My new go-to recipe

If I wasn't watching carbs for my latest diet I would be making this tonight but I am.  This recipe is for the person that doesn't have a lot of time but still want to put something amazing on the table and doesn't involve many ingredients.

What you will need:

1 pound cooked pasta

1 can of family size tomato soup

Package of precooked meatballs

8 oz heavy cream

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

S&P to taste

Cook your pasta according to directions on package and set aside, in another sauce pot, combine your tomato soup with heavy cream and bring to a simmer, add the meatballs, parsley, and parm to the sauce.  Add your pasta and combine.  Salt and pepper to taste.

I like so sprinkle a little more parm and parsley on top. I used orzo pasta. Takes about 15 minutes to make and is really good! 

Healthier Chili

It is that time of year where everyone is trying to eat healthier, exercising more, etc....

So I wanted to come up with a recipe that was healthier but you wouldnt know it was healthier by flavor.  So I tackled one of my favorite winter-time dishes..... Chili.

What you will need:

1/2 pound lean ground beef
2 cans chickpeas
2 Roma tomatoes
1 small red onion chopped
1t chili powder
1t cumin
1/2t Cinnamon
1/2t cayenne
1 cup chicken stock
S&P to taste

First, rinse off your chickpeas.  In a blender add one of your tomatoes and about 1/3 cup of the chickpeas.  blend until smooth (you may need to add a few tablespoons of chicken stock to make it blend easier) reserve this liquid.

In a large stew pot add the ground beef and chopped onion and cook until the meat is thoroughly browned.  Add the other tomato but make sure to chop it first.  Saute for about 2 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients including the reserved tomato/chickpea smoothie you made first.   Let stew for about 15 minutes to make sure all of the flavors are melding well. 

Serve with either fresh cornbread or crackers.  You can garnish with avocado, sr cream, etc....

Super Simple Sauce for Pasta

The other day I bought some artisan Lobster stuffed ravioli at an "organic" store.  They looked so perfect... big and puffy!   FULL of LOBSTER.

I got them home, boiled them in lemon and salted water till just done.  But what was I going to use as a sauce that didn't completely mask the perfection of lobster?  So I came up with this.

2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon prepared pesto
1 tbsp pasta water
1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
Salt and Pepper


In a pan on medium heat, melt the butter in the oil.  Swirl in the pesto and let cook for about 30 seconds.  Splash in the pasta water and the chopped parsley.  Add the ravioli to the sauce and turn over a few times.  Slide onto a plate and top with some extra parsley and you will be amazed at how good this dresses these ravioli without masking their amazing flavor.

Perfect Summer Pasta Recipe

I was trying to come up with a light pasta recipe that would be good for the summer, after a little playing around, I came up with this!  All measurements are for one person, please double or quadruple depending on your family.

 1 C spinach egg noodles (any thick noodle is good)

1 t pesto (the good stuff)

1 t olive oil

1 T butter

1 T ricotta cheese

Save 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water

S&P to taste

Cook noodles according to package, drain well (but save 2 T pasta water) add rest of ingredients to warm noodles and toss until butter has completely melted, serve warm.  

*Serving Suggestion* maybe add some roasted tomatoes on the side for a more complete summer brunch/lunch.