CHICKEN PENNE PASTA WITH SPINACH

This is a great recipe that came to me on my email from myrecipes.com a few days ago and being a huge chicken and spinach fan, I just had to try it out.

I unfortunately did not have several of the ingredients it called for but I was able to improvise and make the recipe turn out in spite of that.

This is a delicious variation of Florentine pasta.

Make your own adjustments to it and see if you don’t agree….this is a fabulous dinner entree!

Of course, you can revamp this just about any way you want and still end up with a delicious dish.  For more ideas, see my suggestions below.

Also be sure and watch the video for another fantastic recipe!

See all 2 photos
Source: Wikimedia Commons

RECIPE FOR CHICKEN PENNE PASTA WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon olive oil (or use more cooking spray)
Cooking spray
3 cups mushrooms sliced thin
1 cup of chopped sweet onion
1 cup of chopped mini peppers (red, yellow and orange combined)
3 cups of chopped fresh spinach (or use baby spinach)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or use 1 teaspoon dried)
Black pepper to taste
2 cups of non-fat cottage cheese
4 cups hot cooked wheat penne pasta (8 ounces uncooked)
2 cups shredded grilled or roasted chicken breast shredded
3/4 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup non-fat milk
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can reduced fat, low sodium cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

METHOD

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Heat
olive oil or cooking spray in large skillet over medium high and add
mushrooms, onion and peppers. Saute for about 4 minutes or until
tender. Add oregano, spinach and pepper. Cook 3 minutes more or until
the spinach begins to wilt in the pan.
Mix cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth.
Stir
together the cottage cheese mixture, the spinach mixture, chicken,
pasta, 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Add milk
and soup and combine all to mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into the
prepared casserole.
Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and the 1/4 cup remaining Parmesan. Add some fresh spinach leaves as well.
Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes until lightly browned and bubbling.

Serves 8 – Serve with a tossed green salad and a crusty loaf of Italian bread.

See all 2 photos

MAKING HEALTHIER ITALIAN DISHES

This is definitely a keeper when it comes to healthier Italian recipes. It reminds you of a good mac and cheese but cranks it up a notch by substituting wheat penne pasta as I did and lightening up the milk and cottage cheese.

Try this many different ways such as

Substitute different Italian cheeses for the cheddar
Use ricotta instead of cottage cheese
Use a different mushroom
Try red peppers exclusively as the recipe calls for
Substitute a different kind of pasta noodle – the sky’s the limit on that
Try a different meat or even go meatless
Add some fresh basil and tomatoes for a delicious change
Substitute a different soup such as cream of mushroom or asparagus
Use something other than the can of soup as the ‘base’ or thickener

In short, you can do just about anything with this variation on mac and cheese and have a delicious yet easy meal. Prep the ingredients ahead of time and it really goes quickly!

This dish is also fabulous as leftovers for lunch! The original recipe calculated this out to be 345 calories but I’m sure my version is much less.

Pyrex Bakeware 2-Quart Casserole Dish with Lid
Amazon Price: $13.29
List Price: $15.99
Pyrex Easy Grab 2 quart casserole with glass cover
Amazon Price: $9.78
Pyrex Grip-Rite 2-Quart Oblong Baking Dish, Clear
Amazon Price: $55.68
List Price: $14.99
CorningWare 2-1/2-Quart Oval Casserole Dish with Glass Lid
Amazon Price: $24.99
List Price: $14.99
CorningWare French White 2-1/2-Quart Round Casserole Dish with Glass Cover
Amazon Price: $16.74
List Price: $19.99
Pyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic Covers
Amazon Price: $14.97
List Price: $16.99
CorningWare Etch 2-1/2-Quart Casserole with Cover, Green
Amazon Price: Too low to display
List Price: $29.99

