Whole Wheat Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto #SundaySupper

In today's busy lifestyle getting together for a family meal can be quite challenging for most of us.What's important is the tradition of coming together at the dinner table as a family and consistently maintaining that tradition.We strive to achieve just that by having family meals every evening and its a great way to enjoy some quality time thereby creating some everlasting memories!It could be indoors or outdoors and it could be any day or everyday of the week!That to me is what #SundaySupper is all about.You must be wondering why I'm talking about all this!Well, our SundaySupper team wants to know what #SundaySupper means to us and our lifestyle.

During the summer, family meals can be so much more fun since you're constantly outside enjoying the weather.We often enjoy our dinner outdoors with family picnics.Its perfectly relaxing.We usually end up going to our local park with some mats to sit on, some games for the kids and some fun food.Talking about food, my picnic basket is usually made-up of  fresh fruits,salads,sandwiches,some cool drinks and of course my Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto J

It can be served warm or cold and is a breeze to put together not to mention incredibly delicious and healthy!I use whole wheat macaroni that has a great flavor and texture.My kids are always excited to see macaroni on the table and this is a lovely variation from the usual mac and cheese that they're so used to having J

The pesto tastes great with the toasted pecans and spinach combo.Mixed with some olive oil and parmesan cheese, its an explosion of delicious flavors in every bite!Super easy and family friendly, this is one dish that has become a staple in my family J

Whole wheat Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto
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Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Macaroni-1 lb
Baby Spinach leaves-2 cups
Pecans-1/4 cup
Garlic cloves-2
Extra Virgin Olive Oil-1/3 cup
Grated Parmesan Cheese-1/3 cup
Salt and Pepper

Process:

Boil the macaroni according to the instructions and keep aside.
In a pan toast the pecans on low heat until they're nicely toasted.Turn off the heat and allow to cool.
In a processor, combine the spinach,toasted pecan and garlic and pulse.With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil until the mixture is creamy.
Transfer into a bowl and add parmesan cheese.Season with salt and pepper.
Toss the macaroni with the pesto and serve warm or cold.

SundaySupper has teamed up with Merrel and chosen these 10 bloggers to host a giveaway on their sites.Make sure to visit their sites to win cool Merrel products!!!

• Blueberry Muffins by Magnolia Days 
• Korean Ribs – Alaska Camping Edition with MrsMamaHen
• Fresh Corn on the Cob by In the Kitchen with Audrey
• Hearts of Palm Salad with Avocado by Basic n Delicious
• Shallot BBQ Shredded Beef by Juanita’s Cocina 
• Taking #SundaySupper Outdoors With a Fun Picnic…Featuring Spicy Pinto and Black Bean Salad with Roasted Corn and Avocado by The Weekend Gourmet 
• On Top of Our Game with Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars by The Watering Mouth 
• Chicken & Dumplings Around the Campfire by Daily Dish Recipes 
• Wine & Food Festivals; a lifestyle the whole family can enjoy! by Wine Everyday
• Outdoor Grilling Filipino Rice Cakes in Coconut & Banana Leaves by The Queen’s Notebook

Take a look at these wonderful stories and recipes for this event:

• Embracing Old Family Traditions while creating New Ones ~ Enchiladas de Chile y Ajo by Girlichef 
• The Embassy´s Nut Crescents by Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Chicken Curry Pie by Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Prosecco Sangria by Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again
• Bringing #SundaySupper to All by Doggie at the Dinner Table 
• Honey Mustard Baked Beans by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• S’mores Brownies: Desserts Make #SundaySupper by Mama Mommy Mom 
• Tandoori Salmon Rolled in Whole Wheat Couscous by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz 
• Whole Wheat Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto-Enjoying  by Soni’s Food for Thought 
• Southwestern Chicken Wraps Fam Friends Food 
• Ahi Tuna Salad Family Style Family Foodie
• Wines For The Foods That Move You ENOFYLZ

Join the the celebration each Sunday. We start at 3pm ET by tweeting, pinning, and showcasing recipes and food photos. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and share yours too. The live twitter chat starts at 7pm ET. Take a look at and follow our Pinterest board too.

