Peppers And Pasta

This Peppers and pasta  is a prefect definition of a comforting family meal everyone will love. It’s a beautiful, vegetarian delicious pasta bowl   with a trilogy of beautiful garden peppers, and onions tossed in a delicious creamy sauce full of Italian flavors.

It’s a easy recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes and the best part you can customize it to fit your tastes.

In case you haven’t notice I love pasta. It’s my favorite go to ingredient, when am stuck for dinner ideas it’s pasta to the rescue.  Italians truly love pasta so much so that it ranks first in pasta consumption, with Americans close behind. Really what’s not to love? Pasta is versatile, quick, easy, delicious.  And with all the shapes and flavors you could have pasta often without repeating the same meal for awhile.

I love recipes that come together quick, like this one. While the pasta is cooking on the back burner the sauce is coming together on the front burner. Recipes like this are ones you’ll fall back again and again, when you want Italian and easy too.

Customize Peppers and  Pasta

This Peppers And Pasta recipe works well with chicken and  shrimp too. If you use shrimp saute them 3 minutes per side them remove them from the pan to prevent overcooking, adding them back in at the end just to heat through.

And of course you can use steak and made it a true Philly steak pasta meal. If you keep following  along pretty soon you wouldn’t be looking at recipes as often, you’ll be able to add and subtract ingredients to fit your lifestyle and taste.

Whatever ingredients you use keep it simple and fresh, and remember when sauteing large quantities  the saute pan needs to be deep enough to hold the ingredients. one pan of this size is all you need. This is the one I use from Target, it’s the prefect size for one pan cooking and not too expensive.

One more good thing about this recipe, it stay’s fresh in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, for quick meal reheats and it’s freezer friendly for ready made meals.

Let me know if you made this recipe. Please leave me a  comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I love  hearing from you !!!!Ingredients

• • 1/2 Lbs. penne rigata
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 1 each red, yellow and green pepper cut in thin strips
  • 2 cups spinach chopped
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup prepared marinara sauce
  • 1 cup water or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbs. each chopped Italian parsley, basil, and thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Heat oil  add onion and saute until tender
• Add peppers and saute until crisp tender about 15 minutes add garlic last 5 minutes
• Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon flour over peppers Salt and Pepper Now
• Add the milk,  marinara sauce, water or vegetable shock
• Simmer until sauce thickens about 15 minutes
• Add spinach and parmesan Simmer 5 minutes more……. Enjoy!!!!

Chicken Piccata Pasta with Linguine

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Happy July!!! For my first post of the month Am sharing one of the most ordered meal at the restaurant Chicken Piccata Pasta with Linguine

Looking for a restaurant quality meal you can make in your own kitchen in less than 30 minutes? Here it is this creamy, lemony chicken  recipe starts off with chicken breast coated in flour then sauteed in a mixture of olive oil and butter to a golden brown.

Add in lemon, capers and artichokes toss in all together with linguine and you have a meal everyone will love.

When you need dinner quick on those busy weeknights or when you have last-minute guests coming: pasta to the rescue!

Pasta is delicious, plain and simple: think olive oil, garlic, Parmesan, and some herbs; add in chicken and a creamy, lemony sauce, and you have a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

That’s all it takes: adding pasta to this Chicken piccata recipe makes for a meal that is cause for celebration. Plus it’s a perfect way to show off what a great “home chef” you are. This recipe was inspired by my love of pasta, one of my top restaurant “luxury” meals, but I’ve made it easy for the home cook.

Things to know about this  Chicken Piccata Pasta with Linguine

Chicken Piccata Pasta with Linguine is nothing  more than chicken cutlets, dredged in flour, browned, cooked in a sauce of butter, lemon juice, cream and chicken stock, then tossed with linguine.It can be prepared in 30 minutes or less and it’s so easy and delicious it should be part of  every home cooks repertoire.

