Tomato Cream Pasta

Let's take a moment to acknowledge the greatness of the Pioneer Woman. 

Seriously, never a bad recipe.

Photo & recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

This pasta is SO good, we all love it & it's especially delish when covered in freshly grated Parmesan.

Click HERE for recipe.

Summer Vegetarian Pasta

*Photo & recipe from Rikkisnyder.com

I made this delicious Summer Pasta last week (I left out the basil, because I did not have any) Francis and I LOVED it!
Click HERE for recipe

My very best lasagna!

I have been tweaking lasagna recipes for about 5 years now and I made my best yet this week. Mr. Becker said it was his favorite....and its great because it's is full of spinach, you don't even need a side salad.

So here you go:

1 box lasagna noodles

2 T Olive Oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

1 pack of sweet Italian sausage

1 28 oz (I think, whatever the biggest can is) of crushed tomatoes

2 T Italian seasoning

salt & pepper

3 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped

4 cups grated mozzarella

Boil lasagna noddles with a pinch of salt in the water so they don't stick together.

While noodles are boiling add oil to skillet, cook garlic and onions for 1 minute.

Add sausage to pan, break it up and cook on Med heat. Cook until no longer pink, in fact I even like my a little crispy on the outside. Then add the tomatoes and boil for a few minutes, stirring often. Reduce to simmer and add seasoning and about 2 T of salt (taste and add more if needed) and a little pepper (about a teaspoon)

Add the chopped spinach leaves and turn off heat.

Now get a large pan and add a layer of noodles. (my kids and dog love the noodles so they each get one)

Spoon a layer of sauce over the noodles.

top with a large handful of motz (I LOVE motz)

repeat! End with a thick layer of cheese and sprinkle the top with a little Italian seasoning for a nice finish.

Cook at 350* for 25 minutes and enjoy!!

Yaya's Tuna Pasta

2 cans of white tuna, drained

2 stalks of celery, diced

1 Roma tomato, diced

3 green onions, chopped

Bowtie pasta, cooked

Thousand Island dressing (about 1/2 c or more if you like)

1/2 t salt

1/2 t pepper

2 T sweet pickle relish (or one sweet pickle, diced)

Mix ingredients in large serving bowl and serve with crunchy french bread...enjoy!!

Chicken Caesar Pasta

1 large chicken breast, grilled & seasoned with salt & pepper
Caesar salad dressing
tomato, diced
Asparagus, steamed or blanched & cut into bite sized pieces
Tri-color rotini pasta, cooked & drained

Toss pasta, asparagus, tomato, and chicken with Caesar salad dressing & serve!

Chicken Orange Pasta Salad

2 cups uncooked bowtie pasta

2 cups cooked chicken

2 celery ribs chopped

1 can (110z) mandarin oranges drained

1/3 c plain yogurt

1/3 c mayo

1/4 c orange juice concentrate

1 T white vinegar

2 t sugar

1/4t salt

1/4 t ground mustard

3 cups torn salad greens

Cook pasta. Drain & rinse with cold water. Combine chicken, pasta, celery, & oranges. In a separate small bowl mix yogurt, oj concentrate, vinegar, sugar, salt & mustard with whisk. Pour over pasta mixture and add greens...toss and enjoy!

* I also added a handful of chinese crunchy noodles for some texture. SOOO good!!!

Fresh Tomato Sausage Pasta with Garlic Bread

Fresh Tomato Sausage Pasta

8 oz penne pasta, cooked


8 oz sweet Italian sausage


2 t olive oil

1/2 cup sliced yellow onion

2 t minced garlic

5 tomatoes chopped (Roma)

1/2 cup cubed mozzarella

1/4 salt

1/8 pepper

torn basil leaves about 5 large leaves (NO dry basil)

Cook pasta, heat olive oil skillet over med heat. Remove sausage from casings, add to pan. Add onion cook until sausage is browned. Add garlic, cook 2 min. Stir in tomatoes, cook 2 min, remove from heat & stir in penne pasta (drained)add cheese, salt &pepper & basil. Toss & serve!

Garlic Bread

1/2 loaf french bred, sliced

4 T of melted butter

1 T chopped garlic

Heat oven to 375* -slice bread, add garlic to melted butter and pour over bread....making sure to get in between slices. Wrap in foil and cook 15 min until bread is warm through.

Pasta Salad

My cousin's wife Rachell gave me this recipe...and she is a GREAT cook so you bet this is yummy!

Rachell's Pasta Salad
1 box of Penne Pasta (or whatever kind of pasta you like)
1 Cucumber
1 Bell Pepper
1 small box of Cherry Tomatoes
3-5 sticks of Mozzarella String Cheese (cubed)
1 can of olives
1 bag of mini pepperoni's
1 small bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
(optional) 1 small purple onion and you can sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if you like.

Just added all of your chopped veggies, olives, cubed cheese and mini pepperoni's (don't have to cut these cause they are small enough) to your cooked pasta. Then pour the dressing on top!