Vegetable Lasagna

Ingredients:
3 cups pasta sauce (like Classico Spicy Tomato and Pesto)
16 ounces 2% cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
9 whole wheat lasagna noodles
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
Approximately 4 cups mixed vegetables (I used spinach, carrots, sundried tomatoes, and zucchini)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400*.  Spray 11 X 8 glass casserole dish.
Combine cottage and parmesan cheeses.
Place 3 uncooked noodles in pan.
Cover with 1 cup pasta sauce, 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 vegetables, and 1/3 mozzarella.
Repeat 2 more times.
Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake one hour.

Chinese Shrimp Noodle Salad

Chinese Shrimp Noodle Salad

8 oz Chinese egg noodles

½ c diced celery

½  c chopped green onion

1 can sliced water chestnuts

1 can shrimp, drained (or about 1 C fresh)

1 sm pkg Uncle Dan’s Southern Style Dressing (now Hidden Valley Ranch)

1 c mayo

Boil egg noodles (broken) for 9 minutes (see note below)

Rinse in cold water.

Add celery, onion, and water chestnuts. 

Just before serving, mix Uncle Dan’s and mayo and pour over all.   Mix.

Add shrimp just before serving

Can be refrigerated overnight. 

*Notes:

1.  fresh shrimp is better

2.  the somen brand egg noodles only need to cook 3 minutes.

3.  Can actually mix all the night before (including shrimp).  Won’t make a lot of difference.

Zuccini & Summer Squash Fettuccini

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INGREDIENTS for 2 servings
3-4 medium sized zucchini/summer squash
salt (lots)
2 roasted red bell peppers, packed in EVOO
1 tomato, desseded
2 cloves garlic
salt/pepper
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
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DIRECTIONS
1. Use a vegetable peeler (a mandoline would make this even easier) to peel off the outside skin, and chop off the ends of your squash. Continue peeling your squash into long strips – these will become your “noodles”.

2. Using a knife, cut each strip vertically into the desired width – for fettuccine width, I cut each strip into about 3 noodles.

3. Chop your roasted red peppers, garlic, and tomato, and add to a medium pot on med-high. Roasting red peppers is easy, and Ina has an easy set of directions to follow. I like to do this in large batches when they come into season. You can use canning techniques to preserve them too. Alternatively, you could go buy a jar of some at the store. But if you are able to make your own, they will be a lot more flavorful!

If you don’t have time to wait a few weeks and pack them in EVOO and just want to make this recipe, go ahead and roast them, peel the skins off, and then just add some EVOO into your sauce. It will work just fine that way.

4. Get a large pot of water on the stove for cooking your “noodles”, and start it going so that it will come to a boil. While that is heating up, check on your sauce. Once it is boiling, give it a stir and puree it in the food processor. Then return to the pot to keep warm while you are doing the “noodles”. If it is too watery in consistency, bring it back up to a simmer to let some of the water come off.

5. Once your big pot is boiling, add your squash noodles. Have a bowl of cold water ready, and after about 30 seconds to 1 minute (just when they are tender), transfer them to the water bowl. Usually blanching required putting them in ice water, but I didn’t want to eat completely cold noodles. After they have cooled a little bit, they are ready to serve.

6. Plate sauce first, and then add the noodles, and top with lemon zest and parsley.

{from Jenn Cuisine}

Chicken with Marsala Cream Sauce

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INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, scallopini pieces (thin sliced)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup dry Marsala wine
1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
12 ounces dried fettuccine

DIRECTIONS
1.) Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cool slightly.

3.) While the chicken cools, melt 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet over medium-high heat, then add the onion and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 12 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until it is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Stir in the mascarpone and mustard.

4.) Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through and the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chopped parsley. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper.

5.) Swirl the fettuccine onto serving plates. Spoon the chicken mixture over top of the pasta. Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve.

{via Elizabeth's Edible}

Smoked Gouda Pasta Salad

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INGREDIENTS

1 pound penne pasta

1 garlic clove, minced

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 pound smoked Gouda, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1 (7-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced

2 cups arugula

1 shallot, chopped

1 jar pickled artichokes, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
2. Add next 6 ingredients and cooked pasta. Mix well, and chill 1 hour before serving.(Instead of using just olive oil, I used the olive oil from the sun-dried tomato jar and some of the artichoke jar).

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Fettuchine with Tomato Cream Sauce

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INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
3 large cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (or canned, drained of juice)
1 tablespoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup dry red or white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 cup small shrimp (optional)
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DIRECTIONS
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and stir. Add the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper and turn to high heat. Sauté until the tomatoes break down. Add the wine and reduce slightly. Finally, add the cream and parsley. Cook another 2 minutes or so, until desired consistency. Gently crush the tomatoes with the back of a spoon to release additional juices.

Fettuccine with Bolognese Sauce

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diceed
1 carrot, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 pound pancetta, chopped
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup whole milk
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 14½-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 lb cooked fettuccine, for serving

Optional: 2 tbsp chopped olives, 1 jar artichokes, chopped, chopped mushrooms.