Traditionally it doesn’t use cream in the recipe and because I don’t drink I’ve replaced the customary white wine with chicken stock. I’ve talked here before, about the importance of saving some of the pasta water before draining, it really is the magic ingredient that thickens  and adds flavor to your pasta sauces. It’s a step that can be easily forgot, I  save more than I need just in case i need it.

I served it with pasta for an easy weeknight family meal. If you want a special occasion dressed up dinner serve it with garlic mashed potatoes and snap fresh green beans.

Don’t forget to leave me comment if you make this, and please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, hearing from you is my favorite part!!!!

Chicken Philly Pasta

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I can’t believe it’s almost July, and the temperatures are rising in California, where I live. So am always looking for easy, quick recipes that get me out of the kitchen fast.

Seriously, this  Chicken Philly Pasta  is what  dreams are made of. quick, easy, and delicious it’s a meal the whole family loves. And it’s ready in less than 30 minutes.

We need recipes like this, that don’t take hours to prepare and the whole family loves. This creamy, cheesy meal has ingredients even picky eaters will like. Who doesn’t like cream and cheese?

Another great thing about this recipe, it uses  few ingredients you probably have in your kitchen, and the best part it’s made in one pan. It’s a quick and easy recipe that doesn’t have to be saved for special occasions, it’s a prefect meal any night of the night.

It comes together in 30 minutes, doesn’t use ingredients you can’t pronounce,  let alone know what they are and my favorite way of cooking it’s make all in one pan YIPEEEE!!!!

Customize Chicken Philly Pasta

You can customize this Chicken Philly Pasta recipe to make it your own, by changing the protein and your choice of pasta. If possible try to use ingredients you have on hand in different recipes.

In my kitchen I use the same ingredients in many different recipes. It saves trips to the store and cuts down on waste. For instance, this pasta dish uses the same ingredients I would use to make a chicken Philly sandwich or a Philly style pizza, cooking this way makes meal easier.

If you keep following  along pretty soon you wouldn’t be looking at recipes as often. You’ll easily be able to add, change or subtract ingredients to fit your lifestyle and taste.

This recipe works well with shrimp too. If you use shrimp saute them 3 minutes per side them remove them from pan to prevent overcooking, adding them back in at the end just to heat through. And of course you can use steak and made it a true Philly steak pasta.

Whatever ingredients you use keep it simple and fresh, and remember in one pan cooking the saute pan needs to be deep enough to hold the pasta. one pan of this size is all you need. This is the one I use from Target, it’s the prefect size for one pan cooking and not too expensive.

One more good thing about this recipe, it stay’s fresh in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, for quick meal reheats and it’s freezer friendly for ready made meals.

Let me know if you made this recipe. Please leave me a  comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram. I love hearing from you, it’s my favorite part!!!!

Baked Pasta Florentine

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Nothing is better than this Gemille shaped baked pasta casserole, smothered in creamy, cheesy bechamel sauce.

It really is one of those pasta recipes that you’ll want to make often. Not only is it easy and delicious it’s a pasta dish prefect for busy weeknight dinners or makes a great make ahead  meal when you want to feed a crowd.

I love casserole pasta bakes, there easy if you want a hands free dinner and they’re freezer friendly for ready made meals.

Growing up in the hills of Tuscany any baked pasta was my favorite. My Mom’s pasta bakes were simple and delicious. This dish brings back memories, from when I was a kidhanging around the kitchen counter, tasting whatever Mom was cooking.

No offense Mom, but I’ve gourmet it up a bit. I love my creamy, cheese filled, bechamel smothered  casserole, a little more than Mom’s. Sometimes you have to put a new twist on an old classic, to fit your lifestyle and taste. I kick up a notch by using Bechamel sauce instead of Moms’ classic marinara sauce.

 

How to make the Sauce for baked pasta Florentine

The cheesy sauce for this baked pasta florentine is basically a glorified Bechamel sauce, traditionally bechamel sauce is a mixture of milk. flour and butter.

