Category Archives: Pasta

Creamy Sausage and Spinach Pasta

I love pasta … my family, not so much. As we continue eating at home, I was looking for recipe to use a block of sweet Italian sausage I had for awhile in the freezer. I didn’t want to make soup since the weather is finally starting to feel more like late spring or early summer. I decided on this dish and I’m glad I did!

My son absolutely loved it! It was even better the next day for leftovers. The sauce is creamy and full of flavor. I threw in a half of a container of sliced white mushrooms I had and it all worked together perfectly. Plus it took less than 30 minutes to make!

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Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we need to eat boring dinners. Chicken and beef had been quite scarce in the past couple weeks, so when I saw a bag of uncooked frozen shrimp, I knew I could figure out something to make with it.

After looking through my pantry, I was saw I had everything for this recipe except for heavy cream. It was perfect timing because I was placing a milk order from our local dairy and added a pint of cream into my order.

The recipe was delicious. The shrimp were spicy and the creaminess of the sauce cooled everything down. I’ll definitely be making this recipe again!


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Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

My son has been asking me to make lasagna; it’s one of his favorite meals. I found this recipe for “lazy lasagna” made in the Instant Pot. I thought it would be a great way to give him the flavors of lasagna without the time needed to make it. This recipe is also great for a mid-week dinner … especially when you have a limited time to get dinner on the table before running to evening events.

We thought it was even better the next day for leftovers!

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Tortellini with Sauteed Asparagus and Walnuts

Spring sports for my kids start in a little over a month and I’m always searching for dinners that I can make in less than 30 minutes. This quick and simple recipe is going to be one of my go-to meals for busy nights. It takes no time at all to make and it’s delicious … plus I can get my kids to eat green vegetables without complaining. They both inhaled a bowl and asked for second. Winning!!

I really liked the addition of the walnuts. They added a bit of crunch and texture to the pasta, plus they’re so good for you!

16 oz cheese Tortellini
3/4 lb asparagus, chopped into thirds
juice from one lemon
4 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup walnuts
Fresh ground pepper
4 Tbsp grated Parmesan

Cook pasta according to package instructions. When cooked, transfer to a large bowl; set aside. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat until frothy. Add the chopped asparagus and toss to coat. Cover with a lid and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

When asparagus is cooked, using a slotted spoon, scoop the asparagus from the pan into the bowl with the pasta. Keep as much butter in the pan as possible. Add the lemon juice to the pan and season with fresh ground pepper. Pour the sauce over the pasta and asparagus. Toss to combine. Mix in the walnuts and top with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Source: Green Valley Kitchen

Pasta with Tomatoes and Roasted Red Peppers

I’m working on getting back to blogging regularly now that the spring sports season is coming to an end. There were only a few days in all of April and May that we didn’t have something going on which led me to make quick and easy dinners to get us to practices or games. I’m looking forward to getting back in the kitchen and unwinding with a little baking and cooking.

Pasta with Tomatoes and Roasted Red Pepper | Join Us, Pull up a Chair

I threw together this quick pasta dish on Monday night – we’re back to Meatless Mondays – and it was so simple and delicious! I think sometimes the most simple meals are what is needed every now and then. I used a new type of pasta – Casarecce. It’s a short, wide strip of pasta that is loosely rolled like a scroll and twisted. It as perfect for holding all space and pieces of garlic. I can’t wait to use it again with fresh pesto this summer!

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Creamy Spring Tortellini with Bacon

The weather has been off here in PA, so we’re now just getting spring veggies. I’ve been craving green vegetables lately, so when I got a box of spring peas in my CSA, I knew I wanted to whip up a pasta dish with them. I found this quick and easy recipe for tortellini with peas, asparagus and bacon – PERFECTION! I mean really, you can’t go wrong with bacon!! Another perk of this recipe, it’s quick and easy for those busy weeknights.

Creamy Spring Tortellini with Bacon | Join Us, Pull up a Chair

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Lasagna Stuffed Shells

Do you love lasagna? We love it too – it’s probably one of my son’s favorite foods and something he never complains about eating. We always end up with four empty plates at dinner. I wanted to change things up and make stuffed shells, but in place of my regular filling recipe, I used the ingredients to make lasagna as my filling. It was a definite winner and made enough for leftovers and a few days of lunch for me. I’ll definitely be making this recipe again!

Lasagna Stuffed Shells | Join Us, Pull up a Chair
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Meatballs in Mozzarella Basil Cream Sauce

This recipe has been on my “to make” list for a while now and I finally got to it! It was really good, despite my kids complaining about it. I think the Parmesan was a little too strong for them. This meal is definitely on the heavier side with the cream sauce, and would be good served with a green salad. I made the meatballs ahead of time, so it would cut down on prep time and make this a meal I could make during the busy, work week.

Meatballs in Mozzarella Basil Cream Sauce | Join Us, Pull up a Chair

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Turkey, Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna

I think fall has finally arrived and it’s time to break out all the recipes for hearty and soul-warming foods. Lasagna is definitely one of those recipes and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint! I’ve made this recipe several times before but realized I hadn’t blogged about it yet. So here it is! It’s super easy to make and I love having it for leftovers. I also love the combination of the mushroom and spinach, it helps stretch out the ground turkey plus I can add some greens into my kids. I usually serve it with a green salad and fresh bread.

Turkey Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna | Join Us, Pull up a Chair

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Pasta

Evenings have been a little crazy around our house the past couple of weeks, so I’m always looking for ways to get dinner on the table quickly. This recipe definitely did that…except I was the only one who enjoyed it. Everyone else in my family was just blah on it. Oh well, you can’t always please everyone 🙂 I still wanted to share it with you all! I liked the hint of barbecue sauce with the shredded chicken. I served it with a green salad and dinner was ready in no time at all.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Pasta | Join Us, Pull up a Chair
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