Sometimes you don't really need a recipe to come up with something super yummy. Pasta, I think, is one of the ingredients that can help create a meal that's delicious, easy and fully of flavor. Add in a variety of sauces, throw in some kind of meat and or veggies and you're good to go. Don't forget cheese, pasta and cheese are BFFs in my house!
I never really start with a recipe – and if I do have a recipe, I rarely follow it. (that's not always the recommended approach.. ask my poor kids that have to eat what I feed them.) I like to throw stuff together and see how it turns out. You never really can go wrong when you mix sauteed onions, mushrooms and a little garlic. In this case, I added in some tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and a little spinach and topped with sauteed zucchini and parsley. Easy, right?
Here's the ingredient breakdown:
- 1 package bow-tie pasta
- 1/3 cup chopped mushrooms
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon Butter (or olive oil)
- Garlic
- 1/4 cup Chopped spinach
- 1-2 zucchini, sliced 1/2″ thick
- 1 can of tomato sauce
note: you can make your own tomato sauce by cooking fresh tomatoes down and adding a bit of seasoning.
How to make this yummy zucchini pasta:
- Cook pasta as director – don't over cook, bow-tie pasta get goopy when over-cooked. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté mushrooms, onions and garlic until nice and soft. Add in the spinach and let cook down until desired texture (watch out for over-cooked slimy spinach your kids won't eat).
- Mix in tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water. Add in desired seasoning. I use Spice Trader's Chef Shake, approximately 1 teaspoon. Stir in drained pasta and at least 2 table spoons grated parmesan cheese. Let simmer until desired constancy.
- Place chopped zucchini in a microwave save bowl with 1 tablespoon butter and top with garlic salt. Cook on high for about 2 minutes. Check and return to cook 1 minute at a time until tender but not soggy. Again, you don't want squishy, slimy veggies.
- Serve pasta and top with zucchini. Top with parmesan cheese as desired.
Don't be afraid to experiment when you cook. If you make a mistake or it turns out awful, just note what you did so you don't do it again. Â If you know what flavors you like, try adding in an extra ingredient and see how it goes. The more you cook, the better you'll get.
What's your favorite pasta to make?
