Tag Archives: Pasta

Labor Day Grilling It’s time to fire up the grill for your Labor Day celebration!  I plan to spend the day outside enjoying the weather with family and friends.  Whatever you plan to do, I hope you enjoy some delicious food and get good use of your grill before cooler weather hits.  It’s the perfect day for grilling and a picnic. I have a handful of grilling ideas and side dish suggestions for you to try to have the perfect spread.  Let’s start with the meat! Brats – there are so many brat varieties available, you are sure to find something for everyone on your guest list.  My favorite is the Chicken Fajita Brat found at the Chef’s Counter of your local Festival Foods.  Other varieties available include Philly Cheese Chicken, Octoberfest, Jalapeno Cheddar, Wild Rice, and more!  Don’t forget the fresh brat buns from the bakery! Burgers – probably the most popular food to grill.  Plus, burgers … Continue reading

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Recently we tried our hand at making pan seared scallops and they were a-m-a-z-i-n-g!  So, we thought why not combine them with one of our favorite foods to make – pasta.  Scallops are tender and have a fairly delicate flavor that goes really well with the rich ingredients in Carbonara sauce, and that is what we ended up with – a delicious Scallops Carbonara! The recipe can be found here. Andrew and I both love to cook, which really helped with this dish.  One of us could work on the pasta while the other focused on the scallops.  I made the pasta.  To start, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until done.  While the pasta is cooking, work on the sauce. Mix together the cream, eggs, and Parmesan cheese, and set aside.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until crisp.  Add the shallots and green onion.  Crush … Continue reading

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I have a new favorite recipe to share with you.  It’s great for summertime because it has fresh veggies and a lighter taste…think pasta primavera.  It’s called Zucchini Parmesan Pasta.  Start by boiling water to cook the pasta noodles.  I went with Rigatoni, but any type of noodle will work.  Cook the pasta according to box instructions or al dente.  Reserve about ¾ cup of the pasta water before draining.  While the pasta is cooking, chop the veggies.  I found using small pieces helped the veggies cook faster and made it easier to turn into a sauce further into the recipe.  Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Make sure you are using a skillet large enough to hold the noodles when it comes time to mix!  Add the zucchini, squash, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook the ingredients until the veggies are … Continue reading

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How much Mexican food do I plan to eat this Cinco de Mayo, you ask? That’s nacho business! Break out the margaritas!  Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with some delicious food and refreshing cocktails.  I have a handful of recipes that are full of flavor and easy to throw together for a last-minute party.  Here’s what’s on the menu: Chunky Guacamole with Tortilla Chips White Queso Dip with Tortilla Chips Mexican Corn Tostadas Chicken Taquitos Mexican Pasta Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing Cubano Style Tacos Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars Tequila Sunrise     Not only are these great recipes for Cinco de Mayo, but they are light and refreshing options for any summer dinner.  Plus, you can make them as mild or spicy as you like by adjusting the amount of seasoning you add.  First up is Chunky Guacamole.  This is … Continue reading

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If you’re anything like me, you love pumpkin spice!  I know, I know, a lot of people are over the pumpkin spice craze but with so many recipes to try how can you not be intrigued by its deliciousness?  I personally think it should be a year-round item and not just seasonal, but it’s not up to me.  To fulfill my need for pumpkin I decided to have ‘pumpkin weekend’ at our house to hopefully get it out of my system (between us, it will never be out of my system 😊). The first item on the menu was Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting.  These are life changing and I don’t know if I’ll ever make cinnamon rolls without pumpkin again!  The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon fills your house as the rolls bake and for me it brought back some childhood memories because my mom liked to … Continue reading

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 What’s not to love about sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, and pasta with a healthy kick of red pepper flakes! This dish comes together quickly with wonderful rich flavor, a perfect evening meal for a busy family. Let’s get cooking. Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes  Ingredients • 3 large garlic cloves, minced • 1 jar (4 oz.) sun-dried tomatoes in oil • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes or larger • kosher salt • paprika • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving with the pasta • 8 oz. penne pasta • 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, or more, to taste • Fresh Italian Parsley chopped fine for garnish Drain sun-dried tomatoes from oil; reserve 2 Tbsp. of this drained oil for sautéing. Season the cubed chicken with kosher … Continue reading

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