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Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Thrifty Thursday #22






Welcome back!! 
I have a special treat for you this week!
Remember last week, I shared that awesome looking dinner from Busy Mom's Helper - Creamy Cauliflower Pasta??
It took me all week to actually do it, but I made it this week!  
I was constantly missing 1 thing ... Cauliflower!

This recipe did take a lot longer than I thought it would but we loved it!
It made so much we both had it for lunch the next day, and still some left. Which we ultimately ended up tossing because we couldn't eat the same meal 3x's :)




Ingredients
1 tsp. Olive Oil
3 cups Cauliflower, chopped
3 medium Shallots, chopped
Salt and Pepper, to taste
4 tsp. Flour
4 cups Milk
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg, ground
2 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 lb. Pasta Shells
1 cup Ham, sliced, smoked, chopped
4 cups Broccoli, cut
1/2 cup Bread crumbs

Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower, garlic, shallots, and a bit of salt. Cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently so garlic doesn't overcook.

Add flour to the saucepan and toss to coat well. Stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then pour into a blender, adding the nutmeg and half the Parmesan cheese. Blend until smooth.

Preheat oven to 400 Degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the pasta and broccoli. Cook until just slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, then return pasta and broccoli to the pot. Add the ham and cauliflower sauce, tossing to combine.

Put into a 3 1/2 quart sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and bake until center is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Top with breadcrumbs and serve. Enjoy!!! - See more at: http://www.busymomshelper.com/2013/06/creamy-cauliflower-pasta.html#sthash.GanPRwv7.dpuf
Ingredients
1 tsp. Olive Oil
3 cups Cauliflower, chopped
3 medium Shallots, chopped
Salt and Pepper, to taste
4 tsp. Flour
4 cups Milk
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg, ground
2 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 lb. Pasta Shells
1 cup Ham, sliced, smoked, chopped
4 cups Broccoli, cut
1/2 cup Bread crumbs

Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower, garlic, shallots, and a bit of salt. Cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently so garlic doesn't overcook.

Add flour to the saucepan and toss to coat well. Stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then pour into a blender, adding the nutmeg and half the Parmesan cheese. Blend until smooth.

Preheat oven to 400 Degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the pasta and broccoli. Cook until just slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, then return pasta and broccoli to the pot. Add the ham and cauliflower sauce, tossing to combine.

Put into a 3 1/2 quart sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and bake until center is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Top with breadcrumbs and serve. Enjoy!!! - See more at: http://www.busymomshelper.com/2013/06/creamy-cauliflower-pasta.html#sthash.GanPRwv7.dpuf

Ingredients
1 tsp. Olive Oil
3 cups Cauliflower, chopped
3 medium Shallots, chopped
Salt and Pepper, to taste
4 tsp. Flour
4 cups Milk
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg, ground
2 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 lb. Pasta Shells
1 cup Ham, sliced, smoked, chopped
4 cups Broccoli, cut
1/2 cup Bread crumbs
 

Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower, shallots, and a bit of salt. Cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently so garlic doesn't overcook.

Add flour to the saucepan and toss to coat well. Stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then pour into a blender, adding the nutmeg and half the Parmesan cheese. Blend until smooth.

Preheat oven to 400 Degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the pasta and broccoli. Cook until just slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, then return pasta and broccoli to the pot. Add the ham and cauliflower sauce, tossing to combine.

Put into a 3 1/2 quart sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and bake until center is bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Top with breadcrumbs and enjoy!

I did attempt to multitask and cook things simultaneously, but that only left the pasta ready and waiting for the cauliflower sauce :)

On that note, you may want to let the sauce sit for more than 5 minutes to cool! I learned the valuable lesson that enclosed heat will make the top explode off your blender :)

 
I hope you enjoyed this adventure!!
Want your post Featured next week?? Leave me a comment!


XOXO,

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Day # 4: Our Dinner



Last night I made a dinner that we have had many times, and I thought you all might enjoy it as well! I actually found the recipe in a "diet" book, The Carb Lovers Diet. You do not have to be on a diet to enjoy this, and certainly will not feel like you are!


We try and keep the ingredients on hand, so this dinner can be made at any time. Unfortunately, we didn't realize we were out of Parmesan cheese last night!


Here are the ingredients the book calls for:
Pasta with Peas, Ham & Parmesan cheese
4oz. light sour cream
10oz. frozen peas (defrosted)
8oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta
4oz. lean, boneless ham, thinly sliced
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbspn chopped fresh tarragon
1/2 tspn salt, 1/2 tspn pepper
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings

I didn't happen to have any whole-wheat pasta last night, and I use the whole box. Also my ham is an 8oz package of tiny pieces, so I use the whole thing as well. I also leave out the tarragon, and haven't added the salt & pepper :) We missed the cheese, but it was still great without it!
I get dinner & lunch for 2 with this recipe!!




As you can see, even Jax likes to help me make dinner!




While the pasta is cooking on the stove, I mix the peas and sour cream in a small bowl. After draining the pasta and putting it in my large bowl, I fold the peas and sour cream into the pasta, then add the ham. I would also be mixing in the cheese at this point. :)


When everything was ready, I filled 2 bowls and grabbed bread & butter, and Tyler & I sat down to watch this weeks episode of Sons of Anarchy - definitely a house favorite! 


 
Afterwards, I let Tyler take me to Dairy Queen! This was really more for his benefit!! On the way, we jammed out to Britney Spears "(You drive me) Crazy", which was to no one's benefit :)

I really hope you have enjoyed a peek at our dinner (& lunch)! 
What is your favorite dinner?


XOXO,