More Cooking Hubs by Audrey Kirchner

Healthy Recipes: French Toast Waffles
If you are like me, you probably enjoy French toast from time to time – and you probably also love waffles. Who could resist? Both these breakfast delights are popular for the breakfast and brunch crowd,…
Breadmaking Techniques: Dough Mixing And Mixer Knead…
A lot of people ask me how I have time to bake bread and rolls. To be honest, if I had not discovered how to use my mixer to knead the dough for me, I probably would have called it quits. I have a lot of…
How To Make Sliders: Great Recipe For Homemade Slide…
I have been trying bread recipes for a long while now but I especially wanted a recipe I could use without fail for tiny slider rolls. I’m hooked on sliders because they are so easy to make up for a party in…
Best Wheat Bread Recipes: How To Make Whole Wheat Fr…
I recently did a recipe on French bread but I have since adapted that and this is the recipe I am sticking to as I love being able to combine whole wheat flour with it. I had to tweak it a bit from the…
Best Comfort Food Recipes: Beef Stew Recipe For The …
At this time of year, soups and stews are a must for me because I love the ability to add so many good-for-you vegetables and enjoy the delicate aromas that slow-cooking lend the house. Nothing feels better…
Culinary Techniques For Soups: Making Stocks, Soups,…
When you think about cooking techniques, it can be a puzzle trying to figure out what’s the difference between stocks, soups, stews, and chowders. Culinary basics let’s us explore various preparation methods…
Culinary Techniques: Great Tips On How To Thicken So…
Cooking and wanting to have things turn out perfectly is just natural. It can really be upsetting, however, when you are ‘cooking right along’ let’s say making your soup or sauce and you find that it is not…
Healthy Cooking Techniques: How To Make Your Own Hom…
This is something I’ve been doing since our kids were growing up and I still continue to do this. To be honest, I have never liked the taste of processed lunch meat, even all the so-called chemical and…
Make Your Own Potato Chips: Recipe For How To Make Y…
For most of us who are on a diet, potato chips would seem a prohibitive addition to our daily intake. However, these potato chips are an incredible way to cut calories and still feel like you are ‘indulging’ a…
Tarragon Chicken – Quick and Easy Dinner Idea
Tarragon Chicken is actually a French dish and is really called Poulet a lEstragon. If that’s too much of a mouthful, then just call it Tarragon Chicken! This is one of my favorite recipes to make for…
Best Homemade Pie Recipes: Great Light Coconut Cream…
HOW TO MAKE A FABULOUS COCONUT CREAM PIE I love coconut cream pie but I hate all the calories and all the fat. Therefore, when I saw this recipe in Cooking Light magazine recently, I just had to see if it…
How To Make Filled Pancakes: Danish Ebelskiver Recip…
Oh my – where have these little filled pancakes been all my life? Ebelskiver is a Danish filled pancake and I suppose it is best that I never heard of them before I recently received a Williams and Sonoma…
Rodgrod Danish Berry Pudding Dessert Recipe
One of the few things that my grandmother made for dessert when I was growing up was what she called Danish pudding. Since she was Danish, it was somehow appropriate! However, she did not know how to make…
Quick And Easy Recipe: Phyllo Dough Pizza Recipe For…
If you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe for dinner, lunch or snacks, this pizza recipe for vegetable pizza will make your day! I made up this recipe the other night when I was in a hurry to make…
Healthy Pizza Recipes: Filo Or Phyllo Dough Pizza Wi…
Another marvelous way to cut calories and make your own pizza! Phyllo (filo , fillo ) dough pizza is very easy to make and this is but one idea for ingredients. Phyllo dough is found in the freezer section…
The Best Pizza in Chicago and Possibly the World – T…
It’s a hot issue–some might say piping hot–the issue is where the biggest and best pizza in the world is. Here is the definitive answer…
Healthy Pizza Recipes: How To Make Greek Style Pizza…
This is a great snack recipe for watching World Cup Soccer or a championship basketball game! It is also great as a light dinner or for lunch. Greek Pizza actually refers to 2 different things – the…
Barilla Mezze Penne, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
Amazon Price: $5.08
List Price: $7.96
De Cecco Penne Rigate, 16 Ounce Boxes (Pack of 5)
Amazon Price: $11.90
List Price: $16.48
DaVinci Pasta Short Cuts, Penne Rigate, 16 Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $18.62
List Price: $19.99
Barilla Whole Grain Penne, 13.25-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
Amazon Price: $4.95
List Price: $7.96
Barilla Penne Pasta 16 oz
Amazon Price: $2.00
Barilla Penne Plus, 14.5 Ounce Boxes (Pack of 8)
Amazon Price: $15.84
List Price: $20.22
bionaturae Organic Pasta, Whole Wheat Penne Rigate, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
Amazon Price: $15.45
List Price: $26.48

Squash and Spinach Lasagna

Like most people, I love Italian food and loving Italian food, I love lasagna. However, over the years, I tired of making the same old lasagna recipes so about 7 or so years back, I started sampling some of the vegetable lasagnas and pasta recipes available at some restaurants. I was pleased to discover that I loved them! There is something so delicious about butternut squash and pasta that it has become one of my favorites. Add to that spinach in my book, and you have a winner.

I found these recipes years ago in a Cooking Light magazine and have kept them as my standards for vegetable lasagna. This one is particularly great for any vegetarians out there or if you are having trouble coming up with a pasta meal to serve catering to vegetarians. This recipe freezes like a dream (see below) and I have always gotten rave reviews on it. You can also substitute other squash similar to butternut in texture for a different taste but my favorite will always be butternut.

For yet another butternut squash recipe, try my butternut squash pizza recipe.

Public Domain image

8 servings

Vegetable filling

2 teaspoons olive oil
3 cups chopped leek (about 4) – I substitute onion or shallots
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried sage
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups (1/2-inch) cubed, peeled butternut squash
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup water (or broth)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach – thawed, drained, squeezed dry (the video has a great idea on how to use fresh spinach)

Sauce:

3 tablespoons flour
2-1/2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup fat free cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Black pepper to taste

Rest of ingredients

1-1/4 cups mozzarella or combination shredded Italian cheeses
3/4 cup shredded sharp provolone cheese
Cooking spray
12 cooked lasagna noodles
Fresh sage or fresh basil if desired

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with vegetable spray.
For filling, heat oil or use vegetable spray in a large nonstick skillet. Heat over medium heat. Add the leek or onions, sage, and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes.
Add squash, wine, water. Cover and cook for 20 minutes – or until squash is tender. Stir occasionally. Stir in pepper and spinach.
For the sauce, place four in a large saucepan and gradually stir in the milk – whisking until smooth and blended.
Place over medium heat and cook until thick (about 10 minutes – stir constantly to avoid burning.
Remove from heat – stir in the cream cheese, nutmeg, and more pepper to taste – stir with a whisk.
Combine the cheese shreds and provolone cheese, set aside.
Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish. Place 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
Top with 2 cups of vegetable filling, 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture and 1/2 cup sauce.
Repeat these layers, ending with the last set of noodles.
Spread the remaining sauce over the noodles.
Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
Uncover – sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese mixture and bake 10 more minutes.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

If desired, garnish with fresh herbs above.

