Italian

Ingredients 1 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package directions 6 large ripe tomatoes peeled, seeded and diced 1 large cup, packed, fresh basil, chopped 1/2 cup parsley chopped ¼ cup olive oil 6 cloves of garlic minced 1 jalapeno minced and seeded Instructions Peel the tomatoes by putting in boiling water for 15 seconds, remove and cut slit in skin, and it should peel right off. Combine tomatoes, basil and parsley in a bowl. Heat oil and saute garlic and pepper until soft. Add tomato mixture to hot pan for another minute to warm up. Mix with pasta well and serve (it is best to have pasta warm and just drained prior to mixing so things come out fully warm)

Ingredients 2 cups all purpose flour 3 large eggs 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tbsp olive oil Instructions Place flour on clean, flat surface and make a nest. Add eggs, oil and salt to center and use fork to break/mix things in while keeping flour walls intact Now use hands to gently bring the flour inward to incorporate Work ball with your hands to bring it together and continue to knead for 10 minutes or so. (it will feel dry at first but be patient). It should beome conhesive and smooth. If still dry and kneaded to death, add a smidge of water to finalize it. IF too sticky, add a smidge of flour Let dough rest at room temp for 30 minutes Now, proceed to use dough such as with pasta attachment on kitchen aid or something

Ingredients 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts 2 tbsp lemon juice 6 cloves garlic 1/2 tsp salt Black pepper to taste 2 cups basil leaves 1/4 cup olive oil or a smidge more for a smoother pesto 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, optional Instructions Put items 1-5 in food processor and pulse until well chopped Add basil, item 6, and pulse to combine Drizzle in olive oil, item 7, until combined Do the same with the parmesan Done. Unless you want it smoother, then add a smidge more olive oil and pulse to combine

Ingredients Meatballs: 1/2 lb ground chicken 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild) 1/2 cup bread crumbs, Italian style works 2 large cloves garlic, minced 3 tbsp chopped cilantro, chopped small 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, the nice stuff NOT the powder 3 tbsp milk or so 1 large egg Salt and pepper to taste (tbsp of each to start is good) Soup: 2 tbsp good olive oil 1 yellow onion, minced 3 large carrots, chopped 1 cup chopped celery (or more doesn’t hurt) 10 cups good chicken stock (kitchen basics) 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 cup small, star pasta 1/4 cup minced, fresh dill 12 oz baby spinach, trimmed and lightly chopped Instructions Combine all meatball ingredients in mixing bowl with fork and hands if needed. Scoop into greased sheet pan and spread out ~40 meatballs over pan. Note: these are small meatballs and a tsp could be used to scoop. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F Heat olive oil in large soup pot and saute carrots, onion, and celery until soft (6-8 min) Add chicken stock and wine. Bring to boil Add pasta and cook 6-8 minutes Add dill, meatballs, and spinach. Cook another minute Check for salt and pepper Serve and sprinkle parmesan over bowls

Ingredients 28 oz jar good marinara sauce 2 large garden tomatoes, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 cup spinach, chopped 1 lb ground hot Italian sausage (optional and leave out for vegetarian option) 1.5 cups water 12 oz ricotta cheese 3 cups mozzarella 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 2 eggs Small bunch parsley 9 uncooked lasagna noodles 1 garden tomato, thinly sliced 1/2 cup mozzarella Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F In deep fry pan, cook sausage and garlic until cooked through. Add and cook spinach for another minute. Add marinara sauce, tomatoes, and 1.5 cups water. Simmer for 10 minutes In large mixing bowl, mix: ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, eggs, and parsley In deep baking dish, layer in order: some sauce → 3 noodles → half cheese mixture → some sauce → 3 noodles → other half cheese mixture → some sauce → 3 noodles → any remaining sauce → thinly sliced tomato evenly on top → mozzarella sprinkled on top Cover with tinfoil and bake for 1 hour. Last 15 minutes, remove the tinfoil

Ingredients 1 lb linguine (cook according to package directions) 6 tbsp olive oil 1 yellow onion, diced small 8 or more cloves garlic, minced 1 cup dry white wine (pinot grigio, chardonnay or sauvignon blanc) 1 tbsp red pepper flakes (more or less to taste) 2 pounds littleneck clams (~40 of them), scrubbed (or 1 lb sea scallops, or 1 lb shrimp), Leave out and add more green veggies if making vegetarian 1 small batch parsley, finely chopped 3 tbsp butter 1.5 tbsp lemon juice (more or less to taste) Instructions Cook pasta to package directions and set aside. (If you cook a smidge less (1 min), less than al dente, that can help the final product soak up more juice) In large saute pan (or pot), over med-high heat, cook the olive oil with onion and garlic until just golden (do NOT burn) Add the wine, red pepper flakes, some salt to taste, clams (or whatever seafood you are using), and all but 2 tbsp of the parsley. Bring to simmer and cook, covered, until clams open (6-8 minutes). Discard any unopened clams Add butter and lemon juice and dissolve into the sauce Add pasta to the saute pan and stir while it cooks for another minute or two (goal is to have pasta soak up the juice). If it becomes too dry add a smidge bit of water Add salt to taste and serve

