Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe Pasta Bolognese, often hailed as a quintessential Italian dish, showcases the rich culinary traditions of Italy. Originating in the Italian city of Bologna, Bolognese is a rich and hearty meat-based sauce. It is slow-simmered along with aromatic vegetables, tomatoes and red wine, resulting in an intensely flavored sauce that has an incredible depth of flavor. While it requires some prep and patience, the process is mostly hands-off. The stove does most of the work! So, pour yourself a glass of wine, gather up the ingredients, and settle in for a few hours of cooking up the coziest, most delicious bolognese recipe. WHAT KIND OF WINE IS USED FOR THIS RECIPE? A dry red wine is ideal for Bolognese sauce. Any good-quality dry red wine such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon can be used. Just avoid using any cooking wine. WHAT KIND OF PASTA CAN BE USED FOR THIS RECIPE? Trad...

Skip to Recipe There's nothing that screams summer as much as cherry tomatoes. While they can be found in the supermarket all year long, it's during summers when are in their full glory-sweetest, juiciest and most flavorful. And if you're growing your own, it's when they're most abundant, too! What do you do with all those gorgeous bunch of tomatoes in the backyard that are all ready to be picked at the same time? This Cherry Tomato Pasta is one of those recipes that I make all summer long. It is light, comforting and bursting with fresh summer flavors. WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE A quick and elegant weeknight dinner that will become a staple! It comes together in 20 minutes and with minimal ingredients that are easy to get your hands on. Ideal for meatless Mondays, it’s a dish that the whole family will love. If you...

Skip to Recipe I love everything about fall-the changing leaves, the cozy sweaters, the warm drinks, and all the harvest produce that it brings along. As soon as fall hits, butternut squash makes its way through the dining table, and I try to make the most use of this autumnal veggie in my recipes. While Carbonara is one of the most decadent dishes that is loved by all, the Butternut Squash Carbonara with Bacon is a wonderful twist on the classic that results in one of the best fall-inspired dishes. Seasonal butternut squash that gets roasted in the oven along with aromatics like shallot and garlic and pureed into a creamy sauce, tossed with Fettuccine and finished off with crispy bacon, fried sage, and a sprinkle of grated Parmigiano Reggiano. The star of the recipe is the seasonal butternut squash that gets roasted till caramelized and then goes for a quick spin in a food processor to create a smooth and creamy sauc...

Skip to Recipe No-cook summer meals can be a lifesaver, especially when the sun is blazing in through your windows, and all you want to do is sit and relax without breaking a sweat in the kitchen. For those sticky, sweaty, sweltering days, recipes like this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad come to our rescue. Easy, light, and refreshing- this salad is an ode to all things summer. Juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, homemade pesto, and pasta are all tossed together to make this colorful and vibrant salad. Though the ingredients are simple, the flavors are incredible. We love this so much that it shows up at our dinner table a few times during the summer months. Why You will love this Salad? This salad is a no fuss recipe that calls for only a handful of ingredients, comes together in less than 20 minutes and with very little effort. Whether you're looking for a quick healthy lunch, or you are making this for a potl...

Skip to Recipe After the blitz of holiday parties and gatherings over the last month, I’m ready for a breather — both from intensive cooking and indulgent meals. Therefore, I am turning to meals that are light and quick and come together with the most minimal effort possible. Penne Alla Vodka is one of those recipes that sound so fancy, and yet is one of the most easiest , hands down. Fresh pasta tossed in a luscious and creamy vodka sauce to create a comforting dish you will find yourself making over and over again. Whether you need something impressive for a date night or a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner, Penne Alla Vodka is your answer. The Origin of Penne Alla Vodka Penne Alla Vodka is a classic dish that rose to popularity in the 1980s. There’s a measure of debate as to where and when it originated. Some food historians claim it was invented in Italy, while others say that it origanated in New York. ...

Skip to Recipe If there’s one thing Italy’s known for, it definitely has to be its food. Though Italian cuisine is known worldwide for being the home of pizza, pasta, but there is so much more to it. Each region of the food-loving country is defined by distinctly different dishes and flavors influenced by history and tradition. Visiting Italy two years ago was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to further delve into the wealth of gastronomic delights that the country offers. While I was blown away by the idyllic scenery of the Tuscan countryside, the Tuscan cuisine was a treat to my curious palate-unpretentious, seasonal and celebrating the use of simple and extremely fresh ingredients. After a tiring day of sightseeing, I finally sat down at a rustic trattoria and all I wanted was to dig into a simple and comfort meal. It was then, I came across the quintessential Tuscan dish, Lamb Ragu, which with its simple yet incredibly delici...

