Showing posts with label pasta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pasta. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Pasta with Sauteed Tomatoes and Meatballs

Pasta with Sauteed Tomatoes and Meatballs
Pasta with Sauteed Tomatoes and Meatballs
There are so many things you can do with pasta, with just a few ingredients. It's always so simple to keep a few basic ingredients in the fridge and throw something together in a pinch. That's where this Pasta with Sauteed Tomatoes and Meatballs came from!


The Recipe:

The Tools:

  • Large Stock pot for boiling water
  • Sharp Knife
  • Large Heavy Bottom Skillet

The Ingredients:

  • Pasta - I used linguine for this recipe
  • 1 Package Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1 Recipe Meatballs
  • 4 Garlic Cloves - Minced
  • 1 Cup Dry White Wine
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Grated Parmesan

The Method:

To start, boil a large pot of salted water. The salt is important. Aside from helping the water boil faster, it will impart some extra flavor to the pasta. When the water is ready, add the linguine. You'll want it to be cooked to a perfect al dente, so no more than 10 or 11 minutes in the water.

Make the meatballs and have them under the broiler while everything else is cooking. If you time it right, everything should be done around the same time. 

In a heavy bottom skillet, saute the tomatoes in olive oil with salt and pepper over medium heat. When the tomatoes start to blister, add the garlic. When the garlic begins to brown, stir in the white wine. Let the wine reduce enough to thicken to make a sauce. You don't want it to reduce by half, just enough to thicken a little. 

By now, the pasta and meatballs should be ready. Add everything to the skillet and stir to combine. 

This dish is great served family style from a large bowl. Once you get it transferred to the bowl, garnish with some fresh basil and fresh grated Parmesan.


Happy Eating!


Sunday, June 16, 2019

Weekly Favorites 06/09/19 to 06/15/19

Every Saturday, I go through Twitter with #foodblogger and find my favorite food related articles.
Weekly Favorites
These are this week's favorites!

I never did meet a cheeseboard I didn't like, especially with those mixed olives front and center!
I've always liked pasta, maybe a little too much. Hello carbs. So, I may try out this dish with cucumber noodles to make it a healthier option!

Chicago has always been one of those places I've always wanted to go. Now, I have a brunch guide for my trip, which happens to be my favorite meal!

Let's be honest, I love meat. But there are options out there for protein that don't involve meat, especially as every day we hear more and more that we need to limit our red meat intake.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Weekly Favorites 12/23/18 to 12/29/18

Weekly FavoritesIt's hard to believe this will be the last post of 2018! It's been a great year for Me, Myself, and Cuisine, and I can't wait to  see what 2019 brings! Before we celebrate the New Year, I have one last
Weekly Favorites post to share before the clock strikes midnight!


I've always loved banana bread, with or without nuts. Coincidentally, my kids seems to love it too, especially smeared with butter!

Leg of Lamb always reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandma's house. She would always make it with mashed potatoes and rolls, and there would be a jar of mint jelly on the table. She never made it hers with any herbs on it, just a simple salt and pepper seasoning. I am definitely going to have to try out this herbed version!


I've always been a sucker for bagels and lox. So, when I saw these smoked salmon bites, I had to check it out. The next time I need a party food, these will definitely be on the list!


Simple tomato salads are something special. You can do so much with some herbs, mozzarella, and tomatoes. Adding the chili oil takes it up to a new level!


I've been extra interested in fish lately, especially salmon. That's not to say that I've been making any fish, I've just been looking and getting ideas for cooking fish!


Just like fish, I've been extra interested in curry. Investigating and learning about the different types and styles of curry has always been interesting to me!


Well honestly, I was hooked at the mention of chorizo and bacon! The penne doesn't hurt either. I've always looked at it as one of the most versatile pastas. But then of course when there is spicy pasta around, you know I will be there!

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Weekly Favorites 12/16/18 to 12/22/18

I took the holiday weekend off from the blog and spent some much needed time with the family. I'm
Weekly Favorites
back and ready to go with a new batch of weekly favorites!