This recipe started like that with butter, flour and milk  than I added  the cheeses. Bechamel sauce is not difficult to make, but you do need to pay attention,for  success don’t leave the stove unattended, the sauce burns quickly. Stir continuously while sauce is simmering. If the sauce is too thick add more milk, if too thin coat one pad of butter with flour and drop it in sauce while simmering. Add the cheeses after the sauce thickens a bit.

There never seems to be any left overs, but if there are you can freeze it for a ready made meal prefect for a hurry-up dinner for unexpected guest.

All you need is a casserole dish, 45 minutes, a prep plan and you can feed as many people as you need to, I like to use this it’s big enough for 6  portion,

and the white color looks pretty on almost any table ant goes from oven to table to freeze, to dish washer.

13 x 9 covered white casserole dishJust be sure to use a casserole dish that goes from oven to table, to limit the pots and pans in the sink.

The extra bonus with casserole meals, your quest can serve themselves, set out these pretty dinner napkins  to set a festive mood and serve this pasta bake with a simple salad and crusty bread for a special dinner everyone will love.

If you make this  baked past Florentine ,   please be sure to leave me a comment, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, Above all I love hearing from you guys, and do my best to respond.

One Pan Spaghetti Primavera

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This One Pan Spaghetti Permavera is a prefect definition of a comforting family meal everyone will love. It’s a beautiful, vegetarian delicious pasta bowl of  mushroom, asparagus,broccoli, and tomatoes tossed in a delicious creamy sauce full of Italian flavors,  It’s a easy recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes and the best part you only need one pan.

In case you haven’t notice I love pasta. It’s my favorite go to ingredient, when am stuck for dinner ideas it’s pasta to the rescue.  Italians truly love pasta so much so that it ranks first pasta consumption, with Americans close behind. Really what’s not to love? Pasta is versatile, quick, easy, delicious.  And with all the shapes and flavors you could have pasta often without repeating the same meal for awhile.

I love one pan meals just about as much as pasta, put those two things together and it’s a Win-Win. Add to that that it’s a vegetarian meal, prefect any night of the week, even Saturday night dinner with friends.

Three Tips when making One pan Spaghetti Primavera

Number one…..if the sauce is too liquid coat a pat of butter with flour and trow it into the sauce to thicken it more. if it’s too dry add more liquid. another tip if you want crisper vegetables you can add them in stages depending on your taste. Also important is the size saute pan you use when cooking pasta in one pan meals.

This is were size matters, you can find my favorite large saute pan here. A well functioning  kitchen should at the very least have three different size saute pans large, medium and small.

One more thing add salt and pepper to the vegetables in the saute pan,  salt brings out the flavor in food,  but use it sparsely you can add more to adjust flavors according to your taste.

This is a great satisfying  vegetarian  pasta recipe if you make it please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I love hearing from you, that’s my favorite part!!

Shrimp and Broccoli Penne Pasta

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This Shrimp and Broccoli Penne pasta can be on your table in less then thirty minutes, and it’s perfect for last minute dinner or when unexpected company is coming.

I have made a lot of pasta dishes in my life, in the restaurants and in my home kitchen, this is definitely up there in my favorites list, it’s healthy and easy to make.

This recipe takes as long to cook as it takes to boil the pasta, The cheesy sauce is a restaurant quality Mac N Cheese. The key to making this not your average cheesy pasta is using three different kinds of cheese and adding broccoli, spinach and jumbo shrimp.

Things to know about this Shrimp and Broccoli Penne Pasta recipe

Like most of my recipes this Shrimp Broccoli Penne is customizable to fit your lifestyle and taste. If you don’t like shrimp you can use chicken, if using chicken leave  the chicken in the pan to simmer along with the sauce. I used whole milk for a creamer sauce, you don’t have to, low fat works. I don’t recommend  using nonfat. You can also change up the broccoli and spinach or leave it out and add something else, like mushrooms.

My family likes penne rigata pasta so that’s what I used in this recipe. plus I like the way the cheesy sauce hangs on to  lines in the pasta. (Penne rigata is penne shaped pasta with lines).

