No Fuss Pasta Sauce

Great Dish...So Flavorful         

1 lb. Pasta (Your Choice)

1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Dry Red Wine

1/2 Cup Crushed Tomatoes

2-4 Garlic Cloves (Minced)

2 Tablespoons Parsley

8 Sliced Cooked and Crumbed Bacon

Salt/ Pepper

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Combine olive oil, wine, crushed tomatoes

Mix in garlic, parsley, salt and pepper

Let sauce rest for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta

While water is coming up to a boil take sauce out of refrigerator 

Allow it to come to room temperature

Cook pasta according to directions

Drain pasta

Combine pasta with sauce and toss with bacon

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

This is quick weeknight sauce, weekend sauce for guests - however you serve it enjoy even if it is for two!

Coconut Shrimp

This Dish Has A Very Island Like Flavor...

1 lb. Shrimp (peeled and cleaned)
3 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
1 Tablespoon of Ginger (minced)
2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1/2 Lime (zested)
1/4 Cup Coconut Milk
Basil Leaves (a handful, torn)
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
Salt / Pepper

In a large bowl add shrimp, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce,
lime juice, coconut milk, basil, vegetable oil and salt / pepper
Toss to coat
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour
Remove shrimp from marinade
Reserve marinade
Place shrimp in large non stick pan
Cook over medium heat till pink, remove from pan and keep warm
Add reserved marinade to pan and bring to a boil
Cook until slightly thickened
***Serve over rice

***For extra coconut flavor in the dish use the remaining coconut milk in place of the water used to cook the rice (i.e. 2 cups water use 2 cups coconut milk or 1 cup coconut milk 1 cup water)

Kicked Up Black Bean Cakes

Great Side Dish or Main Dish...

2 Cans Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
6 Cloves Garlic (pressed)
1 Jalapeno (minced)
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
Salt/Pepper
1 Large Sweet Potato (peeled and coarsely grated into 2 cups)
1 Egg (beaten)
1/2 Cup Breadcrumb
Lime Sour Cream (recipe below)
Special Equipment...Fork or Potato Masher

Heat oven broiler
In a medium skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and add garlic, jalapeno and cumin
Cook till fragrant about 30 seconds
Transfer mixture to a large bowl
Add beans to mixture and mash with a fork or masher, leaving 1/4 of beans whole
Season generously with salt/pepper
Fold in sweet potato, egg and breadcrumb
Brush baking sheet with remaining olive oil
Divide into 10-12 balls of equal size and flatten into patties
Place patties on baking sheet
Broil 4 inches from heat until golden brown about 8-10 minutes
Carefully turn patties and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes
Remove from oven and cool slightly
Top with Lime Sour Cream

Lime Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream
2 Teaspoons Fresh Lime Juice
Salt/Pepper

In a bowl combine sour cream and lime juice
Season with salt

Ravioli with Balsamic Butter Sauce

So Elegant...

1 Bag of Frozen Cheese Ravioli
1 Stick of Unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar
1/3 Cup Toasted Walnuts (optional)
Parmesan Cheese

Cook ravioli according to directions
Meanwhile melt butter over medium heat stirring occasionally
Once melted let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown
Turn off the heat and let it cool for 1-2 minutes
Add balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and walnuts
Pour sauce over cooked ravioli and top with Parmesan cheese

Ham and Rice Casserole

A Great Tasting Casserole...

24 oz Cooked Ham (diced)
1 Bag Frozen Peas
2 Cups Instant Rice (uncooked)
1 Can Campbell's Cheese Soup (warmed)
1/2 Cup Miracle Whip
2 Cups of Milk
2 Cups Cheddar Cheese (shredded)

Preheat Oven to 425
In a large casserole dish mix the ham, peas, rice,
Miracle Whip, milk, cheese soup, and 1/2 of the cheddar cheese until well blended
Top mixture with remaining cheddar cheese
Place in oven for 30 minutes
Check casserole after 20 minutes - if it looks too dry then add a little bit of milk to the corners and return to oven

***For extra layer of flavor, mix remaining cheddar cheese with crushed Ritz crackers and sprinkle over top of casserole before placing in the oven