Butternut Squash Pancetta and Sage Pasta

Ingredients
1 medium (about 2 1/4 pounds) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil
Coarse salt
3/4 pound penne pasta
3 ounces pancetta, sliced 1/4 inch thick and finely chopped (bacon works, too)
2 shallots, thinly sliced crosswise (onions work just fine)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped or torn (i didn't have sage on hand, but i did have some thyme and it worked well)
1/2 cup finely grated pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving (substituted with parm, and it was great)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place butternut squash on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil; season with salt. Transfer to oven and roast until squash is browned and tender, about 15 minutes.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Set pasta and reserved cooking liquid aside.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add pancetta and cook until just crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, crushed red pepper, and sage. Cook until shallots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add penne and squash and toss gently, adding reserved pasta cooking liquid as necessary to moisten.

Add cheese and black pepper and cook, tossing gently, until pasta and squash are heated through. Serve immediately with more grated cheese, if desired.

Cajun Salmon Pasta

We think you can never go wrong with cajun seasoning. If you need to do something with a less-than-quality fillet of salmon, this is a great option.

2 thin fillets salmon, room temp.
1/2 medium onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup milk
cajun seasoning
pasta, enough for 2 plates/meals (we like penne best)
cherry tomatoes

Cook pasta. Meanwhile, add 2-3 tsp. olive oil to a medium sized skillet. Warm over medium heat. Add onions. Stir fry till they no longer have a "bite". Add bell peppers and garlic - stir fry till veggies are cooked but not limp. Remove veggies. Add 1 tsp. oil to skillet and heat on med-hi. Pour cajun seasoning over salmon fillets, then drop them in the hot skillet - they should smoke. If outside is browning too rapidly, lower heat to medium. When fillets are blackened on one side, pour seasoning on face-up side and flip them over. Meanwhile, once pasta is cooked and drained, immediately add about 1 Tbsp. olive oil and stir - do not let pasta cool. Heat milk to scalding and pour only as much into pasta as can be absorbed. Stir in 1 tsp. of cajun seasoning. When salmon is blackened on both sides, remove from heat. Spoon pasta onto plates and top with stir-fried veggies. With a spatula, break salmon into bite-sized chunks and spoon over top of pasta. Sprinkle with parmesan and garnish with cherry tomatoes (halved) and fresh parsley.

"Noodle Nests" with Peanut Sauce

This is a great way to use up leftover spaghetti (but fresh works well too). Mia even ate it. I haven't tried it, but I hear you can also do a similar thing with noodles and fresh basil and do a marinara-type dipping sauce...

Noodle Nests (I found the name is a good sell to kids)
1 to 3 t curry paste (depending on your feelings for curry)
4 eggs
6 oz (2/3 C) tofu diced in small cubes
1/4 to 1/2 C cilantro
6 green onions, chopped
1/2 t salt
4 C spaghetti noodles, cold

1 T sesame oil or olive oil in a pan

Turn on a frying pan to med high heat. Mix the eggs and curry paste together in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix with your hands so the noodles don't break. Put small circular piles of the noodle mixture in the pan (they keep their shape better if you use a circle shaped biscuit cutter as a mold). Make sure you get the tofu on there too because sometimes it sinks to the bottom of the bowl. Cook until golden brown on each side. Top with Peanut sauce or use sauce for dipping.

Peanut Sauce:
1/4 C honey (although you could probably leave this out if you use the PB w/sugar in it already)
1/4 C peanut butter
2 T rice vinegar
2 T olive oil
1 T sesame oil
2 t garlic
1 T ginger
1 t red pepper flakes (if you want a little kick)

Bacon & Tomato Pasta

This one is very easy, and very yummy...

1 box Bow Tie pasta
1 pkg Bacon
2 cans Italian Stewed Tomatoes or Diced Tomatoes w/ Italian herbs added
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook bacon in frying pan until crisp. Remove and let dry until it can be crumbled. Crumble bacon. Remove most of bacon grease from pan (leave a Tbsp or so) Add all tomatoes to frying pan and bring to simmer. Add crumbled bacon. Boil pasta. Top with Parmesan Cheese. Done. You can add your own variations to make this more or less healthy!

Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

I think this is one of the best spaghetti and meatballs recipe I have ever had. Every time I make it, people ask for the recipe.

