Pasta with Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil

This recipe is very similar to a simple sauce that I make.  The difference is a tiny bit of brown sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and a handful of parsley.

Make your own variation, adding ingredients you like.  Throw it together and let the stove do all the work!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pasta
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 28 oz. can whole plum tomatoes, chopped (reserve juices)
• Handful of basil leaves, chopped
• ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat one tablespoon of oil over medium heat in a saucepan large enough to hold the tomatoes. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute or until softened.

2. Add the rest of the oil to saucepan, then add tomatoes and the reserved liquid.

3. When sauce starts to simmer, lower heat to maintain a slow simmer for 45 minutes.

4. Cook pasta according to package directions.

5. Salt and pepper sauce to taste, toss in basil leaves, stir and pour over pasta. Top with grated cheese.



Source

Apple Crisp

Apple desserts are among my favorites.  There is something about apples cooked in brown sugar and cinnamon that is crazy good . . . and the smell from the oven while it is baking is intoxicating!

This recipe comes from Taste of Home, one of my favorite food websites.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups chopped peeled apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Vanilla ice cream, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. 

In a large bowl, combine first four ingredients. 

Cut in butter until crumbly. 

Press half into a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish or a 9-in.-square baking pan. 

Cover with apples.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. 

Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thick and clear. 

Pour over apples. 

Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake 60-65 minutes or until apples are tender. 

Serve warm, with ice cream if desired. 

Yield: 8 servings.

Source:  Taste of Home

Originally published as Apple Crisp in Country February/March 1993, p47

White Chocolate-Banana Cream Pie

Some of the best recipes are completely semi-homemade and so easy.  This recipe from Kraft Foods is one of those quick, easy and delicious recipes.

Imagine a luscious banana cream pie made super special with the addition of white chocolate!

A very quick and convenient dessert for a special holiday meal or a week night dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S White Chocolate, broken into pieces
• 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 1 pkg. (3.3 oz.) JELL-O White Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding
• 1-3/4 cups cold milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Directions

Microwave chocolate and butter for one minute or until butter is melted. 

Stir until chocolate is well blended into mixture and completely melted. 

Drizzle over bottom of crust and top with bananas.

Beat pudding mix, milk and vanilla with whisk about two minutes and pour over bananas in crust.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. 

Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.

SOURCE:  Kraft Foods

Twice Baked Potatoes from The Pioneer Woman

I could make a whole meal out of baked potatoes . . . and even better . . . twice baked potatoes!

This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond of The Food Network, so you know it has got to be delicious!

For different variations, change the type of cheese or try combination of cheeses.

They also make great snacks straight from the fridge or pop in the microwave.

Ingredients

8 baking potatoes, washed
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 sticks salted butter (sliced into pats)
1 cup bacon bits (fry your own!)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Cheddar or Jack cheese (or a mix of both), plus more for topping
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3 green onions, sliced
Freshly ground black pepper



Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Rub the potatoes with canola oil (I like to use softened butter and sprinkle with kosher salt) and bake for 1 hour on a cookie sheet.  Make sure they are sufficiently cooked through.

Place butter in a large mixing bowl along with the bacon bits and sour cream.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and lower the heat to 350 degrees F.

Cut each potato in half (lengthwise). 

Carefully scrape out the insides into the mixing bowl, make sure not to tear the shell.  Leave a small rim of potato for support. Lay the potato shells on a baking sheet.

Mash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream; add cheese, milk, seasoned salt, green onions and black pepper to taste . . . mix together well. (IMPORTANT: If you plan to freeze the twice-baked potatoes, do NOT add the green onions.)

Heap the potato shells with the filling.  Add a little more grated cheese on top of the potatoes and bake another 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are warmed through.


Source:  The Food Network
2011 Ree Drummond, All Rights Reserved