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Pumpkin Alfredo-One Pot Pasta
I know, I know…it is not the time of year for all things pumpkin. I was cleaning out my pantry and noticed I had a can of pumpkin puree that would expire next month. That’s when this pasta recipe began to percolate deep in my brain. Channeling my inner autumn season, I decided I wanted to do more than many a sweet treat or dessert with this particular can of pumpkin puree. I thought…well, pumpkins are a squash food…and nearly everything tastes better with cheese…so Pumpkin Alfredo was born. Then I wanted to attempt to make it in one single pot. There isn’t anything much more satisfying when dinner is…
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Instapot Unstuffed Italian Shells
I just love Italian type casseroles like lasagna and manicotti, but the preparation and time it takes is just not something I enjoy. I am all for a meal with multi steps, but if I have to use multiple pots and pans, I just can’t get on board. So, attempting to create this Italian goodness in the Instapot was something I knew I had to do. The sauté, pour, stir, and let pressure cook is my kind of meal. When I took a look in my pantry the other day, I realized I had a couple boxes of large pasta shells. It was then I decided I wanted to make…
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Vodka-Less Penne
I am not someone who drinks…for many reasons. Other than personal values, I am SO easily affected by medication. I take Sudafed and I become loopy. I take hydrocodone and I can’t remember my own name. I can’t remember my own name if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep consecutively on a regular basis. I just don’t possess the mental capacity to add anything to my body. So when my younger brother came to me and asked if I’d take a look at his vodka-less penne recipe, I jumped in. Honestly, my first reaction to his request was ‘just buy the vodka and the alcohol cooks out’.…
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15-Minute Meal: Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo
Sometimes meals are planned and food is prepped…other times winging it is the key. I always have certain ingredients in my kitchen, at least one jar of roasted red peppers is definitely one of those ingredients. One of my favorite ways to use roasted red peppers is pureed in sauces. This particular recipe is a not only a family favorite, it takes 15 minutes to make…start to finish. The sauce is another one of my quick sauces made in the blender. I like to make it when the pasta is cooking. When the most time consuming step in a recipe is waiting for the water to boil and then cook…
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Instapot: Creamy Italian Chicken Soup
Contains affiliate links I am desperate for cooler weather. I love autumn, it is my favorite season. I like to call it soup season. I LOVE soup, but I cannot consume it when the temperature outside is scorching. Soup just makes my body all cozy from the inside out, so when it is 100°F+ outside I just can’t eat soup…or anything else liquidy warm that will cause me to overheat. While the rest of the northern hemisphere is experiencing leaves changing and cooler temperatures, Las Vegas is entering the fall season…in its own way. We are finally down to the 90s, the sun is rising later and setting earlier, …and…
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Creamy Pesto Alfredo Pasta
Contains affiliate links Pasta is definitely one of my easy go-to’s for dinner. Typically I whip out the premade meatballs and marinara or frozen cheesy tortellini, but occasionally I make a quick homemade sauce, especially when I can do the sauce in less than 10 minutes, requires no cooking, and can be thrown into the blender. And…pesto is one of those sauces. Pesto, do you know what pesto is? It is the Italian green sauce. It is fresh herbs and spices and is typically served over pasta, but is also extremely tasty on toasted Italian bread. While you can use typical pasta, I have been loving Banza pasta lately. It…
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Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Bake
My kiddos are lovers of all things pasta…but really who isn’t a fan of noodles? I have two kiddos who love pasta with red sauce, and two who love pasta with white. I have to walk the pasta fine line and create recipes that they all will enjoy. One such recipe is anything with alfredo sauce. It has the spices and garlicy flavors of red sauce, with the cheesiness of the white sauce. Most of the time, I make alfredo on the stovetop, but I thought it would be fun to do a bake with it this time around. My husband brought home spaghetti bits for our food storage last…
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Cheesy Manicotti
A few weeks ago I decided I would involve the amigos more in meal planning and cooking dinner. I told each of them to decide on a dinner they wanted to help me prepare. Bean chose the easy way and wanted to do precooked tortellini with marinara sauce. His reasoning was if he aimed low in the beginning his only option was to move up. Then Keegs decided he wanted his absolute favorite dinner, which I refuse to make most of the time, Hawaiian Haystacks…if you don’t know what these are, then you most likely aren’t Mormon. You see…Mormons have this urge to create some of the yummiest, yet most…
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Quick Instapot Lasagna
My family has absolutely no Italian heritage, but my boys could eat anything pasta and/or anything with cheeses and marinara til they die. When I cook a recipe and can make it super quick in my instapot, everyone is happy. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes start-to-finish and is a definite crowd pleaser. If you want the vegetarian/vegan version or the gluten-free tips then scroll to the bottom. Enjoy! To make this dish vegetarian, instead of pork sausage, diced eggplant and zucchini are super yummy. Once the olive oil has been drizzled, add in the diced eggplant and zucchini and just saute slightly with the dried onions and red…
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Fennel & Orange Focaccia
Sometimes I like to plan meals with flavors that are the same in each food. The other night I made a Spicy Blueberry & Orange Pork Tenderloin with this Fennel & Orange Focaccia. Not only does each food compliment the other, but it also is a great way to be able to use every part of the specific ingredient. In the pork tenderloin I used the orange zest, and then in the focaccia, I used the orange slices and the juice. The only waste I had from the oranges was the pith. Also…have you ever tried fennel? It has this amazing licorice scent and flavor. It looks like celery, dill…
