Pasta al Olio

A simple dish of cooked and drained pasta, usually spaghetti or farfalle, tossed with a few tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper and maybe a bit of basil or Italian seasoning.  If you want take it up a notch, add some sauteed onion, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until onion is carmelized.  Fantabulous!!!

Pot Roast alla Napolitano

2 1/2 - 3 lb pot roast
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
6 oz tomato paste
1 small carrot, shredded
5 medium carrots, 1" chunks
1 small onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups water
16 oz penne pasta

Combine all ingredients except pasta in slow cooker.  Cook on high 5-6 hours.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Remove roast and carrots to serving plate.  Serve sauce over pasta.

Tuscan Soup

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

12 oz Italian sausage
8 cups water
2 tbsp vegetable broth powder
2 tbsp onion soup mix
4 large potatoes, cubed
salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch fresh spinach, washed and chopped
8 oz penne pasta

Brown sausage in frying pan.  In large pot, combine sausage, water, broth powder, soup mix and potatoes.  Cook on medium heat until potatoes are just tender, about 20-30 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.  Drain.

Add spinach and pasta to soup.  Continue cooking until spinach is lightly cooked, about 5-10 minutes more.

Zucchini Tomato Pasta

When cooking vegetables, you want to salt each "layer" as you go.  About 1/8 tsp for each.

16 oz linguini
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 zucchini, halved and sliced
3 roma tomatoes, chopped
12 fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic, red pepper, salt and saute until soft and golden.  Add more oil if needed and stir in zucchini and salt.  Saute about 5 minutes or until soft.  Add tomato, salt and cook just until warm.  Chop basil and add to vegetables.

Plate pasta and top with vegetables and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Vegetable Lo Mein

Adapted from Allrecipes

I know this isn't traditional Lo Mein, but I like it!

14 oz thin spaghetti

1/4 cup vegetable oil

4 cups vegetables ie, carrots, red peppers, onion, mushrooms, sugar snap peas, etc.  (I like the stir fry vegetable blend from Costco)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups fresh bean sprouts

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup water

1 tsp vegetable broth powder

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Heat oil in a large wok or saute pan. Stir fry vegetables and garlic until tender. Stir in bean sprouts, cabbage and green onions; cook one minute. Mix cornstarch and vegetable broth in a small cup and add to stir fry. Mix hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce and ginger.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Add cooked spaghetti, and toss.  Serve immediately.

Sausage Alfredo Pasta

This is far from healthy but it was so good!  I'm going to make it again sometime, but with better ingredients.

12 oz Italian sausage
24 oz farfalle pasta
1/4 cup butter
2 packets Alfredo sauce mix
5 cups water
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, brown and crumble sausage in a large saute pan.  Drain sausage on a few paper towels.

Melt the butter in the saute pan over medium-low heat then add the Alfredo sauce mix.  Add water and whisk together.  Continue whisking until sauce thickens.  Add the mushroom soup and mix to combine.   Add sausage back into pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes.