Simple Ham & Peas Pasta and Chocolate Cherries Oatmeal cookies

After almost 60 days of waiting...the container that me and my husband had laboriously packed our stuff in during our last trip back in California , has safely arrived in Singapore. It was a great relief for both of us since nothing was missing or damaged during this shipping process. Although it did worry us a bit when it was delayed for 2 weeks++. But some how it all turned out just right, because our house's renovation finishes just before the container arrived. Now I look back and ask myself "Why worry so much for nothing?" As the Chinese saying goes"船到桥头自然直" (translation : Things will work out fine on it's own) So better just be happy and worry less. :) However now, looking at the stack and stack of boxes to be unpacked...how can I not worry? *Sigh* Give me strength!

So with such a load of stuff to do, I need to cook up real simple and quick meals for my family. Something with minimal ingredients and requires little to no time to cook. May I present to you, a family favorite; Ham & Peas Pasta.

I used to make fresh pasta at least 3 times a month back in California, simply because it's absolutely delicious. (That will be another post...if I can find my pasta machine in those boxes!) And eating fresh pasta cooked in this method is fabulous!

Since we are just talking about simple today, so I shall only show you how I make this yummy pasta with ready to boil pasta. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients for Ham and Peas Pasta
6oz dried pasta ( 1 box of pasta is about 8oz, I didn't use all)
1/2 white onion, chopped small
1/2 cup carrots, peeled and chopped small
250g sliced ham, cut into small chunks
1 cup frozen sweet peas
1 cup fresh heavy cream
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 tsp sugar salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Bring a pot of water to boil. Add pasta to boil over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes till al dente.
• In another stir fry pan, turn on the fire to medium low heat and add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add chopped onions and carrots and stir for a moment, reduce fire to low and cover to let the vegetables soften.
• After about 6 minutes, remove cover and add in ham and peas. Stir fry for a minute and then add in the chicken stock and heavy cream. At this point turn up the fire to medium high and let the mixture come to a boil.
• After 5 minutes, the mixture will slightly thicken a little. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
  
• Drain the cooked pasta and pour into the cream sauce and stir to combine. Dish up immediately to serve.

This is a lovely meal that I believe anyone will like, especially kids...even my little picker eater loved it. :) Pick a fun pasta shape and I guarantee you, it'll be a big hit for the kids. ;)
Another of my family favorite is the Classic Oatmeal Cookies. It is such a comfort food to snack on when you want a quick bite. ;)

This classic cookie is so versatile! So long as you make the main oatmeal cookie dough, you can add in any extra ingredients you like, walnuts, raisins, peanut chips or the most traditional chocolate chips. This time I have decided to use two of my favorite add ons: Godiva chocolate and dried cherries. :)

I got both these items during my last trip back to California...yes, another great "steal", heehee! I love Godiva dark chocolate...so when I saw them selling this type of domestic 100g bar size at the grocery, I was elated! Sour cherries are a great add-on to cookies...they are much more tart then dried cranberries and are not so common here in Asia. So I got this from one of favorite store: Trader Joe's, which they come sweetened, not too tart, yum! Adding these 2 good stuff in the cookies makes it better then it already is. ;)

Ingredients for Chocolate Sour Cherry Oatmeal Cookies:
227g unsalted butter, room temperature
180g caster sugar
200g packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
225g all purpose flour
250g uncooked roll oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
150g Godiva chocolate (70% cocoa), cut into small chunks (you can use chocolate chips)
100g sweetened dried cherries (you can use dried raisins)

Method:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and both sugars till creamy. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and beat well again.
• Sift the flour, salt, baking power and baking soda and cinnamon. Add it to the egg mixture. Lastly add in the oats and stir well.
• If using chocolate chunks and cherries, add in the cookie batter and stir well. Chill dough for at least 2hours.
  
• Preheat oven to 180. Place a sheet of parchment paper on baking pan and grease it. Take about 2 tbsp amount of cookie dough, roll round and place on baking pan. Make sure the cookie dough is placed about 3 " apart from one another.
• Bake cookie for 13 to 15 minutes. Do not over bake the cookies, it is meant to be soft and chewy. Allow the baked cookies to cool on the rack before storing in air tight container.
  

Even though I am a chocolate lover, this time I think the cherries' taste is much yummier then the chocolate chunks in the cookies. I might possibly never get tired eating these delicious cookies. And eating them will keep me going on unpacking my stuff, a sure motivation I have to say, hahaha! :) Do try it out when you have the time. Have fun baking!