Doctor that Pasta
Is everybody as short on time during the week as I am? From what I see the answer seems to be a resounding “yes”! With this in mind, have you noticed that America’s food producers continue to come out with the quick and easy meal solutions?
One of said “solutions” seems to be the fresh pasta section. Surely you’ve spotted the little refrigerated area in the grocery store with various “fresh” pastas and sauces. The Connoisseur admits to using some of these for that quick weeknight dinner fix. (Don’t tell anybody..!)
Although most of these pastas and sauces seem to be reasonably palatable (I’m being nice here), I tend to want to doctor them up a bit. Here are a couple of examples:
I will purchase some fettuccine, pesto sauce, can of chicken broth and a package of those pre-cooked chicken strips. Heat the pesto, chicken and desired amount of broth (1 to 2 cups) in a sauté pan. Cook the pasta, mix with the sauce and serve. I usually will roast some pignolias and toss a few on top.
Another possibility – procure the pasta of choice along with one of the “fresh” tomato sauces. Brown a package of Italian sausage, add some diced onion and cook briefly. Throw in a couple cloves of diced garlic and after about a minute add the tomato sauce and simmer. Cook the pasta, mix with the sauce and serve. A bit of fresh basil also works well here.
Take these ideas and add your own flavor to them. Perhaps try some red onion and corn in the pesto pasta or an Alfredo sauce and chicken instead of the tomato and sausage. The possibilities are endless, not to mention quick and easy for those weeknight meals..!
And don't forget to open that bottle of wine. It makes everything taste better!
One of said “solutions” seems to be the fresh pasta section. Surely you’ve spotted the little refrigerated area in the grocery store with various “fresh” pastas and sauces. The Connoisseur admits to using some of these for that quick weeknight dinner fix. (Don’t tell anybody..!)
Although most of these pastas and sauces seem to be reasonably palatable (I’m being nice here), I tend to want to doctor them up a bit. Here are a couple of examples:
I will purchase some fettuccine, pesto sauce, can of chicken broth and a package of those pre-cooked chicken strips. Heat the pesto, chicken and desired amount of broth (1 to 2 cups) in a sauté pan. Cook the pasta, mix with the sauce and serve. I usually will roast some pignolias and toss a few on top.
Another possibility – procure the pasta of choice along with one of the “fresh” tomato sauces. Brown a package of Italian sausage, add some diced onion and cook briefly. Throw in a couple cloves of diced garlic and after about a minute add the tomato sauce and simmer. Cook the pasta, mix with the sauce and serve. A bit of fresh basil also works well here.
Take these ideas and add your own flavor to them. Perhaps try some red onion and corn in the pesto pasta or an Alfredo sauce and chicken instead of the tomato and sausage. The possibilities are endless, not to mention quick and easy for those weeknight meals..!
And don't forget to open that bottle of wine. It makes everything taste better!