Alfredo Sauce Pasta + Primavera + Chicken

This is one of those recipes that never come out the same since I make it with whatever vegetables are in season or in the house!  One thing that remains the same is the Alfredo Sauce which is so tasty - you could have it without the chicken or the vegetables and it would be a great pasta meal.  I have culminated this sauce from two or three recipes till I have found what tastes the best to us.

Pasta
In medium saucepan cook noodles til al dente.  My favorite are the linguine with black pepper in them.  Usually about 15 minutes.  I also cook any vegetables necessary such as asparagus or sweet pod peas or thin carrot sticks in the same pasta water.

Alfredo Sauce
4 tbsp butter melted in saucepan
add 125 grams of cream cheese and stir and melt into the butter on medium heat, this takes a while.
Add 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup of chicken broth to the pan, stir.
In another 1/2 cup of milk add 3 tbsp of flour, whisk in small bowl then add slowly to sauce mixture.   Sauce will thicken slightly.


Chicken
You can use grilled chicken sliced into bite size pieces, or oven roasted breasts also cut into pieces.   Just add to the sauce or if hot it can be added on top the pasta serving dish.   A nice alternate is shrimp.  Add garlic, sliced zuccinni, mushrooms, shallots.


Drain pasta and vegetables and pour into large serving bowl.   Add sauce and mix, top with chicken.   Serve steaming hot.

Lasagna - Slow Cooker or Microwave

Slow Cooker Lasagna (for my boys)

I knew my guys would want this recipe since they love to use their slow cooker.  Takes 10 minutes to prepare, 4 hours at a minimum to cook but will taste just as good at 6 hours.

1/2 lb Italian sausage - mild, medium, hot you decide
1/2 lb lean ground beef 
1 package no boil lasagna noodle
1 large tub of cottage or ricotta cheese (500 grams)
1 egg 
1 tsp dried parsley and basil and thyme
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cans of 26 oz pasta sauce

PAM veggie spray
Parchment paper (keeps slow cooker clean)

1)spray inside of slow cooker with non-stick veggie spray - PAM  then line with parchment paper  - you will be happy you did this when it is time for cleanup
2)remove Italian sausages from links by squeezing from middle and pushing out of casing - both end, chop coarsely and fry in medium skillet with lean ground beef till cooked through
3)in the cottage cheese container crack the egg and add the spices, then using a fork stir altogether slowly, be careful not to top over the sides
4)assemble in slow cooker: pour in pasta sauce till bottom is covered, then add 1/2 of the meat on the bottom, a layer of noodles which you may need to break and lay to fit , 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese then make 1 more layer of above.
5)cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
6)cut into pieces to serve and use a large spatula and large spoon to attempt to keep it together when dishing to plates

Microwave Lasagna - needs to be 600 watts or higher.
Adjust portions to a glass dish that can fit into your microwave, might be half since most would not accommodate a 13 x 9 x3.
Do add the 1/2 cup water to the sauce.
To bake - cover with plastic wrap and cook at High for 8 minutes, then at Medium low for 35 to 38 minutes.  Check if noodles are tender, if necessary cook a bit longer.  You may need to shield the ends of the dish the last ten minutes of cooking with a small strip of aluminum foil.  Don't worry it won't ignite or blow up - just use a small strip around the ends on top.  To finish remove and let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Pasta Meat Sauce

When I first started work there was a young Italian engineer at the office that loved to tell us how he made his Momma`s meat sauce so I asked for the recipe and I have been making it ever since.   It is excellent, with the secret ingredient being Knorr Chicken Bouillon Cube!  I love to double up on this recipe and freeze tubs for a quick supper.

Dori`s Meat Sauce
3/4 lb lean ground beef

1/4 lb ground pork or veal

onion finely chopped + 1 tbsp olive oil

1 clove of garlic smashed

pepper, thyme, oregano, rosemary 

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 12 oz can tomato sauce

1 28 oz can pear shaped tomatoes - puree.  Use a hand masher if you do not have a food processor.

1 chicken bouillon cube - Knorr diluted in 1 cup hot water

In a frying pan brown the onion and garlic in the olive oil.  Add the meat and slowly cook till brown.  Add spices while cooking.

In a large pot mix everything together and bring to a low boil for 1 hour, or you could use your slow cooker and let it simmer on low for about 4 hours.

Big Pan Meat/Tomato Sauce Lasagna

You really need to have company to make this much food or be ready for lots of leftovers.  Great for when you are busy and want to have a hearty meal prepared for the family.  We use to have this alot when the kids had hockey practice and games to go to - all 4 of them!!!

10 to 12 Lasagna Noodles - I mix between Whole Wheat + Spinach 
These require boiling in a big pot with 1 tbsp of olive oil + 1 tsp kosher salt till they are tender but firm "al dente".
I use the no boil noodles when I am in a hurry but you will need to add 1 cup of water to the sauce.  At the end of the baking you need to let the Lasagna for at least 15 minutes to set.

Meat Sauce
1 lb lean ground beef  scramble fry in large sauce pan with 1/4 cup of chopped green peppers + 1/4 cup of finely chopped spanish onion.
Add to meat and bring to boil then remove from heat.  Stir occasionally.
1 large can of tomato sauce (about 21 oz) 
1 tsp gran sugar
1 tsp garlic salt 
1/2 tsp oregano
1/8 tsp pepper


In 1 large tub of cottage cheese add 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 egg, 1 tbsp parsley flakes, 1 tsp basil, 1/8 tsp pepper.  Mix with fork, it will be to the brim.


Grate 2 cups of mozarella cheese.  If you freeze your moza cheese first it literally will crumble apart in your hands without needing any grating.

Ready to put together in a 9 x 13 inch pan.  I use a glass pan and grease the bottom and sides.
Layer the following
1)noodles overlapping
2)1/2 of the meat sauce
3)cottage cheese mixture- all of it
4)noodles overlapping
5)rest of the meat sauce
6)mozzarella cheese


Bake uncovered in 350F oven about 45 to 55 minutes.  Do not cover.
Let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.  Cuts nicely into 12 pcs and serves 8 big eaters easily.