"The beauty of nature,

strikingly breathtaking,

intensely inspiring,

lovingly embracing and 

seemingly seamless 

the sweet harmony of a thousand

sounds almost melodious

and in perfect symphony

truly mesmerizing"

                           

My description of mother nature in my ow words.

My love for nature manifests itself in the various outdoor activities that we as a family try to do during the year.In the summer its usually hiking,picnics not to mention going to the beach J

What has that got to do with SundaySupper you ask?Well, this SundaySupper focuses on the importance of enjoying the outdoors and what it means to us.For my family it means spending quality family time outdoors by enjoying a picnic in the park!Picnics are a great way to enjoy some fresh air and relax with the family!We usually pack some games that the kids enjoy, some sheets to sit on, some fun foods like cut-up fruits,salads,cool drinks, sandwiches and of course my Whole Wheat Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto J

Its super easy to make and can be served hot or cold.The pesto has the love

Summer to me means tons of outdoorsy acitivities with my family that's not limited to hiking,camping,picnics and of course going to the beach :)

Apple Ricotta Cake-Guest Post at The German Foodie

Today its my great pleasure to be guest posting over at my friend Sofie's blog The German Foodie!!Sofie and I met through one of our facebook groups and I just love her German recipes.She is a great friend and extremely helpful! She is also well versed in photography skills and I enjoyed her little workshop on the same topic some time back!So when Sofie wanted me to guest post for her while she was on vacation I was thrilled J

I decided to make an Apple Ricotta Cake for this post mainly because it uses two of my favorite ingredients apples and ricotta!I found a simple recipe at All Recipes and just added some ricotta into the mixture!The result was a creamy, moist and delicious cake with a great personality coming from the juicy apples with cinnamon!

Need the recipe??Go over to The German Foodie to check it out J

Hi I’m Soni and today I’m honored to be guest posting for Sofie who is an extremely talented blogger  I'm a big fan of her German recipes especially her breads and desserts! I met her through our Facebook group and getting to know her has been a sheer pleasure. Her witty comments just crack me up :)

For this post I’ve made an Apple Ricotta Cake that I think you all will love. It’s a rustic cake, that I’ve adapted from the website All Recipes. I’ve used extra virgin olive oil here that also makes it a healthy indulgence :)

The addition of Ricotta gives it a creamy texture and the sweet apples with cinnamon flavors it beautifully!Great with a topping of either whipped cream or ice-cream~

Apple Ricotta Cake

Ingredients:

2 medium apples-peeled, cored and chopped or sliced

Cinnamon-2 tsp

Ricotta-1/4 cup

Eggs-2

Sugar-1 cup

Extra Virgin Olive Oil-1 cup

All purpose flour-1 ½ cup

Baking Powder-1 ½ tsp

Vanilla extract-1 tsp

Kosher salt-1/4 tsp

Process:

Preheat the oven to 350 Grease a 9-inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle some flour all over.

Cream the sugar and oil in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add the ricotta and vanilla and mix. Add the eggs and continue to mix until well combined.

Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and ground cinnamon in a separate bowl and add to the liquid mixture. Mix until well combined. Fold in the apples and pour the batter into the greased pan.

Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Once done cool on a wire rack and serve warm!

Salty Lassi ~ Beat the Heat #SundaySupper

In the scorching heat reminiscent of an Indian Summer, one drink that promises to bring relief is a good old lassi. Lassi is a yoghurt drink mixed with either milk or water along with spices, sometimes fruits, sugar or salt. But growing up I’ve had more Salty Lassi than the sweet ones mainly because I didn’t have much of a sweet tooth back then! Now its a different story because now, I have a sweet tooth like no other J Salty Lassi is relatively unknown outside India unlike its cousin, the Sweet Lassi or the ubiquitous Mango Lassi! In my opinion, all versions are equally delicious though! So when my friend Jen from Junaita's Cocina suggested ‘Beat the heat’ as the theme for this #SundaySupper, I knew it had to be Salty Lassi for me J

Salty Lassi has a cooling effect on your body with unique digestive and health benefits. It’s also a great alternative to the alcoholic beverages during the summer and you can flavor it with any spice you want. Traditionally Salty Lassi is flavored with roasted cumin seeds and mint, sometimes ginger.You could also add a little bit of sugar.

