Easy pasta recipes?!
We have normal spaghetti all the time... but its getting boring(even though i can never have enough!)... what are some other good pasta recipes that aren't TOO tough to make? Some for lunch and dinner would be appreciated.
Answers: Alright, I posted in parenting for recipes to make for my picky 19 month old. But I figured I could ask here too, because i, also, LOVE pasta.
We have normal spaghetti all the time... but its getting boring(even though i can never have enough!)... what are some other good pasta recipes that aren't TOO tough to make? Some for lunch and dinner would be appreciated.
Here is one I made last night. It was really good.
1 lb fresh, or frozen tortellini (with your choice on the filling but cheese or mushroom would be the highest reccomendation)
1 cup frozen veggies or your choice ( I did peas but I think carrots or a mixed veg would be best.)
3 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup shredded parmesean cheese
1 rounded cup full chopped ham
3 tsp granulated garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Boil the tortellini, making sure to not over cook. Add the frozen veggies for the last 2-3 minutes. Drain, and return to pan, all remaining ingrediants, and cook thru until warm.
* I would think that for a 19 month old you could also just use elbo macaroni, or spiral noodles in different colors to make it more fun.
I also make a sauce for bowtie pasta using cream cheese and a splash of milk, I add carrots, corn, peas, onions, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli etc... And some seasoned salt, celery salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, and pepper to taste.
Using the same cream cheese idea I add some salsa and some bowtie pasta and then a can of tuna. Pretty good.
try making shells and then add a little butter or olive oil and some crushed garlic, its the best, and really simple also add a little parmesean
1/2 c. (4 oz.) mozzarella cheese
6 oz. bow tie pasta
2 med. zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup red onion chopped
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Cook bow tie pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain, set aside. Place zucchini in pan with the cooked pasta. Combine reserved cheese and onions in large bowl. Combine oil, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper; stir well. Pour oil mixture over pasta mixture in pan. Cook till onions and zucchini are soft! When you serve it there should be lots of cheese strands if you know what I mean!
Make or buy Alfredo sauce. Cook a package of pasta shells. Warm the Alfredo sauce. Pour over pasta shells. Top with mozzarella cheese.
Alfredo Sauce Recipe:
1/2 cup sweet butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1(12ounce)box angel hair pasta
Directions
1)Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium/low heat.
2)Add the garlic, cream, white pepper and bring mixture to a simmer.
3)Stir often.
4)Add the parmesian cheese and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes or until sauce has thickened and is smooth.
5)When sauce has thickend add the mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. STIR FREQUENTLY.
6)While the sauce cooks, boil noodles for 3-5 minutes.
7)Place pasta on serving plates and spoon sauce over pasta.
Cook a package of bow tie pasta or any pasta you really want.
Pesto Sauce
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Special equipment needed: A food processor
1: Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.
2: Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Makes 1 cup.
Warm the pesto sauce up and pour over pasta!
Follow the link below to find heaps of delicious easy pasta recipes.
PASTA WITH CHICKEN AND GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE
Preparation - Medium
Serves 4
20 minutes starting with already cooked chicken.
Great pasta dish with with grilled or barbecued chicken.
1 1/2 cups grilled or barbecued chicken, cut in morsels
3 tablespoons butter, olive oil or mixture of the two
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 to 3 fresh cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
1 t oregano or thyme, fresh or dried (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (if you want a garnish)
3/4 pound pasta (angel hair works well)
Pasta pot, saucepan or skillet large enough to accommodate pasta and chicken.
This dish is best with a 'pan finish' - cooked and drained pasta is added to other ingredients for final blending.
Put the pasta water on to boil.
Sautee the garlic in the butter on low heat until it just begins to turn color (light gold).
Add the chicken morsels and the (optional) oregano.
Add the lemon juice and white wine and allow to simmer so the sauce reduces slightly and the chicken absorbs the flavor.
Cook the pasta.
Drain the cooked pasta well, reserving some of the cooking water to moisten the pasta if some people like the sauce more 'liquid'.
Add the drained pasta to the sauce and mix well.
Serve on heated plates, garnishing with the parsley.
Probably you will like this recipe from my Italian husband http://geniuscook.com/mussels-pasta/
Pretty simple and different,
Pasta Primavera
Giada DeLaurentis
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
In a very large bowl toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer the vegetable mixture to 2 heavy large baking sheets and arrange evenly. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes, or to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
our favorite pasta dish is beans and sausage macaroni cheese. its quite filling so you only need a small amount. Boil the amount of pasta shapes(you don't need to use macaroni) you need to feed your family ,I use about 350gms to feed 4 adults ,until just cooked.Drain and put back in the saucepan.Stir in good quality Cheddar cheese( grated )enough to give a good coating .Meanwhile heat up a tin of Heinz beans and sauages and when hot stir into the cheese pasta season with a good squirt of tomato ketchup Turn the heat back on gently to keep the cheese melting.Serve with a green salad and enjoy