BLT Pasta

Ingredients

• EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling, plus 2 tablespoons
• 12 slices good quality smoky bacon, cut into half-inch dice
• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• A handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• A couple of generous handfuls grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
• A pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 pound bowtie pasta
• 4 cups arugula, a couple of bundles, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup basil leaves, about 20 leaves, torn or coarsely chopped
• 
  
• Directions:

Heat a drizzle of EVOO in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add bacon and brown to crisp. Remove to plate to drain. Add Panko crumbs to the pan with the bacon drippings and toast to golden brown. Add parsley and a couple of handfuls of grated cheese. Toss to combine, turn off heat and reserve the crumbs. 

Heat 2 tablespoons EVOO in a large skillet with tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and cook to soften, 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add red pepper and cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and cover pan tightly with lid. Cook, shaking occasionally, until tomatoes begin to burst, about 8 minutes. Remove cover and gently mash up the tomatoes a bit with a wooden spoon. 

Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil for pasta. Salt water and cook bowties. Just before draining, add a cup of the starchy liquid to the cherry tomato sauce. Drain pasta. 

Add arugula and basil to the tomato sauce, along with the reserved bacon and drained bowties. Season with black pepper and salt, and toss to combine. Garnish bowls of pasta with the seasoned crumbs and serve.

• 
  

Enjoy!

Cilantro Chicken Pasta

This recipe can also be made without chicken, as a vegetarian meal. This pasta is restaurant quality!!! Serve over noodles with chicken, use as a pizza sauce, sandwich spread or a dip. The best part about this recipe is that it is so easy!

1 pkg cooked pasta

1 bunch of cilantro

5 cloves of minced garlic

1 TBS. White Wine vinegar or substitute with lemon or lime juice

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tea. Cayenne pepper
salt to taste. I usually add 1 tea.
1/2 cup olive oil

Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Heat on low and serve over noodles with cooked chicken pieces.

ENJOY!

Cheesy Tomato Cream Pasta

My dad hates traditional spaghetti and even he liked the twist this recipe gives it. The base of this recipe is from The Food Nanny but I put my own spin on it.

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 cups sliced mushrooms
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes undrained (I used homemade stewed tomatoes)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Plus additional for sprinkling
1/2 cup cream or half and half
1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese, about 2 ounces
20 fresh basil leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon course salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
8 ounces uncooked pasta of your choice

Directions

Cook meat and drain set aside. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.Cook and stir the garlic and onion until you smell the aroma.  Add beef to onion and garlic.  Remove from the heat and add the tomatoes, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, cream, ricotta, basil, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.  Cook over low heat until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain. Serve sauce over pasta.

Serves 4

**For a smoother sauce, puree the tomatoes first in a blender for a few seconds.

Enjoy!

Pecorino Pasta

Pecorino Pasta

This pasta turned out delicious! It's from Cooking Light, best recipes of 2010.

Fresh Tomato, Sausage, and Pecorino Pasta

8 ounces uncooked pasta

8 ounces ground Italian sausage

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup vertically sliced onion

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 1/4 pounds tomatoes, chopped (I didn't use that many)

6 tablespoons grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese, divided

1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt

I added broccoli to it since I had some on hand, I also think asparagus and mushrooms would be good to add.

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add sausage and onion to pan; cook for 4 minutes, stir occasional. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, 2 tablespoons cheese, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and basil.

Yield: 4 servings  Serving size: 2 cups pasta mixture

Enjoy!

Shrimp Linguine

I love anything with shrimp.  It's one of my favorite foods.

Ingredients

1 pound linguine
1/2 cup olive oil
1 chopped onion
3-5 cloves garlic minced
1 pound raw shrimp (remove shell and tail)
1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/2 cup dry cooking white wine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 lemon (for less lemon flavor use 1/2)
1 chicken bouillon cube
parmesan cheese for topping
sea salt and pepper

Heat olive oil.  Add chopped onions, garlic, pepper and a pinch of salt.  Stir occasionally until cooked.  Add cooked shrimp, white wine and bouillon.  Ten minutes before serving add butter, lemon, and parsley.  Mix everything with cooked pasta and serve.

ENJOY!

Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta

I got this great recipe from my friend Andrea. Its a creamy sauce with a little bit of crunch. Its wonderful!!!

3-4 Chicken Breast Cubed

16oz/2 cups Sour Cream

2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

2 Rolls of Ritz Crackers

3/4 Cube of Butter

2 Tbs. Poppy Seeds

Salt and Pepper

1. Cook cubed Chicken in a pan. Season with salt and pepper.

2. In a seperate bowl add sour cream and cream of chicken soup. When Chicken is cooked add to bowl and mix.

3. In a ziplock bag crush Ritz crackers, add poppy seeds, and melted butter. Mix well.

4. Place Chicken mixture, in a greased baking dish. Spread cracker mix on top.

Bake 350 degrees
for 30-35 mins.

Serve over angel hair pasta
Serves 4-6

ENJOY!