Use whatever short shape you like. It’s also a good idea to get in the habit of reserving a cup or two of pasta water. Pasta water is the magic ingredient to change the consistency of your pasta sauce, without adding more milk or cream.

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I love hearing for you!!!!

Creamy Seared Scallop Fettuccine Pasta

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If you love scallops your going to love this creamy Seared Scallop Fettuccine pasta. This decant meal is for sea food lovers but even non lovers like it.

The scallops are tender, sweet and packed with delicate flavor, and easy to prepare. Scallops are a highly prized shell fish for their delicate texture and taste. when cooked properly they are sweet and tender and turn a weeknight meal into a celebration.

Whether using large sea scallops or the small bay scallops, just a few on a plate, turns a meal into a special occasion.

This is a prefect dinner when your craving Italian but want easy too. Scallops, bacon and pasta tossed in a light creamy sauce full of Italian flavors. It’s a restaurant quality recipe made easy for the home cook.

Things to know about this Creamy Seared Scallop Fettuccine Pasta

In this Seared Scallop Fettuccine the scallops are perfectly seared for my taste. Here’s how to get perfectly seared scallops. Start by patting the scallops dry with paper towels.

Next salt and pepper the scallops, meanwhile in a large saute pan bring the olive oil and butter to medium high heat. Saute the scallops being sure they are not crowded in the pan three minutes on each side turning once.

The combination of butter and olive oil produce a seared crust without burning the delicate scallops. Not crowding the pan also helps the scallops to sear and not be colorless.

In this recipe I used large 16 – 20 scallops sea scallops you can use the smaller bay scallops and your also not tried down to using fettuccine, use any long shape pasta you like. If you like scallops as much as I do try my personal favorite  Seared Scallops with  Creamy Orzo

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram. I love hearing from you !!!! 

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Penne Pasta – Easy Weeknight Dinner

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You need to add this Tuscan Chicken Penne to your weekly pasta night menu. It’s a creamy pan sauce filled with sun dried tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms and goes prefect with the chicken and pasta. This is a delicious base sauce to add any shape pasta to, it doesn’t have to be penne, use what you have on hand.

My recipes and the way I cook is to use what  I have on hand, or what is on sale and the freshest seasonal  ingredients.  This meal came about because on a shopping trip I bought whole, skinless. boneless chicken breast, they were on sale.

I like to cut them into different shapes to use in different recipes. For this penne pasta I cut the chicken into strips.

The rest I cut into fillets for grilling or baking, lay it flat in baggies and freeze it.

It’s great when all you have to do is take the chicken out of the freezer and it’s pan ready for your recipe, for those busy night , when commitments are long and time is short.

This quick dinner can be on your table in about thirty minutes and has few ingredients so you don’t have to go to the store as often, because you forgot something, and leaving with more than you came for, plus a little extra frustration you didn’t have to pay for in this crazy times.

Things to know about this creamy chicken penne recipe

In this Tuscan Chicken Penne recipe, I use one of my favorite tricks—pasta water! I do this in about 75% of my recipes because pasta water is pure magic when it comes to finishing sauces.

Before adding the pasta to your pan, ladle in about 1 cup of the starchy, salty cooking water. It not only adds flavor but also helps bind the sauce and pasta together while naturally thickening the sauce.

Don’t forget to save the pasta water before you drain it—this is one of the easiest steps to overlook! I like to save extra just in case I want to adjust the sauce’s consistency.

Need to thicken your pan sauce a bit more? Try this trick: coat a pat or two of butter in flour and drop it into the sauce. Let it simmer for at least 5 minutes to cook out any raw flour taste.

This Tuscan-style sauce is a restaurant-quality base you can customize any way you like. It’s full of flavor and guaranteed to be a hit with your family. If you like family friendly pasta meals that come together quick and taste delicious try my tomato piccata shrimp bucatini.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you—leave a comment or tag me on Instagram so I can see your delicious creations. That’s truly my favorite part!

