Tag Archives: Pasta

Lasagna with Meatballs

“The history of the name of these noodles is actually quite interesting. “Lasagna” is derived from the Greek lasanon, which means “chamber pot.” The Romans borrowed the word to refer to cooking pots of a similar shape, and eventually the word came to be used to refer to the noodles which were traditionally layered in a lasanum, a Roman lasagna dish. Many people are unaware of the humble origins of the name for this popular Italian food, which means that you can trot it out at your next dinner party and look impressive.”

Ragu`

1 onions
1/4 cup Olive oil
2oo g sausages
500 g of hamburger meat (halved 250 g each. Reserve half for Ragu` and half for meatballs.)
1/2 cup red wine
2 28 ounce cans of tomato sauce or 700 ml Tomato sauce.  (reserve 1/3 cup sauce to use with ricotta or cottage cheese)
2/3 cup water
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup milk
1 box Barilla Lasagna Pasta Sheets
1/3 cup canola oil
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 Tablespoon chopped parsley
Reserved 1/3 cup tomato sauce
250 g ricotta or cottage cheese
200 g mozzarella sliced
Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 F or 190 C.

In a large pan over medium heat saute` onion in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add ground sausage and 250 g. of hamburger meat. Working quickly with a wooden spoon break apart the the meats until they resemble meat crumbs about 4 minutes. Add wine, allow to come to vapor, 1 minute.  Add Tomato sauce with 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup milk and salt to taste. Reduce heat to simmer and cover. Stir occassionally, for 10 minutes.

Prepare the meat balls.
In a seperate pan, warm canola oil over low heat. Then quickly start meatballs. In a bowl, add250 g hamburger meat, garlic and parsley working with hands to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
Shape into meatballs the size of a cherry and fry in oil until outerside is slightly hard. (5 minutes)

Ricotta and Sauce
Mix the ricotta with a ladle of sauce ‘Working with a fork combine sauce and ricotta until creamy (1 minute)
Assembling Pasta Layers for Lasagna
In a deep roasting pan, pour three ladles of sauce to thoroughly cover the bottom of pan.
Place a layer of pasta add three ladles of meat sauce.
Place a layer of pasta. Then spread the ricotta.
Place a layer of pasta, then three more  ladles of meat sauce, add the diced mozzarella.
Place a layer of pasta layer with three ladles of sauce, add meat balls as well.
Place a layer of pasta and four ladles of sauce.
Top off with mozzarella slices and Parmesan Cheese
Lightly Cover pan with aluminum foil, leaving space between cheese and foil.
Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove foil and allow to bake for another 10 minutes.

Remove from oven, let stand for twenty minutes so that ‘everything is’ congeals’ a bit before dividing into the portions.

History of Lasagna  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-lasagne.htm

Stuffed Clams or Mussels

Stuffed mussels or clams, open-faced or absorbed in tomato sauce makes for great finger foods.

A favorite seafood lovers dish.  You will serve this as an appetizer or part of the main course
using the sauce over fettucine or linguine pasta.  Have more fun with this dish by preparing it with a friend, child or spouse.

2 pounds (1 kilo) Mussels or Clams (bathe in a bowl of cold water for 1-2 hours in order for sand to be expelled from inside shells.)
1/2 cup water
Stuffing. Needed supply: 4 inch (10 cm) cut string for cooking string (cotton butchers twine). Will need about 20 pre-cut strings.
2 1/2 cups cubed bread (for stuffing)
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons parsley
1/2 tsp salt

Sauce
1 medium onion diced
2 tbsp Olive Oil
2 28 ounces cans of unseasoned tomato sauce

Directions for expelling sand from shellfish.

Pre-soak clams or mussels for 2 hours in cold water so that they expel the sand from their shells.

Directions for making stuffed shellfish
Scrub the shells with a kitchen brush or metal scrubber (no soaps or detergent). It’s okay for some algae to still be attached to the shell.
Over medium heat, place a large pan and add 1/2 cup water with all the cleaned mussels or clams, cover pan and allow shells to open. About 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium size bowl add bread crumbs, egg, salt, garlic and parsley. Using a fork or your hands mix all ingredients together.

