Runs for Cookies Recipes: pasta

Showing posts with label pasta. Show all posts

November 24, 2016

Spicy Taco Gnocchi Skillet

This has become one of my very favorite recipes! I thought the gnocchi sounded so odd with taco seasoning, but I'm glad I tried it. This is a modified version of a recipe by Emily Bites. The portion size on this looks tiny (a scant cup!) but it is surprisingly very filling. I'm always satisfied after eating it.

Spicy Taco Gnocchi Skillet

One recipe of taco seasoning:

1 Tbsp. chili powder
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp. butter
1 package (16 oz) of gnocchi
1 pound of lean ground turkey (93/7)
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
10 oz can of Rotel tomatoes (or salsa)
1 cup beef broth
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup full-fat sour cream
4 oz. full-fat cheddar cheese

Prepare taco seasoning by mixing all ingredients in a small dish. Set aside.

Heat skillet over medium high heat and melt butter in skillet. Add the gnocchi, and cook for a couple of minutes until gnocchi starts to brown a little. Set gnocchi aside in a bowl.

Add the onions to the skillet, and cook for a couple of minutes until they soften. Add the ground turkey to the skillet, and break it up as it browns. Add the seasoning mix, salsa, broth, and corn, as well as the reserved gnocchi. Bring just to a boil, and then reduce the heat. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Add the sour cream and cheese, and stir. Portion into six bowls (about 1 cup each).

November 21, 2015

Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowls

When I went to Portland last March, Thomas took me to a place that served these amazing noodle bowls. I don't remember any specifics of them (I was way too excited to be in Portland that I don't even remember much! haha) except that they were spicy and had a creamy peanut sauce. I liked the texture of the pasta, too, because it was very al dente. Anyway, I have been thinking of them ever since! I perused Pinterest trying to find a recipe that sounded like it may be similar. I found this one, and then modified a few things to my liking. It was DELICIOUS! Sweet, sour, creamy, crunchy... I will be making this often. I wish the serving size was bigger, but then again, I could eat a pound of pasta all by my lonesome ;)

Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowls

8 oz. dry brown rice spaghetti (I used this instead of wheat pasta because the firmer texture is perfect)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 tsp. sesame oil
2-1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. rice vinegar
1/2 to 1 tsp. of sriracha (I used about 3/4 of a teaspoon)
2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (I love Smucker's Natural Creamy)
1 Tbsp. honey
1 clove garlic, minced
2 green onions, sliced very thin
dash (about 1/8 tsp) red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 of a green pepper, sliced very thin
6 baby carrots (or 1/2 medium carrot), julienned
1/4 cup peanuts, roughly chopped

Cook the brown rice pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine oils, soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha, peanut butter, honey, garlic, green onions, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds in a bowl, and stir until uniform. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and return it to the pot. Add the sauce, green peppers, carrots, and peanuts, and stir to combine. Portion into four bowls (a scant cup each).

May 4, 2013

Red Pepper & Feta Pasta

I love the combination of roasted red peppers and feta cheese. I had a couple of jars of red peppers in my pantry, and some feta in my fridge, so I turned them into a simple, yummy sauce for pasta. Jerry and I both loved this dish! The red pepper flakes make it a little spicy, and it goes really well with the sweet roasted peppers. This is written for two main dish servings, but you could easily double it.

Red Pepper & Feta Pasta

6 oz. dry pasta
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 (12 oz) jar of roasted red peppers
1/4 cup fat-free half & half
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 oz. fat free feta cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a small pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until softened, a few minutes. Drain the roasted pepper and add them to the pot, along with the half and half. Use an immersion blender to puree (or put everything in a food processor or blender, puree, and then put back in the pot). Add salt and pepper to taste, and the crushed red pepper flakes. Let the pepper mixture simmer for a minute, and then stir in the feta cheese and cooked pasta, and toss to coat. Makes 2 servings (approximately 1-1/4 cups per serving, depending on the shape of pasta used).

November 23, 2012

Chicken 'n' Noodles

I was really in the mood for some creamy comfort food, and since I already had cooked and shredded chicken in the fridge, I just threw this meal together last-minute. Jerry and I both loved it! If the chicken is already cooked, the whole meal comes together very quickly.

I'm sorry, but this recipe has been migrated to my everyday blog, Runs for Cookies. This link is a direct link to that recipe. Thanks! --Katie

November 19, 2012

Crock Pot Italian Chicken Penne

This creamy comfort food pasta dish is perfect for a cold day!

I'm sorry, but this recipe has been migrated to my everyday blog, Runs for Cookies. This is a direct link to the recipe. Thanks for stopping by! --Katie

August 19, 2011

Gobby's Noodle Cream Cheese Casserole

Gobby is an affectionate name given to my maternal grandmother, who passed away in 1999. After she died, my aunt made a cookbook out of Gobby's recipes and passed the books out to the women in the family. I love the book--some of the recipes are more modern, and some are very old. This recipe is my favorite! The cream cheese and sour cream mixed together is a great combo.

