Grill Roasted Pasta Sauce

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

I love the flavour that comes out of the vegetables right out of the garden – give them a grill before simmering this pasta sauce and you will be treated to that flavour all winter long.

30 roma tomatoes, halved

12 cloves garlic, peeled

5 small onions, unpeeled and sliced very thick

3 sweet red peppers, whole

Grill all vegetables until you get nice grill marks and the garlic and onions are soft, lightly browned. As soon as the sweet peppers are charred, put them in a ziplock bag or a tightly covered bowl and allow to steam for 15 minutes – remove the skin and seeds.

Put all tomatoes with the vegetables in a large pot and simmer until tender.

Add:

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp chopped fresh or dried oregano

3 tsp white sugar

3 tsp salt

Bring to a boil, then allow to simmer just until all flavours have had a chance to blend well. Make sure to taste it and adjust seasonings if you need a little more.

Either freeze in freezer safe containers, or process in hot water bath.

To preserve in hot water, canning bath – fill jars to within 1 inch, cover with hot seals and rings. Process in hot water bath 35 minutes for pints.

This recipe makes about 7 pints.

Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

It is really important to taste, taste, taste when you are making this vinaigrette – each different variety of sun dried tomato will give a different flavour. This should be FULL of taste, so if not – make adjustments.

1/4 cup drained, oil packed sun dried tomatoes – finely minced

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1/2 lemon (juice of)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp freshly cracked pepper

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Give all ingredients a good, vigorous shake in a jar and slowly add the olive oil. Taste and adjust for seasonings.

This is great on a tossed salad, and perhaps even better on a pasta salad. If you want a smoother texture, place all ingredients (except oil) in a blender and process for a few moments before slowly adding the oil.

THAI STYLE SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN SALAD

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

DRESSING

1 tbsp miso paste

1 tbsp grated ginger

Juice of 2 limes (and zest if you like it really filled with lime!)

½ garlic clove, minced

1 chopped scallion

1 tbsp sriracha sauce

1 tsp raw sugar

1 tbsp fish sauce

½ tsp kosher salt

Blend well, and gradually stir in: ½ – ¾ cup of vegetable oil – to taste

MARINADE

1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce

2 tbsp chili paste

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp grated ginger

1 minced garlic clove

2 good size chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

Thin cut Chinese egg noodles (fresh is best)

Green Salad

Sesame seeds

Peanuts

Bean sprouts

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and allow to marinate for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

A few minutes before frying stir in 1 tbsp corn starch.

Make a green salad using whatever ingredients are jumping out at you – make it nice and crunchy!

Cook the egg noodles according to package directions and allow to cool – rinse with warm water if they end up in a clump – the water always brings them back.

Toast the sesame seeds and peanuts

The chicken needs to be cooked fairly quickly so it gets nice and crispy – you can do this in a wok using a bit of peanut oil, in a fry pan, a deep fryer, or on the grill with a wok basket.

While the chicken is cooking, bring the rest of the marinade to a boil – allow to boil for a few minutes until it is thick and has reduced slightly. Stir warm into the salad dressing and allow to sit while you assemble the salad:

Noodles on the bottom – drizzle with a bit of the dressing

Salad

Chicken

Top with bean sprouts, peanuts and sesame seeds

Drizzle more salad dressing over top

Mac N Cheese

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

I have been making lasagne without pre boiling my pasta noodles for years now, so why did it take so long to try it with elbow macaroni? Not sure, but I will always do it that way now! Give this a try and let me know what you think.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, divided

1/4 cup flour

3 cups milk

1 tbsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 lb (450 gms) elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup panko or home made bread crumbs

2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 400. Melt 1/4 cup butter in large saucepan over medium high heat. Add flour, and mustard, cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute to allow the flour and butter to brown slightly. Slowly whisk in milk until you have a smooth consistency. Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, whisking often until you have a thin but glossy sauce. (around 10 min) Stir in 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper.

Toss dry, uncooked pasta with 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and put in 13 x 9 x 2″ baking dish. Pour sauce over – do not stir – and cover with foil. Bake for at least 20 minutes – check to see if the pasta is almost cooked through.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in fry pan, stir in garlic – saute lightly and toss with bread crumbs and panko until lightly browned.

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over pasta, then top with bread crumb/garlic mixture. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes or so until top is bubbling and golden brown.

This is the basic recipe – I’m pretty sure you won’t be pre-cooking your pasta before baking your own mac and cheese again!

Tonight’s version of this included:

aged white cheddar cheese and smoked gouda cheese

cubed cooked chicken

diced roasted red pepper

capers

whole grape tomatoes

The whole family loved it, and you can adapt this very easily to any leftovers or cravings in your household.

Sundried Tomato and Almond Pesto

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

Such a great taste, easy to have on hand and in the freezer. You can use this in a variety of ways – toss with pasta, use it for a burger topping – blend it with mayonnaise for a quick dip – spread on baguette – blend with cream cheese to serve with crackers – top grilled meat … really, so amazing to eat in so many ways. Have fun trying, and let me know if you come up with more creative ways to get that taste of sun drenched tomatoes!

Don’t you just want to taste this?

1 cup slivered almonds, toasted until golden

4 cloves garlic

2 cups dry pack sun dried tomatoes (soak in very hot water for a few moments, then drain)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2/3 cup olive oil

This is easiest if you use a food processor, but possible in a mortar and pestle … just be prepared to work hard!

In food processor, pulse roasted almonds and garlic until a coarse grind. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper. Pulse until a smooth paste. With the motor running add the oil in a slow, but steady stream. Finish with any leftover tomato water from soaking them.

This can be used within a few days in the fridge, or frozen in smaller containers to use all year long.

If you can’t get the dry pack sundried tomatoes, just use the oil packed ones but drain well.

Cilantro, Jalapeno and Sunflower Seed Pesto

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

You are going to love this! So versatile, you can use it to toss with pasta, spread on baguette or bun for sandwich or burger topping, or even mix it with some freshly chopped tomatoes and onions for salsa. Try it on top of grilled meat for an extra bit of flavour.

1 small – medium jalapeno pepper, depending on your taste for spicy food

1 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Pulse until coarsely chopped

5 cloves garlic

2 cups fresh cilantro leves

1 tsp grated lime zest

juice of 1/2 lime

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2/3 cup olive oil

In food processor (or mortar and pestle if you are feeling like you need a good workout) combine jalapeno, roasted sunflower seeds and garlic – Pulse or mash until a coarse grind. Add the cilantro, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper. Pulse a few times until blended. In a steady stream, with processor running – slowly add oil

This can be kept in the fridge for a few days, or frozen in small containers to use all year long.

All ready for the freezer!

Lemon Herb Chicken Linguine

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

This light and fresh summery pasta is perfect for a sunny day – takes so little effort and won’t heat up your kitchen either!

CHICKEN

4 chicken breasts

2 tbsp minced fresh herbs – basil, parsley, oregano

1 heaping tbsp dijon mustard

1 lemon – juice and zest

2 tbsp olive oil

Marinate all above ingredients in a ziplock bag for a minimum of 1 hour, and preferably overnight. (My favorite trick is to have this already made and in the freezer, pull it out in the morning and you are ready to proceed when you get home from work!)

Grill chicken breasts until no longer pink inside, and juices run clear. Allow to rest while you cook the pasta.

PASTA

1 pack linguine noodles (or honestly, whatever you like!)

broccoli – broken into little trees (about 1 1/2 – 2 cups) or snap peas!

1 lemon, juice and zest

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp of your best extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp roughly chopped basil

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Cook linguine in a pot of well salted water – for the last 3 minutes toss in a generous handful of broccoli heads. Drain pasta, reserving some of the liquid.

In large serving bowl toss the cooked broccoli and pasta with the lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, crumbled feta, basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over top, and add just enough pasta water to allow you to toss the pasta easily, and it creates just a light bit of sauce.

Slice chicken on the diagonal, and serve over the pasta.

Italian Pot Roast

Image

1 stick cinnamon

3 all spice berries

4 whole cloves

8 peppercorns

Combine spices in blender and process until a fine powder – set aside.

3 # outside round, or other less tender cut of beef

olive oil

salt and pepper

3 carrots, sliced

3 stalks celery, sliced

1 onion, diced

4 garlic cloves

28 oz can of tomatoes

1 cup of good red wine (make sure it is one you would like to drink!)

While oil is heating in fry pan, season beef with salt and pepper – brown all sides in fry pan and place in slow cooker. (you can also use a good braising pan to do this in the oven)

In the same fry pan, saute onions until tender. Add the rest of the vegetables and saute until just starting to carmelize. Add the spice mixture, stir well until all the vegetables are coated and cook for a few minutes. Add the red wine and cook until it has reduced about 1/3. Add tomatoes, and salt to taste.

Pour sauce over meat. In a slow cooker this will take about 8 hours, but if you are using a braising method it will take 3-4 hours (keep tasting for flavour and tenderness). The meat should be fork tender.

