Yummy Pasta Dishes!
Although the origin is unknown, one thing is definitely certain… Pasta. Is. DELICIOUS. Whether it was the Chinese or the Romans who first stumbled upon this amazing sensation does not really matter, just as long as we are able to enjoy it now. I would assume pasta is a personal trainer’s worst nightmare, but I’d "cheat" all day, every day with these pasta recipes.Cheesy Taco Pasta!
What You’ll Need:
1 pound of either macaroni or shell pasta 1 pound of ground beef or turkey 1 chopped onion 1 packet of your choice of taco seasoning (1) 8-ounce package of cream cheese; you’ll want to cut this into chunks 1 cup of milk 4 ounces of cubed Velveeta cheese
***You’ll also need some shredded cheese, a diced tomato, a little chopped up lettuce and some sour cream for this little entrée’s grand garnish.***
Now, it’s time to C O O K! Okay, so it’s time to cook the pasta… And if you really have to read the instructions on how to "cook" pasta, I’m going to need you to step out of the kitchen. So, after the pasta is nice and boiled, you already know what’s next! It’s time to drain. Now, you’ll need to pull out a large skillet and begin browning the ground beef or turkey. It’s best to keep the heat on a medium-high level. Once the beef or turkey has been fully cooked, you’ll probably want to drain it of the excess fat and then return it to the skillet. It is now time to add seasoning and the amount of water that’s indicated on your taco seasoning package. Once you’ve gotten the seasoned liquid to simmer down a bit, stir in the cream cheese, milk and Velveeta cheese. Once you’ve gotten a nice little mixture formed, pour it into a large bowl and add in the pasta. Time to top it off with that garnish the way you desire! Last thing? Enjoy!Ginger Coconut Green Linguine!
The growth of Vegans seems to be rising, so why not add a little dish for the fellow herbivores!? So, if you kids have actual friends that are against meat-consumption, this little dish can serve up to six!What You’ll Need:
16 ounces of dry linguine ½ tablespoon of olive oil 3 minced garlic cloves 2 ½ tablespoons of fresh minced ginger (1) 15-ounce can of lite coconut milk 2 teaspoons of vegan sugar … (that exists?) 2 teaspoons of lemon juice 1 teaspoon of kosher salt ½ teaspoon of fresh black pepper A little… or a lot of red pepper flakes (whichever suits you) 1 bunch of de-stemmed and chopped fresh Swiss chard or kale 2 large handfuls of fresh spinach ¼ cup of fresh basil (this one is optional)
Let’s get cookin’! Salt some water and bring it to a boil! Cook the pasta and then, drain. Set the pasta aside for now. Let’s get out a large, high-rimmed sauté pan and heat the oil over a low setting. Add that garlic and bring on the ginger! Sauté until you can smell that sweet scent. This should usually only take about 3-5 minutes. Let’s stir in the coconut milk, sugar, lemon juice, black pepper and red pepper flakes. After it’s been stirred well, let it simmer to medium heat. This is where the Swiss chard or kale and spinach come into play. You want to add these ingredients in, cover and simmer on a low setting for about 5 minutes. This should give the greens enough time to wilt. Bring in the blender! Transfer not only this concoction, but also the basil, if you’ve decided to use it. Now, you’re going to want to blend this on high until it becomes smooth and creamy. Taste it. If you feel like you need to add your own little addition, go ahead with it! Once you have perfected your little mixture, transfer it back to the pan and add in that pasta that’s been sitting around. Voila!Bacon Avocado Tomato Pasta Salad!
Um… yes! Not only will this dish make the perfect lazy summer night perfect, but it includes three of my most favorite foods. BACON. AVOCADO. TOMATOES. What more could you ask for?What You’ll Need:
8 ounces of small shell or penne pasta ½ of a peeled large avocado; cut into ½ inch pieces The other ½ should be mashed with a fork ¼-½ cup of small grape tomatoes 9 slices of cooked and chopped up bacon A little over ½ cup of your favorite ranch dip/dressing
Let’s get it started! You’ll need to place the already mashed avocado in a medium sized mixing bowl. Then, you just stir in the ranch dip. Add in that cooked pasta and the other remaining ingredients. Toss to combine. Then, all that’s left is to chill this dish in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve and enjoy! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to try these dishes out! Pasta is perfect for any occasion! Plus, the cooking process is usually always simple and quick!