Ingredients 2 tablespoon Olive Oil 1 cup Onion diced 5 cloves Garlic minced 4 fresh roma tomatoes diced 4 Celery Stalks chopped 4 Carrots chopped 2 small Zucchini chopped 1/2 cup elbow macaroni pasta or similar 32 ounces vegetable or chicken Broth 1 can White Kidney Beans 15oz, drained 2 cups Spinach chopped (can substitute kale but leave out the stems) 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated or shredded Parsley chopped, to garnish (optional) 2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, more to taste 1 teaspoon Salt, to taste 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper crushed, to taste 1 teaspoon Paprika, to taste Instructions Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode with olive oil. Add diced onions and minced garlic. Stir and Saute for 2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and chopped celery, carrots and zucchini. Add in the italian seasoning, salt, pepper and paprika. Stir another minute or so to mix well. Add in the pasta, vegetable broth and white kidney beans. Stir it all up. Make sure the pasta is under the broth. Press Cancel and close lid with vent in sealing position. Set to SOUP setting (high pressure) for 6 minutes. It will take a while to hit pressure and temp. 6 min starts AFTER that FYI. When 6 minutes are up and instant pot beeps, release the pressure. Stir in the chopped spinach and let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir in. Garnish with parmesan cheese (optional) and minestrone soup is ready to serve.

Ingredients 2 lb spicy italian sausage 3 cups diced yellow onion 2.5 cups diced carrot 2 cups diced celery 6 cloves minced garlic 2, 32 oz chicken stock cartons 1, 15-oz can diced tomatoes drained 4 tsp basic sugar 3 tsp dried basil 3 tsp dried oregano 1.5 tsp dried thyme Salt and pepper to taste 2 cup dry ditalini pasta 1, 15-oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed 1, 15-oz can great northern white beans drained and rinsed Optional 6 tbsp minced fresh parsley Parmesan to serve Instructions Brown meat in huge pot with a couple tbsp olive oil. When ~? cooked or so add all the veggies. Cook until tender or at least mostly there. Add everything through the salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer another 15 min. Add beans and parsley and simmer one more minute. Serve in bowls with parmesan to add to taste. Notes It is easy to vary the proportions. More pasta, less. More beans or less. More veggies is what I usually do.

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 diced onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp salt 1 cup diced carrots, diced well 2 bell peppers diced (choose different colors) 1 package sliced mushrooms (12 oz) 1 large zucchini, diced 1 tsp oregano 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes 1/2 cup fresh basil 1 cup steamed asparagus, cut into 1 in. lengths (or peas) 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup flour 2 cups warm/hot milk (can be almond or whatever) Salt and pepper to taste 1-2 tbsp lemon juice (optional) 1 lb fettuccine pasta, cooked according to package directions Grated parmesan Instructions In soup pot on med heat, saute onions, garlic, and carrots for a few minutes. When ~soft add the rest of the veggies and wine. Cover and cook until the veggies are all tender (8-10 minutes) Stir in tomatoes and basil and turn off the heat. (if using asparagus or peas, steam them separately and stir in now) Melt butter in sauce pan on med-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened Stir white sauce into vegetable mixture (in that soup pot) and reheat on low. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in lemon juice if desired to brighten flavor. If sauce is too thick, add a smidge more milk Serve over pasta with parmesan Note Fresh veggies really make a difference here. Also, just use whatever veggies you got

Ingredients 12 oz pasta (long spaghetti or similar works) 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 lb brussel sprouts, cut into half or quarters if they are large 1/2 lb cauliflower, cut into 1 inch pieces Salt and black pepper 1 medium onion, diced small 4 large garlic cloves, minced 4 plump oil packed anchovies, minced (one tin or two if you want) 1 tsp crushed red pepper 1 tsp chopped rosemary 1 tsp chopped thyme 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1 cup parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano (the good stuff NOT the powder) Instructions Boil pasta according to package direction. SAVE 1/2 cup of the cooking water when you drain In a large, deep skillet, heat half the olive oil (1/4 cup) on medium heat and cook brussels, cauliflower, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes until slightly charred on bottom. Add the other 1/4 cup along with onion, garlic, anchovies, red pepper, rosemary and thyme. Cook uncovered until onion is slightly softened (3 minutes). Then cover and cook another 3 minutes until sprouts/cauliflower are tender. Keep warm Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in small skillet and roast the bread crumbs on moderately high heat. Must stir or it will burn. Pull off when golden and crisp Add pasta, reserved cooking water to skillet with veggies. Cook on medium heat until water is nearly absorbed Remove from heat and stir in half the cheese Serve and have bread crumbs and remaining cheese at table to stir in