Healthy Pasta and Turkey Sausage Bake

Another yummy recipe that wasn't the prettiest but it sure tasted yummy!!  I found a version of this Pasta and Turkey Sausage Bake on Food Done Light. It is perfect during these cold nights we have been having. I find I can make put in the oven on delay and when we return from the YMCA and all our activities it is ready to go!

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  40 mins

Total time:  45 mins

Serves: 6 servings

 

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Halloween pasta or any small elbow pasta
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped green or red peppers
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 12 oz. pre-cooked chicken or turkey sausage, chopped
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 2 tbsp. whole wheat flour
• 1¼ cup (5 oz.) 2% fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray an 11 x 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cook pasta 1 minute less than package directions. Drain.
3. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, coat pan with cooking spray. Sauté onions, carrots, mushrooms, and peppers for 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
4. Add sausage, marinara sauce, ½ tsp. salt, pepper and Italian seasonings. Cook for about 2 minutes or until most of liquid has absorbed.
5. Add pasta to sauce. Pour into baking dish.
6. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, flour and ½ tsp. salt. Cook and stir constantly over medium heat for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in ¾ cup cheddar cheese.
7. Pour cheese sauce over pasta.
8. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.
9. Bake for 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Nutritional value per serving: Cal 410/Fat 15 grams/Carbs 43 grams/Fiber 4 grams/Protein 24 grams

ALEXIS NOTES: I skipped the mushrooms we are not fans here. I used Turkey sausage. Organic noodles and marinara sauce.

Have a GREAT day!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Spicy Sausage Pasta

Next on our list of warm your belly meals is a Spicy Sausage Pasta found on Kevin and Amanda.  This one I made a while back and let me have a some extra calories with the whipping cream. I did use turkey sausage and whole wheat noodles to make myself not feel so guilty ... lol

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb smoked sausage (I used Turkey sausage)
1.5 cups diced onion (I used a red onion I had on hand)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz penne pasta (I used whole wheat pasta)
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (I only had Mozzarella on hand)
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions

1. Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.   

We Wrap the Week with Pasta

I’m a little off with my recipe post the past few weeks.  So I thought why not end this week with a yummy recipe!  And let’s hope I get back on routine next week … lol.

I found this very yummy recipe for Bacon Ranch & Chicken Mac & Cheese on the Weight Watcher Website.  It was a very simple recipe to make and the boys loved it.  We actually even had it for left overs the next nigh with is UNHEARD of here at the house.  My boys (including the big one) think left overs are no no’s.  I used a few different things which may bring the points down  little bit.  I used Reduced Fat Cream of Mushroom, Red Fat Cheese, Turkey Bacon and whole wheat macaroni.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), Cut into 1/2 inch pieces  
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour  
• 1 can(s) canned condensed cream of mushroom soup  
• 2 serving(s) Lite Shredded Cheese Blend TJ's  
• 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese  
• 1/2 tsp onion powder  
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder  
• 1 tsp dried dill weed  
• 1/2 tsp sea salt  
• 1/2 cup(s) Kraft Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese  
• 3 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon  
• 7 1/4 oz uncooked macaroni  
• 2 Tbsp regular butter  
• 12 oz low-fat milk

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done.

3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until sauce cools to 155. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken.

4. Preheat broiler.

5. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Cooking Light, MARCH 2010

Enjoy I promise you will and everyone you serve will enjoy this one!  Have a wonderful weekend!  I’m hoping to have a nice relaxing one.

On diet and I can still have Rice and Pasta!

So I’m doing good on my exercise and been eating well and still finding great recipes that feed my need to eat yummy food.  First off I found this Kalyn's Stuffed Cabbage Casserole.  I loved it, the boys thought it was just ok but I’m all that matters right? LOL … My neighbor got the other half since my boys don’t do left overs.

Last yummy on my list was Healthified Mexican Pasta Skillet that the boys of course loved since they are all about the Mexican food.

We have our Tuesday dinner friends coming over so we have Meatball and Spaghetti Soup.  What is on your menu tonight?

I promise the last crockpot recipe …

Ok well it’s not the last one but it is for this week .. lol!  I’m back to feeling KINDA normal and that means normal cooking again.  I have one more crockpot recipe to share with you.  Slow Cooker Tasty Mex Casserole (5 Points) was a great way to throw in everything!