NOTES

This lasagna freezes like a dream – prepare through baking – only use a disposable lasagna pan with a lid. Apply lid after completely cooled. Wrap in freezer paper and secure with freezer tape.

When ready to use, simply thaw during the day in the refrigerator and pop into the oven at 250 or so degrees and heat through. Or cut and microwave individual slices.

It tastes as great from the freezer as freshly made!

Serve with French Bread or Wheat French Bread and a salad for a wonderful Italian feast! And for a light and delicious dessert, try Biscuit Tortoni.

Vegetables Are Good For You!

In short, lasagna isn’t just a meat dish any longer and the varieties of vegetable lasagnas are many and varied.  This is one particular one that I have had great success with and that everyone really seems to love – even those folks who are tried and true meat lasagna lovers!  There are many other pastas you can make with squash and spinach and I think you will find the subtle yet almost sweet taste of the butternut squash really makes a wonderful pasta dish.

Garfield…Recipes with Cattitude!: Over 230 scrumptious, quick & easy recipes for Garfield’s favorite foods…lasagna, pizza and much more! (Everyday Cookbook Collection)
Amazon Price: $10.31
List Price: $16.95
All Clad Stainless-Steel Lasagna Pan with 2 Oven Mitts and a Cookbook
Amazon Price: $59.99
List Price: $169.99
Italian Cooking – Pasta – Cookbook – Recipes – Free Books
Amazon Price: $0.00

Some Truly Unique Lasagna Pans

Chicago Metallic Lasagna Trio Pan, 12-Inch by 15-Inch by 3-Inch (11-1/2-Inch by 2-1/2-Inch Cavities)
Amazon Price: $17.92
List Price: $29.99
Cuisinart 7117-135 Chef’s Classic Stainless 13-1/2-Inch Lasagna Pan
Amazon Price: $28.24
List Price: $80.00
Nordic Ware Lasagna Pan 15 Inch X 11 Inch
Amazon Price: $24.64
List Price: $31.00

Chicken Florentine Lasagna

Pasta and spinach is a win-win combination as far as I’m concerned and anything Florentine always gets me to try the recipe.  I found this recipe many years ago in a Cooking Light magazine and it has become an old favorite at our house.  I routinely make it for get-togethers because I can make it so far ahead and freeze it. 

The sauce calls for skim evaporated milk but I have made it with skim milk and it turned out equally well.  I also almost always make my Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna to go with this one (though that recipe is twice the size of this one) so that people can sample 2 vegetable lasagnas and since the squash lasagna is totally vegetarian, all bases are covered. Try one or both – I think you will like it!

4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 tablespoons margarine or butter
3 tablespoons flour
2-12-ounce cans evaporated skim milk (or substitute skim milk)
Salt to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking spray
6 no boil lasagna noodles
1-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (about 6 ounces)
1-10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry.
Black pepper to taste
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Italian cheese or combination of Italian cheeses

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Spray 8 x 8 inch cooking pan with vegetable cooking spray.
Melt the margarine in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and stir with a whisk until blended. Add salt and nutmeg.
Cook until thick, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes.
Spread 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.
Arrange 2 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
Top with half of the chicken and half of the spinach.
Sprinkle with pepper if desired. Top with 3/4 cup sauce.
Repeat the layers, but end with the noodles.
Cover and bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.
Uncover and top with cheese – bake an additional 5 minutes.
Let stand 5 minutes.

Baker’s Edge 11.5×12.5×2.5-in. Rectangular Simple Lasagna Pan
Amazon Price: $49.95
List Price: $54.95
Mario Batali Extra Deep Lasagna Pan, Pesto
Amazon Price: $89.99
Chicago Metallic Lasagna Trio Pan, 12-Inch by 15-Inch by 3-Inch (11-1/2-Inch by 2-1/2-Inch Cavities)
Amazon Price: $17.92
List Price: $29.99
Sango Nova Black Lasagna Dish
Amazon Price: $29.99
List Price: $35.00

NOTES:

Substitute fresh spinach and cook down, drain, squeeze dry.

Add grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over each layer of sauce.

Try Fontina cheese as part of the cheese – or Romano or other Italian cheese.

Add chopped onion or shallots for a bit more flavor – saute for about 5 minutes before adding to recipe.

This lasagna also freezes like a dream. Cook in disposable foil pan that comes with a lid – when completely cooled, put lid on and either slip the pan with the lasagna into a freezer bag and label – or wrap in freezer paper, secure with freezer tape.

