopped parsley and oregano and mix it in the puree. Cover the pan with a see-through lid and observe it for another two minutes. You can set the consistency of the sauce as you wish. To give your marinara sauce a thick consistency, simmer it on a low medium flame for more than a couple of minutes till you the sauce has very less water content. To keep the sauce runny, turn off the stove just when it starts to simmer. To give color and extra flavor to your sauce, you may add ketchup while it is still simmering. You may give your sauce a creamy and cheesy texture and flavor, add grated parmesan cheese to the sauce after adding all the ingredients. This ingredient will surely enhance the taste and give a cheesy twist to your otherwise conventional marinara sauce.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.