Tomato & Red Pepper Pasta with Italian Sausages

January 13, 2013 By 4 Comments

It’s definitely winter in our part of the world.  Right now I’m looking at over a foot of snow!
It’s cold and snowy, but SO beautiful!
And it’s this kind of weather that inspires me to get into the kitchen to make home-y, hearty dinners.

Like a lot of families, spaghetti is a favourite home-y dish here!  My kids could eat it once a week if I made it!  I’m trying to switch things up with this classic dish, so we aren’t eating the same thing all the time.  So when I stumbled upon this recipe, I just knew it would be a great change!

A great thing about this recipe is you likely have the ingredients on hand.  I love when I can make a delicious dinner without having to go out to the store for last minute ingredients.  AND it’s even better if I can make dinner in under 1 hour…this is another one of those recipes!  Yay for that!

This pasta recipe very simple to make, and it makes your home smell amazing while it’s cooking!

Print
Tomato & Red Pepper Pasta with Italian Sausages
 

Ingredients
  • olive oil
  • 6 Italian sausages
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 red peppers, chopped
  • ½ cup red wine (or broth)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1 – 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup pureed butternut squash (optional)
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt & pepper
  • pasta

Instructions
  1. Add enough olive oil to a large pan to lightly cover the surface of the pan.
  2. Add the sausages and cook on medium-high heat, until the sausages are nice and golden. After this time, remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Remove most of the oil from the pan, then add the onions and cook until they start to caramelize, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Once the onions are moist and golden brown, add the garlic and cook for a few minutes.
  4. Return the sausages to the pan, along with the red pepper. Stir for a few minutes.
  5. Add the wine (or broth), tomato paste, squash, diced tomatoes, oregano, bay leaves and salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and simmer very gently for about 1 hour.
  6. Serve over the pasta of your choice: whole wheat spaghetti, penne, linguine.

Notes
Things to note:
* This is a very versatile recipe: You can add any kind of bell peppers of your choice, more garlic if you like! You could also add some shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, or squash puree for extra nutrition!
* The Italian sausages from Costco are the BEST! They’re so flavourful and very lean!

Recipe adapted from epicurious.com

 

Also, just in case you didn’t know already, I now have a tab specifically set up with all my dinners that you can make in 1 hour or less!  Just click here!

 

I hope you enjoy it!
Stay warm & delicious!

Yummy Linking:  I should be mopping the floor, Craft-O-Maniac, Under the Table and Dreaming, Chef-in-Training, Nap Time Creations, Buns in my Oven

Filed Under: In The Kitchen, Main Course, pasta, What's For Dinner Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli

November 14, 2012 By 9 Comments

 

Many of us are hunkered down in winter weather!  And what better time for comfort food like Macaroni & Cheese?  Add some broccoli and it’s the full meal deal.
Healthy.  Delicious.  And on the table in under 1 hour.
Love it.

 

My oldest boy, who is somewhat of a picky eater, constantly asks for this.  Even last night, as I set dinner down on to the table, he took one look at it and asked me when I was going to make ‘that’ macaroni & cheese again…  Hmmmm, I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or not….  ;)

 

Anyway, a quick dinner idea for your hectic days!

 

Print
Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli
 

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 can evaporated milk (370 mL)
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated (old cheddar has great flavour)
  • 1 lb elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups broccoli, chopped into bite size pieces

Instructions
  1. In a large pot, boil the pasta according to package directions.
  2. When it is cooked, drain the water. Set aside.
  3. In a pot of boiling water, cook the broccoli until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
  4. In the meantime, melt the butter in a saucepan, and add the garlic. Cook for about 1 minute.
  5. Add the flour, and stir to make a paste.
  6. Then slowly pour in the milk, while whisking, and cook until the sauce is thickened.
  7. Add the mustard, paprika and salt. Whisk.
  8. Sprinkle in the cheese, and stir the mixture continuously until it is melted.
  9. Toss the pasta with the cheese sauce. Add the broccoli and stir in.
  10. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Chef Michael Smith

 

Tips!
  • For extra flavourful mac & cheese use old cheddar.  Or if you prefer a more mild flavour you can use a medium cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
  • If you don’t have evaporated milk, this recipe works well with using just all regular milk. (so roughly 3 1/2 cups milk)
  • You can serve the macaroni in individual dishes with melted cheese on top.
    • Just sprinkle on some extra grated cheese to each dish, and line the dishes up on a cookie sheet in the oven.  Broil until the cheese is melted, bubbling and light brown.

 

I hope this dinner can make your life even just a teensiest bit easier.  ;)
Have a delicious day!
Yummy Linking:  SNAP, Thirty Handmade Days, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, I should be mopping the floor

 

Filed Under: In The Kitchen, Main Course Tagged With: , , , ,

Creamy Tomato Macaroni & Cheese

October 22, 2012 By 13 Comments

I just don’t know where the time is going!  How is it already almost the end of October?  And where did this snow come from?  Wasn’t I just enjoying summer sun and heat on the deck?  Now it’s dark at dinner time and I feel like we’re almost in the dead of winter on some days!

But I do have to say, the one thing I like about the fact that winter is on it’s way, is that it does feel cozy in here.  And it makes me want to cook comfort food…so I guess that’s something isn’t it?!  I actually enjoy cooking this time of year the most…there is just something so comforting about the food that comes with fall and winter.

Hearty, yummy comfort food.  But it’s got to be quick too!  Most days I need to be able to get dinner on the table in one hour or less.  So I’m always looking for new recipes to be able to achieve this.  And I also need recipes that use ingredients that I have on hand most of the time.  There’s a time for fancy stuff with fancy ingredients, but there’s nothing like having a recipe that’s simple and uses ingredients I have in the house.

So here is another delicious dish that you can have on your table in under 1 hour!  It’s so good for those nights when you just don’t know what to make for dinner.  And the addition of tomato sneaks in some extra nutrition too!

Print
Creamy Tomato Macaroni & Cheese
Serves: 4-5
 

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) elbow macaroni
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1½ cups milk
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 1½ cups cheese (mild, medium or sharp Cheddar Cheese or Monterey Jack)
  • 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Then drain and set aside.
  2. In a pan, melt the butter and cook the onion and garlic until lightly browned.
  3. Add the flour to the onion mix and stir, mixing thoroughly.
  4. Whisk in the milk, and stir until the mixture is thickened.
  5. Add the tomato paste and oregano. Stir.
  6. Gradually stir in the grated and parmesan cheeses.
  7. Add the pasta and stir.
  8. Serve right away and enjoy!

Notes

I put my finished macaroni in an oven proof dish, covered it, and kept it in a 300 degree oven until dinner time. (Maximum time was 15 minutes.)

Recipe adapted from All You Need is Cheese

Let’s look again… mmmmmmmmm

This dish is great served as a side dish too.  Just serve it alongside some chicken and green vegetables!  Yum!

Have a delicious day!

 Yummy Linking:  Tip Junkie, The Winthrop Chronicles, Chef-in-Training, 33 Shades of Green, SNAP, The 36th Avenue, Whipperberry, Tatertots and Jello

 

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Filed Under: dinner under 1 hour, pasta, recipe, side dish, What's For Dinner Tagged With: , , , , , ,