Thaw in the refrigerator during the day and pop into the oven to reheat 200-300 degrees when ready – or simply cut slices of lasagna and reheat in microwave. This lasagna is delicious rewarmed after thawing or delicious right from the oven.

Serve with French Bread or Wheat French Bread and a salad and for dessert, try Biscuit Tortoni for something light and delicious!

Summing It Up

So even though you are eating your spinach, you are getting your vegetables – and what a wonderful way to absorb them into your diet! Florentine is a great method of preparing pasta and one that is to way of thinking more nutritious because it does incorporate spinach into it. Try it and see if you don’t like this variation on a traditional dish.

Cooking Light Cook’s Essential Recipe Collection: Pasta: 63 essential recipes to eat smart, be fit, live well (the Cooking Light.cook’s ESSENTIAL RECIPE COLLECTION)
Amazon Price: $2.39
List Price: $17.95
Pasta Cookbook (Cooking Light)
Amazon Price: $2.95
List Price: $12.95
Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!
Amazon Price: $3.08
List Price: $17.99
The New Lasagna Cookbook: A Crowd-Pleasing Collection of Recipes from Around the World for the Perfect One-Dish Meal
Amazon Price: $3.48
List Price: $27.95
Lasagna: The Art of Layered Cooking
Amazon Price: $13.55
List Price: $15.95
Everyday Pasta
Amazon Price: $8.10
List Price: $32.50
Lasagna: Too Easy to Be This Good
This is out of my realm of writing, but I figured I would give it a chance since I enjoy cooking as much as I enjoy jailing a bad guy. I got this recipe from a co-worker of my wife a few years ago. It…
Lasagna Three Ways – Easy Recipes
Looking for easy recipes for lasagna? Here are three simple, easy and delicious recipes for three types of lasagna – Mexican Lasagna, Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Lasagna, and Lasagna Roll-Ups…
Worlds Best Lasagna
When it comes to Lasagna I really do think I make the World’s Best Lasagna. And I have quite a unique way of doing it. Read on to find out more. Over the last 30 years that I have been a Chef I developed…
Mexican Lasagna Recipe
Mexican Lasagna Recipe I am not a chef, but I play one at home. I have been blessed with the ability to make, what most people consider delicious, and the curse of a very picky pallet. I dont eat…
Florentine Lasagna
Florentine or Spinach Lasagna is a well known vegetarian dish, although you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy it. While there are numerous recipes for Florentine Lasagna on the web, I have always liked…
Easy 30-Minute Stove-Top Lasagna Recipe
I’ve made other, more traditional lasagna recipes, but this is quite probably the easiest and fastest lasagna recipe I have ever seen. This, however, is quite probably the easiest and fastest lasagna recipe I have ever seen – plus, it’s delicious! It
Spinach Lasagna Recipe: Quick & Easy
Although it takes an hour in the oven, you can prep it 15 minutes, as long as you have all the ingredients on hand. This recipe is perfect for the busy cook. You can put it in the oven, then help the kids…

Variation on Traditional Marinara Sauce

I cook, therefore I love Italian food. I am actually a wannabee Italiano but that’s the way life goes. Instead I’m Danish and German but I do know how to cook Italian! Like so many things today, I find ready-made Italian sauces to be unacceptable as they are extremely high in sodium and do not have (in my humble culinary opinion) the proper spices nor the proper taste. Some are too tangy, some are too flat, and some are just plain crapolla (excuse my Italian).

Looking for the proper Italian Marinara to make myself, I have experimented a lot over the years and finally have come up with a winner from where I cook. I use a meatless sauce many times because it is simply ‘better’ for us not to have so much meat.  However, when I decide to ‘go meat’, since I am not a fan of the way ground beef makes a greasy mess of itself, I use my secret ingredient.  I have never been a ground beef fan anyhow but one day while I was strolling (I stroll a lot when shopping) down the grocery meat aisle, I thought to myself ‘self – what if you used Italian sausage instead of the ground beef?’ Well, see for yourself and tell me it isn’t a much better alternative.

Thinking dessert? Try biscuit tortoni – it is a delightful end to an Italian dinner.

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking
Amazon Price: $14.22
List Price: $19.95
Joie Warner’s No-Cook Pasta Sauces
Amazon Price: $8.39
List Price: $17.95
Tomato Rhapsody: A Fable of Love, Lust & Forbidden Fruit
Amazon Price: $1.11
List Price: $25.00
The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table: Recipes, Portraits, and History of the World’s Most Beautiful Fruit
Amazon Price: $23.32
List Price: $37.50
50 Great Pasta Sauces
Amazon Price: $2.98
List Price: $14.99
The Classico Pasta Sauce Cookbook: Tempting Home Cooked Meals Using Authentic Italian Pasta Sauces
Amazon Price: $2.29
List Price: $19.95
Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 6-1/2-Quart Soup Pot
Amazon Price: $159.99
List Price: $100.00

