Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce with Greek Olives

Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce with Greek Olives

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pt fresh cherry tomatoes
cracked black pepper (to taste)
sea salt flakes (to taste)
¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
cup sliced kalamata olives

Directions

Heat olive oil in a 12″ skillet over low heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring, until softened and fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add garlic & cook another minute. Increase heat to medium and add tomatoes, salt & pepper. Cook, stirring to coat, until tomatoes begin to burst, about 4 minutes.
Smash some of the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to start to create a sauce. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until a chunky, thickened sauce develops, add the parsley & cook 10–12 minutes. Stir in the olives at the last few minutes of cooking time.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve over pasta.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage & Spinach

Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage & Spinach

Ingredients

1 lb Orecchiette, cooked to package directions
1 lb ground sausage (breakfast, sweet Italian or Andouille)
1 tbsp olive oil
½ chopped red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups baby spinach
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
splash dry white wine
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 oz high quality crumbled feta (I prefer sheep feta for it’s deep, tangy flavor)

Directions

Cook the pasta to package directions in plenty of salted water. Drain and return the pasta back to the cooking pot, set on the counter.

While the pasta is cooking make the sauce. Heat a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains, about 7-10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a bowl.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the olive oil and onions to the skillet. No need to rinse the skillet, leave a small amount of sausage grease in the pan to enhance the flavor of the onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and translucent. Add the garlic at the last 30 seconds of cooking the onion. Add the spinach, wine and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook a few minutes until the spinach is wilted. Transfer the sausage back into the skillet. Cook until all is hot, season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer the sausage mixture into the pasta and toss to combine. Transfer to a large serving dish and top with crumbled feta cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Recipe: Quick Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs ripe tomatoes
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ lb whole wheat spaghetti
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for topping
freshly grated parmesan for serving

Directions

While the pasta is cooking. Roughly chop 2/3 of the tomatoes. Over a large bowl, grate the rest of the tomatoes using the large holes of a box grater.

Combine the chopped and grated tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, sugar, garlic and pepper in the large bowl. Let rest 10 minutes for the flavors to combine.

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Immediately place the pasta back into the pasta pot.

Add the tomato sauce into the pasta with the 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid. Cook over medium heat until hot and the cooking liquid is absorbed. Mix in the 1/4 cup chopped basil during the last minute.

Serve immediately with more basil and parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Southwest Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta

Recipe: Southwest Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta

Ingredients

1 lb cleaned and deveined shrimp, 45 count
8 oz linguini
8 oz ground chorizo sausage
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups 1/2 each yellow, red & orange bell peppers, diced
olive oil
chopped chives

Directions

Cook pasta to package directions. Rinse & toss with olive oil.

Cook chorizo in a large saucepan until cooked through, chop it up with a spatula. Remove Chorizo from pan.
Leave chorizo oil in pan, melt butter. Add peppers & garlic, Saute over medium high heat until softened, slightly browned & fragrant about 5 minutes.

Toss shrimp with southwest seasoning. Add shrimp to pan. Cook another 5 minutes. Add chorizo & stir. Add pasta into pan. Toss well & serve hot. Top with chives.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti or any pasta
1 lb ground beef
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp Kosher salt
2 tsp dried basil
24 fl oz (1 jar) canned tomato sauce
grated or shaved parmesan cheese for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a baking tray with tin foil.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper salt and basil. With clean hands combine well.

Roll into 1 inch meatballs. Place the meatballs onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

While the meatballs are baking, cook the pasta to package directions.
Drain the pasta when it’s done cooking.

Heat the sauce in a skillet. Season to taste with the garlic powder, onion powder etc. if you want it to have more profound flavors.

Top the cooked pasta with the sauce, meatballs and some Parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Pantry-Only Tex Mex Mac ‘n Cheese

Recipe: Pantry-Only Tex Mex Mac ‘n Cheese

Ingredients

10 oz macaroni, rotini or fusilli
salt for pasta water
16.25 can whole kernel corn
11 can Ro*tel (diced tomato & chili)
3.25 can sliced black olives
1 lb Velveeta cheese block
1 tbsp chili powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp smoked spanish paprika
¼ tsp ground red pepper
minced dried onion for topping

Directions

Cook the pasta to package directions.
Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water.
Drain pasta.

Open the canned ingredients and drain.

Chop the Velveeta into 1 inch pieces.

Heat a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
Add the canned ingredients. Heat for about 5 minutes.

Mix in all the dried seasonings excluding the dried minced onion.

Mix in the reserved cooking water.
Mix in the Velveeta until the sauce is creamy.

Mix in the cooked pasta.
Top with the dried minced onion and serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Spaghetti with Prosciutto and Brie

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

One-Pot American Beef Goulash

One-Pot American Beef Goulash: An easy and delicious pasta recipe for the entire family!

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 large yellow onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups water
one (29 ounce) can) tomato sauce
one (28-ounce) can small diced tomatoes
splash of dry red wine
1/4 cup half and half
3 bay leaves
3 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp Kosher salt
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for serving
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
—serve with
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Break up the meat while sauteeing. Spoon off any grease.

Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute until they are tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, red wine, half and half, bay leaves, soy sauce, salt and parsley. Stir well.

Place a lid on the pot and allow this mixture to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, simmer for about 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and allow the mixture to sit about 30 minutes longer before serving.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Linguine with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Spring Pasta with Prosciutto & Peas

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Crispy Prosciutto

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith