cathys original recipes


Summer pasta recipe

Summer pasta: dinner plate / silverware / table cloth /

As the weather warms up, it is nice to lighten up our pasta sauce, and make a summer pasta for dinner! Yum! I love this light and healthy pasta which I put together on a warm day for dinner.

This is a really easy recipe to make for dinner. So, without further ado, here is what you need to make this yummy pasta dish at home.

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 lb. pasta (pick your favorite shape!)
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 3 cloves diced or crushed garlic
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Shredded or grated parmesan cheese (save for after cooking)

In a large pot, boil water for your pasta. In a small sauce pan, simmer butter or margarine, olive oil, garlic, and paprika until melted and blended together. Once melted and blended, set it aside.

Wash your cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. Keep them cool and place them aside for after the pasta is done.

Once your pasta is cooked, drain it and put is back into the pot you cooked it in. Pour your sauce into the pot and stir until pasta is coated.

Serve your pasta on a dish and sprinkle basil leaves and cherry tomatoes on top of the pasta. Top with parmesan cheese.

Then, serve and enjoy! Yum!

I hope you love this summer pasta dish as much as my family does. It is light and yummy!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Leftover turkey recipe ideas

turkey mushroom risotto leftover turkey recipe ideas

Pictured: Turkey Mushroom Risotto / dark blue dinner plate /

Did you host a holiday gathering at your home and end up with tons of Turkey leftover? Yeah, this happens to us every year after Thanksgiving. To combat the leftover turkey, I try to get creative and move away from eating turkey sandwiches for a week. This year I made Turkey Mushroom Risotto and a Turkey Casserole to help use up the leftover turkey. It was delicious! Although the casserole did end up making more leftovers for us since we are a family of five. Haha, but I digress. . .

I thought I would share these recipes with you, in case you are hosting a holiday event in December and are cooking a turkey. These recipes can also be used with chicken if you are not hosting, but are interested in cooking them anyway. The risotto is really good with chicken! The casserole can also be made with tuna. If you make it with tuna, add a cup of peas. Peas are yummy with tuna.

Without further ado, here are my two leftover turkey recipe ideas!

Turkey mushroom risotto

  • I.5 cups chopped turkey
  • 1 can chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cups sauteed mushrooms (Sautee in olive and garlic)
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 3 chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 cup cooked rice (I use jasmine brown rice; you can use the rice of your choice)
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 dash of black pepper
  • 3 dashes of paprika

Sautee mushrooms ahead of time. Cook rice in a rice cooker or your preferred way of cooking.

In a separate pot, mix all other ingredients together EXCEPT the parmesan. Simmer on medium for 45 minutes while rice is cooking.

When rice is done cooking, mix the rice and the parmesan into the mixture and stir until completely covered. Simmer another ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve and enjoy! You can top with more parmesan if you wish after plating. (Serves 6)

Turkey casserole

Pictured: Turkey Casserole / turquoise mug / dark blue dinner plate /

  • 2.5 cups chopped turkey
  • 1 lb. pasta (Shape of your choice)
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 2 cut and peeled carrots
  • 8 oz. sliced mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 can chicken broth
  • 2 cans Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup
  • 3 dashes of paparika.
  • 1 dash of black pepper
  • 1 cup of crispy onions

Pre-heat oven to 350

Cook pasta and carrots. In a mixing bowl, mix all other ingredients together except the crispy onions.

When pasta and carrots are done cooking, mix together with mixture. Stir until completely mixed. Pour into large casserole dish and smooth out the top. Top the casserole with crispy onions and cover the casserole dish.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes covered. Remove cover and bake an additional 10 minutes uncovered.

Remove from oven and serve. Yum! (Serves 10)

There you have it! Two leftover turkey recipe ideas you can easily make at home without much effort. I hope you are enjoying the holiday season, and enjoy the rest of it!

Things you might need to make these leftover turkey recipe ideas at home:

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy


Andouille sausage pasta recipe

andouille sausage pasta recipe

Pictured: blue mug / turquoise dish /

Do you love pasta? Do you like pasta with a kick? Then this is the pasta dish for you! Andouille sausage has a nice little kick to it, so when it is paired with pasta, it makes a fun pasta dish, with a kick! Love that!

This is a really easy pasta dish you can make at home. It’s a fun way to mix American cuisine with and Italian favorite. Can we call this, Italian-American fusion? I think so!

Without further ado, here are the ingredients and directions to make this yummy andouille sausage pasta dish with chicken, at home!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 olive oil
  • 2 cloved minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 10 oz chopped andouille sausage link
  • 2 chopped tomatoes
  • 1 lb. pasta, your choice for shape
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 pats butter
  • 1/2 pound shredded chicken, or vegan chicken. Pre-cook your chicken! The tomatoes will turn the chicken pink, so you want to make sure your chicken is thoroughly cooked before mixing it with the tomatoes.
  • Season to taste: paprika, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper

Fill your large pot with water and bring to a boil. While you are waiting for your pasta pot to boil, mix your sauce ingredients together into a large sauce pot. The tomatoes will add a little juice to the sauce. This helps it cook, and keeps your sauce from drying out. Embrace the juice.

Cook the sauce on low for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

pasta recipe ideas

When your water in your pasta pot boils, add the pasta. Cook until your pasta achieves it’s desired tenderness.

Once your pasta is done cooking, and your sauce has cooked for 30 minutes, drain your pasta and add the sauce to the pot. Mix the pasta and the sauce together. Voila! You have finished cooking your andouille sausage pasta dinner!

Serve, top with grated parmesan, and enjoy! I hope you love this easy pasta dish with a kick! If andouille sausage isn’t your thing, you can always make this dish a milder sausage of your choice. The possibilities are endless!

Things you might need to make andouille sausage pasta at home:

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you love it!

XOXO
Cathy

andouille sausage pasta recipe