Zesty Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich is a simple quick snack or meal replacement. However, with a simple additions, it can become a much more zesty meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of bread (I prefer wheat)
• 2 slices of American cheese
• 2 tbsp of pasta sauce or salsa
• Diced bellpepper
• Several sliced olives
  

Directions:

1. Grill the inner surfaces of the bread slices, where you will eventually put the cheese. Use a frying pan with stove set at half max.
   
2. Wait til the inner surfaces are crisp and lightly brown, then flip the slices and put the stove on quarter max heat.
3. Lightly spread one tablespoon of pasta sauce (or salsa) on each side.
4. Place one slice of cheese on top of the sauce.
5. Place the diced bellpepper and several olives on one side.
   
6. Flip the other side on top of the side with the olives and bellpeppers after the cheese has slightly melted.
   
7. Grill both sides until lightly brown. Then, place on a plate and turn off the stove.
   

So, a straightforward grilled cheese sandwich, but with a few extra steps, it is now a more flavorful experience. Enjoy!

Patriotic Pasta

Pasta is a very simple dish to make. I personally prefer tricolor rotini (see above). I also like to add peas, and top it off with pasta sauce and parmesan cheese. Pretty simple, but pretty filling as well. Why patriotic, you ask? Well, orange, white, and green are India's national colors.

Ingredients (for one serving):

• 3/4 cup of tricolor rotini
• 1/2 cup of frozen green peas
• 1 tsp of salt
• 3 cups of water
• Pasta sauce
• Parmesan cheese
  

Directions:

1. Add salt to water and let it boil. Set stove to half of maximum heat.
   
2. Once boiling, add pasta and peas.
3. The pasta will start boiling in 2-3 minutes.
   
4. Once it starts boiling, set timer to 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes, drain the water from the pasta and turn off the stove.
   
6. You can garnish the pasta with pasta sauce and parmesan cheese as you like.
   

Bon appetit!