Audrey’s Marinara Sauce

INGREDIENTS

Mild Italian sausage (3 links or roughly 1/2 pound)
1 small onion chopped (or enough to cover bottom of 5-quart soup pan)
2-3 gloves of garlic minced/crushed
1-28 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
1-14.5 ounce can Italian diced tomatoes
1-15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 6 ounce can of tomato paste (1-2 tablespoons)
About 3 canfuls of water (or you can substitute some red wine or zinfandel, even part broth)
1 tablespoon sugar (to cut acid of tomatoes)
1-2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 3-6 tablespoons fresh)
2 teaspoons at least of basil (or 6 tablespoons fresh)
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes (or 6 tablespoons fresh)
Salt or pepper if desired

PREPARATION

Use a 5-6 quart soup pan.
Slice open lengthwise Italian sausage links and turn the meat out of the casing and put into soup pan (or use bulk Italian sausage).
Place chopped onions and garlic in with the Italian sausage and cook over medium heat breaking apart the Italian sausage and turning/stirring often until Italian sausage is cooked through and onions are wilted.
Add tomatoes and 2-3 tablespoons of the tomato paste to the pan along with 2-3 canfuls of water, part red wine, zinfandel, or even broth. The total in the pan should come about an inch or a bit from the top of the pan. (You will be ‘reducing’ the sauce by allowing it to cook for several hours)
Stir in the sugar.
Sprinkle the herbs over top – add salt and pepper to taste if desired.
Adjust the temperature once it starts to bubble so that it is not bubbling OVER but is simmering gently and cook until the sauce reduces and thickens to desired texture – several hours.
Use immediately or cool and freeze/store.

* Note – When I use Italian sausage, there is virtually NO grease left over in the pan after browning it and cooking it and I do not use oil in the pan with the onions and garlic – just the mild Italian sausage.

Lodge Color EC6D33 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Blue, 6-Quart
Amazon Price: $45.48
List Price: $118.00
Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking
Amazon Price: $15.00
List Price: $35.00
La Cucina: The Regional Cooking of Italy
Amazon Price: $27.48
List Price: $45.00
The Fine Art of Italian Cooking: The Classic Cookbook, Updated & Expanded
Amazon Price: $18.99
List Price: $11.99
Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes
Amazon Price: $10.95
List Price: $35.00
CookingLight Italian: 60 Essential Recipes to Eat Smart, Be Fit, Live Well
Amazon Price: $3.61
List Price: $17.95
Every Night Italian
Amazon Price: $6.20
List Price: $26.00

Tips on Tomato Sauce

You can also substitute fresh tomatoes and tomato sauce and use in place of canned tomatoes and sauce
You can add mushrooms to the sauce as well for a different flavor
I use fresh herbs that I grow in my garden during summer, then dry and store – any kind of oregano will do as there are several varieties that I grew last summer. Same with basil
You can use fresh herbs chopped – 1 tablespoon of fresh equals 1 teaspoon dried
I freeze the extra tomato paste in rectangular ice cube trays I bought at the Dollar Store so when I’m making my marinara sauce, all I have to do is pop out 2-3 of the tomato paste cylinders and plop into the sauce
You can freeze the Marinara sauce in containers (allow head space/room to expand) or in bags (simply fill and lay flat on a cookie sheet until frozen)
You can also can the sauce for later use
This sauce can be used on pizza as well as spaghetti and I also use it in meat lasagna. It freezes extremely well and takes only minutes to thaw out. It’s a great thing to have in the freezer when you are running late and need something like ‘now’ – and don’t forget to sprinkle fresh Parmesan cheese on top!

How To Make Tomato Sauce From Scratch

INGREDIENTS

8-10 tomatoes (I prefer Roma)
Salt if desired
Water to cover tomatoes for boiling to skin them
2 cups of diced onions
2 cups of diced celery
2 cups of diced carrots
1 tablespoon of fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
Bowl of ice water
Cooking spray

PREPARATION

Place several quarts of water in a large soup pot.  Water just has to be enough to cover tomatoes.  Bring the water to a boil
Add your tomatoes and let them boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. (Discard water when done)
Turn out immediately in a colander and then put in a bowl of ice water.  (This makes the skins pop off easily) 
Drain the tomatoes; then remove the skins and seeds. Squeeze the excess water from the tomatoes or you will have a watery sauce although if you are cooking it, the water will cook out anyway
Spray pan with cooking spray and add carrots, celery, onions and garlic – cook over medium heat. Cook until vegetables are slightly tender, then add in tomatoes. Do not add water
Simmer over medium heat and stir every few minutes to prevent the tomatoes from sticking to the bottom of the pan. As the tomatoes cook, they will break down and create a thick sauce. If your sauce is a little too thick add a cup of water and stir. Let the sauce simmer for half an hour.
Add spices to taste.

You can use this sauce ‘as is’ or add to Marinara sauce above in place of canned tomatoes.

You can also roast tomatoes with garlic and diced vegetables for a different taste altogether in a large roasting pan at 350 degrees or until the tomatoes break down.  Transfer to the soup pot and stir to break up the tomatoes and combine all the ingredients, add herbs, etc.