The roasted nutty cumin adds a smoky flavor to the lassi.The mint is a perfect garnish to contrast the color and imparts a clean, crisp, minty flavor! Cool, delicious and spicy! Perfect to ‘beat the heat’~

Salty Lassi-Makes 2-3 servings

Print this Recipe

Ingredients:

Plain Yoghurt (any)-1 cup

Water-2 ¼ cup

Roasted and ground Cumin-1 tsp

Salt-1 tsp or to taste

Mint-to garnish

Process:

Cumin-Dry roast some cumin seeds in a pan on medium heat until its golden brown and releases a nice aroma.Allow it to cool and then just crush using a pestle and mortar.

Blend all the ingredients except the Mint until smooth. Pour into servings glasses and garnish with mint. Serve chilled!

See what my friends are serving this #SundaySupper to "beat the heat"!
Scroll down for the fab menu J


#BeatTheHeat Appetizers:

• Refreshing Chunky Shrimp Salsa ~ The Weekend Gourmet
• Totally Cool Green Hummus ~ My Kitchen and I
• Smoked Whitefish Salad Bagel Bites ~ Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Watermelon and Goat Cheese Bites ~ Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence
• Strawberry Gazpacho ~ Diabetic Foodie
• Grilled Loaded Baked Potato Skins ~ In the Kitchen with KP
• Sweet & Tangy Chili Lime Fruit Salad ~ Sue’s Nutrition Buzz

#BeatTheHeat Salads, Soups, & Sides:

• Cool Cucumber Salad ~ Momma’s Meals
• Lemony Garbanzo Kale Salad with Tuna ~ Shockingly Delicious
• Hungarian Cucumber Salad Recipe – Uborkasaláta Recept ~ The Watering Mouth
• Tomato Salad with Macadamia Cheese ~ Cooking’s Good Vegetarian Cafe
• Char-Grilled Corn Salad ~ The Little Ferraro Kitchen
• Summertime Sweet Pea Salad ~ Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking
• Apple and Poppy Seed Coleslaw ~ Damn Delicious
• Cold Cucumber and Rice Salad ~ Mama.Mommy.Mom
• Chilly Dilly Cucumber Soup with Shrimp ~ Comfy Cuisine
• Mom’s Creamy Pea Salad ~ Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Greek (Yogurt) Potato Salad ~ Family Foodie

#BeatTheHeat Main Dishes:

• Rainbow Slaw with Steak and Chipotle Crema ~ Cooking By The Seat of our Pants
• Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken ~ Make Dinner Easy
• Rolling with Kimbap ~ Kimchi Mom
• Ranch Chicken Tacos ~ Pippi’s In The Kitchen Again
• Serrano Ham, Mozzarella and Arugula Sandwiches ~ Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork ~ Cupcakes and Kale Chips
• No Bake Pizza ~ The Meltaways

#BeatTheHeat Desserts:

• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream ~ Supper for a Steal
• No-Cook Egg-Free Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream ~ Chocolate Moosey
• Peach Sorbet ~ Magnolia Days
• Icebox Chocolate Pie ~ Doggie at the Dinner Table
• Honey and Elderflower Ice Cream ~ Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Blackberry Lavender Popsicles ~ Girlichef
• Frozen Chocolate Bananas ~ In the Kitchen with Audrey
• Strawberry-Lime Margarita Ice Cream ~ Cookistry
• Elegant Fruit Jellies ~ Happy Baking Days
• Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches ~ That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream ~ Baker Street
• Vanilla Peach Swirl Frozen Yogurt ~ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
• Espresso and Toasted Almond Semifreddo ~ The Messy Baker
• Mango Ice Cream ~ Queen’s Notebook
• Raspberry Mousse ~ Basic and Delicious
• White Apricot & Honeysuckle Sorbet ~ Family Spice
• Biscoff Ice Cream Cupcakes ~ Juanita’s Cocina