Tuscan-Style Jumbo Shrimp Linguine

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This Tuscan-Style Jumbo Shrimp Linguine recipe is one that’s sure to impress family and friends. It comes together quickly, in less than 30 minutes, is decant enough for Saturday night dinner with friends, and easy enough for family dinners any night of the week.

Jumbo shrimp in a creamy sauce with spinach, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes produce the most delicious sauce prefect for the linguine I used in this recipe. This is one of best pasta dish to add to your weekly pasta night. We need this pasta right now, a very simple, delicious recipe, one your whole family will love. With everything going on in the world and everyone’s lives being affected in some way, there is still so much joy and comfort in cooking.

And I’m really wanting to share comforting recipe inspirations with you that uses minimal ingredients and delivers big flavors.

 

Things to know about this Tuscan-Style Jumbo Shrimp Linguine recipe

In this Jumbo Shrimp linguine recipe I used frozen jumbo shrimp. It’s preferable to buy shrimp frozen as fresh is rare, most are sold in five- pound blocks or they come individually frozen.

I recommend opting for the for the second. Individually frozen shrimp tend to show less damage during freezing. They also make it easy to thaw out only the shrimp you need for a single meal.

Of course you can buy smaller qualities that a have been previously frozen but you have to use them within one to two days. I prefer buying the five pound frozen individual ones, and taking out what I need for what Am making, also buying in larger quantities usually means less expensive.

Something else there are ways of describing shrimp size such as jumbo, large or medium in this recipe I used Jumbo which means there are 16-20 shrimp per pound. The smaller the shrimp the more per pound, if all possible buy jumbo with the shells on.

Only defrost what you need,  you can defrost them two ways overnight in the fridge or for quick defrost in a bowl of cold water. Shrimp will keep fresh in the fridge for 2 to three days and frozen up to 4 months.

Shell and devien the shrimp just before cooking, keeping the shell on retains flavor. Most importantly shrimp cook quickly overcook them and you end up with dried out shrimp.

One more thing if you ever wondered what the difference is between Shrimp and Prawns there really isn’t any except size, this jumbo shrimp can be classified as prawns. If you like shrimp or prawn recipes try my Tomato Piccata shrimp bucatini, a family favorite.

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I love hearing from you!!!! 

30 minute Broccoli Pancetta Rigatoni

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This Broccoli Pancetta Rigatoni is a restaurant-quality pasta dish you can whip up in your own kitchen in less than 30 minutes. There’s a reason most Italian restaurant menus are half filled with pasta—ours certainly was. Pasta is quick, versatile, comforting, and yes… budget-friendly! That might get me in hot water with some restaurant owners, but it’s true.

Why spend $25 on a plate of pasta when you can make a showstopping version at home? Many home cooks find pasta intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. When you need a fast weeknight dinner or a last-minute meal for surprise guests, pasta always comes to the rescue.

Simple ingredients like garlic, olive oil, herbs, and parmesan can create magic. Add crisp pancetta and tender broccoli, and you’ve got a pasta dish that’s worthy of celebration. Rich, creamy, and packed with bold Italian flavors, this broccoli pancetta rigatoni is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—ready in under 30 minutes.

Things to know about this 30 minute broccoli pancetta rigatoni recipe

This creamy Broccoli Pancetta Rigatoni is a quick and comforting Italian-inspired pasta dinner you can make in under 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple ingredients like butter, garlic, cream, and broccoli, it’s rich, flavorful, and easy to customize with whatever you have on hand.

Don’t have pancetta? No problem—swap in regular bacon. No broccoli? Use spinach or another green vegetable you love. I used rigatoni, but any pasta shape works beautifully. My recipes are designed to be flexible and help you avoid extra trips to the store.

I don’t drink alcohol, so I always include the option to use either white wine or chicken stock—whatever suits your taste and lifestyle. In some recipes, I do use wine, but I always make sure there’s an alternative for those who prefer not to.

This is a restaurant-quality meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight and special enough to impress. If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and tag me on Instagram—I always enjoy seeing your creations.