Can’t wait to share some of my favorite pasta recipes with Christine and
the folks at Atlanta & Company today! Did you know that pasta is one of the
world’s most favorite foods? Spaghetti, lasagna, rotini, tortellini –
there are OVER 600 known pasta shapes. Why? It’s delicious, it’s
nutritious, with only about 100 calories per serving (1/2 cup) especially when
it eaten along with lots of yummy veggies.
the folks at Atlanta & Company today! Did you know that pasta is one of the
world’s most favorite foods? Spaghetti, lasagna, rotini, tortellini –
there are OVER 600 known pasta shapes. Why? It’s delicious, it’s
nutritious, with only about 100 calories per serving (1/2 cup) especially when
it eaten along with lots of yummy veggies.
Oh yeah – and it’s versatile – t can be enjoyed as an appetizer main
course, or side dish.
course, or side dish.
Pasta is typically
thought of as an Italian dish, but there is evidence that people living in Asia
in 2000 BC made noodles with millet. Pasta can be made dry (pasta secca) or
fresh (pasta fresca). There are over 350 varieties of dried pasta in Italy
alone. The highest quality of dried pasta is made with pure durum semolina
flour and water.
thought of as an Italian dish, but there is evidence that people living in Asia
in 2000 BC made noodles with millet. Pasta can be made dry (pasta secca) or
fresh (pasta fresca). There are over 350 varieties of dried pasta in Italy
alone. The highest quality of dried pasta is made with pure durum semolina
flour and water.
Do your part by cooking up some of these easy, yummy recipes – we need to catch up…the
typical Italian eats over sixty pounds of pasta per year. In comparison,
Americans only eat around twenty pounds of pasta per person per year!
typical Italian eats over sixty pounds of pasta per year. In comparison,
Americans only eat around twenty pounds of pasta per person per year!
Mediterranean Shrimp
with Feta and Tomatoes
2 TB Olive Oil
1 Medium Red Onion, Thinly Sliced
1 Cup Dry White Wine
2 Cans Fire Roasted Tomatoes
2 Tsp Dried Oregano
Sea Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
1 TB Chopped Parsley
2 TB Chopped Fresh Oregano
1 1/2 LB Large Shrimp, Peeled and Deveined
8 Oz Crumbled Feta or Mozzarella or Combination
1 Box Whole
Wheat Penne Pasta
Wheat Penne Pasta
Step One Preheat the oven to 350F. Heat the oil in a
sauté pan and cook the onion over medium heat until transparent. Add the wine
and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano and a healthy sprinkle of
salt and pepper, cook over medium heat for 20 – 30 minutes, or until the sauce
thickens. Stir in the herbs.
sauté pan and cook the onion over medium heat until transparent. Add the wine
and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano and a healthy sprinkle of
salt and pepper, cook over medium heat for 20 – 30 minutes, or until the sauce
thickens. Stir in the herbs.
Step
Two. Place
the shrimp in the bottom of an ovenproof casserole dish and top with the sauce.
Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the shrimp is
just cooked through.
Two. Place
the shrimp in the bottom of an ovenproof casserole dish and top with the sauce.
Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the shrimp is
just cooked through.
Step Three While the shrimp is cooking,
prepare the whole wheat penne. When the shrimp is done, top the penne with the
sauce, shrimp and feta.
prepare the whole wheat penne. When the shrimp is done, top the penne with the
sauce, shrimp and feta.
****No
time to make the sauce? Use your favorite purchased sauce and pick up the
recipe on Step Two.
time to make the sauce? Use your favorite purchased sauce and pick up the
recipe on Step Two.
Caprese Tortellini Skewers
1 Pkg Prepared and Cooked
Cheese Tortellini (al dente)
Cheese Tortellini (al dente)
1 Pkg Grape Tomatoes
1 Recipe *Simple Vinaigrette
Skewer the tortellini, basil
leaves and grape tomatoes on bamboo skewers. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and
serve.
leaves and grape tomatoes on bamboo skewers. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and
serve.
*Simple Vinaigrette
1⁄4
Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2-3
TB Balsamic Vinegar (or any vinegar or lemon juice)
TB Balsamic Vinegar (or any vinegar or lemon juice)
1
Tsp Dijon Mustard
Tsp Dijon Mustard
1⁄2
Tsp Honey (optional)
Tsp Honey (optional)
Sea
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to Taste
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to Taste
Pasta Salad with a Asian Twist
16 oz Whole Wheat Linguine** Cooked, Rinsed, And
Cooled
Cooled
8 Cups Thinly Sliced Purple Cabbage or Napa Cabbage
(or combination of the two)
(or combination of the two)
1 Large Red, Yellow or Orange Pepper, Finely Chopped
½ Cup Chopped Cilantro
½ Cup Water Chestnuts
½ Cup Green Onions, Sliced
1 Cup Toasted Chopped Cashews
¼ Cup Sesame Seeds
*Sesame Ginger Dressing
Combine the noodles, cabbages, pepper, cilantro, water
chestnuts, and scallions in a large salad bowl. Beginning with half of the
dressing, toss the salad, adding more dressing as desired. Top the salad with
the cashews and sesame seeds.
chestnuts, and scallions in a large salad bowl. Beginning with half of the
dressing, toss the salad, adding more dressing as desired. Top the salad with
the cashews and sesame seeds.
*Sesame Ginger Dressing
1/3 Cup Rice Vinegar – unseasoned
3 TB Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Canola or Grapeseed Oil
¼ Cup Light Soy Sauce, Tamari or Braggs Amino
Acids
Acids
2 TB Toasted Sesame Oil
3 TB Fresh Ginger, Grated
2 Tsp Garlic, Grated
1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
Sea Salt and Black Pepper to Taste
Add
the ingredients to a jar and shake to combine.
the ingredients to a jar and shake to combine.
**If you’d like to make this
salad in a more authentic Asian style, try using any kind of thin noodles from
the international aisle. Udon or fresh Chinese noodles are a great
substitution, or if you’re looking to make the salad gluten-free, you can use
rice noodles.
salad in a more authentic Asian style, try using any kind of thin noodles from
the international aisle. Udon or fresh Chinese noodles are a great
substitution, or if you’re looking to make the salad gluten-free, you can use
rice noodles.