#BeatTheHeat Drinks & Cocktails:

• Shirley Temple ~ Cravings of a Lunatic
• Prickly Pear White Wine Spritzer ~ Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Classic Daquiri ~ Katherine Martinelli
• Salty Lassi ~ Soni’s Food for Thought
• Blueberry Mint Lemonade ~ Pescetarian Journal
• Sweet Basil & Cucumber Melon Smoothie ~ Daily Dish Recipes

Wine Pairings Provided By: ENOFYLZ

Vegetable Pulao {Indian Spiced} #Cooked in Translation

Isn't it fascinating that so many foods in the world have similar cooking techniques!There are different adaptions of the same dish in different cultures.The dish that I've made today originated in 'Persia' and has become the quintessential rice dish in any North Indian Party!

I'm very excited to join "Cooked In Translation" an initiative started by Sofie of German Foodie and Pola M of An Italian Cooking in the Midwest where we interpret a classic international dish through the lens of another culinary tradition.This month one of our members Azlin from Linsfood chose "Paella".In India we make Pulao or Pilaf which is a mildly spiced rice dish and cooked in the same way as a Paella where all the ingredients simmer together in the the same pot.Its paired either with a raita or a curry on the side.You can chose any set of ingredients to make your Pulao, Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian.

I've made a Vegetable Pulao here using Carrots and Beans.An extremely flavorful meal with the use of fragrant spices and Saffron that give it so much flavor and of course the lovely colors J

Vegetable Pulao {Indian Spiced}
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Ingredients:


Basmati Rice-2 cups
Carrots-1 cup
Green Beans(any variety)-1 cup
Onions-1 medium sliced
Crushed Ginger/Garlic-1 tbsp
Bayleaf-1
Cinnamon-1/2 inch
Cloves-4
Cardamom-3
Peppercorns-10
Oil-2 tbsp
Salt-to taste
Saffron- 1tsp
Water- 4 Cups


Process:


Heat a deep bottomed pot over medium.
Add the oil and the chopped onions.Follow with all the spices except saffron.Saute until the onions become slightly golden.
Add the ginger/garlic paste and stir for about 2-3 minutes.Add the vegetables and some salt.Fry for about 2-3 minutes and add the rice.Stir frequently until the rice is nicely mixed and slightly toatsed (not burnt).
Add the water,salt, saffron.Mix well and bring to a boil on high.Once it boils reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and cook until all the water has been absorbed about 15 minutes.
Serve hot with raita!

Chicken Burgers with Curried Cabbage Slaw~{Indian Inspired} #SundaySupper

I really look forward to this time of the year when the air is filled with the smokiness of the grill.Its the official barbecue season and everywhere you see people are having a great time with their friends and family!Also a great time to enjoy burgers,grilled foods,salads and anything cold J

As the 4th of July nears, I've decided to serve my guests a delicious Indian style burger with a curried cabbage slaw!Its absolutely delicious and super easy to make even at the last minute J

The juicy chicken patties, that are flavored with Indian spices combined with the fresh mint make them irresistible!Grilled to perfection these are a great variation from the usual and could also be served as an appetizer with a salad for your next party!

