Celebrating 1st Milestone, Penne with parsley pesto and zucchini

Back to Blogging!
Its been a little over 4 months I was away from blogging. My short trip to India (three and half months were not enough for me) kept me off the board, I was sad to part away from my blog but was very happy that I will be seeing my family after 3 long years. Being my first trip back home after coming to US, I was feeling very nostalgic about it from the day I booked my tickets.

Going back is always so emotional, its like you are on a journey to meet part-2 in you. Visiting the places you grew up, going to your favorite food joint, chatting up with your friends and neighbours, meeting your school teachers and recollecting the time you had with them, mother's pampering or having the road side food be it Chai, Pani puri, Chats or the famous Wada-pav... being a kid all over again makes you happy and content. I had a very nice time in India, except for the sultry summer in Mumbai, Vizag and Ongole.... we came back in mid of June and now slowly getting adjusted to the life here.

Padma's Kitchen turned 1 today!!!!!

Coming to my food blog, I am happy to announce that Padma's Kitchen turned "1" today. The journey so far has been very close to my heart. I made so many new friends around the world, who supported me, inspired me and taught me every day every way. I must not forget to say that my writing skills improved too and getting better day by day, though I may not be a good story teller. I am dedicating one of my favorite dish, I learned after coming to US... as a part of this celebration. Hope to survive blogging about food for many more years to come and make some wonderful and t@sty friends forever :)

Pasta has become more popular in my home, even my mom does cooks as evening snacks by adding Indian flavors, it really enhances the taste. I prefer Barilla plus multigrain pasta as it is a good source of protiens and ALA Omega-3. Eating pasta at least once a week has almost became a ritual in my home, JB enjoys taking for lunch. Here is one of my adapted version I grab from Giada's Everyday Italian on Foodtv. I must say that her show truly inspired me to try Italian recipes, but I envy her on the huge chunks of parmigiano-reggiano in her pantry. I wonder does she bulk order it!!

Penne with Parsley pesto and Zucchini

Ingredients:
1 C /100 g Uncooked multigrain penne pasta
1 Zucchini, sliced
1/8 t red chilli flakes
1 Shallot, chopped lengthwise
1/4 C Parmesan cheese, grated
1 T Butter
For parsley pesto
2 C Fresh flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1/3 C Extra virgin olive oil
2 Garlic cloves
1 t Basil
1/2 C Pine nuts, toasted
Freshly crushed black pepper
Salt as per taste
Method:

1. Heat the one quart of water in a large pot, when it starts boiling add 1 T salt and add pasta to it. Check for the cooking instructions on the pack or if its whole wheat pasta you have to cook for 5 more mins. Check if the pasta is al dente and drain the pasta.
2. In th time it take the pasta to cook, toast the pine nuts make sure you wont burn them. Prepare pesto by combining all the ingredients in a blender and pulse it for few seconds.
3. Heat a tablespoon of butter add shallots to it and let it fry for a minute on a medium flame. Then add zucchini and saute it for another minute.
4. Add the cooked penne and roughly mix it. Toss parlsey pesto and red chilli flakes with the pasta until all the flavors marry.
5. Sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.
   

I thank all my readers, friends, family members, my husband JB (who is the backbone of my blog) from the bottom of my heart for your unlimited support and valuable comments ~ inputs, boosting my confidence and making the impossible possible.....finally I am cooking ;)

I THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN!