Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera

October 12, 2014 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Perfectly cooked pasta surrounded by fresh spinach, broccoli, tomatoes and green peas. Sautéed in a flavorful white wine sauce, and topped with a heaping helping of parmesan cheese. Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera packs a ton of veggies and rich flavors into a little bowl of fall perfection.

It’s Sunday, and we know what that means. Time to catch up about our week, and share another fun recipe. Thankfully it was a relatively calm week around here. The boys and I had lots of fun at the library for story time, ran some errands, and even had a few very fun playdates! Charlie had his four-month checkup on Thursday, and I am happy to report that he is healthy and doing well! He weighed in at 13 pounds 4 ounces, and is now 25 1/2 inches tall. He was a trooper for his appointment, and I even survived taking all three boys to the appointment by myself 🙂 We had a lot of (much needed) low-key family fun this weekend, as well! Here are a few pictures:

It seems like fall is officially here, and the temperatures are dropping. What could be a better way to welcome the cooler weather than by cooking up a huge bowl of this light, flavorful pasta dish. Overflowing with fresh veggies and tender whole wheat pasta, this is one recipe that you will definitely want to add to your fall (or anytime) favorites!

This recipe was inspired from a restaurant we loved in Atlanta, called Figo. I remember having this dish quite often when I was newly pregnant with William, and we were going through a move. When I was pregnant with James a few years ago, I was seriously craving this meal, and was more than inspired to recreate it at home. I pulled up the menu on their website to gather all of the information I could on this one, and then put my thinking cap on. With a few tests and tweaks, I am so excited to say that I think this recipe is even BETTER than the dish from Figo. It’s just that good! I love how the curly pasta soaks up the flavor of the white wine sauce and the fresh veggies. The extra-virgin oil and parmesan cheese add the perfect depth and richness. This can be a great “meatless” meal, or add strips of grilled chicken for some added protein.

Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera is an easy to make, one bowl meal that is sure to satisfy your entire family.

Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

16 ounces whole wheat fusilli pasta
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
5 Roma tomatoes, seeds and pulp removed and diced
3 cups broccoli florets, bite size
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 cups packed fresh spinach, roughly torn
1 cup green peas
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon good quality extra-virgin olive oil,
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Instructions

In a large pot, bring water for pasta to a boil. When water is boiling, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and the pasta to the water and stir. Cook until al dente, drain pasta, then move to a large bowl, and toss with 1 tablespoon (good quality oil), loosely cover pasta with foil and set aside.
Now, in a large sauce pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and heat until shimmering. Stir in garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add tomatoes, broccoli and wine, and cook for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are slightly tender, stirring often. Add spinach and peas and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat. Move sauce to a serving bowl, and toss with 1/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil.
To serve, spoon 1 1/2 cups of pasta and 1 cup of sauce in a bowl and gently stir together, top with cheese and serve.

Notes

For multiple servings, combine all of the pasta with the sauce in a large serving bowl. Toss together and then divide into individual bowls, passing the parmesan as you go.

https://elizabethshome.com/whole-wheat-pasta-primavera/

Check out my earlier version of this Pasta Primavera recipe on my old blog.

Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella

August 7, 2014 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Beautifully ripened tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, garlic, basil, and perfectly cooked pasta, tossed together to create a great summer dish. Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella is an easy to make, simple recipe, that is sure to be a crowd pleaser for any occasion.

Let’s celebrate, it’s Thursday! There’s just something so wonderful about Thursdays. I guess it’s the fact that most of the work week is complete, and the thrill of the upcoming weekend is finally within reach. Let’s enjoy our evening, and be thankful for a great day. I’m celebrating with a special #tbt (Throwback Thursday) post!

William was just 19-months-old when we headed off to Europe with him (for the third time). Everything I had read before we left, said not to take your toddler to Rome, especially in the month of July. However, being fairly adventurous travelers, and completely up for a challenge, we decided to embrace an incredible opportunity. What an amazing trip it was! We are so blessed to have had this experience, and we cannot wait for our next time abroad. (Although with three little ones, we might have to plan it out just a bit more ;)).