Raw Tomato Sauce

Seed your tomatoes (peeling is optional but you can do with a peeler which is rather tedious or dip into boiling water for 30 seconds, then drop into ice water and slip the skins off) Again, seed them and chop them
You can also cut tomatoes into quarters, scoop out the seeds and grate with a cheese grater for a smoother, juicier sauce
Raw tomato sauce can be seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs (basil, oregano and parsley are usually used) and some salt and pepper
Toasted pine nuts add texture and richness
Use in the recipe above or ‘as is’ on pasta for a different variation of tomato sauce

Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce
So many Italian dishes depend on the quality of your red sauce! Once you’ve mastered this simple recipe, you can apply it to so many of your favorite Italian foods! Use this sauce as a base for chicken…
Low Fat Pasta with Mushroom Marinara Sauce
Both pasta and tomato sauce are relatively low in calories and are practically fat free. It is what we add to them that can run an average pasta dish to 1,000 calories or more. This recipe was created without…
How to Make Marinara Sauce
Do you love Italian food as much as I do? We usually have at least one meal every week that features marinara sauce in some form. Marinara sauce is a versatile dish that can be prepared a number of…
Make your own Italian sausage. This recipe is so eas…
Making homemade Italian sausage is no harder than making a meatloaf. Here are easy to follow instructions and a recipe for fresh sweet Italian sausage!
Italian desserts and pastries
If there is one thing I miss from Italy it is defiinetly the food. Being raised in Italy as I child, I must admit I get terrible nostalgia for the Italian desserts and pastries. There is just something about…

GNOCCHI PASTA

For those of you who haven’t experienced the wonderful Italian pasta called gnocchi, stay tuned. I’ll tell you about some of my favorite gnocchi recipes and also demonstrate with a step by step guide how easy it is to make.

Gnocchi pasta is basically a thick, soft, dumpling type of pasta. You can make gnocchi from many different things. Semolina flour or unbleached flour makes a great gnocchi while potatoes, ricotta, spinach and even sweet potatoes make other kinds of fabulous gnocchi.

You can make gnocchi soups or you can create various and sundry sauces to go with your homemade or store-bought gnocchi such as a light pesto sauce, a traditional tomato sauce or an Alfredo sauce. 

Are you seeing where I’m going with this? Gnocchi is one of the most versatile pastas and although it is technically a pasta, it is far easier than other pasta doughs to make from scratch.

I decided to demonstrate with my recipe for sweet potato gnocchi to illustrate how colorful vegetable gnocchi can be. You can also buy vacuum-sealed gnocchi in the pasta aisle at the supermarket or find it premade in the refrigerator section.

See all 8 photos
Ricotta Gnocchi
Source: Wikipedia

ALL ABOUT GNOCCHI PASTA

Gnocchi is meant to be eaten as an entree as a substitute for pasta noodles
The word gnocchi is derived from the Italian word “nocchio” meaning a “knot of wood” (which kind of describes its shape)
Since Roman times, gnocchi has been enjoyed on the European continent
Innovations such as potato gnocchi, spinach gnocchi, ricotta gnocchi, sweet potato gnocchi, etc. are relatively new and have been tweaked by many countries to arrive at the creative gnocchi recipes today
There are many more possibilities when it comes to gnocchi – let creativity be your guide when creating your own gnocchi

See all 8 photos
Bake sweet potatoes at 35 degrees
See all 8 photos
Cool, skin and mash or put through ricer
See all 8 photos
Combine potato, garlic, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and egg
See all 8 photos
Add in flour and stir to form a soft dough – add more flour if necessary if too sticky
See all 8 photos
Turn dough out on lightly floured surface
See all 8 photos
Divide dough into 4 or so pieces and roll into long ropes
See all 8 photos
Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces and place on lightly floured cookie sheet

SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounces sweet potatoes
1 clove garlic, diced or dried
Salt to taste (up to 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of cinnamon if desired
1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute
2 cups unbleached flour (more as necessary)
DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350
degrees. Bake sweet potatoes in their skins
for about 30 minutes or until soft.
Remove from oven, let cool, then peel and mash with a fork. Alternatively, you can run through a food
mill or ricer.
Combine potatoes,
garlic, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and egg in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Add in flour.
You should have a soft dough (add more flour if the dough is too
sticky).
Turn out the
gnocchi dough on a floured surface and roll parts of the dough out one piece at
a time into long, thin ropes. Cut the
gnocchi into 1 inch sections. (You can
use a gnocchi tool or a gnocchi board to add “character” and creases to the gnocchi at this
point as well).
Set the gnocchi
individually on a lightly floured jelly roll pan for cooking as you work. You can also freeze them at this point as well. Just freeze for an hour or so, remove from the trays and
pop them into freezer bags for a great quick and easy meal another time.

COOKING AND SERVING GNOCCHI

When cooking your homemade gnocchi, bring a large pot of water with a dash of salt to a simmering
boil.
Drop the pieces into the boiling
water and allow them to cook until they float to the surface.
Remove with a slotted spoon. Keep warm on a serving plate.
Sweet potato gnocchi is great with butter or a light
cream sauce.

TIP: Substitute butternut squash for the sweet potato or even use
yams.

***This recipe was based on a recipe I found on allrecipes.com though I tweaked it to my preferences.

Be sure and check out the video as well below which gives you a visual idea of how you put this quick and easy recipe together.