The sauce is quite thick so if you are using a braising method, you may need to add a bit more cooking liquid as it cooks, eg a good beef stock.

When cooked, and your beef is falling apart tender, shred with 2 forks and stir in with the sauce. I love to serve with hand made pasta – in which case I remove the sauce from the cooking pot and add to a sauce pan. As soon as my pasta is cooked I turn it into the pan to allow it to be fully seasoned by the yummy flavours. Turn into serving platter and pile your shredded beef on top.

Not only will your house smell fantastic while this is cooking you will be rewarded with a fantastic dinner.

Pasta

Featured

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

Hand making your own pasta is a labour of love …. and tastes simply divine!

It helps if you have pint size helper around….

1 cup all purpose flour

2 cups 00 flour

3 eggs

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

7 tbsp COLD water

Pulse the flour in a food processor a few times, to give it a little air, and fluff it up a bit.

In a measuring bowl combine eggs, oil and water – beating lightly.

Slowly pour the wet mixture into the food processor, while the flour is being aerated. The mixture will form a ball, attached to the blade. If this doesn’t happen, and the dough is wet and sticky, just add bits of flour until it does. If the dough is too dry, just add water, 1 tbsp at a time until it forms a ball and holds on to the blade.

Turn onto floured surface and knead for a minute by hand. The dough should feel soft, smooth and just a bit stretchy. It is important to let it rest before shaping your pasta. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. If using within a few hours, just let it rest at room temperature. The dough is good in the fridge for a couple of days, and can be frozen for up to a month or so – allow to defrost in the fridge then bring to room temperature.

When ready to roll, cut your dough into 6 pieces to make it easy to work with. Keep the pieces you aren’t using either in plastic wrap or in a floured tea towel. Working with 1 piece at a time, flour well, and roll through your pasta press at the largest setting. Once you have worked it down a couple of settings fold in triple, and return to a large setting to run it through again. This seems to knead the dough that little extra bit and makes it so tender. Continue putting through your roller until you end up on about (on mine anyway) setting 3. This works well for putting through the shaper to make spaghetti, linguine etc. Make sure to flour well before putting through press – adding flour as necessary to make your dough easy to handle.

If you don’t have a pasta press you probably aren’t going to the trouble of hand making pasta … but if you are …. just use a rolling pin or wine bottle, whatever you have on hand and roll the dough until thin enough and cut into strips. Really not hard!

Keep all the prepared pasta covered on a floured tea towel until ready to use. Or if you have one of these handy drying racks you can put it to use – I used to have wooden spoons strung out all over the kitchen before I got this gadget from Hayley, Mike and Sloan.

Bring LOTS of water to a boil, then add 2 generous TBSP salt. Stir in fresh pasta and cook pretty much just until it rises to the top – taste …

To serve, have your pasta sauce simmering away in a saucepan beside the pasta pot and gradually add the pasta to it – adding pasta water as necessary. Stir the pasta through the sauce, taste and season as necessary with salt and pepper. Finish with a grating of fresh cheese.

This is enough pasta to serve 6-8 people.

Here it is served my Italian Pot Roast …. look for that yummy recipe too!

Fettuccine Alfredo ….ish

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

I love pappardelle pasta – if you make (or buy good quality) pasta these hearty noodles are so perfect for holding on to a sauce. Tonight’s version was a way of using up leftover chicken from my Moroccan Spice Chicken. Another favorite to serve with the alfredo is panko crusted chicken – love the crunchy texture with the creamy pasta.

500 gm pappardelle pasta

kosher salt

1/2 cup butter

2 leeks (white and tender green parts) thinly sliced

1/2 cup sliced red onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 cup good white wine

1 tsp mustard powder (or dijon mustard)

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup cheese (I like to use mostly parmesan reggiano, but you can add a bit of other cheese as well, mozzarella, ementhal, romano … etc)

chili flakes

salt and pepper

cooked chicken/prawns/ham – whatever you have left in the fridge … or leave it as is – you will still think it is the best alfredo!

Melt butter in saucepan – add leeks and onions, cooking until tender and translucent.

While onions are cooking, add your pasta to the boiling water and cook just until al dente. Remove from heat, drain and keep warm.

To your onions, add garlic cloves, mustard, white wine, chili flakes to taste (start with 1/2 tsp and see how you like it!), and cream. Heat through, remove from heat and stir in cheeses. If you are adding any of the cooked protein, this is the time to do it.

Toss it all together, season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with extra parmesan cheese to grate over the top.

chattykathychatsandcooks

Family, Friends and Food!

Tag Archives: pasta