Archive for the ‘PASTA’ Category
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Skillet
This is a variant of the Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet, but I thought this warranted a separate recipe due to not being a one skillet dish, this one takes a little time. Lot of things to change in this to suit your taste. I made this on 8 Dec 2016, and it is delicious, I took the step by step photos and my comments below.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Stock
- 3 chicken quarters, seperate the legs from the thighs
- 1 onion, cut in half, no need to peel
- 1-2 tablespoons peppercorns
To Prepare
- splash olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 500 grams dry spiral pasta, any bite size pasta will work
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, with the juice as well
- 3 cups chicken stock, you just made that
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Instructions
For the Chicken and Stock
- Place the chicken in a large pot and fill 3/4 of the way full with water, add the onion and peppercorns, feel free to add any additional veggys you like such as carrots or celery. Place on high heat and bring to a boil and reduce to almost a simmer. Cook for about 20-30 minutes or until the meat is tender. You do not want the meat to fall off the bone.
- Remove the chicken from the pot to drain and cool for about 20 minutes so you can handle it. Turn off the heat to the pot and cover.
- Once the pieces have cooled a bit and you can handle them, use your fingers to pull the meat off the bones, do not use forks, use your hands as you can feel if there is any gristle attached to the meat, this is the reason you do not want the meat to fall off the bones, then the gristle is attached to the meat. By cooking until tender, the meat will easily pull off the bones and the gristle bits remain attached to the bone. Turn the heat back on to a simmer on the pot with the stock in it put the bones back in and continue to simmer this until needed. This photo shows the meat from 3 thighs and 3 legs. Feel to chop or pull apart to smaller pieces if you desire.
To Prepare
- Melt butter in skillet and cook the onion and garlic until tender and starting to brown, then add in the chicken meat.
- Add, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, parsley, chopped tomatoes and juice, 3 cups of the stock you just made, and the pasta and stir together. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, and let cook uncovered, or until pasta is tender and just some of the liquid remains, about 20-30 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover.
- Juice and stock is absorbed, the pasta is perfect.
- Mix in the cheese and cover for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve.
Notes
My wife bought 5 quarters for 110 Baht, I used 3, so I will say 75 Baht for the chicken. The cheese is about 140 Baht for a 200 gram block, shred the whole block for 2 cups of cheese. For 6 servings, this is about $1.05 per serving.
Variants: Add fresh sliced mushrooms. Use fresh tomatoes but you will need tomato juice (just a bit) as well. Variants add cost however, but can change up the dish from one time you prepare it to the next. Add taco seasoning and use Cheddar cheese and you have a taco pasta dish.
Inspired by good friend, Lynn Batterman.
United States.
United States.
Pasta with Sardines I
Sounds really good, but when I found this recipe it seemed a bit lacking in the sardines, 1 tin (that would be the 155 grams very small can with the pull top) for the servings listed, I am going to increase this to 2 tins. This is a light tomato sauce based sauce. This can be made with sardines in tomato sauce or sardines in olive oil. For sardines in oil, this is a money saver for you as I have a shortcut on the site to make your own sardines in oil, very easy, much much less than the cost of tinned sardines in oil. On my to cook list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 250 grams dry spaghetti, or Fettuccine (which would be my choice)
- 2 tins sardines, see Step 1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, see Step 2 (omit if using sardines in olive oil)
- 4 tablespoons tomato sauce, see Step 2 (omit if using sardines in tomato sauce)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- For the sardines, you have a couple of options here, you can use canned sardines in either tomato sauce (155 gram tins) or olive oil (120 gram tins), or you can use homemade sardines in olive oil (for homemade I would start with 1 1/2 cups of sardines). Homemade is the preferred method, no packaging to worry about, and you have a product you made.
- If using sardines in tomato sauce, you will use the sauce in the tins and you can omit that ingredient. If using sardines in olive oil, drain the oil into a cup and you will use 2 tablespoons of that and you will then need to add 4 tablespoons of tomato sauce.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil then add the pasta and cook until just tender.
