INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces penne or ziti or other tubular pasta
2 teaspoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons onion, minced
2 teaspoons flour, all purpose
pepper to taste
1 cup peas
1 cup salmon, fresh or canned
1/4 cup parsley
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 1/4 cups milk
DIRECTIONS:
In large pot of boiling water, cook pasta al dente about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and return to pot. In saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, add onion and cook until tender. Stir in flour and cook for a few seconds. Whisk in milk and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Add peas, salmon broken into chunks and salmon juices, parsley, cheese and pepper to taste. Pour mixture over pasta and stir gently to mix. Serve immediately. Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 pound penne or pasta of choice
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
DIRECTIONS:
Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces, reserving tips separately. Cook asparagus stems in 5 to 6 quarts boiling water with 2 tablespoons salt until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, reserving cooking water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain asparagus well and transfer to a food processor or blender. Cook asparagus tips in same boiling water until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to colander, reserving boiling water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain tips well. Puree asparagus stems with zest, oil and 1/2 cup asparagus cooking water. Transfer sauce to a 4 quart saucepan. Cook pasta in boiling asparagus cooking water until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three fourths of the recommended cooking time. Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain pasta. Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup reserved water to asparagus sauce and cook over high heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente and sauce coats pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until sauce coats pasta but is a little loose, the cheese will thicken it slightly. Stir in Parmigiano Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces pasta ; bowtie, penne, or other favorite
1/2 pound bacon*
4 roma tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 pound fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil
115 ounce can white beans, drained
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package direction. Drain and rinse in cold water to cool, drain again. While pasta is cooking, chop bacon and scramble fry until crisp. Drain excess fat, remove bacon and blot on paper towel. Use a paper towel to blot out excess fat in fry pan. Add chopped tomatoes and crushed garlic to bacon pan. Cook and stir until tomatoes are slightly soft about 2 minutes. Add drained beans and chopped spinach, stir. Continue to cook just until spinach wilts, stirring constantly. Cool, but don’t refrigerate. Combine chopped basil, cooked pasta, tomato mixture and crumbled bacon. Toss with cheeses. Salad is good served room temperature or cold. Do not leave salad at room temperature longer than 2 hours, refrigerate.
*Note: Bacon will increase fat content from approximately 4 grams per serving to approximately 10 grams per serving. It does add a nice smoky flavor to the salad, but is not necessary for a great taste
