"Chicken Veggie Alfredo Lasagna by ItsJoelen, on Flickr">



A tasty and easy way to cook lasagna.

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 lasagna noodles, cut in half (9 halves)
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 14 oz.(400g.) boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 8 oz.(227g.) ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 oz. or 28g.) parmesan cheese, grated and divided
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3/4 cup alfredo sauce
• 10 oz.(280g.) white mushrooms, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg

Procedures:

1) Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

2) Gently mix egg, ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the parmesan cheese, and basil.

3) Sauté garlic, onion, and mushrooms in a skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat until the onion and garlic are tender and the mushrooms become slightly brown. Remove the skillet from the heat.

4) Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and grill over a medium-high heat until it is cooked thoroughly. Once the chicken is done cooking, dice it.

5) Boil lasagna noodles in salted water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta.

6) Grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish and lightly cover the bottom with alfredo sauce. Layer 1/3 of the noodles, followed by sauce, 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, the vegetables, and the chicken. Repeat this process once. Then, top the lasagna with noodles, the rest of the sauce, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.

7) Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes until it becomes golden brown and begins bubbling. Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Photo Source: "Cavatini (#2396) by regan76, on Flickr">



Another version of Italian pasta with hamburger, sausage and pepperoni. Deliciously baked for its creamy taste.

Ingredients:

1 large green pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 oz. (1/2 stick) margarine
1 teas. garlic powder
1 lb. assorted pasta (wheels, shells, spirals, ziti)
1/2 lb. pepperoni − sliced thin − then cut in half
8 oz. mozarella cheese (shredded)
1/2 lb. hamburger (browned)
1/2 lb. italian sausage (browned)
1 − 16 oz. jar meat flavored Prego sauce

Procedures:

1) Melt margarine over medium high heat in a skillet. Add onions, peppers,
and garlic powder. Saute for about 4 minutes.

2) Meanwhile, cook pasta according to box directions.

3) Heat sauce and combine with cooked hamburger and cooked sausage.

4) Use cooking spray to lightly grease an 11 X 13 casserole dish. Place 1/2 of the cooked pasta in the dish, followed by 1/2 the vegetables, 1/2 of the pepperoni, and 1/2 sauce.

5) Repeat another layer. Spread mozzarella cheese over top.

6) Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until cheese is melted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other blog:OFW: THIS IS MY LIFE AND STORY Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you'll find what life's meant to be.

Photo Source:"Chicken Puttanesca with Provone over Capellini by Epyon MX, on Flickr">



Puttanesca literally means “pasta of the ladies of the evening.” Where did the name originate? It may be because the dish is hot and spicy, or because it's an inexpensive dish that can be made quickly. The dish always includes anchovies, garlic, and some hot spice, either cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, or red pepper flakes. Chicken thighs add a rich flavor to this easy and delicious pasta recipe.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• ½ cup chopped green olives
• 1 (12-ounce) package spaghetti

Procedures:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook pasta as directed on package until al dente.

2. Meanwhile, in large skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with flour, salt, and pepper.

3. Add chicken to skillet and cook for 5 minutes without moving. Turn chicken and cook for 3 minutes on the second side; remove to a platter.

4. To drippings remaining in skillet, add garlic and anchovy paste; cook and stir to melt anchovy paste for 2–3 minutes.

5. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and bring to a simmer.

6. Shred chicken and return to sauce. Simmer sauce for 10 minutes.

7. Stir olives into sauce and continue simmering.

8. Drain pasta and add to skillet with sauce. Toss over low heat for 2 minutes, then serve. Serves 4 persons.

Photo Source: "Spaghetti Bolognese by [ embr ], on Flickr">

Whip up a huge batch of bolognese that's fit for a party celebration, or freeze half for other meal ideas. Serves 12 persons and 1 ½ hour preparation.



Ingredients:

4 tbsp olive oil
6 smoked bacon rashers, chopped
4 onions , finely chopped
3 carrots , finely chopped
4 celery sticks, finely chopped
8 garlic cloves , crushed
2 tbsp dried mixed herbs
2 bay leaves
500g mushrooms , sliced
1½ kg lean minced beef (or use half beef, half pork mince)
6 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
6 tbsp tomato purée
large glass red wine (optional)
4 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
Parmesan , to serve

Procedures:

1) Heat the oil in a very large saucepan. Gently cook the bacon, onions, carrots and celery for 20 mins until golden. Add the garlic, herbs, bay and mushrooms, then cook for 2 mins more.

2) Heat a large frying pan until really hot. Crumble in just enough mince to cover the pan, cook until brown, then tip in with the veg. Continue to fry the mince in batches until used up. Tip the tomatoes and purée in with the mince and veg. Rinse the cans out with the red wine, if you have some, or with a little water, then add to the pan with the vinegar and sugar.

3) Season generously and bring to a simmer. Simmer slowly for 1 hr until thick and saucy and the mince is tender. Serve with cooked pasta and Parmesan.

Pasta makers have become popular kitchen appliances among those who love to cook and one of the brands that are gaining wide recognition is KitchenAid. An obvious difference between this and other brands is that the KitchenAid pasta maker is not an appliance in itself, but a set of attachments that go with your KitchenAid stand mixer. Therefore, you cannot fully appreciate its features unless you already have the stand mixer or plan to get the mixer and pasta maker at the same time.

