Category Archives: Pasta

Capture the vibrant flavors of summer with this Heirloom Tomato Basil Pasta. Rigatoni is tossed with a burst of sweetness from roasted cherry tomatoes and a savory kick from garlic and oregano. Fresh basil brings a fragrant, herbaceous note, while a sprinkle of breadcrumbs adds a satisfying crunch. With a touch of crushed red pepper flakes for heat and a generous finish of shredded Parmesan cheese, this simple yet elegant dish will elevate any weeknight meal. The recipe can be found here. Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.  Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water then drain the rest and set the pasta aside. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add 2 cups of cherry tomatoes and sauté for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to soften and release … Continue reading

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Craving a comforting bowl of childhood nostalgia? These Homemade Spaghetti-O’s are the perfect way to recreate that classic taste with a fresh, flavorful twist. Made with simple ingredients like olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, and a hint of red pepper flakes, this recipe brings a rich, savory sauce to life. Apple cider vinegar adds a touch of tang, while bouillon cubes and water build a deep base of flavor. Large ring noodles soak up the goodness, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese gives it that cheesy finish you’ll love. It’s an easy, homemade version of a timeless favorite! The recipe can be found here. Start by heating oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant.  Add red pepper flakes, tomato paste, onion powder, and pepper, and stir to combine.  Continue to cook for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add the apple cider … Continue reading

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Transform your dinner routine with a dish that blends the vibrant flavors of tacos into a comforting pasta creation. This Taco Pasta recipe brings together tender pasta shells, savory ground beef, and a rich, cheesy sauce that will delight your taste buds. It’s a perfect fusion of Mexican-inspired spices and classic pasta comfort, all in one skillet. Whether you’re planning a cozy family dinner or hosting a casual gathering with friends, this Taco Pasta is sure to be a hit. Let’s dive into the recipe and discover how easy it is to bring a touch of Tex-Mex flair to your table tonight! The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing all the ingredients; chop the onion and cilantro, mince the garlic, drain the olives, and set everything aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions, until al dente.  … Continue reading

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Chicken Bacon Ranch Gnocchi is super yummy and the ultimate comfort food!  CBR for short, is another one of my favorite flavor combinations, and when paired with gnocchi?  Even better yet!  The gnocchi are fluffy and pillowy, the chicken is tender and moist, the bacon is salty and crisp, and the burst of ranch brings it together in each bite.  It’s a quick and easy weeknight meal your whole family will love. The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess grease and let cool.  Once cool, chop and set aside.  You can use more than 5 slices of bacon if you prefer your dish to be bacon heavy or substitute and use turkey bacon if you prefer. Next, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the chicken (pre-sliced) and season with … Continue reading

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I recently made a batch of Creamy Beef and Shells and was told “I’d eat this again” and “I could lick the bowl” in the same sitting so I’ll take that as a win!  If you’ve never had Creamy Beef and Shells, it’s essentially a twist on classic macaroni and cheese.  It has lots of flavor and is a very hearty, comfort food, that is perfect for picky eaters because it will satisfy any taste buds.  There really isn’t a lot to this dish and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand already so it’s a great pantry meal. The recipe can be found here. Start by heating 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or deep pot over medium heat.  Add the beef and cook until completely cooked through, crumbling as it cooks, about 6-7 minutes.  Add the salt, pepper, and onion powder and stir to … Continue reading

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I love all things Buffalo Chicken.  If you can “buffalo chicken” a recipe, I’ve probably done it, and if I haven’t, I want to know what I’m missing.  My new favorite recipe is for Buffalo Chicken Lasagna.  It’s loaded with buffalo wing sauce, tender rotisserie chicken, plenty of cheese, and soft noodles.  It’s got some heat but isn’t too spicy in my opinion.  If it is too spicy for you, cut the heat with some blue cheese or ranch dressing.  It’s an easy recipe to prepare and comes together, start to finish, in about 1 hour. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Add the ricotta, 8 oz shredded mozzarella (or sub with blue cheese), egg, parsley, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.  This is the yummy cheesy filling. Add the chicken, buffalo sauce … Continue reading

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Philly Cheesesteak Pasta is a great one-pot weeknight meal the whole family will love!  It tastes just like a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and if you aren’t familiar, it’s thin sliced beef with sautéed onions and peppers on a hoagie that’s smothered with cheese.  In this case, the bun is being replaced by noodles.  It’s cheesy, melty, and the perfect comfort food. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F and prepare your ingredients – slice the onion and bell pepper and mince the garlic. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and 1 tsp of salt and sauté for about 5 minutes or until the onions are soft and starting to brown.  Add the bell pepper and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the peppers start to soften.  Add the garlic and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium.  Add the ground beef, … Continue reading

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Fettuccine Bolognese is a wonderful winter recipe when you are looking for something hearty and with lots of flavor.  If you aren’t familiar, a Bolognese is a slow cooked sauce that typically contains beef or pork.  In this case, I used beef.  This dish is similar to spaghetti and meatballs in flavor and is great for picky eaters.  I truly think it’s something everyone will like.  It does take about 2 hours to make (including prep time) because you must simmer the sauce (remember, this is a slow cooked sauce), but it’s worth the wait and your house will smell incredible.  It’s also not a spicy dish, very mild flavors, but we can talk about spicing it up later. The recipe can be found here.  Now let’s walk through how to make it! Start by doing all your prep work.  This makes cooking and assembly MUCH easier.  Chop the onion and celery, mince the garlic, open the canned goods, … Continue reading

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Pimento Mac & Cheese is an easy weeknight skillet meal the whole family will love!  It’s packed with flavor and combines 2 of my favorite things….mac and cheese and pimento cheese.  I personally think pimentos are underutilized in recipes, so this is a great recipe for them to shine.  I can’t wait to make it again! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and use 1 Tbsp softened butter to grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles until al dente.  You don’t want to overcook and make them mushy.  Drain the noodles and set aside. While the noodles are cooking, make the cheese sauce.  Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.  Add the flour, paprika, and salt, and whisk to combine.  Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly.  The mixture will start to turn a … Continue reading

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We recently went on a camping trip, and it was HOT.  Hotter than normal this time of year which was both pleasant and unfortunate.  Pleasant because it was nicer than cold, rainy days but unfortunate because we didn’t have AC 😊 The only way to beat the heat was to make homemade ice cream.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We made ice cream, from scratch, while camping.  And it’s actually quite easy. First, you need to purchase an Ice Cream Ball.  The one we have is YayLabs! Soft Shell Ice Cream Ball.  You can find it at your local sporting goods store or online by doing a simple Google search.  They are reasonably priced and very fun to use. The ball has 2 sides that twist open.  You add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to one side, and ice and ice cream salt to the other side.  Roll around for 10 minutes, stir the ingredients and scrape down the sides, add additional salt, and roll … Continue reading

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