Skip to Recipe I have just come back from a short vacation from Heidelberg, one of Germany's most charming and picturesque cities. And let me tell you, leaving the clear blue skies, the sunny weather, the romantic old cobbled streets, the mesmerizing nature, and coming home to the daily grind of life is quite a challenge. One-pot meals come to my rescue whenever an endless list of daunting tasks awaits me, and the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This One Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta redefines the meaning of easy cooking. All you need to do is throw everything in, and you’ll have a delicious and fancy meal in less than an hour without leaving behind an overflowing sink of utensils. Tender chicken pieces and pasta simmered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce-this dish is comforting, satisfying, and so delicious that you will want to lick the sauce off your plate. The pasta gets cooked in t...

Skip to Recipe With the summer solstice just around the corner and the warm weather set to stay for a while, I am making the most out of summer. On hot, summer days, the last thing I want to do is stand over a steaming stovetop for a long time. And, hence always on the lookout for no-fuss quick recipes that make dinner time a breeze! Nothing smells like summer quite as much as fragrant basil. With a bountiful harvest of basil in my balcony garden, homemade pesto sauce is a must in our household. Pesto is a traditional Italian sauce made with fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, salt, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. It’s simple, flavorful, and can be so prepared easily at home. While store-bought ones taste good, nothing compares to the flavor of homemade! Basil pesto spaghetti topped with juicy, roasted tomatoes and grilled salmon- this recipe has got all the flavors of summer packed into it! It is a healthy, light, and satisfying meal th...

Skip to Recipe Summer is officially still a month away! I know it seems a little early to start sharing BBQ recipes, but I couldn’t wait any longer to share this one with you. When it’s warm out, there’s nothing better than a bowl of fresh colorful salad! I am a picky eater when it comes to salad, but this one is so good that I keep coming back to this time and again! With whole grain pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, fresh cilantro, this Southwest Pasta Salad is as bright and sunny as a warm summer day. It is slightly spicy, sweet, and has all the flavors of our favorite tacos. But the real secret lies in the homemade roasted pepper cashew dressing. It is creamy, flavourful, and insanely delicious! The dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and can be used in about as many ways as you can think of- as a salad dressing, as a dip with a platter of crackers and vegetables, a tasty spread on sandwiches, a...

Skip to Recipe As much as I love to cook elaborate meals, sometimes all I need is a simple, decent meal after a grueling day. I believe that more ingredients always don't produce a tasty dish. Sometimes the beauty of food lies in the use of simple, fresh ingredients that can shine on their own. It has been a while since I shared a pasta recipe, so finally decided to share one. 30 minutes is all you need to make this delicious Spicy Sausage Pantry Pasta. It is a super easy and incredibly flavourful weeknight dinner recipe! And most importantly, you probably have all the ingredients hanging out in your kitchen cupboards already! Pasta paired with spicy Italian sausages-it is just a match made in heaven. Spicy chunks of sausages cooked in a homemade tomato garlic sauce, a heavy sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and a touch of fresh basil -you’ll love every bite of this. With a side salad and a loaf of crusty bread, this is an easy dinne...

Skip to Recipe When we move to a new country, the first thing we do is get some furniture. And that’s exactly what I did after knowing about IKEA. It was a real experience walking into the store, and my first impression was that of awe. After walking several miles in a maze made of tiny fully-furnished micro-studio apartments, I had developed a pit in my stomach. Just as I was about to leave the store, I spotted the IKEA cafeteria and their plates piled with gravy-soaked meatballs. That was my first encounter with meatballs, and eventually, I got so obsessed with them that I would often make excuses to visit the store for lunch. As my fondness for cooking grew, I tried different versions of meatballs at home. I love how meatballs can be served in different ways-as an appetizer, as a main dish served over a bed of spaghetti, or even in a sandwich. However, I find meatballs with spaghetti to be a heavenly combination! Tender,...