Turkey and Pasta with Peanut Sauce

Another pasta dish from the pasta lover over here. I got this receipe from my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. The red pepper flakes add a nice punch. Make sure all your guests can eat peanut butter before serving this.

6 ounces dried fettuccine or linguine
2 cups fresh pea pods, tips trimmed or one 6 ounce pkg frozen pea pods
1 cup cooked turkey or chicken strips
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh pineapple or one 8 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained
1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice or lemon juice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic, minced

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, halve the fresh pea pods diagonally. Place pea pods and turkey in large colander. Pour hot cooking liquid from pasta over pea pods and turkey in colander, drain well. Return the pasta, pea pods, and turkey to the hot pan. Add the pineapple.

2. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan stir chicken broth into peanut butter. Heat and stir with a whisk until peanut butter melts. Stir in soy sauce, lime juice, red pepper and garlic; heat through.

3. Add sauce to the pasta mixture. Gently stir to coat pasta with sauce.

Sausage, Spinach and Feta Pasta

I can't remember where I found this recipe but we both love it!!!

1 tsp oil
1 1/4 lbs beef sausages, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 tbsp oil
1 cup chopped red onion
4 cups fresh spinach leaves, lightly packed
3 cups chopped tomato
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 tsp pepper

Heat cooking oil in large frying pan on medium. Add sausage. Cook for about 10 min, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Discard drippings.

Heat olive oil in same large frying pan. Add onion. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often until soft.

Add spinach, tomato and basil. Heat and stir for about 2 minutes until spinach starts to wilt.

Add sausage, cheese and pepper. Heat and stir about 2 min until heated through and cheese is almost melted.

Serve over pasta.

Ricotta Cheese Casserole

Here's a recipe from my friend Karin Foster that I quite enjoy. It is also great to make as a gift for someone who has just had a baby etc.

1. Cook 8oz pasta. Drain well & reserve.
2. Prepare sauce: melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan.Add 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped and1 small onion, chopped. Cook 3-4 min.
3. Add 1/4 cup flour and cook 3 min, stirring often
4. Add 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cook gently 5 min.
5. Combine pasta with sauce, 8oz ricotta cheese, 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, 1 can (28oz) tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped and1/4 cup. chopped fresh parsely
6. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in a preheated 350 deg F oven for 25-30 min until bubbling and brown.

Ham and Asparagus Fettucini

Ham and Asparagus Fettuccini

Prep Time: 5 MinutesCook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 20 MinutesYields: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces dry fettuccini noodles
8 ounces fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 cup butter
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 pound cooked ham, diced

DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Stir asparagus into pot in the last five minutes of cooking; drain.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat butter and cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When mixture begins to bubble, stir in Parmesan, garlic powder, pepper and cayenne. Continue cooking until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Stir in ham and heat through.
3. Toss pasta and asparagus with sauce and serve immediately.

* All I changed was the amount of spices- I doubled the garlic, pepper and cayenne. But I tend to do this pretty quickly. The result was absolutely fantastic! *