Baked Ziti is one of those classic, “everybody makes this dish” – but I never did until I saw this super simple recipe. You can add herbs of your choice, if you like. Add some Italian seasoning if you want. Or not. I used ready made spaghetti sauce with basil and garlic, and with the garlic called for in the recipe, it was good. Use the refrigerated package of shredded parmesan – or grate your own. This is also a very dense recipe so you won’t need a large serving. In fact, we made three meals (9 servings) of this and served it with a medium sized green salad and simple fruit dessert. I’m told it’s traditionally served with garlic bread – but we skipped that in pursuit of our staying (relative) low carb goal. We’re not big tomato sauce fans so this was just right, but if it seems ... [Read More]
pasta
Orzo Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Variations
Chilled Orzo and Tomato Pasta Salad is a great way to keep cool on a hot day. This delicious side dish tastes even better after the flavors have melded, so make it a day or two in advance for your next picnic or family get-together. So I read while looking for new pasta salads to serve this summer. This recipe sounded intriguing – except for a couple of ingredients. The recipe calls for a couple of tablespoons of capers though I also remembered olives could be substituted for capers. Now somewhere I also remember reading that only the super intelligent like celery and olives. Well, I am half way there. (Does that make me a half wit??) I like celery. Olives, not so much. And capers, even less. Just not a fan of vinegary, salty, acidic, or such flavor bursts. But one of them ... [Read More]
Skillet Lasagna
Skillet Lasagna Is a loose rendition of the standard baked version. They both have all the elements of meat, cheese, tomato sauce and pasta in common. Baked lasagna has big ruffly noodles layered with sauce, meat, then cheese and repeat. Skillet lasagna stirs meat, sauce and noodles in the pan, then tops with cheese when the noodles are just right for eating. For anyone maximizing time, skip the layering and enjoy the same flavors. You can go from cupboard to stove to table in about 30 minutes! This recipe is budget friendly and kid friendly too! Something quick but a little more sophisticated? Check out Grilled Brie and Pear Sandwich. Skillet Lasagna Print Prep time 5 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 35 mins Author: A Pinch of Joy by ... [Read More]
Baked Spaghetti
What’s for lunch? A big pan of baked spaghetti. Or Pasketti as Bytes’ Big Brother used to say. The whole family will love it! Layers of pasta, meat sauce, sour cream and cheese – comfort food of the highest order! The number of servings will depend on the appetites at your house. It makes 8 large servings, which will serve the three of us with two man-sized servings (and one regular serving for me) for TWO meals. Two littles usually ate the equivalent of one of the 8 servings. Which means enough for the man sized eater, two littles and one regular serving. The point? You may very easily get TWO meals for the effort in making one! And that’s a bonus in my book. If your cooking tends to be based on last minute decisions, you’ll find no judgment here because there are a lot ... [Read More]
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Beef Stroganoff is a simple dish of meat and mushrooms with a sour cream sauce that literally has been around for centuries. Eventually it was given the name of the Russian Count Pavel Stroganoff. Stroganoff, was a celebrity in turn-of-the-century St. Petersburg, a dignitary at the court of Alexander III and a gourmet. He entertained frequently and beef, onions and mushrooms in a savory sour cream sauce became a signature dish bearing his name. However, his Beef Stroganoff was likely served over potatoes rather than noodles. Beef Stroganoff has many variations and here is one more! This is a quick and easy version of Beef Stroganoff for families on the go. It takes about 10 minutes to put together, using cubed stew meat. You can use frozen diced onions to shave off a couple of ... [Read More]
Macaroni and Cheese Bites
Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a hearty appetizer for any occasion. Bake them in tart pans for Bitty Bites. Bake them in a regular muffin tin for a big guy appertizer or a light meal. Serve them for a prom after-party, an informal wedding reception, a couples potluck, the Big Game Food Table. I’ve mentioned before that we like hearty appetizers for a light meal that is different and out of the ordinary for us. It takes 20 minutes to prepare the big macaroni muffins. If you do the prep as directed and multi task while the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking, you’ll feel less hurried during assembly. I used a small ladle to fill each muffin cup to the top. The recipe makes exactly 12. Serve hot. Garnish with fresh ground pepper and chopped parsley. If you ... [Read More]
