Arugula-Pecan Pesto

Serve over your favorite fresh pasta- i put mine over fettuccini and it was incredible!

1/2 cup pecans
2-4 cups fresh arugula (about a 1/2 lb)
3/4 cup EVOO
4-6 garlic cloves
1/2 cup Pecorino cheese
juice of 1/2 lemon
kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Toast pecans in oven at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, once cooled coarsely chop. Peel and crush garlic cloves. Combine pecans, garlic and arugula in blender/ food processor and pulse until thoroughly chopped. Once chopped, gradually add in olive oil, lemon juice, pecorino, and salt/pepper- blend together until smooth. Prepare pasta as directed, return pasta to warm preparation pot, add pesto sauce and toss together!

Orzo Salad

Excellent as a side dish or an entree. Goes great with fish or chicken.

1 package dry orzo pasta- prepared as directed to al dente.
1 pint size container of cherry/plum tomatoes sliced in halves and quarters
1 medium purple onion finely chopped
1 bushel fresh basil, rinsed and finely chopped
1 package pre-crumbled reduced fat feta cheese
Juice of 1/2 lemon
5-6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp salad vinegar
1 tbsp red-wine vinegar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 can sliced black olives
fresh pepper and additional kosher salt to taste

In small mixing bowl, whisk together 4 tbsp EVOO, 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp salad vinegar, 1 tbsp red-wine vinegar, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper (as desired).

Prepare orzo pasta as instructed above, then rinse in cold water. Place prepared orzo in a large mixing bowl, drizzle with 1-2 tbsp EVOO. Add in prepared vegetables; tomatoes, onion, and basil and black olives. Add in salad dressing mixture and toss ingredients together thoroughly. Add in feta cheese and toss thoroughly once more. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. (If salad seems dry after chilling add in 1 more tbsp EVOO and 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar. )

Shrimp Linguini

Super yummy. Very easy.

3/4- 1lb peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 16-20 pieces)
1 package fresh linguine pasta (not the dried kind, the kind that has to be refrigerated)
Juice of 1 lemon, plus 2 lemon wedges (about 1 and 1/2 lemon)
1 cup white wine (the cheaper the better)
2 garlic cloves, crushed/ pressed
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp favorite fish seasoning (Magic or Old Bay)
Sprig of fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

In a Medium/ Large saute pan melt 1 tbsp butter and add garlic cloves over medium heat.  About the same time set the water to boil for pasta- fresh pasta cooks fast!!! Cook as desired then add generous amount of olive oil or butter once drained.

Add wine, juice of one lemon, and fish seasoning to saute pan. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium heat.  Once simmering, add shrimp. Cook until done (will be pink and curled) about 4-6 minutes over medium heat. Remove the shrimp from the liquid in the saute pan, and place in a heat safe dish.

Turn heat up to medium-high on your sauce as to reduce it. Will simmer, darken slightly and pull away from pan rim slightly (about 3-5 minutes.)

Place linguine on plate and distribute shrimp, each plate gets 8-10 pieces, if cooking for two. Generously, but equally, distribute your reduced white wine sauce over the shrimp and linguine. Garnish with a dusting pf parsley, Parmesan, and your lemon wedges.

Serve with remainder of white wine!

Vegetable Noodle Casserole

This my own personal spin on a noodle casserole

1 medium- large zucchini cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
1 medium- large yellow squash cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
1 medium sweet onion coarsely chopped
1 small red pepper sliced
1/2 cup shredded carrots
2 cups broccoli florets
1-2 cups portabella mushrooms sliced
1 crushed/ pressed garlic clove
1 bag whole-wheat egg noodles, prepared for firm texture
2 cups mixed Italian (or your favorite) shredded cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 can Fat Free Cream of mushroom soup
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
Salt & pepper
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rubbed sage
Nature seasoning to taste.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Spray a 9x13" casserole pan with oil (or use your favorite casserole pan/ oven safe pot).

Prepare egg noodles as directed for firm texture, drain, and place back in pot used to boil noodles.

Saute squash, broccoli, onion, and garlic clove over medium-low heat in vegetable oil for 10 minutes. Season as desired with suggested seasoning above. Add red peppers, carrots, and the mushrooms. Gently stir, and cover with lid for additional 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Leave covered. Do not over/completely cook vegetables.

In the pot containing noodles, add cream of mushroom soup, veggie broth, and milk. (the heat from the noodles should make the liquids mix together). Add in all of the vegetables and toss with noodle mixture. Stir in 1 cup of Italian cheese mix.