So there you have it one last crockpot meal for well at least this week .  I think I’m ready to go back to baking and cooking real meals … lol. 

Anything special planned for tonight?

Can Pasta be light? Well let’s try …

We love our pasta around here, but trying to find ways that are low fat are far and few between.  I found this Baked Beef Ziti on Nancy’s Recipe Box a great blog with weight watcher recipes.  This was a good recipe I of course would love more sauce but that of course would be fat … lol.

Next on our list was for this Spaghetti Pie which Cole asked for a double helping of which is always a good sign.  I used whole wheat pasta but you can use regular.

So there you have it pasta overload!  It’s Tuesday right so this week is moving along?  Oh man it’s a train I think that may have run over me, it may have backed up over me a few times … lol.

So what’s on your menu?  Pasta?  Light or high fat (If so I’m so living threw you)!

Tuesday Dinner w/ Friends Chicken & Mini Apple Pies

Last Tuesday I whipped up this meal that was a huge hit!  First off I made Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Zucchini and Mozzarella, now mine wasn’t as pretty as here’s but mine was still very tasty!  PLUS it’s always a good way to get veggies into the kids.  Mine aren’t usually picky but our neighbor’s boy did come over and at first he was I don’t like veggies but we had him try a bite and he said wow this is good!

Next on this list was Easiest Pasta and Broccoli Recipe which was a hit with everyone but me … lol I know it was just ok but everyone else LOVED it!

Next on my list was some bite sized apple pies, it called for store bought pie crust so I made my own Baker’s Secret Pie Crust.  Sometimes I must say it may just be easier to buy it even though it is a heck of lot cheaper … lol.

Happy Monday everyone hope you had a wonderful weekend we had a busy one as usual and mom is still not feeling up to par (had a crud … ugh). 

So what is on your menu for tonight?

It’s a Lean Meat & Blueberry thing :)

It was a crazy week last week, well I should say it’s been like that since School has started.  I feel a little like I’ve lost my hold on things lately.  I’m hoping that I’ll get back in the swing of things.  I did good on our meals at least and that is what I’m holding on to that small achievement, we won’t speak about the exercise and/or the candy … ugh!

First off I found this Baked Rigatoni with Beef that was so easy to make and was absolutely filling and yummy!

Next off I’ve made a version of these before but Skinnytaste.com posted a new recipe and I had to make them for our Tuesday Night Dinner guest.  These Skinny Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting, she posted her’s in a aluminum cupcake holder.  I used these thin paper ones that didn’t hold up well so it wasn’t as pretty but they were amazing going down.

And for the dessert a yummy Blueberry Oatmeal Cookie!  These were Cole’s favorite , he requested them every day in his lunch.  They weren’t the prettiest but very tasty!

Happy Tuesday everyone, we’re getting closer to the weekend right? lol So what is on your menu for the night?

Simple meal when your in a pinch

So as you know I’m a little nutty and have gotten really good at doing a meal plan each week.  One way that keeps me sane is I created a folder on my webpage that I save recipes by categories etc … I told you I was nutty.  Well last week something happened that made me cry some how the folder was gone.  I mean MONTHS and MONTHS of finding recipes and saving them for later is gone.  SO I had to find a meal today in a pinch and since my neighbor didn’t have enough cans of black beans (just playing with her I didn’t want to clock out and run to the store hoping she had extras).  I had to make with what I had my house and this is what I found!

First on the list was Pasta with Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Oil from Skinnytaste.com.  This was super yummy and easy to make plus the boys love broccoli so it works out perfect (Cole had 3 helpings).

And I had to give the boys some meat so chicken came into play.  I found this Parmesan Chicken on a NEW site I found ladies check out loseweightfit.com has some great weight watcher recipes and points!

Happy Tuesday everyone hope you had a fabulous day mine was kind of long and then I had a VERY horrible customer service conversation … don’t worry that post will come this weekend.  Don’t mess with a blogger because we WILL post and let all of our friends know about it.  I think the manager thought I was joking when I said I will let EVERYONE know about this .  Yes in my head I’m a real famous blogger … lol.