You Tube Video How To Make Gnocchi by Audrey Kirchner

GNOCCHI PASTA RECIPES

To illustrate further the beauty of using gnocchi, here’s another of my favorite gnocchi recipes. In this case, you can either use homemade gnocchi of any kind (like spinach or sweet potato, ricotta or potato) or buy store-bought gnocchi. Either way, this is a fabulously easy and delicious Italian dish.

Pesto with Shrimp and Asparagus Gnocchi

GNOCCHI WITH PESTO, ASPARAGUS AND SHRIMP

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounce package of vacuum packed gnocchi
4 cups of sliced asparagus (about 1/2-1 inch pieces)
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp or prawns coarsely chopped (substitute small shrimp)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons of roasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (Reggiano cheese or other similar)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped or minced garlic (or dried garlic)
4 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon water
Cooking spray – optional
PREPARATION:

Bring
water in large pot to boil. Add gnocchi and cook according to
directions on package. If using fresh, homemade gnocchi, place in
boiling water and boil until pieces float to the top, remove with
slotted spoon and set aside to keep warm. When ready to mix
ingredients, place in a large bowl.
Add asparagus and shrimp
to large skillet sprayed with cooking spray, cook 5 minutes or so until
shrimp are cooked through. Drain. Or add asparagus and shrimp to
boiling water used for cooking gnocchi and cook for about 5 minutes.
Drain.
Add the shrimp and asparagus to gnocchi in large bowl.
Combine
basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic and water in a
food processor and process until smooth. Drizzle olive oil into the
food chute with the processor running and process until well blended.
Toss basil mixture with the gnocchi and shrimp. Sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan cheese and serve.

This
recipe serves 4 and is an adaptation from a recipe on myrecipes.com. A
fabulous substitution for store-bought gnocchi here is spinach gnocchi
or the sweet potato gnocchi though any gnocchi will do.

Serve this fantastic Italian dinner with a green salad, a crusty loaf of Italian bread and a crisp white wine.

How To Make Ricotta Gnocchi

RECIPES AND YOU TUBE VIDEOS FOR GNOCCHI

As you can see, there are many innovative recipes out there for gnocchi. Some great places to start looking for gnocchi recipes are the Internet and also on YouTube.

Another great source for gnocchi recipes is just about any Italian cookbook of merit. You can find these in abundance on Amazon.com or even new or slightly handled on eBay. Don’t forget your local library either for loads of Italian recipes which will include wonderful ideas for making homemade gnocchi and sauces.

As pastas go, I enjoy making gnocchi because it is less labor intensive than making regular pasta noodles. It can also be a great family event or an interesting dinner party activity. Everyone can participate in creating the gnocchi and certainly in the cooking and sauce preparation.

If you have more great gnocchi recipes in your culinary toolbox, please share them with us here. I’m always looking for new gnocchi recipes!

How to Make Spinach Gnocchi

V581 Gnocchi Board
Amazon Price: $8.51
List Price: $5.99
Fantes Cousin Lianas Italian Gnocchi Board
Amazon Price: $2.99
Eppicotispai Garganelli and Gnocchi Stripper
Amazon Price: $12.17
OXO Good Grips Potato Ricer
Amazon Price: $24.98
List Price: $24.99
Danita Delimont – Cuisines – Peru, Machu Picchu, cuisine, Sanctuary Lodge – SA17 BJA0267 – Jaynes Gallery – Light Switch Covers – single toggle switch
Amazon Price: $11.75
List Price: $15.75
CucinaPro 313 Ricer/Spaetzle press
Amazon Price: $4.14
List Price: $9.99
OXO Good Grips Adjustable Potato Ricer
Amazon Price: $29.95
List Price: $29.99
Pasta Maker’s Kitchen Scale with WARRANTY! Weigh Gourmet Ingredients, Bulk Packaging, Food Portions & More! Ounce-to-Pound Conversions
Amazon Price: $28.49
List Price: $50.00
Danita Delimont – Cuisines – Peru, Machu Picchu, cuisine, Sanctuary Lodge – SA17 BJA0267 – Jaynes Gallery – Light Switch Covers – double toggle switch
Amazon Price: $13.75
List Price: $17.75