Come join me as we stroll through a few pictures from our journey to Rome, back in July 2011.

The food in Rome, and Europe in general, is out of this world! Nothing says “Italy” more than a giant bowl of pasta. One of my favorite meals from our trip was this amazing dish. We were at a darling little restaurant that was located down a popular alley. Thankfully, we were just early enough to beat the dinner crowd. We learned that timing was an important factor when in Rome, in July, with a toddler. That night we enjoyed our dinner outside on the patio. The street was bustling, and a musician was playing nearby. What a fantastic way to dine in Rome! I ordered this wonderful pasta dish with short pasta, tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella, (as you can see). It was so yummy, and yet so simple. I enjoyed this meal so much on our trip, that I knew it would be a great one to recreate at home!

When summer roles around, there are a few flavors that I often feel compelled to work into our menu. I just adore the combination of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil! The ripeness of the tomatoes play a huge role in the end result of this recipe. Try to find the freshest, ripest tomatoes that you can. When it comes to preparing the basil, here is an excellent visual of the best way to thinly slice (chiffonade) basil.

Thanks for joining me on our flashback to Rome! Now, put your feet up and relax. Imagine you’re sitting on the patio of a fine Italian restaurant, and enjoy the goodness of these fresh summer flavors.

Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella

Ingredients

2.5 pounds tomatoes (about 5 large tomatoes, or 10-12 Roma tomatoes), halved and seeds and pulp removed, then diced into 1/8-inch chunks
20 large fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced (see note below)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (good quality)
Salt and pepper, (fresh ground), to taste
16 ounces campanelle pasta (or substitute penne or fusilli)
1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch chunks (room temperature)
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

Combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, oil, and a generous amount of salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir together, then cover with plastic wrap and let sit out (do not refrigerate) for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours. Stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta until al dente, make sure to reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain.
In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella. Add some of the cooking water if needed to loosen the consistency of the sauce. Serve immediately, and top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

To thinly slice (chiffonade) basil, stack 10 of the basil leaves on top of each other, then tightly roll them up the long way. Using a sharp knife, slice rolled basil into very thin slices. Then fluff and gently separate slices.

This is dish is usually served slightly warm from the heat of the cooked pasta. However, if you desire to have the cheese melted, or for a slightly different experience, this dish (or portions of it) can be placed in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, without further cooking the pasta or tomatoes. Leftovers can also be reheated in the microwave for a minute or two.

https://elizabethshome.com/pasta-with-tomatoes-basil-and-fresh-mozzarella/

Feel free to check out the earlier version of this Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella recipe on my old blog.

White Bean Soup with Tomatoes, Spinach and Pasta

January 22, 2014 by Elizabeth 3 Comments

A healthy, hearty soup with white beans, tomatoes, and fresh spinach, topped with shredded parmesan cheese. Serve with crunchy bread and butter and this soup can be a vegetarian meal in itself. Or, omit the pasta and serve with a side salad and you’ll have the perfect gluten free dinner. There’s just something so delightful about a big bowl of warm, comforting soup that can hit the spot on a chilly night.

Speaking of chilly, it is down right freezing here in Michigan again! Is it spring yet? I’m ready for some warm days where we can actually go outside to play for more than five minutes without losing all feeling in our fingers and toes! Well, soon enough I guess.

In the meantime, we’ve been staying pretty active around here. The boys and I are having fun attending story time at the library, playing with friends, seeing family, and attending different children’s plays in our area. We’ve been busy with the usual day to day things, too. Especially grocery shopping, and planning fun and exciting additions to our menu.