4 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk
1 white onion, finely chopped
2/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 pound ground turkey
1 pound spaghetti
Directions
Make the Sauce: In a large nonstick skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook, about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, oregano, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes.
Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, whisk together egg, milk, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with a fork. Stir in onion, breadcrumbs, cheese, and parsley. Add turkey, mixing until combined. Form into 1 1/2-inch balls.
Add meatballs to skillet, spooning sauce over to coat. Cover, and cook over medium heat until meatballs are just cooked through, about 8 minutes.
While meatballs are cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook until al dente, following package instructions, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta, and toss with remaining tablespoon oil.
Add spaghetti to skillet, and toss to coat evenly. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.
Generously Serves 4

Pasta Salad with Asparagus and Red Peppers

This is so yummy!! I added a little more garlic, and even the kids ate it.

Chives work particularly well with the asparagus and peppers, but you can substitute fresh mint, parsley, or basil.

Serves 6 to 8

1 1/2	pounds asparagus , tough ends trimmed
3	large red bell peppers , cored, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch wedges
1/2	cup extra-virgin olive oil , plus more to toss with vegetables
	Table salt and ground black pepper
1/4	cup lemon juice from 2 lemons
1/2	teaspoon grated lemon zest
1	medium clove garlic , minced or put through garlic press
1	pound short, bite-size pasta such as fusilli, farfalle, or orecchiette
3	tablespoons chopped fresh chives (see note above)
1/3	cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot over high heat. Meanwhile, toss asparagus and peppers with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Either grill asparagus until tender, and streaked with light grill marks, 5 to 7 minutes, or roast in a 425-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness, shaking pan once halfway through the cooking time. Either grill peppers, using grill basket if you have one, until tender and lightly charred, about 8 minutes, or roast in 425-degree oven until tender and lightly browned, 15 to 17 minutes; cool to room temperature.

2. Whisk lemon juice and zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt, garlic, and ground black pepper to taste in large bowl; whisk in 3/4 cup oil in slow, steady stream until smooth.

3. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water. Cook until pasta is al dente and drain. Whisk dressing again to blend; add hot pasta, cooled asparagus, peppers, chives, and grated Parmesan cheese; toss to mix thoroughly. Cool to room temperature, adjust seasonings, and serve. (Can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for 1 day; return to room temperature before serving.)

Bow Tie pasta with asparagus, almonds and browned butter

1	tablespoon table salt
1/2	teaspoon table salt
1	pound bow tie pasta
2	tablespoons vegetable oil
1	pound asparagus , bottom 1 inch trimmed and discarded, spears halved lengthwise if larger than 1/2 inch in diameter and cut into 1-inch lengths
3	large cloves garlic , sliced thin
2	medium shallots , sliced into thin rings
1/2	teaspoon ground black pepper
6	tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 6 pieces
1	cup sliced almonds
1/4	cup red wine vinegar
1	teaspoon fresh thyme , chopped
1	cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in stockpot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta, stir to separate, and cook until al dente. Drain and return to pot.2. While pasta is cooking, heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to smoke. Add asparagus and cook, without stirring, until beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Add garlic, shallots, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until asparagus is tender-crisp, about 4 minutes; transfer asparagus mixture to large plate and set aside. Return skillet to high heat and add butter; when foaming subsides, add almonds and cook, stirring constantly, until almonds are toasted and browned and butter is nutty and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Off heat, add vinegar and thyme; return asparagus to skillet and toss to coat. Add asparagus mixture and 1/2 cup Parmesan to pasta in stockpot; toss to combine. Serve immediately, passing remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan separately.

*In a pinch you can use powdered parm, but I wouldn't substitute onions for the shallots. Also I have used chopped almonds instead of sliced and it was fine, and dried thyme works great too.

Penne with Havarti

The is my new favorite pasta recipe. I promise you will love it, it's amazing. I have even made it twice in one week.

6 T. Olive Oil, Divided (4T for the sauce and 2 T to toss pasta with)
1 Clove Garlic Minced
4 T. Basil Minced
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1 C. Onion Finely Chopped
1 Can Italian Stewed Tomatoes (28 oz.)
1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
2 1/2 Cups Grated Havarti Cheese
1/2 to 2/3 cup olive tanpenade- you can find it at Costco or in a local grocery store next to the sliced cheese and prepared dips.
1/4 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese


Combine the first seven ingredients in stockpot; simmer sauce until reduced by half. Cook 16 oz. of penne pasta. Drain and toss with 2 T. olive oil. Add sauce and 2-½ c. havarti cheese grated. Mix together and put in a 9x13 pan (sprayed with Pam). Cover with basil, olive tanpenade and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes

* This sauce freezes well and is good over any kind of pasta.