Tag: onion

Main Dishes, Pasta, Recipes

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

Sarah

A creamy, veggie-filled pasta dish that comes together quickly with lots of pantry ingredients.

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta | thepajamachef.comDoes anyone else watch Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network? Ever since we moved to Nashville and got a DVR [yes, I know these have been around forever but we didn’t get one til a year ago. We are way behind technology-wise.] I have been obsessed with recording episodes of cooking and HGTV shows. Because I can, and because they’re good tv shows to watch while blogging or reading magazines or something. I never watch and only watch tv. I need to be doing something else in the process, so I need somewhat mindless shows that aren’t totally trashy. Does that make sense? This one, if you haven’t seen it, requires chefs to dash around a grocery store in search of ingredients for an assigned meal/category of food, and then COOK their meal… but there’s always a twist or challenge. I never in a million years would want to be on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, or any of those other cooking shows… but if I had to choose a cooking competition show to be on, this would be it. It’s relatively tame, Guy seems nice, and hello! Grocery stores are my favorite place to browse. Is that weird? Ha. Anyways, on a recent episode of triple G, one of the judges said that pasta dishes aren’t supposed to be light. She thought they needed to be heavy, or at least, hearty to be a true pasta dish. I have to say I disagree with that. There’s a place for heavy, hearty dishes like baked pasta or lasagna [take a look in my archives, I have tons of recipes like that!] but sometimes lighter pasta dishes totally hit the spot. Maybe they aren’t traditional but I love ’em.

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta | thepajamachef.comThis pasta dish is exactly the kind I love–full of flavor and interesting things, but still relatively light. It uses cream cheese and Parmesan cheese but also a lot of tomatoes, onions, and spinach to balance everything out. You can make this pasta in a pretty short amount of time, using mostly pantry ingredients, so it’s great for weeknights. The sauce can be made while the pasta cooks, so it really doesn’t take more time to make than  a box of mac ‘n cheese. So what if it’s not this big, hearty meal? Isn’t that what sides are for? 🙂 To make this more of a one dish meal, I think some sliced grilled chicken, shrimp, or even some canned white beans would be great additions. I’ll have to try that next time! Enjoy!

one year ago: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Sauce
two years ago: Pumpkin Cornbread
three years ago: Honey Whole Wheat English Muffins
four years ago: Pumpkin Pasta Sauce, aka “Pumpfredo”

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

  • Servings: 4
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from Budget Bytes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound small pasta like penne
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4-5 ounces fresh spinach [frozen spinach that has been thawed and drained should also work too]

Directions:

Prepare pasta [al dente] according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened about 7 minutes. Then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds or so until fragrant. Add tomatoes [undrained], oregano, basil, red pepper, and black pepper and stir to combine. Add tomato paste and 1/2 cup water to skillet, stirring until tomato paste has dissolved. Reduce heat to low and add cream cheese cubes one by one, stirring until incorporated. Then add the Parmesan cheese gradually, stirring until it is creamy.

When pasta is done, drain and add to the sauce. Top with spinach, cover, and cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts. Stir in and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve immediately.

Beans, Main Dishes, Recipes, Soups

#10DaysofTailgate: Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili

Sarah

A chunky vegetarian chili loaded up with beans, veggies, and pumpkin for some velvety smooth sauce. This soup makes a ton and tastes better the second day!

Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

TEAR! This is my last recipe for #10DaysofTailgate. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway… there are lots of great prizes, including one from Bob’s Red Mill. You’re probably pretty familiar with Bob already, but you can check ’em out on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram too. 🙂 They sent me a bag of their 13 Bean Soup Mix and boy! was it good. Thanks, Bob! It had some of my favorite beans–black beans, lentils, pinto beans–along with some fun additions like black eyed peas and lima beans.

#10DaysofTailgate Sponsors

I have a few things to admit with this recipe, guys. First, I didn’t really make it vegetarian–I used chicken broth. Oops! But you can use vegetable broth if you want… I just wanted to call it a vegetarian chili. Second, it’s not nearly as pumpkiny as I would have liked. But that’s okay–the pumpkin adds a velvety smoothness to the saucy part of the chili… that may not actually be traditional chili because it has wild rice in it. Yum. But I wanted to call it a pumpkin chili so I did. Third, it’s addictive and may cause even non-bean lovers to swoon with delight because it’s chunky, tomato-y, pumpkin-y, and delicious!

Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

Is that okay with you? Good! Go grab half the contents of your pantry, fridge, and spice cabinet and make this chili NOW. You’ll be so glad you did! It’s extra delicious with lots of melty cheese on top. Thanks, Camilla, for hosting #10DaysofTailgate! Hope y’all have enjoyed it as much as I have!

Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

four years ago: Chunky Crock Pot Applesauce

Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili

  • Servings: 12
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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups 13 bean soup mix
  • 1 – 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced
  • 2 – 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes in tomato juice, undrained
  • 1 – 8 ounce can tomato sauce, no salt added
  • 5 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • pinch cinnamon
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup wild rice, uncooked
  • cheese, for topping

Directions:

The night before you wish to cook, wash and sort beans to remove any small pebbles. Soak in a large bowl full of cold water. When ready to cook, drain and rinse beans.

