Pasta Soup

Having landed here last Saturday, I was really appalled by the weather. It is still hot and humid - entering the kitchen is still a nightmare, as much as it was before I had gone on vacation. Back home, though it was supposed to be monsoon season, sadly the rains were scarce. The only heavy rain I remember was one night when we had gone to visit an ailing relative and during the 30 minute drive back, it was pouring heavily with thunder and lightening. The rain ceased five minutes after we reached home. Apart from that, the rains would just play peekaboo. The heavy ones would just last not more than 10 minutes and the light ones would just be like a play! Having said that, when the sun was up, it used to be extremely uncomfortable too! I would have loved to see more rains but then no complaints! On the two one-day trips we took, one to Sultan Bathery through Wayanad and the other to Valayparai and Athirapalli Forest Range, the climate was really good. Though no rains, the feel was really cozy.

Since now it is back to reality, it is time to reintroduce my soup and salad week nights, I suppose. I feel bad to say that it has been really difficult for me to maintain discipline as far as my eating habits have been concerned. Having said that, there are so many posts that are coming up with all sorts of recipes, InShaAllah... For the time now, let's go to this delicious pasta soup, that is simple to make and filling as well!




Ingredients:

20 gm butter
6 cloves garlic, pounded
1 large onion, minced
2 large tomatoes, minced
800 ml water
1 sachet seasoning (chicken stock or vegetable stock)
1 cup macaroni
1 tsp dried basil
3 tbsp mozarella cheese
1 tbsp black pepper powder
Salt to taste


Method:

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Breifly fry the garlic till a nice aroma comes. Add the onion and saute till soft. Add the tomatoes and cook till all mashed up. Add in the water and seasoning and bring it to boil.

Add the macaroni and cook till it is done. Finally sprinkle in the remaining ingredients. Check the salt. Cook for a further five minutes.

Switch off and serve warm!

Notes:

The macaroni tends to pull up the water if kept for too long. Then boil water and add to the soup to reach the desired consistency.