Pesto ravioli

1 bag of good ravioli
1 cup of pesto ( I prefer the one they carry at Costco)

Cook the pasta, drain and add the pesto .

Bow ties with Salmon and peas

salt
1 package bow tie pasta
2 lemons
2 T butter
2 large shallots
1 pound salmon fillets cut into 1 inch chunks
1/4 t pepper
1 package peas
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh dill chopped

Heat large pot of water and add salt. Cook pasta as label directs.
Grate 2 t of lemon zest and then squeeze 3 T juice and set aside
Melt butter over med heat in a skillet. Add shallots and cok about 2 minutes until tender. Increase heat until med high, add salmon,pepper, lemon peel, and 1 t salt and cook about 5 minutes, until salmon is opaque.
When pasta is done remove 1/3 cup cooking liquid and add to salmon mixture, stirring gently to combine. Place peas in colander and drain pasta over peas. Return pasta and peas to pot, add salmon mixture, chopped dill and lemon juice. Toss gently to combine.

Sesame Salad

2 packages thin spaghetti
1 bottle Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing (I used Newmans Own brand)
2 orange peppers
1 english cucumber
1/4 cup sesame seeds

Boil pasta until just al dente, drain and place in a bowl. Add most of the bottle of dressing and the sliced vegetables. Mix well. Spinkle with the seeds and chill.

Asian Meatballs in Coconut peanut sauce

This was another winner at our house last night!
Here is the recipe as I prepared it:

1 lb ground turkey
2 T hoisin sauce
1 T ground flax seeds
1T ground oatmeal
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 egg
2 cloves garlic minced
1 T fresh ginger
salt and pepper

Sauce
1 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 T soy sauce
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup cilantro
1 T fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic minced
zest of one lemon

Pre heat oven to 400. Mix meatball ingredients together and form balls, I used a small scoop, and place on a baking sheet. I made 20 balls. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Place all sauce ingredients in a medium sauce pan and whisk to combine.

I made whole wheat spaghetti instead of rice noodles to serve this on. This meal came together in less than 30 minutes! I served it with some sauteed Bok Choy. DH asked me to make it again!
I love kitchen success!

You can find the original recipe here

Winner dinner

Hannah told me that this dinner was a winner! So here it is

I made this recipe for meatballs, except that I just pan fried them in a little olive oil
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/09/apple-cheddar-and-turkey-meatballs.html

This recipe for alfredo sauce
http://morejingleinmyjeans.blogspot.com/2008/06/quick-and-easy-alfredo.html

and this one for breadsticks from Sherry on pinching your pennies

Honey Whole-Wheat Breadsticks
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour (I use all whole wheat, but you could do half all purpose flour, half whole wheat flour)
1 package active dry yeast
1/2 t. salt
1 cup warm water (120 degrees-130 degrees F)
2 T. olive oil or cooking oil
3 T. honey
1 tsp. garlic powder (optional)
In a large mixing bowl combine 1 1/4 c. of the flour, yeast, salt and garlic powder; add warm water, oil, honey. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can. Let the dough rest in the bowl for a few minutes.On a baking sheet coat the bottom with a tablespoon of olive oil. Using your hands, shape dough into 10-12 breadsticks. Place on pan and roll in olive oil the coat breadstick. Place in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown. I like to sprinkle corse salt on top right before baking. We love to dip these in honey or soup!!

Along with some steamed broccoli, this was a very balanced dinner~4 out of 5 of us had seconds.
(PS, I couldnt have leftovers~I couldnt eat it! I am on a detox diet.)

Gouda Mac and Cheese with Spinach

Gouda Mac and Cheese with Spinach
1 slice whole wheat bread
1 T flour
¼ c butter
2 cloves garlic minced
2 flour
2 cups fat free milk
½ t salt
½ t pepper
½ cup shredded gouda
1/3 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
5 cups fresh spinach, wilted or steamed
4 cups cooked pasta, if freezing cook 2 min less than shortest time on package
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350.
Place bread in food proccessor until coarsely ground, Melt butter in large saucepan over med heat, add garlic and saute for one minute. Add flour cook one min stirring constantly. Gradually add salt, pepper, and milk stirring contstantly until well blended. Bring to a boil and cook until thick Add cheeses stir until melted. Add spinach and pasta to cheese sauce. Pour into a 2 qt baking dish sprayed with the cooking spray. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 15 or until bubbly, or wrap well and freeze. To cook after frozen thaw and cook at 350 for 15 min, or from frozen 1 hour.
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gluten free if made with rice pasta and rice flour.