If you do have the stand mixer or plan to get one, the pasta maker is definitely a must-have attachment. It allows you to make a wide variety of pastas, from fettuccine to the very delicate angel hair pasta. You simply have to attach the pasta roller set to your mixer and you should be on your way to enjoying a gourmet Italian meal. Aside from the roller set, there are several different attachments that you may choose to buy for those times when your craving for homemade pasta is just too much to ignore.

The pasta roller set is the basic KitchenAid pasta maker and is considered as the starter set. It consists of three pieces that include a spaghetti cutter and a linguine cutter along with the actual pasta roller. You attach it to the front part of your stand mixer. Once you have done so, the pasta maker is very easy to use. Simply roll the pasta dough into thin sheets. When your desired thickness of pasta has been reached, replace the roller with either the spaghetti or linguine cutter and then put the pasta through the machine again. The set may be on the pricey side, but with all the delicious meals you can enjoy, it is definitely a worthwhile investment.

The ravioli maker is another real treat for pasta-loving cooks everywhere. Like the roller set and other KitchenAid attachments, it goes on the front of your stand mixer. Remember that you cannot use this attachment without putting the pasta dough through the pasta roller first. As soon as the pasta is rolled, you may add whatever filling you want, from cheese to meat to mashed vegetables. With this attachment, you are only minutes away from enjoying perfectly formed squares of ravioli, which your family and friends would surely be impressed with.

If you consider yourself a true homemade pasta connoisseur, then you would need more than just the basic tools for pasta-making. The pasta excellence kit is what you are looking for. This kit includes the pasta roller along with several different attachments that allow you to make just about any pasta you want to make. Fettuccine, ravioli, egg noodles, and spaghetti are just some of the types of pasta dishes that you can make with this kit. So, if you know that pasta-making is going to be a fairly regular kitchen activity for you then this is the best KitchenAid pasta maker attachment for you. Getting the excellence kit is also a whole lot cheaper than buying the starter kit and all other attachments separately.

Commercial pasta makers can offer delectable home-made pasta for your personal eatery or catering customers. You will certainly have a large type of selection with regards to selecting your commercial pasta machine. Anybody can find commercial pasta machines that can comfortably create rolled pasta or combination pasta.

Some makers can generate tortellini, lasagna, ravioli, gnocchi and much more. At the beginning, consider the options which come with the industrial pasta makers which are available on the market. You'll definitely need to determine the quantity and scale of the cutters included on the electric or manual commercial pasta machine.

It is important to check manufacturing numbers also to find out just how much pasta could probably get produced hourly by the commercial pasta machine. Next you must locate vendors of specialized pasta machines. Many vendors of commercial pasta makers will possibly have various purchasing options. Some may provide used and restored models, or even lease contracts.

Ultimately, you'll definitely have to buy any accessories which you would like for the commercial pasta making machine. At the minimum, you're going to require to buy pasta molds to utilize when creating different sorts of pasta, like ravioli and tortellini. Make certain that you take complete advantage of the net when you're searching for the ideal commercial pasta maker.

You may be able to find an appropriate commercial pasta machine for sale on an online auction site. Make sure that you've the ability to check the condition of the machine before you purchase it. Also if there're any problems you need to be certain that you will have the ability to return the item or have the pasta maker fixed in a timely fashion.

Buying a commercial pasta maker is an investment that can pay off greatly. Pasta is a very popular food choice. Additionally it is fairly reasonable to cook so the profit margin can be pretty good. If you can purchase the perfect maker at a reasonable price then you will be well on your way to making a lot of money and possibly adding a whole new customer base.

A versatile sauce for spaghetti, pizza and pasta. You can use it according to your taste.


Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
• 1 cup red wine (divided)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon McCormick's Montreal Brand steak seasoning
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese or 2/3 cup romano cheese
• 1 cup sweet onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, diced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet Italian sausage

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 3 1/4 hrs

Procedures:

1. In large pot combine crushed tomatoes, tomato puree and diced tomatoes.

2. Add 1/2 cup of red wine and 1/2 cup water.

3. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.

4. Stir in seasonings (salt, pepper, oregano, basil) and grated cheese.

5. In frying pan heat olive oil and brown sausage or meat-balls.

6. Remove the meat from the pan (saving the drippings) and add to the simmering sauce.

7. In the same frying pan sauté the onions and garlic (adding more oil if necessary) until translucent.

8. Add onions and garlic to simmer sauce.

9. Deglaze the frying pan with 1/2 cup of red wine and add to the simmering sauce.

10. Stirring occasionally, simmer for three hours or until of desired consistency.

11. To thicken sauce crack the lid and allow to cook down.

12. To thin add a little more red wine.

13. Serve on spaghetti, ravioli or use on pizza.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other blog:OFW: THIS IS MY LIFE AND STORY Thank you for your valuable time. Follow

Ingredients:

1 medium Roast Chicken
1 tbsp Margarine
1 medium Onion
1 (4oz can) sliced mushrooms
2 cans cream of mushrooms soup or cream of chicken soup
2 cans cream of tomato soup
1 can chicken broth
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 drops of Tabasco Sauce
1 tsp Salt
¼ tsp Pepper
2 (4 oz) Package spaghetti
5 oz Sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Procedures:

• Cooked spaghetti according to package.
• Melt margarine in large pan.
• Add onion & mushrooms. Saute until tender.
• Add the soups, broth, W. Sauce and Tabasco.
• Simmer gently for 15 minutes.
• Then, add chicken.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve by sprinkling the grated cheese.