Cheesy beef and pasta in tomato sauce

We tried this recipe: https://www.thekitchn.com/beef-and-shells-22959477 Based on our pantry, we made some modifications: first, we omitted the onion and garlic powder. Instead, after browning the minced beef, we added 1 small diced onion, then 2 mins later 2 minced garlic cloves. Second, we added 2 cups unsalted beef broth and a 15 oz can unsalted tomato… Continue reading Cheesy beef and pasta in tomato sauce

Simple basil pesto

We tried this Ina Garten recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pesto-recipe-1951665 It was delicious, but a bit too runny. The next time, we will reduce the olive oil by 1/3. (Or perhaps we should have measured the basil leaves more tightly instead of loosely.) We served this pesto with cavatappi and some quartered grape tomatoes. (Sept. 2020)

Baked rigatoni

Inspired by the baked pasta dish we made while on vacation, we decided to try this recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/baked_ziti/ Our modifications: first, for the pasta we used 1 pound of rigatoni instead of ziti. We also preheated the oven to 350 at the start of preparation. Second, for the sauce we used ¾ lb spicy Italian… Continue reading Baked rigatoni

Baked rigatoni with minced beef

While on vacation with a limited pantry, we tried this recipe: https://www.thespruceeats.com/baked-ziti-with-ground-beef-cheese-3057389 Our modifications: first, we used a yellow bell pepper (diced), ½ large onion (diced), and 1 clove minced garlic. Second, in lieu of dried herbs, we added about 8 oz Rao’s marinara sauce to the 14.5 oz can of no-salt canned diced tomatoes… Continue reading Baked rigatoni with minced beef

Pasta with breadcrumbs and anchovies, Sicilian style

We tried this simple recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1006-pasta-with-bread-crumbs-and-anchovies-sicilian-style?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Our modifications: first, we used 2 tsp anchovy paste in lieu of fillets. Second, based on our pantry, we cooked ½ lb linguini. Finally, for the toasted breadcrumbs, we used store-bought breadcrumbs and toasted it in olive oil, per tge recipe (July 2020).

Italian-style pasta salad with roasted eggplant, anchovy, and mint

Details here: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12862-pasta-salad-with-roasted-eggplant-chile-and-mint?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Our modifications: first, to roast the diced eggplant, we increased the temp to 425, but at the 15 min mark, we increased to 450; this is because the eggplant pieces may have been too crowded on two sheets that they started steaming. We roasted for about 30-35 mins until browned and crisp… Continue reading Italian-style pasta salad with roasted eggplant, anchovy, and mint

Pasta with roasted grape tomatoes

This is a great pantry recipe. We used ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan instead of pecorino cheese and ¼ cup matzoh meal instead of bread crumbs. Details here: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1778-penne-with-roasted-cherry-tomatoes?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share When tossing the al dente pasta with the roasted tomatoes, we used about ¼ cup pasta water and 1 additional Tbsp olive oil. We also sprinkled… Continue reading Pasta with roasted grape tomatoes

Lasagna with roasted Brussels sprouts

We made this recipe: https://piglettedc.tumblr.com/post/188332589976/spinach-lasagna-we-tried-this-mark-bittman-nyt Instead of 1 ¼ lb fresh spinach, we used 1 lb Brussels sprouts that we had trimmed, quartered, and roasted. We generally followed this Brussels sprout recipe but omitted salt and black pepper: https://piglettedc.tumblr.com/post/180053950436/oven-roasted-brussel-sprouts-we-followed-this While we love Brussels sprouts, we found the flavor overpowered the overall dish. A neutral vegetable… Continue reading Lasagna with roasted Brussels sprouts

Pasta with mushrooms and gremolata

Gremolata is an intoxicating combo of garlic, parsley, and lemon zest. We tried this recipe, and it was delicious: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12791-pasta-with-mushrooms-and-gremolata?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Our modifications: first, based on our pantry, we used 8 oz (½ lb) cremini mushrooms (instead of 1 lb mixed mushrooms), cut into ½" slices. We found the amount of mushroom to be sufficient. Second,… Continue reading Pasta with mushrooms and gremolata