- While the water for the pasta is heating, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non stick skillet on medium heat and add the onion and cook until soft, then add the sardines including the tomato sauce they came in, or if packed in oil and drained then you will need to add 4 tablespoons of tomato sauce (feel free to chop them up with the spatula if you like). Once the sardines are heated through, reduce heat to very low and let simmer until the pasta is ready.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain that well and add to the skillet with the sauce and sardines, stir, cover and remove from heat and let the flavors blend for a few minutes. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pasta and serve. Top servings with red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
This is low cost. Sardines in tomato sauce is cheap, from 12 to 32 Baht per 155 gram tin. Not all sardines are the same with taste, the very cheap ones are not that good. For 32 Baht/tin think Ayam brand, very good. For 15 Baht/tin, the next best in flavor is Three Lady Cooks brand. These are the only brands I buy.
For sardines in olive oil, I have only seen one brand, Ayam, for 59 Baht per 120 gram tin, these are very good. If you make your own sardines in olive oil, you can reduce this price to probably 20 Baht/tin.
Figuring two tins with tomato sauce at 32 Baht each (64 Baht total), for 4 servings this is about 47 cents per serving. Figuring two tins with olive oil at 59 Baht each (118 Baht total), for 4 servings this is about 87 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Sardines in Olive Oil.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Baked Spaghetti & Meatballs
Sounds really, can be made in a cast iron pan (or any oven safe pan then baked right in the pan or put into a baking dish and then baked. On my to cook list. There is several shortcuts you can make as well to save costs. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 12-18 meatballs, cooked, OR make from a shortcut
- 3 cup pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 350 grams spaghetti
- 1-2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- For the meatballs, you can use cooked and frozen from a store or homemade fresh cooked or cooked and frozen meatballs. Chicken, beef, or pork, up to you. I have a shortcut for basic chicken meatballs listed in the Recipe Notes or you can make the meatballs with any recipe you have.
- In a large oven proof skillet, or a large regular skillet if you are going to use a baking dish, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion until soft, then add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, then add the meatballs, pasta sauce, and the Italian seasoning. Simmer for 20-30 minutes to warm the meatballs through.
- While the meatballs are warming up, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just tender then drain, retaining the water from the pot.
- With a slotted spoon remove the meatballs from the sauce and set aside.
- Add the spaghetti to the pasta sauce, add in 1/2 cup of water from the pasta and gently stir to coat the spaghetti. Spread the spaghetti evenly in the skillet then add the meatballs on top.
- If you are going to be using a baking dish (or two) pour the spaghetti into the baking dish and spread it evenly in the dish, then add the meatballs on top.
- Sprinkle the cheeses on top of the meatballs and bake for 20-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted. Serve with a salad and bread.
Notes
I cannot price this right now until I make it, considering the cheese, I will say fair cost right now but that will be adjusted after I make this.
Shortcuts: Chicken Meatballs, Pasta Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Cheesy Stove Top Pasta
Sounds really good and is open to changes to suit your taste. This is not a cheap meal based on the cheese used.
Ingredients
- 500 grams pasta, spaghetti, penne, spirals, up to you
- 1/4 cup butter, this is 1/4 a standard block
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup Cream cheese, this is 1/4 of standard block
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup white Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 dashes Sriracha Chili Garlic sauce
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water until just tender, drain and set aside.
- In large saucepan over medium low heat melt the butter. Whisk in flour and cook until smooth and lightly bubbling. Slowly whisk in the milk and Dijon mustard and continue cooking over low heat until it is thicken, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and continue cooking over low heat until melted, then slowly add both Cheddars until melted, whisking frequently. Whisk in Sriracha sauce. Mix in the pasta and serve.
Notes
Cream cheese will be about 30 Baht for 1/4 of a standard block. Cheddar will cost about 180 Baht for a block of 250 grams, figure about 2-2 1/4 cups of shredded, White Cheddar will cost about 90 Baht for 1/2 block shredded (about 1 cup). For 6 servings, this is about $1.47 per serving, overall a fair price.
Variants: Add cooked chopped bacon or cooked and cubed ham, or even add cooked mushrooms.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Easy Cheesy Sausage & Long Bean Skillet Pasta
Sounds really good and readily available ingredients, several shortcuts are listed to make this a very economical dish. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 500 grams Italian sausage, OR make from a shortcut
- 1 small onion, diced
- 400 grams dry Penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 2 cups fresh long beans, cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 3 cups tomato pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut
- 2-3 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- olive oil, as needed
- fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a splash of olive oil in a large deep skillet and brown the sausage, onion, and long beans until the sausage is cooked through and the beans are tender.