I'm sorry, this recipe has migrated over to my regular blog, Runs for Cookies. Here is a link for the recipe page.

August 18, 2011

Meatball Stroganoff

This is super fast and easy to make if you use frozen meatballs. I like to buy the Aldi Fit & Active turkey meatballs.

4 servings of Fit & Active turkey meatballs (24 meatballs total)
1 onion, chopped
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup fat-free sour cream
4 servings (8 oz.) Smart Taste pasta (egg noodles)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Put the meatballs in the microwave for a couple of minutes to thaw. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray, and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic, mushrooms, and broth and bring to a boil. Add the meatballs, and simmer for a few minutes. Combine the cornstarch with a splash of cold water, and add it to the pot. Bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Add the sour cream and warm through. Serve over pasta. Makes 4 servings.

Noah's Spaghetti Pie

I call this Noah's Spaghetti Pie because when my eldest son, Noah, started kindergarten, we let him choose what to have for dinner on his first day of school--and he chose Spaghetti Pie. Now, whenever I make this, I think of him!

Noah's Spaghetti Pie

6 oz. Smart Taste pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. fennel
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 cup mozzarella
8 oz. lean ground turkey (or ground beef)
1 cup part-skim ricotta
15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped

Cook the spaghetti according to package directions (I like to break it in half first). Combine the egg and parmesan in a small bowl and stir well. Add the egg mixture to the cooked spaghetti and stir well to coat the pasta. Spray a pie plate with cooking spray, and form a "pie crust" with the spaghetti mixture. Cook the ground turkey, onion, garlic, and green pepper until the turkey is browned. Add the tomato sauce, oregano, and fennel. Spread the ricotta on spaghetti "crust", and top with the meat sauce. Top the whole thing with mozzarella. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup

My aunt gave me this recipe, and it called for Italian sausage. I made it more figure friendly by making my own Italian sausage with lean ground turkey. Now, you can find the turkey Italian sausage at the grocery store and use it instead, but I like to make my own.

For the SAUSAGE:
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. fennel seed, ground
3/4 Tbsp. sweet paprika
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

For the SOUP:
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can white beans
1 can tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1 tsp. dried basil
2 cups tortellini
parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)

Combine all ingredients for Italian sausage. Brown sausage with onion and garlic in a soup pot. Add the tomatoes, broth, and basil and bring to a boil. Add the beans and tortellini, and cook until tortellini is cooked through.

August 17, 2011

Lasagna Soup

This soup is pretty simple, but for some reason, it tastes so complicated and GOOD. I love to serve this with warm garlic bread on a cold day.

Lasagna Soup

1 lb. 90/10 ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. dried parsley
4 cups beef broth
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
4 oz. uncooked pasta (I usually use rotini)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a soup pot over medium-high heat, cook onions and garlic (using cooking spray) for a few minutes. Add the beef, and cook until beef is browned and onion is soft. Drain, and add parsley, broth, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and add the pasta. Simmer until the pasta is done, about 12 minutes. Serve with 1 Tbsp. parmesan per bowl.

Spinach Tortellini Soup

This is SOOO good--probably my favorite soup, especially when I'm sick. There's no meat, which is nice because I don't have to thaw it out first.

10 oz. package of frozen chopped spinach
1 med. onion
2 cloves garlic
1 quart chicken broth
14 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups frozen cheese tortellini
3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste

Throw the spinach in the microwave and microwave it on high for 3-4 minutes until thawed. While that's thawing, heat a soup pot over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Chop and add onion and garlic. Cook until soft. Add chicken broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. When the spinach is done thawing, put it in a clean towel, and squeeze out all the liquid by wringing the towel out. Add the spinach to the pot, as well as the tomatoes. Bring back to a boil. Add the tortellini. In a small bowl, beat the egg and and the cheese, salt and pepper to the egg, combining it all together. When the tortellini is done cooking (just takes a couple minutes), stir and slowly drizzle the egg mixture into it. Keep stirring so that the egg doesn't scramble.

SO EASY Baked Ziti

Don't be fooled by the lack of ingredients in this--it's SO GOOD. I was trying to imitate the baked ziti at Sbarro's. When I was a teenager, I loved Sbarro's baked ziti at the mall. So this is what I came up with. Trust me, I tried adding all kinds of Italian herbs and spices and different cheeses and all that... but I always come back to this recipe. My kids even clean their plates when I make this.

Baked Ziti

8 oz. (dry) ziti or penne pasta (I wouldn't recommend whole wheat pasta here)
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 (15 oz) can plain tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350. In a 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish, combine the ricotta, 3/4 of the tomato sauce, and all of the parmesan cheese. When the pasta is done cooking, add it to the dish and stir well to combine everything. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce and spread it around. Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes, until hot.
Makes 4 servings. Nutrition info per serving (using Smart Taste pasta):