Category Archives: Pasta

Do you ever struggle to find a weeknight meal option that’s not only quick and easy to make but also something your whole family will enjoy?  I think that’s something we all go through but even more so now with spending more time at home.  How do you keep the meals exciting?  How do you add variety to your weekly menu?  It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and eat the same old meals week after week, and COVID hasn’t helped! The occasional takeout meal is fine, but I’ve definitely been getting good use out of my kitchen appliances.  Some of which I rarely use, but it’s been fun to find recipes to make in them and familiarize myself with the appliance so I can use it more often. My most recent recipe is for Simple Instant Pot Mac & Cheese.  Like the recipe name says, it’s simple 🙂 … Continue reading

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Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese is a great one-pot meal that will blow your mind!  It’s a twist on traditional mac & cheese that is easy to make and done in minutes.  It’s super cream, full of tender chicken, and has a great spicy and tangy flavor from the addition of buffalo sauce. The recipe can be found here. Start by slicing the chicken into bite sized pieces.  Add the chicken to a bowl and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Toss to coat all pieces. Turn on the sauté function of the Instant Pot.  Add a small amount of oil.  I like to use avocado oil or coconut oil, but olive oil works just as well.  Add the chicken and cook until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.  Make sure to stir the chicken while it cooks so it doesn’t stick to the bowl of the Instant … Continue reading

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Vegan Buffalo Mac & Cheese will make your dreams come true one bite at a time.  It’s the ultimate comfort food!  Each bite is creamy, loaded with buffalo spice, and has the slightest crunch from toasted breadcrumbs.  It’s the perfect recipe to take your dinner game to the next level.   The recipe can be found here. The first step is to bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instruction.  Drain and set aside.  I like to use chickpea noodles because they are packed with protein and fiber but use any noodle you prefer.  I think the texture of chickpea noodles is very similar to regular noodles, as well as the taste. Next, bring a small pot of water to a boil (you can also do this while the noodles are cooking).  Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and … Continue reading

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Vegan Lasagna is a flavorful and hearty dish that’s packed with protein.  Yes, it is vegan but even meat lovers will enjoy it!  It’s layered with tender noodles, cashew ricotta cheese, marinara, spinach, and topped with mozzarella cheese. The recipe can be found here. The ricotta cheese is thick, creamy, and is a great recipe to use in lasagna, pasta, pizza, and more.  I was skeptical when making the ricotta because this was my first attempt, but it did not disappoint.  I didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised and admittedly didn’t know vegan cheese could taste this good!  It was also very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients, most of which are pantry staples if you lead a vegan lifestyle.  It has a lovely texture and amazing cheese flavor. The mozzarella is stretchy, creamy, and very smooth.  It’s a wonderful substitute to dairy mozzarella!  … Continue reading

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In the midst of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order, meals can be a little harder to plan.  Grocery stores are working hard to keep the shelves stocked but that doesn’t mean you will find every item on your list.  I think that creates a great opportunity to clean out the pantry and make some meal using existing items on home.  Maybe you have a lot of canned goods or items that are nearing expiration…use them! I created 5 different pantry meals last week that I’m going to share with you today.  I didn’t use a recipe for any of them.  They all resulted from items found in our pantry, fridge, or freezer.  It was a great way to use the food, especially from the fridge, before it spoiled and a fun way to create some new meals.  I highly suggest doing this at home.  Who knows, you might create something … Continue reading

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St Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for everyone!  You can usually find some type of celebration around town whether it be a parade, green beer at your favorite bar or specials on Irish food at restaurants.  Even if you aren’t Irish, it’s fun to participate in the festivities. We like to watch the parade and enjoy an adult beverage with the dressed-up crowds (the people watching is phenomenal), then head home for a feast!  Some years we like to enjoy traditional Irish food but other years we like to take a favorite dish and add and Irish twist.  It really depends on what we feel like cooking that day!  This year, we are going to enjoy the following menu with friends and family: Reuben Dip Guinness Cheddar Mac & Cheese Guinness Glazed Chicken Sandwich Irish Mule Guinness Brownies   The Reuben Dip is our appetizer and something to much … Continue reading

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Spicy Chicken Rigatoni is hands down one of my top 5 favorite pasta dishes!  It has large pieces of tender chicken, perfectly cooked noodles, and a lot of heat (in a good way).  Should I go on?  There is as little or as much garlic as you would like, alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, and butter…. yes, butter…. for a wonderfully creamy sauce. This dish is so simple to make and tastes amazing.  You’ll think you’re eating at a fancy Italian restaurant.  Perfetto! The recipe can be found here. In a large skillet or deep pot, heat oil over medium heat.  You want the skillet or pot to be large enough to fit the sauce and noodles so you can toss everything together at the end. Add the crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, and garlic.  Sauté just long enough for the garlic to caramelize and red pepper to release flavor … Continue reading

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Creamy Hummus Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes is something we tried recently.  We both like pasta and we both like hummus, so why not try them together, right? It’s savory, delicious, and light.  You’ll be satisfied without the heavy feeling of being too full.  The hummus replaces traditional pasta sauce, so you have a creamy and slightly nutty flavored sauce.  The sun dried tomatoes are roasted with garlic so they are tender and give off great flavor.  This recipe is a winner in our house! The recipe can be found here. Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and cooking the pasta according to package instructions.  Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set the reserved water and noodles aside. In a large skillet, heat the sun dried tomato oil over medium heat.  Add the sun dried tomatoes and garlic, and sauté for about … Continue reading

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Sheet Pan Roasted Gnocchi & Veggies is a great one-pan meal the whole family will love!  It’s full of toasted gnocchi (store bought but still delicious), roasted fresh veggies, herbs, and a dusting of Parmesan cheese.  It’s easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and is a meal that can be enjoyed year-round. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop the bell peppers and onion.  You can use any color of bell pepper – it just makes the dish more colorful!  You don’t need to slice the tomatoes. Peel the garlic cloves and place on a cutting board.  Lay a knife sideways on top of the garlic and use the palm of your hand to press down and “smash” the garlic.  If you would prefer to use minced garlic that is fine too! Add … Continue reading

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National Pasta Day is today and what better way to celebrate than with homemade pasta!  If you haven’t had a cheat day yet this week, I highly recommend it be today 🙂 If you don’t mind putting in a little elbow grease and work, homemade pasta is the way to go.  If you’re on a time crunch or just not that interested in cooking, boxed noodles or a heat-and-serve pasta dish is just fine.  My preference is homemade pasta.  Yes, it can be time consuming, but the flavor is incredible, and it has a great texture! My go-to recipe is for Homemade Egg Noodles.  You do need a stand mixer and pasta attachment for this recipe to work.  You can also use this recipe with a hand cranked pasta maker, but I have yet to try that method. Start by adding your ingredients to the bowl of the stand mixer.  … Continue reading

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