Vegetable Pasta

This delicious healthy pasta recipe is a nice vegetarian option. I made this the first time a week or so ago for the girlfriend of my youngest. The other day I was drawing a blank on supper and my oldest requested this recipe again. It's quickly becoming a family favourite.

Vegetable Pasta

Ingredients:

        1 lb. Pasta, cooked al dente

Sauce:

        1 Yellow Onion, finely diced

        1 tsp Garlic, minced

        1 Green Bell Pepper, finely diced

        8 oz. Baby Portobella Mushrooms, diced

        24 oz. Pasta Sauce

        15 oz. Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, drained

        2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce

        2 Tbl Sugar

        Red Pepper Flakes to taste

        Salt and Pepper to taste

        1 tsp Basil

        1 tsp Oregano

        1 Tbs Italian Seasoning

Instructions:

1. Over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven, saute the onion and garlic until the onions are translucent.
2. Add diced bell pepper and mushrooms and let the vegetables sweat, about 5 minutes.
3. Pour in pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Add in basil, oregano, and Italian seasoning and stir to mix.
6. Dish and serve hot over cooked pasta topped with Parmesan cheese.

             

Enjoy!

            Ingrid

Cajun Shrimp Scampi

Much to my delight my youngest and his girlfriend decided they were going to make this delicious meal.They did an amazing job and it was delicious. I'm proud of them!

Cajun Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

        1 lb Angel Hair Pasta, cooked al dente

        2 Tbs Olive Oil

        1/4 cup Shallots, chopped

        2 cloves Garlic, minced

        2Tbs Cajun Seasoning

        1/2 tsp Cayenne

        1/4 tsp Black Pepper

        1 lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined

        1/2 cup White Wine

        2 Tbs Butter

        2 Tbs Fresh Parsley, chopped

        2 Tbs Lemon Juice

        1/4 cup Parmesan, grated

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta as instrcted on the package.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
3. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for two minutes.
4. Stir in the cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper and black pepper and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the shrimp and cook until just pink, about two minutes.
6. Pour in the white wine and simmer until reduced by half, about three minutes.
7. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the butter, parsley and lemon juice.
8. Simmer until the shrimp is cooked through.
9. Serve on top of pasta.
10. Sprinkle with parmesan.

Enjoy!

            Ingrid

Delicious Black Bean Burger

Since the beginning of barbeque season we've been using the PitBoss a lot! To heck with the air temperature, that's what later meals are for. The difference this year is that my youngest is dating a young lady who is a vegetarian. I've made a few adjustments to my menus to accommodate her. One of those changes I've made is to include Black Bean Burgers to our barbeques. I played with several recipes and this is the recipe she likes best. Each time I make it the burgers look better. As my oldest said "It's almost like practice makes perfect". Yup, something like that.

Black Bean Burger

Ingredients:

        15 oz can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
        1/2 Green Bell Pepper
        1/2 small Onion
        2 cloves Garlic, peeled
        1 large Egg, beaten
        2/3 cup Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs
        1 Tbs Chili Powder
        1 tsp Cumin
        salt and Black Pepper, to taste


Directions:

1. Place rinsed and drained black beans in a bowl. If needed, blot them with a paper towel to remove extra moisture.
2. Mash well with a fork.
3. Place bell pepper, onion and garlic in a food processor and process until finely minced.
4. Transfer vegetable mixture to a fine strainer.
5. Use the back of a spoon to press out excess moisture. Don't skip this or the burger won't hold together.
6. Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl with the black beans.
7. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
8. Stir to combine.
9. Add beaten egg and mix well.
10. Stir in bread crumbs.
11. Divide mixture into 4 even-size portions.
12. Form them into patties with your hands.
13. Cook, separate from beef burgers, on well-oiled grill over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side.

Top like you would any burger.

Enjoy!

            Ingrid