Add all ingredients except rice and cheese to pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, then cook uncovered for 90 minutes. After that time, add wild rice to the pot and let simmer until beans and rice are soft.

Serve with cheese on top!

Here’s what the rest of the crew brought to the table…

Starters
BBQ Sausage & Cheese Plate by The Spiffy Cookie
Vegified Hot “Wings” by Curious Cuisiniere
Fried Polenta Cakes with Grilled Tomato and Mozzarella Salad by Love and Confections
Smoky Karma Stovetop Beans by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Dips
Chile con Queso by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Mains
Kicking Karma Veggie Fajita Pizza by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Not Ketchup Cherry Chipotle Steak Tacos by Making Miracles
BBQ Chickpea Sliders with Apple Slaw by Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili by The Pajama Chef
Beef Kabobs by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Disclosure: I received a complementary bag of 13 Bean Soup Mix from Bob’s Red Mill as part of my participation in #10DaysofTailgate. I was not compensated in any way–for my time, to create a recipe, or to publish positive comments. I was not required to use these products as part of my recipe. My opinions are my own.

Appetizers, Beef, Main Dishes, Recipes

#10DaysofTailgate: Thai Beef Skewers

Sarah

A Thai-inspired grilled beef skewer recipe that couldn’t be simpler but tastes amazing! So flavorful and exotic.

Thai Beef Skewers | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

Welcome to #10DaysofTailgate! Camilla did a great job organizing this fun event, and we have 14 amazing giveaways for you guys! So check out the giveaway here. 🙂 September is winding down, and so is #10DaysofTailgate and the giveaway so check it out now!

#10DaysofTailgate Sponsors

Whenever Ben and I grill–correction: whenever BEN grills and I watch–we pretty much always have the same thing: burgers. Burgers. Burgers. Delicious, but boring. We have some skewers that came with our grill tools but we’ve never used them. And we still haven’t even though we made skewers… because FireWire Grilling [check ’em out on Twitter and Facebook too] sent me some cool flexible skewers as part of #10DaysofTailgate. Thank you SO much! They are so fun to use, and easy to grill with, even on a small grill like the one we have at our apartment complex. The tips stay cool if you keep them off the grill so they’re easier to remove.

Thai Beef Skewers | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

These skewers were SO flavorful and tender. I marinated chunks of steak in a mixture of Thai basil, rice vinegar, fish sauce, and two herbs that Gourmet Garden sent as part of #10DaysofTailgate–lemongrass and chili pepper. This was my first time using those tubes of herbs and I have to say that they were super convenient, especially for something like lemongrass that you might not normally purchase. [If you want, check ’em out on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.] While fresh herbs are definitely my first choice for seasonings, I’ll definitely consider Gourmet Garden in future! For my skewers, I added bell peppers and onions to the beef but feel free to use whatever veggies you like. 🙂 Next time I make these skewers I’d love to add fresh mango or pineapple AND use coconut milk in the marinade instead of water. I highly suggest YOU try those additions. 🙂 Enjoy!

Thai Beef Skewers | thepajamachef.com #10DaysofTailgate

three years ago: Honey Mint Glazed Chicken
four years ago: Citrus Tilapia

Thai Beef Skewers

  • Servings: 4
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Ingredients:

  •  1 1/2 cups Thai basil – can also substitute cilantro or Italian basil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Lemongrass Paste from Gourmet Garden
  • 1 teaspoon Chili Pepper Paste from Gourmet Garden
  • 5-10 drops fish sauce
  • 3/4-1 pound steak, cut into 2 inch cubes
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
  • 1/2 sweet or red onion, cut into large squares

Directions:

Combine basil, water, oil, vinegar, Lemongrass paste, Chili Pepper paste, and fish sauce in a large bowl. Use immersion blender to process until smooth. A regular blender or food processor would work as well. Add steak cubes to the mixture, stirring to fully submerge. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to marinate. After marination is complete, add steak to skewers along with bell peppers and onions. Grill over indirect heat to desired doneness, about 15-20 minutes on a charcoal grill.

If you don’t have a grill, you can try baking the skewers on a rimmed baking sheet at 375 degrees F for 20-30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Just follow proper safety precautions such as soaking wooden skewers for 24 hours to prevent the risk of fire. I have not tried baking these, but there are lots of tutorials online on this subject.

Here’s what everyone brought to the table today…
Starters
Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos by Things I Make (for Dinner)
Cherry Chipotle Glazed Wings by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Firewired Pancetta-Wrapped Seafood by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Mains
Maize and Blue Chicken Salad by Sew You Think You Can Cook
Savory Duck Handpies by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
Smokey Red Lentil Chili by Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
Thai Beef Skewers by The Pajama Chef
Sips
Dips
Kicked up Spinach Dip by Miss Laura’s Kitchen
Pizza Dip by Making Miracles
Sweets
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Hard Pretzels by The Spiffy Cookie

Disclosure: I received a complementary set of flexible grilling skewers from Firefire and complementary herbs from Gourmet Garden Herbs and Spices as part of my participation in #10DaysofTailgate. I was not compensated in any way–for my time, to create a recipe, or to publish positive comments. I was not required to use these products as part of my recipe. My opinions are my own.