Manic Monday Meals ~ It's a Turkey & Pasta Day (3 Recipes)

Happy Monday, another weekend that just flew by and I even got some cleaning done .. lol :). As you can tell I'm on a ground turkey kick. I'm trying to find new ways to switch it out in as many recipes as I can find! Hope you find one or more you may enjoy!

First on the list is Cheeseburger Pasta I adapted from Taste of Home.

Next on the list was my first attempt at stuffed shells. It was actually pretty easy to make and the boys LOVED them!!! Caden who usually only eats one bite went for SECONDS and Cole hungry boy had THREE helpings! Yes this was a HIT. Recipe adapted from The Comfort of Cooking.

And last but NOT least is a recipe from Alex at Ma What's for Dinner she is an amazing cook with meals that are simple but will give you that wow factor!! Recipe for Baked Ziti.

Homemade Crescent Rolls w/ 2 Recipes to use them!

Happy Tuesday everyone! We had an amazing night last night with dinner and oh yes ended the night cleaning toilets at Cole's school. For you who are going "What happening" Cole's school to keep the tuition down each family takes a week of janitorial service. Yup so we had the day of Valentines day! We had yummy food and then cleaned toilets and oh yes sprinkles everywhere from the days activities! P.S. The baked Valentine Cards I made where a huge hit, the principal even came up to me while we were cleaning to ask how I made them (yes he was there @10pm when we showed up).

So to some yummy recipes! First off you know me and homemade I had two recipes I wanted to try that called for refrigerated crescent rolls. I hate using store bought in my quest to make everything we eat if possible I came across this recipe on allrecipes.com:

CLICK on recipe tab below to see recipe or print!

My first recipe was on The Daily Smash as a Chicken Taco Ring, I made it into a braid easier to do when you make your own dough so you don't have to cut rectangles :) yes I'm lazy like that :).

CLICK on recipe tab below to see recipe or print!

Next on my list to do was crescent Roll Lasagna by The Peppered Pantry, which I just rolled the dough out into a rectangle and folded it over! It turned out great.

CLICK on recipe tab below to see recipe or print!

I'm linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday,Tuesday at the Table, Delectable Tuesday, Delicious Dishes , Totally Tasty Tuesday and Hearth and Soul.

Battle of the Rigatoni (2 Recipes)

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's the battle of the rigatoni :), you know me and having to have a new meal at least 4 times a week so it's sometimes challenging to find new things we have some of the same elements but a different meal each time. These both were fabulous and pretty simple.

Cheesy Broccoli Rigatoni adapted from Taste of Home Recipe

And for our next adventure in Rigatoni :)

Baked Rigatoni w/Spinach, Turkey Bacon & Chicken

I had some left over Turkey Bacon and half a rotisserie chicken.

Baked Rigatoni w/Spinach adapted from Skinnytaste.com

I'm linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday at the Table, Delectable Tuesday, Delicious Dishes , and Hearth and Soul.

Pasta Tuesday (2 Recipes)

Pasta is always a hit with the boys, I can usually get everyone here to agree on that! And as normal even working from home I'm running around like a nut to get dinner on the table. Needless to say I'm always on the look for a quick meal!

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One of my favorite food blogs is Cassie Craves

I found BBQ Chicken & Bacon Pasta

1 pound penne or other short pasta
1 pound bacon, chopped
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks

1 red onion, diced
Salt and pepper to taste

2/3 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Green onions, bacon, and shredded cheese for garnish, if desired

1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towel.

3. Add the chicken and red onion to the bacon grease in the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through and the onion is softened. Stir in the reserved bacon, barbecue sauce and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the shredded cheese. Add pasta and stir to combine; heat through.

4. Serve immediately, garnishing with red or green onions, bacon and shredded cheese, if desired.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used whole wheat mini shells, I used turkey bacon, skipped the red onion & Light sour cream. It may not be beautiful but it sure was YUMMY!

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Next looks a little better to the eye and was still super yummy!!!

Tortellini Simmer

by About.com

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (26-ounce) jar pasta sauce

1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1/2 (20-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In large skillet, cook ground beef with onions and garlic until beef is browned, stirring to break up meat. Drain well.

Add pasta sauce and diced tomatoes; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Then add tortellini, stirring well. Cover skillet and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3-6 minutes until tortellini is hot and tender.

I'm linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tuesday at the Table, Delectable Tuesday, Delicious Dishes and Hearth and Soul.