Andrew and I even had a date night out on Monday night. We met up with my sister and had a fabulous dinner out. We went to a great well-known place near her, about a 45-minute drive for us. (We went there for Andrew’s birthday dinner last year, but unfortunately our whole experience was a bust. We let the manager know and they told us to come back for our next dinner on them!) So Monday night, for his birthday dinner re-do, we spent over two hours talking and savoring most things on the menu. Wow, what a perfect night with my husband and sister! I even walked away with a number of great new recipe ideas. 🙂

On a much different note, we’ve had a few health changes in our house lately, so I’m feeling super motivated to create many more of those “good for you” recipes. However, like all of my recipes, TASTE is such a factor here! I mean, let’s be honest, if it claims to be healthy but tastes like glue, why on earth would you touch it? Thankfully, I love experimenting with recipes to create that healthy/tasty perfect combo. I guess you know my new little project for the time being. So, the “healthier” recipes have been moved to the top of my list these days, so I hope you’re up for them!? 🙂

Kicking off our “healthy AND tastes good” recipes, I give you a family-tested and much approved, (yes, even the boys loved it!), White Bean Soup with Tomatoes, Spinach and Pasta. It’s quick, easy, and of course healthy and delicious, too.

White Bean Soup with Tomatoes, Spinach and Pasta

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

Yield: 4-6 servings

White Bean Soup with Tomatoes, Spinach and Pasta

Ingredients

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans cannelini beans (drained and rinsed)
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes and juices
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
3 cups fresh spinach, roughly torn
1/2 cup short pasta, such as ditalini or tubettini (omit for gluten-free)
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 cup water, if needed
Fresh-grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat olive oil until shimmering, then add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until tender, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and stir, cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add beans, tomatoes, broth, basil, and salt and pepper, and stir. Simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes, until the broth has thickened and reduced a bit, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.
Add pasta and cook for about 10 minutes or until pasta is almost tender. (If omitting pasta, continue cooking for about 10 more minutes). Then add spinach and cook for about 3 minutes or until spinach has wilted. If necessary, add up to 1 cup water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and serve with Parmesan cheese, and crunchy French bread and butter, or a side salad.

https://elizabethshome.com/white-bean-soup-tomatoes-spinach-pasta/

Chicken Piccata & Announcement

January 9, 2014 by Elizabeth 6 Comments

Lightly sautéed chicken breasts, in a lemon-butter sauce with capers and parsley. Served over a lovely side of perfectly cooked pasta. Chicken piccata used to be a dish that I overlooked, and clearly did not appreciate enough. Who knew that boring chicken breasts could be transformed into something so wonderful?

I just made this recipe for Andrew and I on one of the coldest nights that Michigan has seen in a LONG time! I loved creating this restaurant-quality, date-night dinner for us on a Monday night.

When I started brainstorming this recipe, I remember asking Andrew if he liked chicken piccata. His underwhelming response was, “Um, I guess”. Not exactly what I wanted to hear from a big part of my audience, but I decided to go through with it anyway, in case he was mistaken on his likes. Well, let me just be the one to say that after taking his very first bite of this dish, his new answer was, “YES! I LOVE chicken piccata!” You can’t blame the guy for being honest. That’s definitely one of the things I love about him. 🙂

And speaking of Andrew, we have a little news for you. We’re expecting another baby in June!!! Yep, baby #3 is on the way! We have been so excited ever since we found out in late September, and now we are equally excited that we get to share our news with you! We just went to the doctor today for our big ultrasound. They checked the baby and everything looks great so far! We even found out the baby’s gender.

Drum-role please…..

Baby number three is a……

BOY!

That will make THREE boys for our little family! We couldn’t be happier!

Chicken Piccata

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

Yield: 4 servings

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and drained
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Lay chicken breasts flat on cutting board, and slice in half to create thin cutlets. Pat dry with paper towel and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Spread the flour in a shallow dish. Then dredge cutlets in flour to coat, shaking off any excess.
In a large non-stick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering. Add four of the cutlets and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and lightly cover with foil. Repeat with the remaining oil and cutlets.
Using the same skillet, and the brown bits and oil that remain, add the garlic and shallot to the pan and cook over medium heat until softened, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the broth and sherry and simmer for about 8 minutes, until broth has thickened a bit.
Stir in the lemon juice, capers, and any chicken juice from the plate. Turning the heat to low, whisk in the butter, one third at a time. Remove pan from heat and stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
When ready to serve, spoon the sauce over the chicken. Serve with pasta, especially fettuccine or thin spaghetti.

https://elizabethshome.com/chicken-piccata/