Divine Tomato Shrimp Pasta

I'm kind of lame because I've never posted a recipe before, but I invented something tonight that is worthy of a repeat. Here goes:

1 small onion, sliced in thin strips
3 cloves garlic, chopped coarsely
1 small red pepper, diced
1/4 tsp. red pepper/chili flakes (can't remember what they're called, but they're the little things that are always at pizza joints.)
several mushrooms, sliced.
jumbo shrimp
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
salt
pepper

Saute onion, and red pepper until "slithery." Add garlic and red pepper/chili flakes. Add mushrooms and continue sauteeing. Add shrimp (mine were pre-cooked and then frozen) and tomatoes; simmer until most of the tomato juice is reduced. (I drained a bit off before I added the tomatoes.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add cooked pasta (I used linguine) and toss.

Au Gratin (or funeral) Potatoes

1 10 lb pound bag of potatoes (boil in water until soft to a forking (?)
After boiling, peel off skins and shred into 9x11 pan

Mix together the following into bowl:

2 sticks butter, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 bag cheddar cheese (or 2 cups), or more to taste
1 medium container of sour cream

Blend in with potatoes and bake at 350 for 30 minutes until bubbly. Enjoy!

These are so yummy with bbq spare ribs, or Honeybaked ham.

Scones

2 cups flour (substitute 1 cup whole wheat flour for whole wheat scones)
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 egg slightly beaten

Glaze
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons sugar

Mix dry ingredients. Add shortening, work into dough til crumbly, add milk and egg. Press into a ball, knead a few times on a floured surface. Roll into a 1/2 inch circle. Cut into pie wedges, baste with milk and sprinkle on sugar. Put on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes.

Eat with lots of jam.

Tomato and Penne Pasta

While I was sitting in the admitting area of the hospital yesterday waiting for Mindy's discharge papers to get signed, I was thumbing through an medical magazine and I found this recipe that sounds really good. I had my palm pilot with me, so I wrote it down while I was waiting:

3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
12 roma (plum) tomatoes, chunked
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb penne pasta - cooked drained
10 basil leaves, torn by hand
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Use olive oil to saute garlic. Add tomato, salt and pepper. Let it all simmer 15 min, do not overcook the tomatoes.

While making the sauce, boil and drain the pasta.

Spoon sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with parsley and basil.

Enjoy!

Swedish Pancakes

We often have breakfast for dinner, especially when I am stumped for quick dinner ideas. Also they are mine and Isaac's favorite kind of breakfast.

1 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Whisk milk and egg together until frothy. Add rest of ingredients and mix well. Heat a cast iron skillet (because you have to have such a hot pan, cast iron is the only way to go - you will get very strong forearms!) till it is very hot. Spray with PAM. Pour 1/2 to 2/3 cup batter into skillet and swirl pan until the batter covers the bottom in a thin layer. When the batter has all dried out and cooked and the edges start to curl, flip over. (I use a frosting spreader, the big ones, because they are flexible enough to get under the pancake without wrecking it.) Cook just until the other side is done, about 30 seconds. Place on plate and repeat. This makes about 6. The recipe is easily double, tripled, quadrupled and so on. You may need to add more flour if you make a really big batch.

Toppings:

syrup
applesauce
powdered sugar
egg
tomato and cheese
any fruit
ice cream
whipped cream

Mom says that the batter works best if you make it the night before and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. I, of course, don't think that far ahead, so I don't know if that is true. But I'll take her word for it.

Scones

Tonight I felt like such a good mom. I made such a tasy dinner. Even my kids were driven to comment - and they actually cleared there plates.

SO what drove them to these heights of ecstasies?

Mashed Potatoes (the real kind with butter, milk and kosher salt - oh and potatoes)
Spinach Salad
White Corn
Roasted Yams - the kids HATE those, but Bruce and Annika love them.
and whole wheat scones - I will find the recipe and post it.

For dessert - Mango Bars.

So I have shared my love with my family - and with you.

Veggie Melts

These are really delicous, Felipe and I are addicted! We make them once a week. I'm sure we'll be sick of them soon!!!

1 cup shreaded mozerella cheese
4 to 5 tomatoes ( I like the ones on the vine you can buy at Costco)
1 zucchini thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper thinly sliced
1 medium onion thinly sliced
parmesan cheese ( dry in a shaker bottle)
1/2 small pkg. ground sausage ( optional, they are good with just veggies too)

* I like Jimmy Dean 50% reduced fat ( I freeze the other half already browned to use for calzones later!)

1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
2 cloves of garlic ( chopped finely)
2 - 3 TBSP olive oil
2-3 TBSP red wine vinegar or white vinegar
4 whole wheat bagels cut in half or yummy rectangular sour dough rolls ( Costco) it depends on how healthy you are feeling!

In a large non-stick skillet add the vinegar, olive oil, garlic and dry Italian dressing mix. Simmer on high to med- high for a few minutes-- stirring constantly. Then reduce heat to med. or med-high. Then add the chopped onions, zuchinni, and pepper. In a separate pan brown the sausage. When the zuchinni appears cooked --add the sausage and sliced tomatoes. Cook for one or two minutes. Then remove from heat. Place the cut bagels or rolls on a cookie sheet and spinkle mozerella cheese on each half. Place them in the oven on broil until cheese is melted and then quickly take them out. Now spead the veggies mixture over the bagels with cheese and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Place back in the oven on broil until parmasen is a light brown color ( watch carefully , they broil very quickly! . Then remove and enjoy!

My menu ideas

I was just reading Betsy's post about menu ideas. Boy, is my menu nothing like that. Let me give you a sampler of what our dinners are like.

Pork Roast Au Jus (from a box, the Hormel kind)
Mashed potatoes (from a pouch, just add water)
Green Beans (from a can, obviously)

I must get this from my mom, because she is a horrible cook, and will only use things out of a box or can. Otherwise, nothing gets eaten. I feel very inadequate right now. I might have to make a trip to the local Wild Oats and cook something exotic just to prove my womanliness.

I like all the recipes, keep them coming.