Turn off heat on the stove and reserve water in the pan by taking the opened mussels or clams one at a time from the pan. If some have not opened leave them in pan and cover with lid. They will continue to open.
Place one tablespoon of stuffing into each mussel or clam. With one hand close shell with seafood and stuffing inside. While with the other hand the string is wrapped two times around the closed shell and knotted, or bow-tied.

In a large pan over medium heat, add onion and oil allow to saute for 4 minutes.
Slowly pass about 3/4 of the reserved water from the musssels into a bowl.  Stop the filtering process as any debris (sand) starts to float toward the sieve.  The debris will naturally be the last to float to the top. Discard the last bit of water.  Add the 3/4 filtered, reserved mussel/clam water to the pan with the sauteed onions and mussles.
Add all of the stuffed and tied clams or mussels with tomato sauce. Add 1/2 tsp salt to taste and allow to simmer in sauce for 20 minutes. Mussels will be served in a bowl, use fingers or fork and knife to remove string. The sauce may be added to cooked linguine or fettucine pasta. Top off with chopped parsley for presentation!

7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!

Tuna Delight

 

1 6 oz can or bag of Tuna Fish

2 tbsp Hummus

1 tbsp Chopped Walnuts (optional)

5-8 diced Grapes

Drizzle Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.  May be served on pita bread, baguette slices, or on side of salad.  Serves 2.

 

Mediterranean Salad

4 cups Pre-washed bag of Lettuce Chopped

1/2 can of Chick Peas rinsed and dried

8-10 Olives of choice

½ Cucumber diced

¼ c Arugula 

1 tbsp Feta Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Drizzle Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

 

Place all ingredients into bowl.  Gently toss ingredients together to combine. Serves 2-4 people.

 

 

Stuffed Tomato

Stuffed tomato's. Serve fresh or baked.

Minute Rice. Follow instructions on box  per serving.

1-4 large round Tomato  (Heirloom or Beefsteak)

Salad mix of choice (Egg, Tuna, Crab, Turkey, Ham)

Lettuce leaf or basil for presentation

 

Boil water for minute rice and follow box instructions. Meanwhile, Slice cap off top of tomato.  With a teaspoon remove pulp. Combine salad mix of choice with 1/4 cup of cooked rice. Spoon mixture into tomato. Serve on top of lettuce leaf.    

OPTIONAL: Heat oven to 400F.  For oven roasted tomato’s, follow instructions for stuffing. Place tomato’s in baking dish with 1 cup water and drizzle olive oil on tomato’s. Cover dish with aluminum foil, slit inch into the center of the foil with a knife, place in oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven. Serve with favorite meat or salad.

Cherry tomato's with Angel Hair Spaghetti

Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes

Serves 2-4.   To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Olive Oil

1 Garlic Clove (minced)

1Tbsp Capers (optional)

10 Olives (optional)

1 pint Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

Salt, Pepper to taste

Parsley fresh or dried

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

Saute` olive oil, garlic, tomato's for 7 minute's.

Meanwhile, place skillet on medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, tomatoes, (capers and olives) salt and sepper.  Allow to simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Allow pasta to cook 1 minute. Remove 1 ladle of boiling water and add to tomatoes in skillet.  Drain water from pasta.  Add pasta to skillet and combine with tomatoes.  Top off with fresh or dried parsley and serve.

 

Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto

Serves 2-4.  To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Pesto

Olive Oil

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Drain water from pasta.  In a clean bowl, add pesto and drizzle olive oil, gently combine together.  Serve and top off with cheese.

 

 

Sirloin Tip Steak

Sirloin Tip

Serves 2.  

