Category: Pasta

dinner, Pantry Challenge, Pasta, pasta, Recipes

Sundried Tomato Garlic Noodles – A pantry meal (Vegetarian)

traci

My aunt came into town and helped me rearrange my pantry. Once I knew what was in my pantry, it was easy to decide what to make for dinner.

I had some Pasta Roni’s Butter and Garlic noodles, sundried tomatoes, black olives, chickpeas, and canned chicken in the pantry. What could I make for dinner?

I cooked up one box of the butter and garlic noodles and added the drained chicken to the noodles.

Once I cooked up the other box of the noodles, I placed half of it in the other bowl. With the other half, I added sundried tomatoes, black olives, and drained chickpeas. YUM! It sort of reminded me of my favorite dish at Piada.

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Sundried Tomato Garlic Noodles

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: very easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 1 box of Pasta Roni, Butter and Garlic
  • ¼ c. sundried tomatoes
  • ¼ c. black olives or Kalamata olives
  • ¼ c. drained and rinsed chickpeas
  • 1 to 2 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese, optional


Directions

  1. Make the Pasta Roni according to the directions on the box.
  2. Once the Pasta Roni is cooked, add the sundried tomatoes, olives, and chickpeas.
  3. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
  4. Enjoy!



Happy eating,
Traci

easy, Pasta, pasta, Recipes, side dish, Side Dishes

Cheesy Orzo Pasta (Simple Side Dish)

traci

The Imaginative One turned 13 last month.  A tradition in our house is for me to cook one of the birthday boy’s favorite meals for their birthday.  We had the Imaginative One’s dinner the day after his birthday because we had planned to be out on his birthday. Continue reading “Cheesy Orzo Pasta (Simple Side Dish)” →

Chicken, easy, Pasta, Recipes

Sundried Tomato, Chicken, & Feta Cheese – One Pot Pasta Dish

traci

Last weekend I found a blog that gave the exact portions to make a one pot pasta dish.  I decided to attempt to use the guidelines to make my own dish.

I’ve been loving sundried tomatoes lately.  So it was only logical that I used sundried tomatoes in this recipe.  Yum!

This dish would be good topped with Kalamata olives.  Or your favorite type of olive.  The rest of the family does not like olives so I didn’t top it with olives

IMG_0221Sundried Tomato, Chicken, & Feta Cheese
One Pot Pasta Dish

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. chicken breast, diced into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • 1 c. milk
  • 2 c. small pasta (I used bow tie pasta.)
  • 1/2 c. sundried tomatoes, cut into smaller pieces
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. dried basil
  • 1/2 c. Feta cheese
  • 1/4 c. sliced Kalamata olives
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

  1. Heat up a large skillet.  Add the extra virgin olive oil.
  2. Add the chicken breast.  Brown the chicken for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic.  Cook for a minute.
  4. Add the milk, chicken broth, and pasta.  Turn up the heat up to high.  Allow to boil.
  5. Turn heat to medium low.  Cover.
  6. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes.  Remove the lid.
  7. Add the sundried tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper, and olives.
  8. Serve!
  9. Enjoy!

The blog I found out the correct portions for one dish pasta dishes.  Recipe Rebel

Happy eating,
Traci

Chicken, easy, Family Recipe, Pasta, Quick, Recipes

Aunt Missy’s Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan

traci

A few years ago, my aunt sent me a little stand up photo album with family favorite recipes.  When I was menu planning this week, I decided to check out those recipes.  I ended up choosing to make her chicken Parmesan.  It’s a one skillet recipe and done in less than 30 minutes.  Score!

I was so excited about the recipe that I’m already putting it on the blog!

Hubby loved it!  In fact, he had seconds.