- Mix in the cooked pasta then stir in the pasta sauce. Add the cheese on top and let melt, OR you can use an oven safe pan and put in the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese, OR, just mix the cheese in and let it melt. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Unless you can find bulk Italian sausage, you may need to make the shortcut, I will base the pricing on home made sausage (so easy!). 500 grams of minced pork is about 55 Baht, the cheese however is about 142 to 210 Baht, depending if you want to use 2 cups or 3 cups (figure 100 grams (block type) per cup shredded. For 8 servings using 2 cups of cheese, this is about 75 cents per serving. Make the sauce yourself for more savings.
Shortcuts: Italian Sausage, Tomato Pasta Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Cabbage and Noodles
This sounds really good. I will be trying this for sure, either with smoked sausage or with homemade Italian sausage from a shortcut on this site. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 350 grams smoked sausage, or a bit more, no one will complain, OR Italian sausage
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 head cabbage, chopped, about 6-7 cups
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
- 2/3 cup frozen peas
- 250 grams dry egg noodles, OR Fettuccine pasta (my preference)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- olive oil, as needed
Instructions
- Heat a pot of water to boiling and then cook the egg noodles or pasta until just done, drain and then set aside. A small amount of olive oil drizzled on the noodles will keep them from sticking.
- In a large non-stick pan, heat a splash of olive oil and cook the smoked sausage until lightly browned, if cooking home made sausage, cook until cooked through.
- Is using smoked sausage, you may need to add another splash of olive oil then add the butter, onion, and garlic, cooking until the onion is soft. OR if using home made sausage, you may need to drain off some of the fat but leave a little in the pan then just add the butter, onion, and garlic and cook that until the onion is soft. About 5 minutes or so, stirring once in a while.
- Add the cabbage and cook until tender, stirring often, maybe 15 minutes or so then add in the peas, noodles or pasta and salt and pepper to your liking. Cook this until heated through, just a few minutes then serve.
Notes
Smoked sausage will run about 100 Baht for 350 grams, home made Italian sausage, or regular sausage, or chicken sausage (think small meat balls) is much less. For smoked sausage, 4 servings, this is about 74 cents per serving. For home made sausage, this is about 40 Baht/350 grams, 4 servings would be about 30 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Italian Sausage, Sausage, Chicken Sausage.
Variants: Think cooked chopped chicken in place of the sausage.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
Cheesy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo
Cheese, garlic, shrimp, sold! This sounds very nice and on my to cook list.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 125 grams Cream cheese, this is 1/2 a stand block, softened
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- pepper, to taste
- 500 grams medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- 500 grams pasta, cooked, of your choice, Fettuccine would be a good choice
Instructions
- Mix together the milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt until smooth, set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and add garlic. Cook garlic for about a minute, then add the shrimp, cook 3-5 minutes, or until pink, and just barely cooked through, then remove shrimp, leaving the garlic and butter drippings in the saucepan.
- Add milk mixture to the pan, and stir for 4 minutes on medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and keep stirring for about 6 more minutes until is starts to thicken. Remove from heat, add cheeses and mix. Cover, let stand for about 5 minutes.
- Add shrimp into sauce and let stand another 5 minutes to heat through. Serve over pasta of choice, garnish with some parsley.
Notes
The Cream cheese will cost about 60 Baht for 1/2 250 gram block. The 1 cup of Mozzarella will cost about 50 Baht for 1/2 200 gram block. The shrimp, that price can very from store bought to fresh local caught from fishermen. Medium Whites in Tesco will run about 135 Baht/500 grams. Fresh local caught will run about 100 Baht/500 gram or less. Going with store bought shrimp, for 4 servings this is about $1.80 per serving, for 6 servings, about $1.20 per serving, overall, not a bad cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
One Pot Sausage Pasta
This is a one pot pasta dish that can be prepared any number of ways so it is never the same meal twice. Only rule to follow is to add a liquid for the pasta to cook. Meat, veggies, and spices are up to you to flavor the dish as you see fit. This is a base recipe that you can use to tailor at will. I made this on 10 Feb 2017 and is now a Go-To recipe!Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 6 smoked sausage links, sliced, see Step 1 for other items you can use
- 4 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup heavy cream, OR use milk, OR make from a shortcut
- 250 grams dry Penne pasta, OR any bite size pasta
- 2 cups water
- 3-4 spring onions, chopped, white and green parts
- Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded, for garnish if desired
Instructions
- For the sausage, go with 250-500 grams, think spicy smoked sausage (Makro), brats, beer brats, English beef or pork bangers, or even large, quality hotdogs. If you choose to use homemade bulk sausage, think meatballs, such as Italian sausage, plain pork sausage, or even chicken sausage.
