Pasta Surprise Recipes

MEXICAN PASTA SURPRISE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water on to boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Place the broth in a large nonstick pan. Add the onion, jalapeños, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chipotle chili powder. Add the tomatoes, beans, and enchilada sauce. Mix well, breaking up the tomatoes slightly. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Ladle the mixture into a casserole dish. Bake covered for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes longer.
• Serve with cilantro and tofu sour cream to spoon over each individual serving, if desired.

SURPRISE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until almost cooked; about 10 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Using a food processor, chop the onion finely. Wash it out and then put in the bell pepper. It should turn to liquid. That's the surprise!
• Add tomato paste, garlic, onions, oregano, and bell pepper juice to the browned beef. Allow it to settle a little bit, folding it all together. Add the tomatoes and cover; simmer for another 15 minutes. With a fork or spatula crush the tomatoes and blend the juice into the sauce; continue simmering for about 10 more minutes. Serve over cooked pasta.

TOSS IT TOGETHER PASTA SURPRISE!

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water, until al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium LOW heat in a large skillet.
• Add garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, or until tiny bubbles begin to sizzle around, do not let brown.
• Add dried basil, sundried tomatoes and seasoned salt to taste.
• Warm oil and garlic while pasta cooks.
• Add halved grape tomatoes.
• When pasta is just about finished, ladle a couple scoops of the pasta water into the skillet with the garlic sauce.
• Drain pasta and toss with garlice sauce.
• Add more pasta water if it seems dry, and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss in fresh basil and serve.

PESTO SURPRISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; rinse with cold water and drain.
• Prepared zesty Italian dressing according to package directions.
• In a large bowl, toss together pasta, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black olives, green olives and cheese. Pour dressing over all, add pesto, and stir until evenly coated. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

PUMPKIN PASTA SURPRISE--CLEAN EATING

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• Brown the ground turkey and add onion and garlic. Add carrots, tomato, and zucchini and saute 3-5 minutes.
• Add red pepper, pumpkin, and pasta sauce (add water here if the sauce is too thick). Simmer 7-10 minutes.
• Add the cream cheese and remove the pan from heat. Allow the cream cheese to melt, then mix the pasta into the sauce.
• Allow the dish to stand 2 minutes before serving.