Transfer mixture into casserole pan (or leave in oven safe cooking pot). Will be fairly liquidy. Sprinkle remainder of the cheeses over top of casserole. Distribute bread crumbs over the top. Cover with Aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese and crust have browned and the casserole is bubbling.

Enjoy!

Veggie Pasta with Goat Cheese

This is one of mine and Ryan's favorite weekday dinners.  Its easy, healthy, and filling.

Serves 2-3

1 Large Shallot - thinly sliced
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper - diced
1 Medium Yellow Squash - thick sliced, quartering the larger slices
1 Medium Zucchini - thick sliced
1/2 Package Baby Bella Mushrooms - quartered
1 Bunch of Spinach (do not use baby spinach) - washed and torn into large pieces
2-3oz Fresh Crumbled Goat Cheese (I like to use herbed Goat Cheese but plain is good too)
Dried Red Pepper
Kosher Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Olive Oil
Whole Wheat Pasta (enough for 2 - 3)
Fresh grated Parmesan (optional)

Prep all the veggies as detailed above.  Start water boiling for pasta.  In a large saute pan with a lid, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.  Add shallots and saute until golden.  Add red bell pepper, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.  Sautee until red bell pepper starts to soften.  Add squash and zucchini and saute until they start to soften - if they start to brown add a bit more olive oil to the dish.  Add mushrooms and saute until soft, then add spinach.  Cover with lid and lower heat to medium-low.

By now your water should be boiling, so add your wheat pasta to cook.  When finished, drain and divide into large shallow bowls.  By now spinach should be wilted so stir the veggie mix and season to taste with additional salt/pepper if needed.  Top pasta in bowls with crumbled goat cheese, and then top with veggie mix.  Serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Ryan and I have also used shrimp in this dish on occasion which is a nice additon.

Cold Chinese Noodles

Serves 4

1/2 pound thin spaghetti

1/2 cup sesame oil

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2-4 tablespoons hot oil (depending on your heat preference)

4 scallions, white and green parts, sliced

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain. While spaghetti is cooking, mix remaining ingredients together. Place drained pasta in a bowl and toss with sauce. Allow noodles to sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

This is terrific as a side dish for grilled Asian flavored meats, poultry and tofu.

Cannellini Beans and Pasta

Shells with White Beans and Chicken

This dish can be made vegetarian - just leave out the chicken and start with onion and celery. We used herbs from our herb garden to make it an even tastier special dish!




1 lb chicken cut in cubes
1 tbsp olive oil
¾ tsp salt (if vegetarian you will only need ½ tsp salt)
½ small onion (finely chopped)
2 ribs of celery chopped
½ cup sliced mushrooms (I added mushrooms for potassium)
3 cloves of garlic chopped
(1) 28 oz. Crushed tomatoes
(2) 15 oz cans of cannelloni beans
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 lb medium sized shells
Grated cheese as needed

Cook chicken cubes in oil about 5 minutes (season with ¼ tsp salt)
Then:
Cook onion and celery in chicken drippings (leftover if using chicken) for about 5 minutes. *If vegetarian start onion and celery in oil. Add garlic and mushroom and cook for 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, beans, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes and ½ tsp salt. Bring to a boil then simmer for 12 minutes. Cook pasta. Then add beans to mixture along with 1 cup of left-over water from the pasta.

Serve over pasta and add grated cheese to taste
Serves 8
483 calories with chicken (less if vegetarian)

Spaghetti Sauce

I started making my own sauce a while ago.  It's not an exact science, but it always turns out good!  This can be served over pasta or as the sauce component for Lasagna.

Makes 6-8 servings

1 28oz can and 1 14.5oz can of Hunt's Tomato Sauce
1 Medium Yellow Onion - Diced
1 Green Bell Pepper - Diced
1 Red Bell Pepper - Diced
1 Package of Mushrooms - Thick Sliced
2 Tsp Dried Oregano
1 Tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp Dried Red Pepper Flakes
Pepper to Taste

In a deep sauce pan, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil or grapeseed oil until shimmering.  Saute onion and bell peppers until soft - about 5 - 8 minutes.  Add mushrooms and saute for another 3 minutes - until browned.  Add tomato sauce and spices and stir.  Allow to simmer for 30 minutes and taste.  Adjust herbs until it is spicey/savory enough for your liking.  Great base sauce for anything - adding sausage or chicken and serving over noodles is a complete meal.