Category Archives: Pasta
October 17, 2021
Menacing Meals
Halloween is fast approaching – are you ready? We sure are. Halloween is a month-long celebration at our house. We decorate early, spend 31 days gorging on candy, watch every Halloween movie possible, and make some fun themed treats to enjoy. I want to share with you some of my new Halloween recipes and ideas for this year. Each is fairly customizable and will be sure to put your friends and family in a mood to celebrate. My first Halloween idea is for a Char-Spookery board. This is a traditional charcuterie board but with a spooky flair. To be called a charcuterie board, it must contain meat. Otherwise, it’s just a plain old board. What I like about charcuterie boards is how easy they are to put together and how customizable they are. Choose 2-3 meats, 3-4 cheeses, some fruit, nuts, olives, and maybe a few pieces of chocolate, and … Continue reading
October 5, 2021
It’s Pumpkin Spice Season
It’s that time of year…. fall…. or pumpkin spice season, as some like to call it. I did a little research on the fall phenomenon that is pumpkin spice and was quite intrigued by my findings. Did you know that pumpkin spice earned its name because it was originally used in cakes and pies that contained pumpkin? I didn’t but McCormick (the seasoning brand) started marketing the spice to save consumers the effort of having to make their own homemade version and could instead buy the spice at their local grocery store. Pretty cool, huh? The spice mix is generally a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice. I admittedly have all these spices in my cabinet but understand that not everyone else does, so I can make homemade pumpkin spice if needed, but something the store-bought version is easier 🙂 I also learned that cravings for … Continue reading
September 23, 2021
Willkommen to Oktoberfest!
Willkommen (or welcome) to Oktoberfest! If you aren’t familiar, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest…or beer festival and traveling funfair, for those of use that don’t speak German. It’s held in Germany and runs about 2 weeks, typically from mid-Sept to the first Sunday in October. You can find traditional German food such as sausages, oversized soft pretzels, mustard and curry ketchup, cabbage and radish salads, dumplings, spaetzle, and obviously, plenty of ice-cold beer! More than 6 million people from around the world attend the event every year. Unfortunately, the Oktoberfest celebration in German is cancelled again this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy plenty of yummy food. So, pull out the decorations, get your house in order, invite some friends and family over, and cook up some delicious German food! I’d like to share with you 5 different ideas to host the perfect Oktoberfest party. We’ll … Continue reading
September 22, 2021
Tuscan Chicken Alfredo
Tuscan Chicken Alfredo tastes like a restaurant quality meal! You won’t be able to get over how amazing the creamy sauce is and how each bite just the perfect amount of spice to it. This dish is loaded with tender chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and a lovely garlic sauce. Not only does it taste amazing but it’s easy to make. The chicken is marinated before cooking, the sauce whisks together in no time, and the veggies add a little texture to each bite. You might even find yourself licking your plate clean! The recipe can be found here. Start by slicing the chicken. I like to slice the chicken into 1-inch pieces, but you can use strips if you prefer. Place the chicken in a bowl and pour the Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing over the top. The chicken should be mostly coated but you can push it down … Continue reading
August 9, 2021
Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Pasta
Flavorful and creamy Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Pasta will make weeknight cooking a breeze! It’s rich, without being too rich, easy to make, and delicious. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal because it is entirely made in the Instant Pot. That’s a win-win for dishes and cleanup if you ask me. The chicken is simmered in a rich and creamy sauce that envelopes the tender pasta noodles. Each bite is filled with wonderful flavor. It’s like eating an alfredo sauce that doesn’t actually taste like alfredo. This is a meal the whole family will enjoy! You can jazz it up with some spinach leaves for added color or substitute the chicken for ground beef. If you are looking for a vegetarian option, skip the meat and add mushrooms instead. The recipe can be found here. Start by adding salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper to a large Ziploc … Continue reading
May 11, 2021
Bacon & Onion Spaetzle
I recently acquired a spaetzle maker and thought I would play around with creating a fun and delicious recipe. I bought the spaetzle maker without ever having spaetzle before but thought it looked like a neat kitchen tool to try and after researching recipes, thought it wouldn’t be too hard to make. Spaetzle is a type of pasta made with eggs and flour and it’s typically served as a side dish. I wanted to make mine into more of a meal, but you could easily half the recipe or tweak some of the ingredients to enjoy it as a side dish. It’s very popular in German cuisine so keep this in your back pocket when Oktoberfest comes around and you need a unique dish to celebrate with 😊 My recipe is for Bacon & Onion Spaetzle. The spaetzle is homemade and perfectly tender. When you pair it with onions, cheese, and bacon, it becomes quite the … Continue reading
May 9, 2021
Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta
I can’t say that I’m super “with it” and on top of today’s trends but did come across a recent TikTok trend where people are baking an entire brick of feta cheese and turning it into pasta. We tried it at home and not only is it a simple dish to prepare but it’s also delicious! The result is Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Add your tomatoes to a 9×13 baking dish. Either cherry or grape tomatoes are fine but make sure you have 2 pints. Then, liberally drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir until the tomatoes are fully coated. Shift the tomatoes there is a large well in the center. Place the brick of feta in the center. If you can’t find a brick of feta that’s ok. You can use crumbled feta but make sure to put it … Continue reading
March 24, 2021
Baked Ziti
Talk about comfort food at its finest! Baked Ziti is a classic pasta bake that is loaded with multiple kinds of melted cheese, sizzling red sauce, and tender noodles. You can substitute the red sauce for a meat sauce, similar to a Bolognese, but I think the dish has plenty of flavor without the added meat. Ziti is a tube-shaped pasta, very similar to penne. The only different is how the noodles are cut, in a straight line instead of at a slant. You can find Ziti in the pasta aisle. If for some reason you can’t find it, penne noodles are a great substitute. The noodles are cooked al dente and are a little firm because they soften up while baking. The cheese and sauce fills the inside of each noodles and sticks to the outside. This is a hearty meal! The recipe can be found here. Start by … Continue reading
March 20, 2021
Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Pasta with Shrimp
Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Pasta with Shrimp is an Italian inspired seafood pasta recipe. It’s decadent, easy, and you’ll love it! I’m always looking for an excuse to use sun dried tomatoes. I love the sweet yet tart flavor and the chewy texture. They add some incredible flavor to any dish, especially when you use some of the oil from the jar to sauté other items vs traditional olive oil. It’s a great combination of tender shrimp, creamy sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes in every bite. The recipe can be found here. Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. I like to use fettuccini noodles, but any noodle shape will work just fine. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining. Then drain the noodles and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. I suggest using the … Continue reading
March 12, 2021
Bruschetta Pasta (Vegan)
Every so often I like to make a vegan dish for a few reasons. First, the food is actually delicious (don’t knock it ‘til you try it) and second, I have friends and family members who are vegan (or follow a similar diet), so I like to have a few recipes in my back pocket in case I’m ever entertaining them. I’d rather be accommodating so they know they can comfortably eat at my house than have them eat before coming over. And truly, the food is quite good, in addition to being good for you! Bruschetta Pasta is one of my to-go dishes. It is a vegan dish, but you could easily add parmesan cheese or a little shredded mozzarella if you aren’t following a special diet or don’t have dietary restrictions. I like this pasta because it’s very light and refreshing. Think of traditional bruschetta, but instead of … Continue reading
Recent Comments