INVISIBLE PASTA!

I just ran this evening for the first time in two months and let me say, damn it feels good! (Though tomorrow is gonna hurt haha) But when I got back I didn't want something heavy like rice or potatoes to hold me down, so opted for as light as possible quick and easy pasta, but instead of drenching it in a heavy sauce why not try something new and try an invisible sauce? It's so quick/easy/good you won't see it coming! (<-haha that last pun is courtesy of my roommate)
Okay let's get down to business, what do you need?
Ingredients

-1 box of Pasta (any kind really but I went with the bow-tie kind, seems fitting cause I've been listening to Fred Astaire all day ;D)
-Olive Oil
-Frozen Veggies (your choice, I went with Peas & Corn simple & easy)
-1 Onion

Optional:

-Garlic (not required but I do love it)
-Fresh Veggies (I used 1 tomato)
-Balsamic Vinegar or Italian Salad Dressing (if you want it a bit of a 'zing' to it
-Mushrooms?

Okay if there's one thing you should know by now if you follow this blog at all it's how to make pasta, cause it's one of my favorite quick n' easy things to make so you might just fly through on autopilot with this one...





Chop one whole ONION and mix in GARLIC & MUSHROOMS(if you're using them) and then put it on med-high heat and simmer in OLIVE OIL until the onions star to look clear or translucent (they're preparing to be invisible!)



In a second pot get the noodles started, bring water to a boil add the pasta some salt and olive oil, stir occasionally...






Okay back at your 'saucy' pot, now that your onions are looking ghostly you can add all the frozen veggies you evil little heart desires...



Probably a good time to add some more olive oil too once all that defrosts a bit, and you can turn down the heat too. The "star" (hehe) of this meal is the olive oil, so treat him with the respect he deserves...




Don't forget to stir your noodles!! ;)



Once the Veggies are looking moist and smelling good you can turn down the heat, and add any fresh veggies you got to the pot... my choice this evening was one big fat TOMATO...




After you add those it's another good time to add some more olive oil (it's the main ingredient!) And if you want a 'zing-yer' pasta you can add some BALSAMIC VINEGAR or try some Italian SALAD DRESSING (it's mostly oil anyways)

.

and then you're pretty much just waiting on your noodles to finish up...



When they're done, drain & rinse those bad-boys then plop them back in your pan...

and add the invisible sauce & veggies all in the same pan...



Might even go for another round or olive oil to slick everything up? (depends on how much has burned away aready...)
Salt & Pepper & SPICE to taste! (maybe some basil, or tyme?)



And serve! Complete with dramatic lighting and everything!!

Happy Eating!

Vegetable Overdose Soup

I've been sick all weekend but somehow I had the foresight to make an awesome vegetable soup the day BEFORE I got sick... talk about jedi abilities. Damn.

Anways it was so good, and SIMPLE that I figured I should share it with you all for your summer sickness you will obtain... this will surely help. Except STDs... that's a different kind of "summer sickness" sorry. =D

Also I must note I am very new to this whole soupmaking business so if I'm not doing something "properly" my order is incorrect you send me a msg about how do it right but I gotta say, it turned out well and very tasty so I feel that's a sign my method worked out fine, yes?

This recipe is also great for the end of the week when your vegetables are looking a little limp and you're about to throw them out... trust me throw them IN the soup and you'll be much more pleased with the result!

OKAY PREPARE TO BE STUNNED WITH HOW SIMPLE THIS IS. It takes a whole ton of ingredients the way I prepared it but you can really substitute whatever you want with it based on what you got in the fridge, what they sell at your market or what you like or dislike or what's in season. As most of my recipes this makes a WHOLE TON of soup so if you're feeding yourself you could easily half (or quarter the recipe) but the way I see it leftovers are awesome so if you don't think you can finish it all *shrugs* freeze half of it and surprise yourself in a month when you're digging through the freezer and starving with nothing in the fridge...



INGREDIENTS:
1 box (quart) of vegetable broth
1 Large Onion
2(?) stems of Broccoli
2-4 stems of Celery
2-3 Carrots

OPTIONAL:
4-6 Mushrooms
1-2 Cans of Garbanzo beans/Chickpeas
1/4 bag of frozen mixed vegetables
2-4 Tomatoes
(ANY OTHER VEGETABLE?)

Okay to begin empty your entire box of Vegetable Broth into a large or deep pan and turn it on high till it boils...



While your waiting chop your onions and mushrooms




and add them into the soup...



(I also Added the frozen vegetables here but I guess it doesn't really matter when you add them...)



Now cut all your fresh vegetables!
BROCCOLI....



Carrots...



Celery...



ALL THREE of these are what I would consider almost super necessary because they make for the best ingredients to add to a vegetable soup... but that's my opinion and if you don't care be my guest go astray and feel free to email me if you tried something weird and it turned out really great!

Now your soup should have boiled so lower to a medium-low heat and then add all the veggies!

Also now you can add the tomatoes(just cause I had some to throw in!), chickpeas or anything else you've got!



Spice to your taste; I like a bit of sea salt, lots of pepper, some basil, and oregano!


(also my pan was looking a little low (cause its a very wide pan) for the amount of veggies in it, if you have this problem you can throw in a cup of water, this will dilute the pure veggie taste a bit but it will work either way)

NOW THROW A LID ON THAT HOT MESS AND GO DO SOMETHING ELSE!
Let the soup cook for a good 1hour and a half to 2 hours! Don't go too far and forget to stir occasionally but really you can kind of let it do its thing for a while let all the ingredients just meld together into this awesome swamp of vegetable goodness!




So yes, you just essentially throw everything into a pan and let it cook for a couple hours and you're good! HOW SIMPLE WAS THAT? SHIZZ.




After you've waited sufficient time (my indicator is usually if the carrots are soft) POUR THAT JAZZ INTO A BOWL AND ENJOY!!



ALSO as the week goes on and you're getting sick of soup you can mix it up a bit and add some rice and rooster sauce (optional) and have yourself a spicy hot rice porridge! (especially good later in the week when I just wanted to smoke out what was left of my cold!)

HAPPY EATING!