This pasta seems so fresh and light, it's hard not to stop and drool over the picture! I love a good heavy pasta dish much as anyone, but sometimes a light pasta with spring and summer flavors is just what I need!

I love to see what people are doing with their menus, and sometimes they can make a great read, to see how the menu comes together and how everything plays off of each other. It may be worth a trip to Brooklyn, just to get that seared duck with cherry glaze!


I have a great stuffed bell peppers recipe  using beef and rice. I like at what other people are doing with their recipes and see how they differ from mine. I see some tomatoes in these that would be amazing!


I need to use more fresh fruit when I cook. I eat plenty of apples and bananas, but I need to diversify. Figs aren't typically on my radar, but this just might be enough to get me to change my mind!


Lately, we've been making more curry dishes than we typically do. It has renewed my curiosity about the different styles of curry around the world. It seems that each culture has it's own take on it and it's own variety of spices and vegetables that get blended in.


It's funny, this recipe is geared towards getting kids to embrace fish. I don't think we're there yet with our kids. My wife and I make fish on occasion, but not as often as we used to. These Asian flavors may be just enough to change that though!

Friday, December 14, 2018

Oven Roasted Chicken Parmesan with Blistered Tomatoes

Oven Roasted Chicken Parmesan
Oven Roasted Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan, or Chicken Parmigiana, is an Italian-American dish, derived from Eggplant Parmigiana, which is prepared mostly the same way. At every Italian restaurant I go to, I see Chicken Parmesan on the menu, but I  almost never get it. The few times that I do, I'm disappointed. It's always prepared the same. A piece of chicken, battered in breadcrumbs, fried, and topped with a slab of cheese, served next spaghetti and marinara sauce. I knew there had to be a way to improve this, so I set out to find it.

The Recipe:

The Ingredients:

  • 4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
  • 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 Package Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 2 Tablespoons of Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
  • Pasta
The Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the Panko bread crumbs and cheese in a bowl with salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, coat the chicken breasts in the melted butter. Transfer each chicken breast to the bread crumb mixture individually to coat with bread crumbs. Lay on a greased sheet pan to go in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes.

In a large skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter and add a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic until golden. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. I like a little spice to mine, so I add some crushed red pepper flakes. It is important to make sure the heat is not too high here, because the tomatoes will burn and not blister, which is not we're looking for. Stir the tomatoes occasionally to make sure all sides are cooked. These will take about 15 to 20 minutes

Serve with pasta. I used penne, but any kind will do. If you want a little more cheese, sprinkle some additional Parmesan top.

Happy Eating!

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Weekly Favorites 08/12/18 to 08/18/18

Weekly FavoritesGuys, I have to make a confession here, though I'm sure you already know what it is. I've been slacking here on the blog posts! So, here is the Weekly Favorites post from two weeks ago!

Strawberry Scones with Sweet Lemon Glaze - via All Tarted Up

I'm a bit of a self admitted pastry junkie. Specifically breakfast pastries. Seriously. The worst thing that can happen to me is for someone to bring donuts to the office. So when I saw this recipe for Strawberry Scones, I had to check it out. I'm especially excited about the sweet lemon glaze on these!


Easy Chicken, Spinach, and Tomato Pasta Bake - via Maune Legacy

If you've been following along, you know I've never met a pasta I didn't like. Especially pasta with chicken and spinach, and usually some tomato and cheese mixed. Basically every ingredient found in this pasta bake. It's like we were meant to meat each other!
Chifferi Elbow Pasta with Cannellini Beans and Tuna - via The Pasta Project

The combination of pasta and fish or seafood is almost legendary. Maybe it gets a bad rap because of the old tuna noodle casserole, but done right it can be a thing of beauty! This combination of the pasta, the tuna, and beans, sounds amazing!

