Recipe: “BLOW YOUR MIND” Healthy, No-Strain Tomato Basil Pasta!
I’ve seen this recipe floating around my Facebook page for a while, but I couldn’t ignore it anymore. It’s amazing! You just add all the ingredients into one big pot, stir and simmer until it’s fully cooked. No straining, no waste, and only takes FIFTEEN MINUTES! It’s called “Summer Pasta” because it doesn’t take a lot of work to make, but it absolutely could be made year-round (and should because it’s so healthy!). Here’s the great recipe from MyFridgeFood (check the link for calories and in the comments section for what others added for recipe ideas).
Ingredients:
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatos with liquid (You can use fresh if you would rather)
- 1 large sweet onion, cut in julienne strips
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
- 2 large sprigs basil, chopped
- 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth (regular broth and NOT low sodium)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Directions:
- Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, in a large stock pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Sprinkle on top the pepper flakes and oregano. Drizzle top with oil.
- Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so.
- Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated (an inch or less, as desired).
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot.
- Serve garnished with parmesan cheese.
Recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
One of my favorite restaurants for breakfast is Cracker Barrel, and I mean beyond the giant checker board and triangle peg games. Cracker Barrel’s Hash Brown Casserole is my favorite restaurant breakfast food. I am thrilled to have found how to make it at home!
- 8 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, divided
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour, divided
- ¼ tsp poultry seasoning
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, divided
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 (26 oz) package frozen shredded hash browns
- 1 (8 oz) package shredded colby cheese
Note: You can cut the casserole in half and bake into two 8×8″ casserole dishes, then freeze or save for later use.
- Preheat oven to 375 °F.
- In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Once butter is melted, add 2 tablespoons of flour and all listed seasonings. Whisk to create a paste. Add milk, whisking as you pour. Whisk until completely combined.
- In a quart sized mason jar combine 2 tablespoons flour and chicken broth. Seal tightly and shake the living tar out of your mixture. You will create a smooth flour mixture for thickening your sauce called a slurry.
- Slowly pour slurry into mixture, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour soup into 9×13 casserole dish. Add remaining 6 tablespoons butter and onions. Stir until butter is melted. This will also start to cool your soup. Add cheese and frozen hash browns. Mix well with a spoon.
- Bake 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Note: You can add more cheese to the top of the casserole in the last 10 minutes of baking if desired.
- Let cool slightly, cut into 12 pieces, serve and enjoy!
Recipe: Easy Ragu Stuffed Peppers
It’s nearly fall and we’re all looking for warm, simple, and filling meals. Here’s an easy recipe for Ragu Stuffed Peppers from The Food Channel that can also be great to be in a tailgating potluck!
Ingredients:
- 4 bell peppers (red, yellow or a mix), halved lengthwise with seeds removed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- About 3 cups Ragu sauce (or equivalent)
- 1/2 cup couscous
- 3/4 cup golden raisins
- 3/4 cup grated asiago or fontina cheese
- 4 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 450*F. Toss the bell pepper halves with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Cover bowl and microwave them until the peppers soften, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Mix the Ragu (or other sauce), couscous, raisins, 1/2 cup cheese, 3 teaspoons vinegar, the parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
- Whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon vinegar, the tomato paste and 3/4 cup water in the bottom of a large nonreactive baking dish.
- Carefully move the peppers, cut-side up, to the baking dish & fill with the couscous mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot, or about 20 minutes.
- Transfer the stuffed peppers to plates and drizzle with the cooking liquid from the dish.
Recipe: Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole
Doesn’t this Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole by Rachel Ray look AMAZING? It’s simple, too. Be sure to PIN IT and/or share it to your Facebook page so you don’t lose it!
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup toasted walnuts
- 3 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Maple syrup and bananas, for serving (Optional: butter or margarine for taste)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Place bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, maple syrup and orange zest. Add the toasted bread cubes into the egg mixture. Add in walnuts and combine.
- Line the crock of a slow cooker with aluminum foil then spray with a nonstick cooking spray. Pour the bread and egg mixture into the slow cooker and dot the top with the cubed butter.
- Set the slow cooker to cook on high for 3 hours or set to low for 5 hours.
- Serve French Toast topped with maple syrup, sliced bananas, and more walnuts and butter if desired.
Recipe: Skinny Taco Dip
One of the most popular recipes on Skinny Taste, this taco dip can be easily modified: take stuff out that you don’t like and add ingredients in that you do. Served with tortilla chips, this will be a hit at your next get together or just for fun!
Ingredients:
- 8 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia cream cheese
- 8 oz reduced fat sour cream
- 16 oz jar mild salsa
- 1/2 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded fine
- 2 large tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
- 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
- 2.25 oz sliced black olives
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa and taco seasoning and mix well with an electric mixer.
- Spread mix onto the bottom of a large shallow glass dish.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese and black olives. Serve with baked tortilla chips.