Colorful vegetables and the flavors of lemon and thyme make this orzo dish great for picnics. You can chop the zucchini and carrot instead of grating them to cut down on prep time, just be sure to cook them for a few minutes longer before adding the orzo.
These rich and cheesy spinach and ricotta-stuffed shells are the ultimate Italian comfort food. Substitute various cheeses, such as Asiago or feta, in place of Parmesan and other dried herbs, such as thyme, basil, or dill, in place of oregano.
You'll find many uses for this versatile pasta sauce. Let tomatoes, garlic, sugar, parsley, garlic powder, oregano and basil go for a nice, slow simmer with zesty jolt of flavor from capers and crushed red pepper.
This marinade is great for beef or chicken. The Worcestershire sauce and Italian-style dressing give the marinade a zing, while the garlic pepper seasoning and barbeque sauce give it that barbeque flavor. The longer the beef or chicken sits in the marinade, the better it will taste.
Broccoli florets are sauteed with garlic, butter and olive oil, simmered in broth, then tossed with fresh basil and hot rigatoni. A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese is the perfect finish. Hint: don't overcook the garlic and broccoli!
Cauliflower, potatoes and carrots are cooked with garlic in chicken broth, pureed, then combined with milk, spices and a bit of sherry in this basic cream of cauliflower soup.
Eggplant, ginger, garlic, shrimp and beef get sauteed and spiced-up, Szechuan style. Chicken stock and soy sauce provide the base for the thick, tasty sauce.
Browned ground turkey and cannellini beans are combined with green chilies, onion and garlic in this chicken stock based soup seasoned with cumin, oregano and cinnamon. Serve with grated jack cheese.
Red potatoes are boiled with garlic and chicken bouillon, then mashed with sour cream and cream cheese. Then the potatoes are slow cooked for a couple of hours, allowing the flavors to meld.
Sweet red bell peppers are sauteed with garlic and spicy cayenne pepper, then simmered with sour cream and chicken broth to make a hot and luscious pasta sauce. Finish with Parmesan cheese and toss with cooked pasta.
There's just enough ginger, chili powder and garlic powder in the sauce to spark the taste of this enjoyable steak specialty. For variety, you can substitute chicken or pork for the sirloin. If I'm in a hurry or don't have fresh vegetables on hand, I'll reach for two bags of frozen stir-fry vegetables instead.
