Tag: Back to school


Sep
2016

Butternut Squash Tortellini With Pumpkin Spice Brown Butter Cream Sauce!

categories: Dinner, Homemade Italian, Recipes, Sides

The first ever pumpkin spice cheese launched last week so I had to try it!

Beemster developed a Pumpkin Spice Gouda, without pumpkin but with the perfect combination of pumpkin pie spices. I tasted it and decided it would be great in a brown butter cream sauce. When melted, this cheese is even better!

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I love pumpkin ravioli with a sage cream sauce in the fall for Sunday Supper with family or Halloween before trick or treat! This pumpkin spice cream sauce adds a richness that my traditional sauce lacks.

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Here is the recipe…

Butternut Squash Tortellini with Pumpkin Spice Brown Butter Cream Sauce

Ingredients:
12-15 homemade butternut squash tortellini, or your favorite store bought
1/2 stick butter
3 rosemary sprigs, small amount for garnish
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2-3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Beemster Pumpkin Spice Gouda cheese, additional for garnish
salt/pepper to taste

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Directions:
Melt butter in a pan by swirling over medium heat.
When mostly melted, add chopped garlic and rosemary sprigs.
Let it bubble until brown and thick.
Meanwhile, boil 2 quarts of water and add tortellini until floating.
Strain and set aside.
Add cream little by little, whisk, until desired golden brown color.
Remove from heat and whisk in grated cheese.
Top tortellini with sauce, grated cheese, and finely chopped rosemary.

I served this tortellini with rosemary roasted chicken quarters and a beautiful salad!

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Enjoy!
Ciao!


Aug
2014

Back To School! Turkey Kale Orecchiette!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Fun for Kids, Homemade Italian, Recipes

Another quick back to school meal is a 20 minute pan sauce! Throw in some veggies and superfoods and you have a healthy, easy dinner!

We enjoy superfood kale in a pan sauce, in our pizza, and even baked into kale chips!
We enjoy superfood kale in a pan sauce, on our pizza, and even baked into kale chips!

Kale chip recipe:
http://www.parmesanprincess.com/2014/04/10/super-chips-garlic-parmesan-baked-kale-chips/

My kids love to pick out pastas when we are at the store. One of their favorites is orecchiette, Italian meaning ears, or spaceships, or planets, so they say.

The names the kids come up with are so funny! Big springs, little springs, little seashells, tubes, strings!
The names the kids come up with are so funny! Big springs, little springs, little seashells, tubes, strings!

When kids get involved in the dinner process, they are more likely to eat the meal, even if it is full of healthy vegetables!

Tomato Kale Orecchiette!
Tomato Kale Orecchiette!

Turkey Kale Orecchiette

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. lean white meat ground turkey
1 35oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
1 -1/2 cup kale, washed and chopped
1 tbsp. Chopped basil
1 tbsp. Chopped rosemary
1 tbsp. Chopped thyme
Salt/pepper
1 lb. orecchiette pasta
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat oil on medium heat in a your deepest frying pan.

Press garlic and cook until softened, 5 minutes.

Add the turkey and cook until no longer pink. Drain any fat.

Add onion, tomatoes, basil, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes until

Separate the curly kale leaves from the middle stem and chop.
Separate the curly kale leaves from the middle stem and chop.

heated trough.

Add the kale last and mix well.

Chop up the tomatoes while stirring.
Chop up the tomatoes while stirring.

Meanwhile, boil a pot of water to cook the pasta according to the package instructions and drain.

Add the orecchiette to the pan and mix.

Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!
Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!

Ciao!

 


Aug
2014

Back To School Crockpot Meals: Mexican!

categories: Crockpot, Dinner, Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes
Photo by Amy Wilson Photography http://amywilsonphotography.com
Photo by Amy Wilson Photography
http://amywilsonphotography.com

Back to school for a mom of a preschooler and a half-day kindergartener means pick ups and drop offs all day long. Other than 4pm-5pm, there is little time to prep and cook dinner! Oh yeah, and on Mondays with baseball at 4:30 and dance at 5, there is absolutely no time!

Mexican is great in the crockpot! Make enchilada, taco, empanada, and burrito filling!
Mexican is great in the crockpot! Make enchilada, taco, empanada, and burrito filling!

On these busy days, a crockpot meal is a perfect option! And Mexican is healthy and super easy in the crockpot! Throw in frozen chicken or beef, pork, with the ingredients that you have onions, peppers, corn, beans, taco seasoning, salsa, etc. Let it cook for the day and your crockpot mixture is ready to be stuffed into fresh tortillas!

Crockpot Mexican Filling
(Makes approx.10 servings stuffed tortillas)

Ingredients:
1 lb. Frozen boneless chicken (use any meat or no meat!)
1 35oz. can whole tomatoes
1/4 cup taco seasoning (you can substitute chili powder)
Salt/pepper
1/2 cup salsa
1-2 bell peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can black beans
1 8oz. bag frozen corn
10 of your favorite tortilla shells

For extra spice, add 1 tbsp. Of cayenne pepper and 1-2 tbsp. Red pepper flakes and/or chopped habanero peppers.

Additions: Making burritos? Add quinoa or rice-1 cup uncooked.

Directions:
Throw it all in and cook all day 8 hours + on low or 4-6 hours on high!

Take the lid off when you get home to thicken if it is runny. The amount of liquid varies based on the brand of tomatoes and by the amount of absorption of the additions!
Take the lid off when you get home to thicken if it is runny. The amount of liquid varies based on the brand of tomatoes and by the amount of absorption of the additions!

Chicken and pork will shred easily with a fork.
Chop fresh tomato, lettuce.
Top with sour cream, shredded chihuahua cheese and guacamole.

Easy, delicious, healthy dinner! #backtoschool
Easy, delicious, healthy dinner! #backtoschool

The ingredients can vary based on your family’s preferences!
Enjoy!
Ciao!