Pan Seared Halibut with Garlic Crab Topping - via Ask Chef Dennis

I'm almost positive you've gone into a restaurant and seen a menu item or chef special that is some form of fish topped with crab. I'm also almost positive you have paid too much for it. It's okay, I have too. Now, courtesy of Chef Dennis, you can make it at home!

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Weekly Favorites 08/05/18 to 08/11/18

Weekly FavoritesLast week, for Weekly Favorites, I decided to go with a sweets and desserts theme. This week, I decided to go with another theme, and include all pasta articles!

Baked Lumaconi Pasta Shells with Chicory and Porcini - via The Pasta Project

I've always loved stuffed and baked pasta dishes. Pasta stuffed with mushrooms is one of my favorites!

Creamy Tomato Alfredo Tortellini with Sautéed Arugula and Hot Sausage - via The Sweet & Savory Couple

If I'm being honest, I have to admit that I've never been a huge fan of Alfredo sauce. I am however, a fan of tomatoes and Italian sausage. And, I've always been fascinated by tortellini!

Corn Pasta with Bacon and Pecorino Romano - via Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

We've been cooking with a lot of corn lately. Coincidentally, we made a corn and bacon pasta dish just like this a few weeks ago with some chicken! This combination of pasta and bacon and corn is great!

Rigatoni Filled with Spinach and Gorgonzola - via Make it Kitchen

Maybe it's because I watched a lot of Popeye when I was little, but I love spinach! It's great in salads, but especially in pasta! Pasta stuffed with cheese and spinach is a delicious combination!

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Seafood Pasta Diavolo

I've always loved pasta, especially with seafood. The textures and flavors go so well together. It's especially good with some added spice, like Seafood Pasta Diavolo! Diavolo sauce, or fra diavolo sauce, is typically a tomato based sauce with some red pepper or other spice added to it to give it some heat.

Let's cook!
Seafood Pasta Diavolo
Seafood Pasta Diavolo


The Recipe:

  • 1 14.5 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 Shallot - Diced
  • 4 Garlic Gloves - Diced
  • 1 Cup Dry White Wine
  • Scallops
  • Whole Clams
  • Shrimp
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Linguine
  • Fresh Parsley
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

To start, heat the olive oil over in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the scallops with salt and pepper. Pan sear the scallops for about a minute on each side, until well seared and golden brown. Remove the scallops and set aside.

Lower the heat to medium. In the remaining oil, sauté the shallot and garlic with red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. I like mine spicy, so I use a lot of red pepper flakes. When the garlic is golden, deglaze with the wine. A sauvignon blanc works great for this. Add in the tomatoes. When the sauce begins to reduce, add in the shrimp and cover. Keep an eye on the shrimp. They will cook really fast. Flip the shrimp about halfway through. You'll know to flip them, when the pink color starts to creep up the sides. 

After you flip the shrimp, add the clams and scallops in, and cover. When the clams open, the sauce is done, and you're ready to eat! I served this with linguine, but a spaghetti or angel hair would work as well. A fresh pasta would work great too. Sprinkle some fresh chopped parsley on top. This would also pair well with some cheesy garlic bread!

**A note about the seafood. I made this dish just for me. I used five shrimp, four clams, and three scallops. Depending on how many people you are cooking for, you would need to increase the amount of seafood. Use these numbers as a guide.

Happy eating!

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Weekly Favorites 07/22/18 to 07/28/18

Weekly FavoritesI had every intention of getting this post up last weekend. I had all of my favorite posts ready to go! Here they are, a week later!

Grilled Turkey Kabobs - via Happy Foods Tube

I don't grill a lot of turkey, but these kabobs caught my eye! These flavors sound really good, and I especially like the idea of serving it over rice!
Cookies - via Kitchen Thyme

Kitchen Thyme is a an aggregator of sorts, featuring bloggers. Their posts tend to feature on a theme. This one, is all things cookies! I've always had a sweet spot for oatmeal raisin cookies, but the ones that really caught my eye are the Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

Red Wine Pasta from Barolo with White Ragu - via The Pasta Project

If you've followed along at all, you know I'm an eater of all things pasta! Nothing seems too exotic. This ragu is making my mouth water just thinking about it!