More Culinary Hubs by Audrey Kirchner

Healthy Snack and Cracker Recipes: How To Make Lavas…
HEALTHY RECIPES – HOW TO MAKE LAVASH CRACKERS Lavash crackers are a tremendous snack food as they are healthier than chips. They give you the option of eating something crispy and something you can…
Healthy Pizza Recipes: How To Make Greek Style Pizza…
This is a great snack recipe for watching World Cup Soccer or a championship basketball game! It is also great as a light dinner or for lunch. Greek Pizza actually refers to 2 different things – the…
Quick And Easy Recipe: Phyllo Dough Pizza Recipe For…
If you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe for dinner, lunch or snacks, this pizza recipe for vegetable pizza will make your day! I made up this recipe the other night when I was in a hurry to make…
Easy Recipe For Pizza Or Calzones From Scratch With …
I originally found this idea in a 2009 Cooking Light magazine but since then, I’ve used it several ways and made several adjustments to it as suggested below. However, the fact stands that the dough…
Great Enchilada Recipe: Shrimp And Spinach Enchilada…
I happened to try Shrimp and Spinach Enchiladas the other day while I was out at lunch and I have to say that they were fabulous! I’d never tried them before and decided to try my hand at making them. If…
Butternut Squash and Basil Pizza
I found this recipe on a package for Mama Marys individual pizza crust recipes but I decided to go a little further and tweak this recipe to incorporate a few more ingredients. The original recipe calls…
Best Ways To Cook Roast Beef: Roast Beef Slow-Roaste…
This recipe is so basic and so easy that it is a keeper for me! I actually was skeptical about the cooking time that was listed in the recipe I had seen on simplyrecipes.com and am glad that I did not follow…
Best Culinary Techniques For Cooking Beef: How To Co…
Hanger steak or skirt steak is another different cut of meat than most of us are used to seeing in the market. However, it is a culinary basic ingredient to have some familiarity with and know how to cook. …
Light And Healthy Oatmeal Cookies: How To Make Fanta…
I think these are the best light recipe I’ve discovered for oatmeal cookies! I found this recipe in the wonderful cookbook I would review as definitely The Best Light Recipe by cooks.com. However, I changed my…
Chocolate Chip Cookies – Light Recipe
I think these are the best light recipe I’ve discovered for chocolate chip cookies and they are only 100 calories! I found the recipe in Best Light Recipe by Cooks.com, however, I use a combination of walnuts…
Quick And Easy Recipe: Phyllo Dough Pizza Recipe For…
If you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe for dinner, lunch or snacks, this pizza recipe for vegetable pizza will make your day! I made up this recipe the other night when I was in a hurry to make…
Healthy Pizza Recipes: How To Make Greek Style Pizza…
This is a great snack recipe for watching World Cup Soccer or a championship basketball game! It is also great as a light dinner or for lunch. Greek Pizza actually refers to 2 different things – the…
Healthy Snack and Cracker Recipes: How To Make Lavas…
HEALTHY RECIPES – HOW TO MAKE LAVASH CRACKERS Lavash crackers are a tremendous snack food as they are healthier than chips. They give you the option of eating something crispy and something you can…
Great Enchilada Recipe: Shrimp And Spinach Enchilada…
I happened to try Shrimp and Spinach Enchiladas the other day while I was out at lunch and I have to say that they were fabulous! I’d never tried them before and decided to try my hand at making them. If…
Easy Recipe For Pizza Or Calzones From Scratch With …
I originally found this idea in a 2009 Cooking Light magazine but since then, I’ve used it several ways and made several adjustments to it as suggested below. However, the fact stands that the dough…
Healthy Lasagna Recipes: How To Make Light Chicken F…
Pasta and spinach is a win-win combination as far as I’m concerned and anything Florentine always gets me to try the recipe. I found this recipe many years ago in a Cooking Light magazine and it has become…
Chocolate Chip Cookies – Light Recipe
I think these are the best light recipe I’ve discovered for chocolate chip cookies and they are only 100 calories! I found the recipe in Best Light Recipe by Cooks.com, however, I use a combination of walnuts…
Light And Healthy Oatmeal Cookies: How To Make Fanta…
I think these are the best light recipe I’ve discovered for oatmeal cookies! I found this recipe in the wonderful cookbook I would review as definitely The Best Light Recipe by cooks.com. However, I changed my…
Best Culinary Techniques For Cooking Beef: How To Co…
Hanger steak or skirt steak is another different cut of meat than most of us are used to seeing in the market. However, it is a culinary basic ingredient to have some familiarity with and know how to cook. …
Best Ways To Cook Roast Beef: Roast Beef Slow-Roaste…
This recipe is so basic and so easy that it is a keeper for me! I actually was skeptical about the cooking time that was listed in the recipe I had seen on simplyrecipes.com and am glad that I did not follow…
Great Enchilada Recipe: Shrimp And Spinach Enchilada…
I happened to try Shrimp and Spinach Enchiladas the other day while I was out at lunch and I have to say that they were fabulous! I’d never tried them before and decided to try my hand at making them. If…
Recipes For Vegetable Lasagna: Easy Butternut Squash…
Like most people, I love Italian food and loving Italian food, I love lasagna. However, over the years, I tired of making the same old lasagna recipes so about 7 or so years back, I started sampling some of…
Butternut Squash and Basil Pizza
I found this recipe on a package for Mama Marys individual pizza crust recipes but I decided to go a little further and tweak this recipe to incorporate a few more ingredients. The original recipe calls…
Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking
Amazon Price: $14.99
List Price: $35.00
Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes
Amazon Price: $10.95
List Price: $35.00
Now Eat This! Italian: Favorite Dishes from the Real Mamas of Italy–All Under 350 Calories
Amazon Price: $15.01
List Price: $26.99
Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Recipes from Around Our Family Table
Amazon Price: $10.27
List Price: $19.99
Fantes Cousin Lianas Italian Gnocchi Board
Amazon Price: $2.99
CucinaPro 530 Cavatelli Maker
Amazon Price: $35.95
List Price: $44.99
Cavatelli and Gnocchi Maker 5300 – Original with Wooden Rollers
Amazon Price: $44.25