Creamy Small Pasta And Cheese Recipes

CREAMY PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, place the cottage cheese in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Turn on the machine, and add the milk with the machine running. Blend until the mixture is smooth and there is no sign of graininess. Blend in the olive oil and the Parmesan, taste, then add salt and pepper as desired. Scrape the cottage cheese mixture into a large pasta bowl.
• When the pasta water comes to a boil, add the pasta. Cook al dente, following the timing instructions on the package (about eight minutes for penne). Before draining the pasta, add two to three tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the cottage cheese mixture and stir together.
• Drain the pasta, toss immediately with the cottage cheese mixture, and serve, passing additional Parmesan at the table.

PASTA WITH PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot or pasta pot, fill 3/4 full with hot water and bring to boil.
• Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of salt and penne and rotini pasta.
• Bring to boil and continue to cook uncovered for about 20 minutes or until el dente.
• Meanwhile, in a large frying pan on medium-high heat add olive oil and butter.
• Add onions and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often, but do not burn.
• Add mushrooms, sweet red pepper, green pepper and stir fry for 4 minutes.
• Add pesto, basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes, mix well to blend.
• When pasta is cooked, drain well but reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water.
• Add pasta and 1/4 cup of pasta water to the mixture in the frying pan and stir well to coat.
• Add the cream cheese and stir well to coat the pasta.
• Reserve the remaining 1/4 cup of pasta water to be used later if necessary.
• Serve pasta immediately.
• Refrigerate any unused portions. Cover with plastic wrap.
• To re-warm the next day. Press parchment paper into a frying pan. Using scissors, cut the protruding parchment paper level with the top of the frying pan.
• Add 1/4 cup of pasta water and the pasta and
• stir to blend.
• Cover the frying pan with a lid and heat the pasta on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve hot.

CREAMY SKINNY PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup pasta water; return all to pot., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook and crumble chicken with onion, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and remaining seasonings over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil. Add to pasta; toss to combine. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray., Mix cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and remaining garlic powder. Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls over pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese., Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 8-10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and pepper flakes.

CREAMY MACARONI & CHEESE - FOR TWO OR ONE

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 350°F.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al-dente. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the milk in the microwave, on high for 1-1/2 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add salt, pepper and chopped onion. Sauté on medium heat, until the onion is transparent and soft, but not brown.
• Sprinkle the flour on top, and allow the butter to absorb some of it before stirring.
• Add the hot milk in 3 additions, stirring constantly. The mixture will get thick very quickly.
• After the final addition of milk, continue heating the mixture, on medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly.
• *Remove from heat* and stir in the grated cheese, chives and red pepper flakes.
• Add the drained pasta and mix well.
• Fold in the cubed cheese.
• Pour into two greased onion soup bowls.
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
• Allow to cool a bit before serving.