Food!
I remember a while ago I said I would start posting recipes and never did. I blame the fact that lj no longer likes internet explorer and has made the enter key totally non-functional. You can scale back the amounts of pasta used in the dishes I make if you like, I use a lot because then it lasts for more meals, since I do my cooking for work.
Imitation Crab Alfredo
1 packet imitation crab chunks
1 lb box of pasta. I use Barilla brand and am partial to penne, but that's a personal choice. This will work regardless
2 15oz jars Bertolli Garlic Alfredo sauce
Salt
Cooking spray
In a medium sauce pot, boil enough water for your pasta. I usually use half to two thirds of a 1 lb box and I just eyeball how much I need. When the water boils, add roughly a palmful of salt to it before the pasta goes in. Cook according to the directions on the box to desired doneness.
In a standard sized skillet, coat the skillet liberally with the cooking spray. I recommend waiting to start this until you've got the pasta in the pot already to avoid burning the crab. Open the packet of imitation crab and dump it into the skillet. Heat on medium until it starts to turn golden. If it looks like it will get done too done before the pasta finishes, lower the heat. Remember to stir occasionally to keep it from sticking to the skillet.
Once the pasta is done and drained, add it to the skillet. Next, add one of the jars of sauce. If it looks too dry, or you plan to cook this ahead of time to reheat later, add half of the second jar. Heat thoroughly and serve or separate for meals later.
Chicken sausage and veggies in cheese sauce
1 Hillshire Farm Hardwood smoked chicken sausage
1-2 cans cheddar cheese soup
1 bag medium egg noodles
1 bag Bird's Eye frozen veggies pork chop mix (red and green bell peppers, celery, onion)
-Alternatives-
1 red bell pepper, chopped
Fresh Broccoli florets steamed and de-stemed, cook only as much as you desire
Seasonings as desired. Salt, pepper, garlic, onion flakes-only if using bell pepper and broccoli version, oregano, and parsley recommended.
Cooking spray
Boil water for desired amount of egg noodles. This will determine if you need one or two cans of soup, so be aware. Salt the pasta water when it boils and cook according to the packaging. While waiting for the pasta water to boil, cut the sausage into roughly half inch slices, then cut each slice in half to make bite sized semi circles. Spray the skillet with cooking spray, add the sausage and frozen veggies or fresh cut bell pepper, cook on medium heat stirring occasionally. Add desired amounts of salt, pepper, garlic, and onion flakes if using fresh veggie alternative.
Using a slotted spoon, move the pasta from the water to the skillet once it's done. Yes, I know, it's very time consuming, but you want to keep that water! You'll need it for the next step.
Add the cheddar cheese soup to the skillet. It's a condensed soup, so keep at least one of the cans on hand. CAREFULLY dip the can into the pasta water and use it to add the water to the skillet to thin the soup to whatever consistency you desire. This can also be done with milk if you want the dish to be creamier and heavier.
Add oregano and parsley to taste, heat through and serve or portion out for later.
NOTE: This can also be done with any flavored tomato sauce you like in place of the cheese soup. Ragu has some wonderful choices, as does Prego. You can also use any frozen veggie mix that catches your eye if you like the contents better than what I listed above.
I think I'll just do these two for now. Next time, stir fry, chicken pot pie stew, and beef noodle soup. The beef noodle soup is not yet tested, so I can't tell you until I try it.
Imitation Crab Alfredo
1 packet imitation crab chunks
1 lb box of pasta. I use Barilla brand and am partial to penne, but that's a personal choice. This will work regardless
2 15oz jars Bertolli Garlic Alfredo sauce
Salt
Cooking spray
In a medium sauce pot, boil enough water for your pasta. I usually use half to two thirds of a 1 lb box and I just eyeball how much I need. When the water boils, add roughly a palmful of salt to it before the pasta goes in. Cook according to the directions on the box to desired doneness.
In a standard sized skillet, coat the skillet liberally with the cooking spray. I recommend waiting to start this until you've got the pasta in the pot already to avoid burning the crab. Open the packet of imitation crab and dump it into the skillet. Heat on medium until it starts to turn golden. If it looks like it will get done too done before the pasta finishes, lower the heat. Remember to stir occasionally to keep it from sticking to the skillet.
Once the pasta is done and drained, add it to the skillet. Next, add one of the jars of sauce. If it looks too dry, or you plan to cook this ahead of time to reheat later, add half of the second jar. Heat thoroughly and serve or separate for meals later.
Chicken sausage and veggies in cheese sauce
1 Hillshire Farm Hardwood smoked chicken sausage
1-2 cans cheddar cheese soup
1 bag medium egg noodles
1 bag Bird's Eye frozen veggies pork chop mix (red and green bell peppers, celery, onion)
-Alternatives-
1 red bell pepper, chopped
Fresh Broccoli florets steamed and de-stemed, cook only as much as you desire
Seasonings as desired. Salt, pepper, garlic, onion flakes-only if using bell pepper and broccoli version, oregano, and parsley recommended.
Cooking spray
Boil water for desired amount of egg noodles. This will determine if you need one or two cans of soup, so be aware. Salt the pasta water when it boils and cook according to the packaging. While waiting for the pasta water to boil, cut the sausage into roughly half inch slices, then cut each slice in half to make bite sized semi circles. Spray the skillet with cooking spray, add the sausage and frozen veggies or fresh cut bell pepper, cook on medium heat stirring occasionally. Add desired amounts of salt, pepper, garlic, and onion flakes if using fresh veggie alternative.
Using a slotted spoon, move the pasta from the water to the skillet once it's done. Yes, I know, it's very time consuming, but you want to keep that water! You'll need it for the next step.
Add the cheddar cheese soup to the skillet. It's a condensed soup, so keep at least one of the cans on hand. CAREFULLY dip the can into the pasta water and use it to add the water to the skillet to thin the soup to whatever consistency you desire. This can also be done with milk if you want the dish to be creamier and heavier.
Add oregano and parsley to taste, heat through and serve or portion out for later.
NOTE: This can also be done with any flavored tomato sauce you like in place of the cheese soup. Ragu has some wonderful choices, as does Prego. You can also use any frozen veggie mix that catches your eye if you like the contents better than what I listed above.
I think I'll just do these two for now. Next time, stir fry, chicken pot pie stew, and beef noodle soup. The beef noodle soup is not yet tested, so I can't tell you until I try it.