Bolognese (Meat) Sauce In my family we always call it “meat sauce” but really I guess it's a Bolognese sauce. This sauce comes out best if you let it simmer for 2 hours. My mother taught me how to make this but I have switched it up and made it my own; hopefully you will do the same in your kitchen too. I don't know about where you live but in ...
Pasta
Arrabiata Sauce
Arrabiata Sauce Arrabiata translates to angry; so this is my angry sauce! Actually it's simply a spicy/strong tomato sauce flavoured heavily with red chili flakes and tons of garlic... yum! Now I'm not promising you clean breath but if everyone is eating this then everyone cancels it out! 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp red chili ...
Lightened up, Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Lightened up, Baked Macaroni and Cheese I love macaroni and cheese; it’s comforting and no matter how crappy your day was, it makes you feel whole inside. Wow, that’s a tall order! I’m totally picturing that commercial from the ‘80s when the guy comes home from work at night in a rain storm with the flu and his dog shows up with medicine around ...
Springtime Herb Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes
Springtime Herb Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes This pasta dish is inspired by an episode of “The Chew” that featured a New York restaurant called Rosemary’s Restaurant. This is a light, absolutely delicious dish that comes together in minutes; the pasta cooking is what takes the most amount of time. My only request? Please don’t try to substitute ...
Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Roasted Vegetable Pasta This is the dinner we had for Good Friday, of course no meat! The mushrooms in the pasta add a heartiness that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Roasting the vegetables adds a depth of flavour that is really unbelievable. This is a lot of food but if you feel you need to serve something with it, serve; surprise, a ...
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio There are going to be a few variations of this recipe to follow but start with this one just to get a sense of what it is. Serves 4 ¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil 4 Cloves garlic, crushed A handful of chopped fresh Italian parsley (about 1 tbsp) Salt Pepper 1 375 g box whole wheat spaghetti - Bring a ...
Teriyaki Pasta with Shrimp and Mushrooms
Teriyaki Pasta with Shrimp and Mushrooms I always (erroneously) thought that shrimp were bad for you. In case you’re wondering; 1 pound of shrimp works out to 4 ounces per person, for 4 people. This is a larger portion than the traditional 3 ounce serving of meat protein I recommend. The 4 ounces of shrimp have fewer calories and more protein ...
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Literally translated as “whore’s spaghetti”. This is a strong flavoured sauce that is absolutely incredible. If you’ve never had anchovies before, please try it here; it gives a nutty depth of flavour that is not at all fishy. Serves 4 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil 4 Cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp red chili ...
Ragu Sauce
Ragu Sauce This is my version of a traditional ragu sauce. It’s chunky and full of flavour. Enjoy! Serves 4 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Stalk celery, diced 1/2 Small carrot, diced 1 Medium onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1/4 Cup wine (red or white is fine) 1 680 ml jar of strained tomatoes (passata) or a 796 ml ...
Summer Pasta
Summer Pasta Again, I can't stress enough how simple fresh ingredients make the most amazing food. When I made this recipe I used fresh Ontario field tomatoes from the farmer's market but vine-ripened tomatoes would work well here as well. Serves 4 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Medium sized onion, sliced in half moon 3 Cloves ...
Moroccan Fettuccine
Moroccan Fettuccine This is a healthier version of my favourite pasta dish that was served in a restaurant I used to work in. Bill, the owner and chef was a great employer and an even better chef. Haha, he refers to me as the crazy blonde girl! His wife Tracy is the restaurant manager; they make a great team! Serves 4 to 6 1 tbsp extra ...
Fresh Pasta
Fresh Pasta This is an easy, fun way to experiment in the kitchen. Making fresh pasta reminds me of playing with play dough when I was little. It is possible to make pasta without a pasta machine but I highly recommend you invest in one. They are relatively inexpensive (I paid $10) and easy to store; it doesn’t have to be fancy or top of the ...