Elegant and Delectable with Poached Egg and Bacon Bits - via Cooking with Anadi

We do a lot of avocado toast around here. Usually it's just like it sounds, avocado and toast. Stepping up to a guacamole sounds amazing and full of healthy nutrients! Can't wait to try this one out!

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Weekly Favorites 07/15/18 to 07/21/18

Another new batch of favorite food and restaurant articles!
Weekly Favorites


Easy Protein Pancakes - via Maune Legacy

Don't get me wrong, I love pancakes for breakfast, especially smothered in whipped cream, macerated strawberries, and maple syrup. But sometimes, I think it would be nice to get a little bit more nutrients out of them. This pancake recipe, packs an extra punch of protein!


Foodie Girl Chicago - via Kitchen Thyme

At first glance, I was drawn to the idea that this is a blog featuring bloggers, kind of like what I'm doing here! But then, I looked at the recipes Foodie Girl Chicago is writing. These all look amazing! The Lamb Meatball Gyro Bowl and the Mexican Street Corn Pasta were instant winners for me! I'm going to be back, visiting Foodie Girl Chicago's page to look for more!



Couscous Salad with Mixed Beans, Feta Cheese and Olives - via Green Lentil

I really need to start eating better. The trouble is, a lot of healthy food just doesn't sounds good to me, most of the time. This Couscous Salad on the other hand, sounds like something I could without hesitation. Maybe it's the fact that the salad in the picture is smothered in feta, a small weakness of mine. Either way, I am going to be eating this!



Tomahawk Steak - Reverse Sear - via Shakey Eats

Look, if you haven't tried out the reverse sear method for grilling steaks, you need to stop waiting on get right to it. I was hesitant at first. Steaks are expensive, and I really didn't want to through money away with an unfamiliar cooking method. As long you as you a decent grasp of grilling meat or cooking them in a pan over the stove top, it's hard to mess this up. It's all about indirect heat anyway. Shakey Eats even gives it an added shot of butter if you needed any extra coaxing!



 Saint Arnold Beer Garden Now Open for Houston Brewery Tourists - via Ronnie Crocker

This is cool. I've been a fan of these guys for as long as I can remember. Opening their new location was a big deal back in 2009, and they have continued to grow it. Now, with another expansion with a beer garden right next door, this is just another reason beer travelers and tourists to stop by and check out the brewery!

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Weekly Favorites 07/01/18 to 07/07/18

Weekly FavoritesTime for a new batch of weekly favorites! I've found some more articles that I'm really excited to share!


Epic Bacon Burger - via Carly Bloggs

I think that at this point, you may have realized that I never met a burger that I sent away without eating it! Throw bacon into the mix and there's no way I'm saying no. Normally, I'm all about the grill. But for those of you who don't have a grill, this recipe demonstrates how to cook a burger stove top, which I find to be a suitable second option. There are of course some nights I am too lazy to go outside and fire the grill up.


Summer Tagliolini Pasta Recipe with Marinated Vegetables - via The Pasta Project

When I'm not chowing down on a burger, I turn to my Italian roots for food inspiration. I love a really simple pasta dish, where just a few ingredients can come together to make a dish full of flavor. This Summer Tagliolini recipe just that. The ingredients list is mostly vegetables, with a few others to enhance the flavors. This sounds amazing and should go perfect on a hot Houston, TX summer day!


Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns, Sausage, and Eggs - via Mr. B Cooks

Without even looking at the article, the title of this post reminded me of the sausage and egg casserole my mom cooked every Christmas morning and still cooks every Christmas to this day. Diving in to it, the preparation is very similar. The key difference is the addition of the hash browns and the absence of bread cubes. The nostalgia alone, we enough to draw me in to this one!


