Pasta

Pasta is a quick and easy meal any night of the week. I try to buy different types of pasta, such as brown rice pasta, whole grain, whole wheat and the good old fashion kind. You can add anything to pasta, be creative and do not be afraid to experiment with new veggies/meats or cheeses. I do not make my own tomato sauce but sometimes I make my own meatballs and freeze the extras. These are my two favorite pasta recipes not requiring tomato sauce and my favorite pasta salad recipe (great to make it at the beginning of the week and serve it for lunch with sandwiches).

Pasta Carbonara

1 pound of your favorite pasta
6 slices of bacon cooked in the microwave and crumbled
1 egg beaten
4 ounces heavy cream or whipping cream (or for a low fat version reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and use this instead of cream)
1/2 cup parmesan or your favorite italian cheese
vegetable add in's such as mushrooms, peas, shallots, zucchini or yellow squash (cooked until soft in olive oil)
dried (Herbs de Provence) or fresh herbs
salt and pepper to taste

Boil pasta. After straining, put back into pasta pot. Add in egg and stir, then cream or reserved pasta water. Add in bacon, vegetables and cheese. Finish by adding in herbs and salt/pepper.


Fresh and light pasta

1 pound of your favorite pasta
1 package of chicken sausages sliced and heated in olive oil with veggies (You can find these at any grocery store now)
vegetable add in's listed above or a jar of marinated artichokes chopped or a can of olives drained ( if fresh, cooked with chicken sausages until soft)
1 cut tomato or a can of diced tomatoes mostly drained
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
dried (Herbs de Provence) or fresh herbs
salt and pepper to taste

Boil pasta. After straining, put back into pasta pot. Add in Balsamic vinegar, tomato and feta. Stir, then add in vegetables and chicken sausage. Finish by adding in herbs and salt/pepper.

Pasta salad

1 pound of your favorite pasta
1 bottle of italian dressing (I like the Kraft Zesty Italian
1 container grape tomatoes
1 zucchini chopped
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (or shallot for a milder taste)
1 can hearts of palm or artichokes chopped
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Boil pasta and run cold water over the pasta after straining. Add in 1/2 bottle of the dressing and all the other ingredients. Store in fridge until ready to serve. Add in more dressing before serving (the pasta will be dry because it absorbed all of the italian dressing). The longer this sits the better it is!!!