- In a large pot, heat the oil and cook the garlic and onion until the onion is starting to soften, then add the sausage, salt and pepper.
- When the sausage is browned up, add the tomatoes, sugar, heavy cream, and mix. Then add the pasta and water and mix well, cover and cook on simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so.
- After 15 minutes or when the pasta is tender, remove from heat, stir in the spring onion, cover and let sit for 5 minutes, serve with Parmesan cheese on top if desired.
- Served.
Notes
Sausage will be the costly item here if you buy it, much cheaper if you make it. For store bought smoked sausage, figure about 150 Baht for 500 grams. For 4 servings this is about $1.10 per serving, good value overall, and less for 6 servings.
Shortcuts: Heavy Cream, Sausage.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Spicy Lemon Chicken Pasta II
Sound really good, cook in one skillet with cherry tomatoes, on my to cook list!
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 2 1/2 cups dry pasta, any bite size pasta will work
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half (measure after cutting in half)
- 2 cups chicken stock, fresh or from powder
- 1-2 juice from lemons
- 1 cup water, OR use additional chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- olive oil, as needed
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the onion and stir, cooking until soft and nearly translucent then stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken and cook until just browned.
- Then stir in the pasta, tomatoes, chicken broth, lemon juice, water, basil, red pepper flakes, salt and salt and pepper as desired. Bring to a boil and continue to stir often, uncovered, for about 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is tender, add more chicken stock as needed, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat, sprinkle cheese on top, and cover for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and remaining liquid is absorbed. Serve.
Notes
Chicken breast will run about 35 Baht/500 grams. The cheese will run maybe 50 Baht/1 cup. For 4 servings, this is about 68 cents per serving, less for 5 or 6. This is an economical meal even with a side.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet
This is an easy one skillet dish that is extremely good and very versatile. Lot of things to change in this to suit your taste. I made this on 4 Oct 2016, recipe modified slightly and some step by step photos added, my comments below.
Ingredients
- 500 grams smoked sausage, OR ham, brats, or even plain quality hotdogs
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, you choice of color, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups chicken stock, fresh or from powder
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, with the juice as well
- 2-3 Bird's Eye Chilis, chopped
- 500 grams dry spiral pasta, any bite size pasta will work
- 1-2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, OR Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in skillet and brown the sliced sausage, onion, garlic, and bell pepper.
- Add, salt, pepper, chicken stock, tomatoes and juice, chilies, and pasta. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, and let cook uncovered, or until pasta is tender and just some of the liquid remains, about 20-30 minutes.
- Mix in the cheese and serve.
Notes
I get good quality smoked sausage at Makro for about 150 Baht/500 grams. One cup of cheese is about 1/2 of a 250 gram block (180 Baht), so I'll go with 90 Baht for the cheese. For 6 servings, I will estimate about $1.18 per serving. Good value overall.
Variants: 1. Add fresh sliced mushrooms. 2. Use fresh tomatoes but you will need tomato juice (just a bit) as well. 3. If you like cheese, use the whole block. 4. Add taco seasoning and use Cheddar cheese and you have a taco pasta dish. Variants add cost however but can change up the dish from one time you prepare it to the next.
Variants provided by good friend, Lynn Batterman, United States.
Toss in some Basil, Thyme, Oregano, and you have a great Italian dish. Leave out the sausage, but saute some chicken breast/thighs first, then add the rest with the herbs, and it's Chicken Cacciatore. Add paprika and you have Goulash. What you've done is reveal how EASY cooking can be... just add a few different herbs/spices, or even bake vs. pan fry, roast, and it becomes a whole different meal from a different country even though they are very similar. The biggest differences are the HOT dishes from various countries, India heat vs. Thai, vs. Jamaican, vs. Tex-Mex, is so different.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Toss in some Basil, Thyme, Oregano, and you have a great Italian dish. Leave out the sausage, but saute some chicken breast/thighs first, then add the rest with the herbs, and it's Chicken Cacciatore. Add paprika and you have Goulash. What you've done is reveal how EASY cooking can be... just add a few different herbs/spices, or even bake vs. pan fry, roast, and it becomes a whole different meal from a different country even though they are very similar. The biggest differences are the HOT dishes from various countries, India heat vs. Thai, vs. Jamaican, vs. Tex-Mex, is so different.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