Passion Fruit Eclairs with Italian Meringue - via Lil' Cookie

What drew me in to this one was the departure from what I think of as a traditional eclair. You know what I mean. I have never had an eclair that wasn't a pastry filled with either cream or custard, topped with chocolate. Not that I am complaining. Here, Lil' Cookie takes us away from that traditional eclair with the addition of fruit and a light meringue, perfect for summer!

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Lamb Ragu

This dish is an Italian classic that I've had the idea to make for quite some time. I've been putting it off because it honestly sounded more difficult than it was. In the end, it was so worth it. The lamb and tomatoes go together so well, with the added crunch from the celery and carrots. The Romano cheese tops it off the sauce to add a creamy flavor.


The Recipe:
Lamb Ragu
Lamb Ragu

  • 1/2 Pound Ground Lamb
  • 1 Small Onion - Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves - Minced
  • 1 Stalk of Celery - Diced
  • 2 Carrots - Peeled and Diced
  • 15 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • Fresh Parsley - Chopped
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Romano Cheese
  • Rigatoni

To start, brown the lamb over medium heat. Remove the lamb from the pan when it just medium rare, leaving behind as much of the juices as you can. Add the olive oil to the pan and raise the heat to medium-high. Add in the crushed red pepper flakes, onion, garlic, celery, and carrots. Saute until the vegetables are wilted and add in the crushed tomatoes, white wine, ground lamb. I like to swirl the wine around in the tomato can to make sure I get all of the tomato juice out of the can. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the sauce reduce. Just before the pasta is done, add a few ladles of the pasta water to the sauce and let it reduce some more. Add in the parsley and let it reduce with the sauce. 

I mixed the pasta together with the sauce and then stirred in the Romano cheese. Pair the pasta with some garlic bread

For a few variations, sub the lamb with ground beef or pork. I'd like to try this again with some fresh pasta as well, maybe some pappardelle. 


Thursday, May 24, 2018

Baked Shells

Baked Shells
Baked Shells
We wanted to try something a little different the other night, but still something that would please everyone in the house. These Bake Shells did the trick. The best thing, is that everything we needed was already in the pantry. No extra trips to the store!


The Recipe:


Make your sauce ahead of time. It will keep in the fridge for at least a week. Combine the sauce and ricotta in a bowl and stir in the shells. Spread the shells evenly in a baking dish and cover with the mozzarella. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. 

Don't be afraid to use too much sauce. I wish I had used a little more!

Happy Eating!

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Spaghetti Mangiafuco

The other day we realized we'd had our fill of the variety of kid shows that seem to loop around our house. Desperate, we went looking for a "mommy, daddy show," that might satisfy everyone involved. We came across an all things Italian episode of Dinners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. This could be interesting.


Guy stopped by a small family run restaurant in Collodi, Italy, where they made a dish called Spaghetti Mangiafuco. Of course, I had to set out to recreate this dish, and maybe even put my own spin on it!


The Recipe:
  • 1 Package of Cherry Tomatoes - Halved 
  • 5 Cloves Garlic - Minced 
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil 
  • 1 Tbsp Butter 
  • Oregano 
  • Parsley 
  • Salt and Pepper 
  • 1 Bushel Spinach - Rough Chopped 
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 
  • Pasta


Start off by getting all of the ingredients prepped while the water boils. This is all going to happen fast, so wait until the pasta hits the water before putting anything in your pan. Fresh pasta would go really well here.

Spaghetti Mangiafucco
Spaghetti Mangiafucco

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. When the garlic turns golden, reduce the heat and add the
butter. Now, bring in the tomatoes, oregano, and parsley. The tomatoes are going to reduce a little and make thin tomato sauce. Just before the pasta comes out of the water, add a few spoonfuls of the pasta water to the sauce.


