Happiness is hungrily looking through a cookbook, seeing a yummy recipe and realizing that you have ALL of the ingredients!
OR... better yet, creating your own recipes. Last night, around 10:30, I started making dinner. Aha! Yes, you read correctly. I started making dinner. I was only cooking for one last night, so I was on my "own time." Here is a glorious recipe (okay, forgive me for my lack of humility) that I happened to stir up! It's a concoction that I'd like to pass on to you (which includes the leftover basil that was used to bless my house on Friday)! I think my Italian side is coming out a little more... :D
Blessed Basil Pasta Saute
Yields: 1.5 servings... but use as much as you want, according to how many you're cooking for
Cooking time: 30 min. approximately
1/3 bag of whole wheat penne pasta, cooked
2-3 T Olive Oil
1 clove of garlic
3 leaves of fresh basil, torn into smaller pieces
1/2 cup sliced fresh baby bella mushrooms
1/2 can of whole olives
1 link of Italian sausage (chicken sausage tastes great)
Dash of dried Italian seasoning, pepper, salt
Parmesan/Romano cheese
Directions:
1. Cook sausage* in a broad pan. At the same time on another burner, prepare penne as directed.
2. On a third burner, saute minced garlic in olive oil on a hot skillet. Add torn basil, saute for 1 min. Add mushrooms, saute until soft.
3. Sausage and pasta should be finished cooking at the same time. Slice sausage, add to skillet and stir.
4. Drain penne. Add to the skillet and lower heat. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, pepper and salt on pasta.
5. Now's when you can pretend your a chef and "shimmy and shake" the pan, making sure all the pasta gets worked into the mixture and coated with the oil and flavor.
6. Top it off with some parmesan/romano cheese and enjoy!
*Cooking uncooked sausage (I had no idea how to cook sausage until I read this in a cookbook): Place link in a broad saucepan or skillet, add 1/2 inch's worth of water. Bring to boil. Cover pan and lower heat, let it cook for 15 minutes. Afterwards, drain water and cook sausage for 1-2 minutes.
If any of you get around to trying this, let me know what you think :) To the fasters out there: Be sure to try it while there's still time; the Nativity fast will be here before you know it!
Have a great day!
6 comments:
mmmmm, this sounds good. I'll have to try it before the fast starts!
Hmmm....may i suggest you stop being so stingy with the basil? Try putting in a handful (handful prior to chopping) of fresh basil. I learned from Thai food that you can almost never put too much basil in any dish.
Aaron,
You're right. This was my first time making the dish, and I'm sure there will be many variations to come :) Besides, if it's BLESSED basil, why shouldn't I add more? I can always use an increase of blessings, whether literal or edible :)
Thanks for the suggestion, though! I was going to make this again tonight for dinner, but an unplanned visit to my "Grandma-in-Law" is apparently on the schedule for tonight... Oh well!
:)XK
Katie; that recipe sounds WONDERFUL...I'm going to try it for sure. I'll add it to the cookbook you made me- which I use all the time :)
I made it this sunday, and was very liberal with the basil. ;) It was yummy! Excellent! I have leftovers for dinner at work tonight. Right Aaron on never too much basil.
Thank you Katie.
Dawn,
Hey, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'm so happy I could share the recipe with you :) I'm hoping to make it sometime this week for Steve, who hasn't tried it yet :)
XK
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