HELP! How to give plain pasta flavour with dried herbs and spices???

Mics_chick

My kids have got a "lurgy" at the moment which the doc says is a mild dose of gastroenteritis and I've got to give them food as plain as possible until it clears up - like plain biscuits, toast, rice, pasta, etc...
This hasn't really been a problem until today coz they've not had any appetite to speak of anyway - I wasn't worried though coz they've been drinking like fish

Now they seem to be "on the mend" I thought about cooking them some pasta but trying to flavour it with some herbs - but I've only got dried ones so don't know if that makes any difference
Years ago I went to an Italian restaurant and was brought a plate of just pasta and wondered if I'd cocked up when I'd ordered but it was actually seasoned with herbs and was one of the most delicious meals I've ever had :T

So wondered if any of you culinary whizzes could help a clueless wannabe-cook
Gail xxx

Lizbetty

Poor you lot! I hope you're kids get fully better soon.

I tend to love stodgy stuff anyway, and so pasta with dried herbs is ok with me and esp for the kids! You could try cooking the pasta with a chicken stock cube in it, then add the herbs when the pasta's done - don't drain all of the water off, leave a tablespoon or so in it, and put some butter/olive oil in it to make it less dry, too.

I also make a huge pan of pasta, and then do chopped mushrooms/chopped tomatoes seasoned, add a tablespoon of water and one of olive oil/butter, then stick in the microwave for 3/4 minutes, mix the mushrooms and tomatoes with the pasta and add a spoon of green pesto and some parmesan. Not sure if they're up to that? It's nice even without the pesto and parmesan, just with the seasoned mushrooms and tomatoes, you could add the mixed herbs after?

I squirt the mushrooms/tomatoes with Frylight instead of using butter/olive oil if I'm being serious about my diet (ahem, there's cobwebs on my Frylight at the mo...), but I use plenty of olive oil for the kids, esp if they've been off it.

Pine nuts are fab with it, if you have any, and they're feeling like they can manage them.

I hope that the little ones are better soon, it's so miserable being poorly ((hugs)) (for you too I bet!)

Luce

buxtonrabbitgreen

Probably too late for your tea now, but the other day I bought some fresh spaghetti from sainsburys and did that with just some dried herbs, pesto and pine nuts and it was delicious, so much nicer than dried pasta. I warmed up the leftovers for my lunch the next day and it was still lovley. It didn't all stick together like the dried stuff.

Mics_chick

Thanks for these but has anyone ever done with herbs & spices only ???