Now for the spinach. The spinach is going to cook really quick and reduce down. I added the spinach and stirred it in just long enough to change color. The spinach will finish cooking when the sauce and pasta are tossed together. Serve alongside garlic bread and garnish with fresh Parmesan cheese.


As a variation, add some tomato puree to give the sauce a little more body.


Happy Eating!

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Stuffed Jumbo Shells

Stuffed Shells
Stuffed Shells
I always loved getting stuffed pastas when I was little when we would go out to eat. It seemed so exotic! How did they get the stuffing inside the pasta? Now not that I've mastered the art if pasta making, I'm still in awe of people who can make tortellini, but in my house we like to make our own ravioli and stuffed shells! Today's recipe is for stuffed jumbo shells.


The Recipe:
  • 2 15 Ounce Containers of Ricotta
  • 1 Package of Fresh Spinach
  • 1 Recipe Tomato Sauce
  • 1 Cup Shredded Chicken (optional)
  • 1 Box Jumbo Shells
  • Shredded Mozzarella
  • Salt and Pepper

Equipment:
  • Piping Bag
  • 13x9 Baking Dish
  • Food Processor

In boiling water, cook the jumbo shells until slightly al dente. Set aside.

Combine 1 container of ricotta with the tomato sauce. Set aside.

Using a food processor, combine the remaining​ container of ricotta with the spinach. I don't measure it, but I go off of color. A light, pale green us a good mix. You'll know it when you see it. Mix in some salt and pepper. Stir in the chicken if you are adding that to the mix.

Using a piping bag or 2 spoons, fill each shell with the ricotta mixture. Position each shell face up in the baking dish. Once the baking dish is full, pour the tomatoe sauce and ricotta over the shells. Then cover it up with the mozzarella. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and starting to brown, usually about 30 minutes.

Happy Eating!

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

No Sugar Tomato Sauce

For as long as I can remember, I've added sugar to my tomato sauce. Whether I'm making something quick or an all day affair, I've used sugar to cut down on the acidity from the tomatoes. The other day, I decided to try something different. Instead of the usual sugar, I added some carrots to the sauce. The naturally sweet carrots took care of the job the sugar usually performs, and added some extra nutrients too!

The Recipe:

  • 1 Large Onion - Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves - Diced
  • 3 Celery Stalks - Chopped
  • 3 Carrots - Peeled and Chopped
  • 2 Large Cans Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Red Wine
  • 1 Tablespoon Parsley
  • 1 Tablespoon Oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon Basil
  • No Sugar Tomato Sauce
    No Sugar Tomato Sauce
  • Olive Oil

In a heavy bottom stock pot, sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the remaining ingredients. 

From here, there are 2 different routes to take: 

The high heat method, which can be little risky, but can make the in less than an hour. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Be careful with the high heat method, because tomatoes can burn very easily. just make sure to stir the sauce often to prevent burning. 

The low heat method, which is definitely the safer route. Once the onions and garlic are ready, reduce to the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally. The low heat method will allow all of the ingredients to break down and help the flavors come together, without the risk of burning.

Either way, I like to use a heat diffuser with my sauce, to help evenly distribute the heat around the bottom of the pot.

Once the sauce is cooked, I like to blend everything together with an immersion blender, to break down all the large pieces.

Happy eating!

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

4 Recipes Using a Rotisserie Chicken - Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

Lately, I've been looking for ways to make dinner prep a little easier. So I decided to put together a series of 4 recipes using a rotisserie chicken, something that can be picked up at the store on your way home from work and then combined with a few simple ingredients that may already be in your kitchen. The third recipe in the series is Greek Chicken Pasta Salad. You may notice this one as a repeat, but it works so well with a rotisserie chicken I couldn't leave it out of the series!
4 Recipes Using a Rotisserie Chicken - Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

The Recipe:



This recipe is super simple to make on a busy weeknight. With the rotisserie chicken, the only thing to cook is the pasta. I don't measure anything. I just put everything in a big bowl and mix it up. My only requirement is to go heavy on the olives, the more the better! Combine all of the ingredients, poor the dressing over, and serve. It's that simple!