The slaw is amazing and reminds me of the coronation sauce I've had in the UK!The crunchy cabbage with a hint of curry with the creamy mayo and the sweet honey results in the perfect slaw to accompany my burgers!I've used a light Canola Oil Mayonnaise (has no eggs)sold at Whole Foods that's super delicious and healthy!
An Indian Inspired summer meal for this barbecue season, that's to die for~


Chicken Burgers with Curried Cabbage Slaw~{Indian Inspired} #SundaySupper
Print this Recipe

Ingredients


Burger Buns-5-6 
1 Large Tomato-Sliced
Lettuce leaves-5


For the Burger:
Chicken Mince-1lb
Ground ginger/garlic - 1 tbsp
Ground Coriander-1/2 tbsp
Ground Cumin-1/2 tbsp
Red Chilli powder (Cayenne)-1/2 tsp
Fresh Mint - 1/2 cup chopped
Salt-to taste
Oil -to grill


For the Curried Cabbage Slaw:
Shredded White Cabbage-2 cups
Canola Oil Mayonnaise-3/4 cup
Curry Powder-1 tbsp
Honey-2 tbsp
Salt-to taste
Pepper-1/2 tsp


Process:
Mix together all the slaw ingredients and refrigerate.
Mix together the burger ingredients either by hand or in a food processor.Make 5-6 round shaped patties from the mixture and keep aside.
Preheat the outdoor grill for medium heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate and grill the burgers about 5-6 minutes on each side until fully cooked.Move the patties to a cooler area of the grill to keep warm.
Lightly grill the buns.Now assemble the burger.
Take the bottom part of a bun and place a tomato slice.Top it up with a lettuce leaf followed by a chicken patty.Spoon 2 tbsp of the slaw over the patty and top with the other half of the bun.Your burger is ready!Enjoy J

Check out the fabulous menu for some great ideas for the 4th of July!Its a SundaySupper that's not to be missed J

Main Dishes:

• Tender & Sweet Crockpot Brisket Juanita’s Cocina
• Savory Patriotic Chicken Kabobs Big Bear’s Wife 
• Firecracker Salmon Rolls Comfy Cuisine
• Red, White & Blue Grilled Pizza Momma’s Meals
• Baby Back Ribs with Balsamic Peach BBQ Sauce Damn Delicious
• Bubblin’ Brown Sugar Baby Back Ribs In The Kitchen With KP
• Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen 
• Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Beef Mrs. Mama Hen 
• Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Salad with Perfectly Grilled Chicken and Potatoes Daddy Knows Less 
• Texas Smoked Brisket Doggie At The Dinner Table 
• Grilled Chicken in a Blueberry BBQ Sauce Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Juicy Lucy and Blueberry Ketchup Pipi’s in the Kitchen
• Chicken Burgers with Curried Cabbage Slaw-Indian Soni’s Food for Thought
• Finger Foods for the Fourth Pescetarian Journal 
• Grilled Pork Satays with Peanut Sauce Tora’s Real Food 

Salads and Sides:

• Southwestern Corn and Black Bean Salad Supper for a Steal
• Roasted/Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Katherine Martinelli
• Patriotic Ranch Potato Salad The Meltaways 
• Roasted Red Pepper & White Bean Salad Are you hungry
• Texas-Creole Crawfish Potato Salad The Weekend gourmet
• Spicy Italian Peppers in Sauce What Smells so Good?
• Sangria Fruit Salad Cindy’s Recipes and Writings 
• Stuffed Black Olive Cookistry
• Mexican Quinoa Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing Dinners Dishes and Desserts 
• Low Fat Pasta Salad Basic and Delicious 
•  Bean Salad with Pickled Vegetables Diabetic Foodie
• Fourth Sticks In the Kitchen with Audrey
• Tomato and Mozzarella Appetizer Family Foodie

Desserts:

•  Red White & Blueberry Ricotta Cupcakes Sue’s Nutrition Buzz 
• Red Velvet Brownies Magnolia Days
• S’mores Pastries Daily Dish Recipes
• Red, White and Blue Firecracker Cupcakes Chocolate Moosey
• Caramel-filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream The Messy Baker 
• Strawberry and Cream Cake Cupcakes and Kale Chips 
• White Chocolate Berry Tart Vintage Kitchen Notes 
• Red White and Blue Coconut Rum Cake Family Spice
• Individual Red White and Blue Triffles Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence
• Mini Carrot Cakes Mama’s Blissful Bites 
• Plum and Apple Pies Cositas Bonitas

Fabulous Pairings by Martin from ENOFYLZ