IMG_0126

Aunt Missy’s Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Stars of the recipe:

  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch. cubes
  • 1 (14 oz.) can or 1 & 3/4 c. chicken broth
  • 1-1/2 c. spaghetti sauce (Hubby suggests a spaghetti sauce that is cheesy flavored.)
  • 1/2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 3 c. dried small cut pasta such as penne
  • 1 c. grated Parmesan (& more for serving)

Steps:

  1. Heat a skillet to medium high heat.
  2. Melt the butter in the skillet.
  3. Add the chicken.
  4. Cook until pink.
  5. Add the chicken broth, spaghetti sauce, basil, and oregano.
  6. Turn up heat to high.  Allow the spaghetti sauce and chicken broth to boil.
  7. Add the pasta.  Stirring until pasta is coated.
  8. Turn down heat to medium low.  Cover and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.  Stirring occasionally.
  9. Sprinkle cheese over the pasta.
  10. Enjoy!  Add more cheese to the pasta when serving if desired.

Thank you Aunt Missy for the recipe!

miz-helen-badge-alt5

Happy eating,
Traci

cheese, Electric Pressure Cooker, Pasta, Recipes

Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese

traci

One of my favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese.  I have shared my favorite slow cooker mac and cheese, healthier mac and cheese, and make over mac and cheese.  Now I’ve found another favorite macaroni and cheese.

This recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.  Yum!

I use an electric pressure cooker.

Pressure Cooker Mac and CheesePressure Cooker Mac and Cheese

adapted from Dad Cooks Dinner

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 lb. elbow macaroni
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 Tbsp. mustard
  • 1 – 2 tsp. salt
  • 4 c. water
  • 1 (12 oz.) can of evaporated milk
  • 2 c. cheddar cheese (I used sharp cheddar.)

Steps:

  1. Place the macaroni, butter, mustard, salt, and water in the pressure cooker.  Put the lid on the pressure cooker.
  2. Set it to pressure cooker for 5 minutes.  When it’s finished, quick release the pressure.
  3. Switch the setting to saute.  Add the evaporated milk.  Taste one the macaroni noodles.  It should be al dente and cooked through out.  If not, let it simmer for a few minutes.
  4. Slowly add the cheese.  Stirring each time you add the cheese.
  5. After adding all the cheese, let the macaroni and cheese sit for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to Miz Helen’s Cottage’s Full Plate.

Happy eating,
Traci

 

 

easy, Pasta, Recipes, Sausage

Sausage Pasta Skillet

traci

Here is another easy recipe that I found in my Evernote account.

This is an easy skillet dish.  Enjoy with easy peasy garlic bread.

sausage skillet pasta

Sausage Skillet Pasta

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1/2 box of penne pasta or any other small pasta
  • 1 pound sausage (Italian, mild, or hot)
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 (15 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1/4 c. sliced black olives
  • 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 c. Italian cheese blend or Parmesan cheese, for serving

Steps:

  1. Cook pasta following directions on box.  (Can use any small shape)
  2. In a separate pan, brown sausage.  (I used mild.)
  3. After it’s almost fully browned, add diced onions.  Cook until the sausage is fully browned.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, 1 Tbsp. of Italian seasoning, and sliced black olives.
  5. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
  6. Add the cooked pasta.
  7. Sprinkle Italian cheese blend or Parmesan cheese over pasta and sauce.

Happy eating,
Traci

Crockpot, Pasta, pasta

Crockpot Lasagna

traci

Soon after I was married in 1999, my mom gave me a recipe for lasagna that involved no boiling of the noodles.  I’ve made it that way for the past almost 17 years.

I can’t believe I haven’t shared the recipe for my lasagna before.  It takes a while to prepare it but it’s worth the preparation.

I used my casserole crockpot for this recipe.  You could use an oval one but may need to break up the lasagna noodles.

All of my measurements for the layering of the lasagna are estimations because I typically don’t measure how much of each ingredient I use on each layer.

crockpot lasagna

Crockpot Lasagna

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 lb. ground beef or sausage, browned and drained
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 (16 oz.) container of ricotta cheese or small curd cottage cheese (I suggest using ricotta cheese.)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce or 2 c. homemade spaghetti sauce
  • 2 1/2 c. shredded Italian cheese
  • 1 box of lasagna noodles

Steps:

  1. Combine the ricotta cheese or small curd cottage cheese with the eggs in a mixing bowl.
  2. Spray your crockpot with cooking spray.
  3. Spread 1/4 c. of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the crockpot.
  4. Place lasagna noodles over the spaghetti sauce.
  5. Then layer in this order:
    1. 1/3 c. of the ricotta cheese mixture
    2. 1/3 c. of ground beef or sausage
    3. 1/3 c. Italian cheese
    4. 1/3 c. sauce
    5. noodles (I use 3 on each of my layers.)
  6. Continue layering the noodles, ricotta cheese mixture, ground beef or sausage, Italian cheese, and sauce. (I had 4 total layers.)  When you get to the last layer, save a little of the ricotta cheese mixture.
  7. One the last layer, place noodles, the rest of the ricotta cheese mixture, and the rest of the Italian cheese.  Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the cheese.
  8. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or until the noodles are cooked.

IMG_0038

Happy Eating,
Traci

DIY, easy, Electric Pressure Cooker, Pasta, Tomato

Pressure Cooker Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

traci

The other day I went an event.  They served frozen lasagna.  It made me crave homemade lasagna so I decided make some.    I asked Hubby to get me the ingredients for my lasagna.  Rather then using store bought sauce, I decided to use my spaghetti sauce recipe.  I adapted the recipe for the pressure cooker.

The kitchen smelled amazing as it cooked!  This is an easy recipe to put together.  If you don’t want to use the pressure cooker, click on the link to the original recipe.

I use an Electric Pressure Cooker.Pressure Cooker Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Pressure Cooker
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 (28 oz.) or 2 (14.5 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 c. water
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. beef granules
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. white sugar or shredded carrots (reduces acidity and adds sweetness to the sauce)

Steps:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in the pressure cooker.
  2. Place the lid on the pressure cooker.
  3. Set the setting to pressure cook and the time to 10 minutes.
  4. After the sauce is done cooking, allow the pressure cooker to release the steam naturally for 10 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
  5. Carefully remove the lid to the pressure cooker.
  6. Enjoy over your favorite pasta!
Pasta, side dish, slow cooker, Thanksgiving

Creamy Mac and Cheese (Countdown to Thanksgiving)

traci

My family usually prefers the blue box for macaroni and cheese so it’s hard to find a homemade macaroni and cheese that they would love.  This is one macaroni and cheese recipe that they enjoyed eating.

This recipe makes a LOT of macaroni and cheese.  I made this dish on a Saturday night.  We ate it as a side dish for three different meals.

Continue reading “Creamy Mac and Cheese (Countdown to Thanksgiving)” →

31 days, Chicken, Pasta

Chicken Parmesan (Day 30)

traci

I’ve signed up for a 31 day  writing challenge.  Everyday in October, I am posting a new slow cooker recipe, a link to a previous posted slow cooker recipe, or a link to a recipe from another blog.

Tomorrow is the last day of the writing challenge.  I’m getting ready for my next two series.  They won’t be as intense as the 31 writing challenge.

The first series is a countdown to Thanksgiving series.  I have some crockpot meals for sides and even a turkey recipe for the crockpot.  My plan is to have a printable Thanksgiving menu the week before Thanksgiving.

The second series is a countdown to Christmas.  I already have recipes of the I’m Hungry cooking blog.  We are going to revisit some of our favorite Christmas cookies and treats.  The Imaginative One loves this time of the year because he loves taste testing the goodies.

I’ve already tasted two of the recipes for the countdown to Christmas.  Both the Wee One and the Imaginative One LOVED the first one.  Only the Wee One has tried the other one.  He kept going back for me so I think that is a sign that he LOVED the other treat.

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As I have said in other blog posts, we eat Sunday night dinner with my mother-in-law.  Twice during the month of October, we also invited another member of our church to our Sunday night dinner.  On the 11th, I decided to cook chicken Parmesan in the slow cooker.  Chicken Parmesan is one of my mother-in-law’s favorite meals.  Everyone raved on the deliciousness of the meal.

About a half an hour before the dinner, I took the chicken out of the crock.  I placed the chicken pieces in a casserole dish and then sprinkled Parmesan cheese over the chicken.  Then I put it in the oven for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt. 

Continue reading “Chicken Parmesan (Day 30)” →