 

¼ cup Olive oil

Peeled and Sliced ½  Onion

Sliced Portabella Mushroom

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup  Red Wine (optional)

1tsp Soy Sauce

2-4 slices of 1/4 inch sliced Sirloin Tip Steak

 

Salt and pepper meat on both sides. Place skillet on medium-high

Sirloin and Mushroom's

heat. Add olive oil, sliced onion and sliced portabella mushroom. 1/4 tsp salt to taste. Allow to cook covered for 2 minutes.  Add wine, soy sauce and meat. Cover, allow to cook for 2 minutes, with fork turn meat to other side and cook another 2 minutes.  Serve meat with mushrooms and onions

 

 

Asparagus Sautee`

Asparagus spears washed and lower part of stick cut and removed.

1/4 cup Olive Oil

Garlic Clove sliced

Sesame Seeds

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Place skillet on medium heat and add all ingredients.  Allow to cook with skillet covered for 5 minutes.  Serve on side of pasta dish or with Sirloin Tip.

 

 

 

 

 

Italian Seafood Pasta

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Italians enjoy their surf and turf!  This plate includes: Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Crab and Lobster. Prep time 5 minutes. Cooking time:  15-20 minutes from stove to table!  This recipe maybe used exclusively for any single item of seafood of your choosing. (ex. Only clams or mussels (use 2 lb.’s) or shrimp (Use 1 -2 lb’s).  Don’t forget to choose a wine

Serves 6 people

  • 4 garlic cloves (minced and set aside. use half for initial sauté, remaining half is added at the end or recipe.)
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 4 Tbsp Parsley ( chopped and set aside)
  • 360 g of Barilla Pasta (Spaghetti or Fettuccine)
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 1/2 pound cherry tomatoes (optional)
  • 1/2 lb Clams
  • 1/2 pound Mussels
  • 3/4 cup cream (optional)
  • 1-1/2 cup wine. (0ptional)
  • 1 Lobster Tail (meat loosened and removed from shell)
  • 1/2 pound Shrimp (peeled) or Pre-Cooked Shrimp
  • 1 pound Crab Legs
  • 1 tsp Salt & Pepper to taste.

BEGIN

In one large pan start to boil water.

Place clams and mussels in a colander, wash and scrub shells with cold water.

Second large pan: Healt 1/2 cup Olive oil on Medium heat with two garlic cloves for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add onions,  1/2 lb. Raw Shrimp, Mussels and Clams (and tomatoes optional).  Return pan to medium heat. FYI: Immediately cover dish to avoid hot oil splatter. Pour cream and wine onto fish. Cook together for 3 minutes.

At this time remove pasta from box and add Pasta ( Barilla Spaghetti or Fettuccine) to salted (1 tbsp salt) boiling water allow to boil for 8 minutes.

Place loosened lobster meat from the lobster tail, Pre-cooked Shrimp, Crab and 2 minced garlic cloves and parsley to the cooking mussels and clams. Allow to warm together for 2 minutes.  Add 1 tsp Salt and Pepper to taste.  Cover remove turn off heat. Add 2 ladles of pasta water to simmering seafood.

Drain water from pasta and Add Pasta to seafood carefully turning both, incorporating seafood and pasta together for about 2-3 minutes.  Drizzle fresh oil on seafood and pasta garnish with chopped parsley.

Buon Appettito!

By Kimberly Crocker

Simple Spaghetti Basil & Tomato Sauce

Simple Spaghetti Basil & Tomato Sauce

1 medium onion

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil  (EVOO)

28 oz tomato sauce

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup milk

10 Basil leaves

120 grams Spaghetti

In a large pan bring 1 quart of water to boil.

In a medium size pan, sauté onion in olive oil for 5 minutes on medium low.

Add tomato sauce, salt, milk (helps to reduce acidity of sauce which comes from the processed seeds.)

Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add basil leaves to sauce at end of simmering time.

 

Place Spaghetti in large pan of boiling water and allow to boil for time indicated. Drain water from spaghetti.

Serve Spaghetti with a 1/4 c of sauce

Add Parmesan cheese on top for a delicious bite of dinner!

 

 

Nutrition Facts  Cal 149  Cal from fat 125   Sodium 391mg  Carbohydrate 48g

Note: The fat in this recipe contains heart healthy alimentary fat made of  monosaturated fat (oleic acid) and polyphenols.

 

By:  Kimberly Crocker