Happy eating!

Friday, March 17, 2017

Homemade Pasta

Fresh Pasta
Fresh Pasta
For some reason, I always talk myself out of making fresh pasta. It seems like so much extra work! But in the end, it is worth it. The pasta is so much better than the store bought version.



The Recipe:

  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 1 Egg

Makes 1 Serving.


Make a crater in the mound of flour in a bowl. Add the egg in to the middle of the flour. With a fork, slowly beat the egg inside of the crater. Slowly incorporate the flour in to the egg. Continue stirring until all of the flour is mixed with the egg. You may have to use your hands to get all of the flour mixed in. You want the dough to be a little sticky. It should not have the same consistency of pastry dough.


Making Fresh Pasta
Making Fresh Pasta
Run the pasta through a pasta roller, starting with the widest setting. The first few times through the roller, it will seem the dough is crumbling. Once the dough runs through the roller, fold it back in half and run it through again. Continue this process until the dough comes back together. Set the roller to the next smallest setting. Run through each setting at least twice until the desired thickness is reached. 


After the pasta goes through the roller, it is time to cut the sheets in to smaller strips. Lay the sheets on a floured surface. Fold the sheets over lengthwise, in thirds. I like to cut through the pasta with a sharp knife. I don't look for a uniform size. 


Once the pasta is cut to size, it is ready to cook. Add the pasta to boiling water. It will cook much faster that dried pasta. It will be al dente in 3 to 5 minutes. 


Happy Eating!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Sausage and Peppers with Pasta

Sausage and Peppers with Pasta
Sausage and Peppers with Pasta
There's nothing I love better than a classic Italian recipe. So when I first came across this idea, I had to work on my own version!


The Recipe:

  • 3 - 5 Links Sweet Italian Sausage - Sliced
  • 1 Onion - Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves - Minced 
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper - Rough Chopped 
  • 1 Yellow Bell Pepper - Rough Chopped 
  • 1 Package Cherry Tomatoes 
  • Pasta - Linguine, Pappardelle, and Fettuccine work well
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Grated Parmesan 
  • Salt and Pepper



Brown the sausage in a skillet
Brown the sausage in a skillet. 




Brown the sausage in a heavy bottom skillet. Remove sausage to bowl to add later. Saute the onion and garlic in the sausage grease. Add a little olive oil if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bell peppers. Saute until the peppers are wilted. Add the sausage back in. Add the tomatoes. Stir occasionally until the tomatoes begin to open. Toss the sausage and peppers with the pasta in a large bowl. Serve with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan.






Optionally, I like to add some crushed red pepper flakes with the the onions to give a little extra spice.


I like to make this with some rustic, rough cut fresh pasta. Dried pasta works well here too.
Happy eating.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Italian Sausage Zucchini Soup, Slow Cooker Style

Some nights, you need something that is easy to make. The crock pot comes in to play here. A lot of times we will try to rework a recipe we already have for the crock pot, so we can focus on other things. Last weekend we did that with Italian Sausage Zucchini Soup. Check out the original recipe here.
Italian Sausage Zucchini Soup, Slow Cooker Style
Italian Sausage Zucchini Soup, Slow Cooker Style

The Recipe
  • 1 Package Italian Sausage - Sliced
  • 2 Onions - Diced
  • 2 Zucchini - Sliced
  • 1/2 to 1 1/2 Cups Merlot
  • 2 15 oz Cans Whole Tomatoes
  • 2 Boxes Beef Broth
  • 1 Teaspoon Basil
  • 2 Garlic Cloves - Diced
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Chopped Parsley
  • Pasta - Penne, Farfalle, and Rigatoni work really well

Brown the sausage in a pan. Sauté the onion and garlic in the juices left from the sausage. Combine all the ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. If time permits, add the pasta about 30 minutes in. This will help keep the pasta from over cooking. 


Happy eating.

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