Saucy Mediterranean Pasta

Ingredients

1. ½ bag of spiral colorful pasta

2. ½ cup of chopped black Spanish olives

3. ½ cup of pickled vegetables

4. 2 big tomatoes chopped or 1 big can of crushed tomatoes

5. 1 big onion chopped

6. 3-4 florets of broccoli

7. 2 tbsp of olive oil

8. 1 tbsp of garlic minced

9. 1 tbsp of dry thyme powder (use fresh leaves if you have)

10. Salt and Black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Fill a big pan with water for pasta and set it to boil with lid closed.

2. In another non stick pan add olive oil.

3. Add garlic and onions and cook till golden brown.

4. Now add Tomatoes and cook for another five minutes.

5. In the mean time add salt to boiling water for flavoring pasta and add pasta to cook. Close the lid and let it cook.

6. Now return to tomatoes mixture and add broccoli.

7. Add salt and pepper to mixture along with thyme powder.

8. Transfer the mixture to mixie/blender and mix it well. Close the lid, its hot mixture.

9. Spread the cooked pasta in serving tray and add the mixture on top of it.

10. Garnish with olives and pickled vegetables.

11. Serve hot.

-Chitra

Chilled Mediterranean Hummus Salad

Ingredients

1. 2 cans of hummus / chick peas / garbanzo beans

2. 2 tbsp of sliced Spanish olives

3. 2 tbsp of chopped pickled vegetables

(See my Recipe for Pickled Vegetables)

4. Salt and Pepper to taste

5. 1 tbsp of chopped cilantro / dhaniya

6. 1 lemon, juiced

7. 1 tsp of red hot sauce

Directions

1. Drain out the chick peas and rinse it under running water in a strainer.

2. Take a large bowl add all the ingredients and stir it well.

3. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and let it chill for some time.

4. Serve this on hot sunny day to your family. It is full of nutrients and protein.

-Chitra

Pickled Vegetables

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of your choice of diced vegetables

(Red Reddish, Beetroot, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Red bell pepper)

2. 1 ½ cup of Vinegar

3. 2 cups of water

4. ½ tsp of salt

5. ½ tsp of sugar

6. Sterilized jar

Directions

1. Boil water with vinegar, salt and sugar. When it is reduced very little remove from the flame.

2. Fill in the jar with vegetables until they are full packed.

3. Now cool down the water till the temperature changes to hot to warm.

4. Pour the syrup to jar but leave little space.

5. Close the lid and store in warm place. In about 3-4 days pickle will be ready.

6. Use Pickle vegetable with anything Wraps, Pasta, Salads.

-Chitra

Chilled Mediterranean Salad

Ingredients

1. 1 small bag green romaine lettuce hearts or one fresh romaine
2. 1 English cucumber, sliced thinly with grater
3. 1 cup chopped kalamata/black or green olives
4. 1/2 medium red onion, diced vertically
5. 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
6. 3 firm tomatoes sliced in bite size
7. 1 cup baby artichokes in can
8. 1 tablespoon capers
9. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
10. 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
11. 1/2 cup red wine vinaigrette
12. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
13. 3/4 teaspoon salt
14. 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15. 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
16. 1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence or Greek seasoning
17. 1 pita bread cut them diagonally.

Directions

1. Take a small bowl and a whisk for mixing dressing for salad.

2. Add Olive oil and salt and pepper.

3. Mix together and add vinegar and lemon juice slowly keeps on stirring while adding, so that it mixes well.

4. In a large bowl for tossing salad add all the salad ingredients.

5. Chop the romaine, and add to salad bowl.

6. Toss in the cucumber, olives, tomatoes, artichokes and red onion and set aside.

7. Now Add Feta cheese, capers and greek seasoning or herbes de provence and toss well.

8. Pour dressing we prepared earlier over salad and toss well to combine.

-Chitra