Lemon Garlic Shrimp (or Chicken) and Pasta

Submitted by: Adrienne

This is a really yummy, light pasta dish that is great for any season

1 lb shrimp (pre-cooked), preferably with tails removed OR 1-2 chicken breasts, sliced/diced
1/2 c. butter
2 T. parsley (fresh or dried)
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
12 oz. linguine noodles (I used angel hair and it worked really well)

Cook noodles and set aside. In large skillet, melt butter with parsley, garlic and lemon juice until heated through. Add shrimp and gently stir 2-3 minutes OR add chicken and gently stir until cooked. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Add the pasta and stir to coat. Serve with additional parmesan cheese. I like to add diced tomatoes over the top also.

Adrienne's Sausage Penne with Sundried Tomatoes

Submitted by: Adrienne

Penne pasta

Sausage, diced and cooked

Sundried Tomatoes

3-4 cloves garlic, minced or grated

2 TB olive oil and flour for rue

Milk (about 1/2 c. to 1 c.)

1 c. beef broth (or 1 cube boullion dissolved in 1 c. water)

1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper

Optional: basil, italian seasoning or any herbs of your choice

Start the sauce by heating up the olive oil. Add the grated/minced garlic and cook for about 20-30 seconds. Add flour and cook another 30 seconds. Add milk slowly and whisk mixture to start thickening sauce. Add beef broth while stirring constanly. Next, add parmesan cheese. At this point, determine if the sauce is thick to your liking. Add more milk or broth to thin it out slightly. Then add sausage, sundried tomatoes, salt and pepper, and any herbs you like. Cook pasta as directed and combine when serving.

Mom's Fake Lasagna (Baked Ziti)

Submitted by: Mom

Lasagna Sauce
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 Small can tomato paste
2 Bottles (or large cans) crushed tomatoes- pureed in blender.
Garlic powder
Onion Powder
Italian Seasoning
3 Tbsp. Sugar

Brown beef, flavor with garlic and onion powders. Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar; season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning to taste. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Cook box of Rigatoni according to directions.

Grate as much mozzarella cheese as you think you will like- generally a whole block.

Assembly
In a greased glass pan, put a thin layer of lasagna sauce, next a layer of rigatoni- 1/3 of the pasta. Add another layer of sauce (about 1/3 of the remaining mixture), and then 1/3 of the cheese, then sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Repeat until all of the ingredients have been used. Cook in microwave until cheese is melted (6-8 minutes).

Spaghettini with Garlic and Lemon

1 lb. Spaghettini
4 large garlic cloves
1/2 to 3/4 tsp. dried hot pepper flakes
1/2 c. olive oil
Finely grated zest from 2 lemons
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (we like more)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 c. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Reserve 1 c. of boiling pasta water

Cook pasta
While pasta is cooking, cook garlic and red pepper flakes in oil over moderate heat until garlic is golden (be careful not to let the garlic get too brown). Add lemon zest and juice, salt pepper and 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water, bring to a simmer.
Toss in pasta, add parsley.

We like to add shrimp to this dish, marinate the shrimp in lemon juice and garlic, cook and add shrimp and juice to pasta.