DIRECTIONS
1. In a Dutch oven, over medium heat, heat the oil.
2. Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add the celery, carrot, and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more.
3. Add the pancetta and cook for 5 minutes, then add the beef and cook until brown.
4. Add the wine and the remaining ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes.
5. Serve with cooked fettuccine. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Excellent served with toasted baguette rounds...

Pesto Shrimp Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. fresh or frozen medium shrimp in shells
8 oz. dried elbow macaroni (2 cups)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup half-and-half
1-1/4 cups shredded fontina cheese (5 oz.)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. pine nuts, toasted
1-1/2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
Fresh basil leaves

DIRECTIONS
1. Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel and devein shrimp, removing tails. Rinse shrimp; pat dry with paper towels. Chop shrimp and set aside.

2. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.

3. In large bowl stir together eggs, butter, half-and-half, 1 cup of the fontina cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, garlic, pine nuts, chopped basil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir in shrimp and macaroni. Transfer to buttered 2-quart casserole. Top with remaining cheeses.

4. Bake, uncovered, 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through and shrimp pieces are opaque. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil leaves. Makes 6 servings.

Baked Ziti

INGREDIENTS
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces ziti rigate (ridged) or other short pasta
1 cup part-skim ricotta
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1 jar (24 to 26 ounces) best-quality tomato sauce (about 3 1/2 cups)


DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions; drain and reserve.

2. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and half the mozzarella; season with salt and pepper.
3. In the bottom of a shallow 2-quart casserole dish, spread half the tomato sauce. Top with ziti, then ricotta mixture and remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and remaining mozzarella. Place casserole on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until top is browned and sauce is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Bake garlic bread with ziti during last 10 minutes of baking.

Chicken Salad for a Crowd

Prep Time: 30 min
(ready in 4 hours, 30 min)
yield: 25 (1/2 cup) servings
from my mom!

INGREDIENTS
12 oz (2 C) uncooked orzo (*rosamarina)
2 T lemon juice
2 C mayonnaise or salad dressing
4 C cubed cooked chicken
¼ C half-and-half
2 C seedless green grapes, halved
1 T salt
2 C (1 lg) chopped seeded cucumber
2 t white pepper
1 C chopped celery

DIRECTIONS
1. Cook 2 c uncooked orzo to desired doneness as directed on package (9-11 min, constant rolling boil). Drain; rinse with cold water.

2. Combine in large bowl:
2 c mayonnaise or salad dressing
¼ c half and half
1 T salt
2 t white pepper
2 T lemon juice

3. Stir in cooked orzo.

4. Add all remaining ingredients:
4 C cubed cooked chicken
2 C seedless green grapes, halved
2 C (1 large) chopped, seeded cucumber
1 C chopped celery

5. Mix well. Cover. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or
overnight.

*another name for orzo, means “rose of the sea”.
To make lo-cal, substitute low-fat for regular mayonnaise and skim milk for half-and-half to slash fat per serving from 16 gr to 3 gr.

Pasta with leeks, peas and pecorino

I found this recipe in Real Simple in their "easy dinners" section. Followed their recipe almost exactly except nixed the mint in favor of basil. And if I make it again I would add some white wine.














1 pound dry round or short pasta
2-3 basil leaves, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 leeks (white and light green parts only), thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Pecorino
2 teaspoons lemon zest

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks, season with the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and peas and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in the cream, white wine, basil, and 3/4 cup of the Pecorino. Simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 4 minutes.

Drain the pasta and return it to pot. Add the sauce, lemon zest, and mint and toss. Divide the pasta among shallow bowls and sprinkle with the remaining Pecorino and pepper.

Pasta with Cream Sauce, Peas, and Chives

Pasta with Cream Sauce, Peas, and Chives
serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 pound dried pasta
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Parmesan
1/2 cup green onions or chives

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, over medium-low heat, warm the cream, milk, salt, and pepper. Drain the pasta and add it to the cream mixture. Add the Parmesan and stir until the cheese melts and the sauce begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the peas, increase heat to medium, and warm until heated through, 3 minutes more. Transfer to a serving dish or individual bowls and top with the chives.

Hamburger Stroganoff

Hamburger Stroganoff

4 servings
1 lb hamburger
1 med onion, chopped (about ½ C)
¼ C margarine or butter
2 T flour
1 t salt
1 clove garlic, finely chopped or 1 t garlic salt
¼ t pepper
1 can (4 ou) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (10-3/4 ou) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 C dairy sour cream or unflavored yogurt
2 or 3 cups hot cooked noodles or rice

Cook and stir in 10-inch skillet until light brown: 1 lb hamburger, 1 med chopped onion, ¼ C butter or margarine

Measure the following into a small bowl: 2 T flour, 1 t salt, 1 chopped clove garlic (or 1 t garlic salt)

Stir into the hamburger mixture and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly: bowl of flour, salt, garlic, 1 (4 ou) can mushroom pieces and stems

Stir in 1 can cream of chicken soup. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

Stir in approx. 1 C sour cream and heat through.

Serve over hot noodles and if desired, sprinkle with snipped parsley.