Orecchiette With Peas, Pancetta & Cream

 Ingredients

1 lb. Orecchiette Pasta

1 Tb. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 lb. Pancetta, cut 1/4 inch thick and then cubed into small pieces

4 Tb. butter

1 small white onion finely diced

2 Tb. chicken stock

1 C heavy cream

1 C frozen peas, thawed

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 C Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic on a medium setting. Add the pancetta to the pan and cook until golden brown. Transfer pancetta to a dish and set aside.
3. In the same pan, melt butter. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent. Add chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Stir in pancetta and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add cream. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Add the hot cooked pasta to the pan. Mix well to coat. Stir in the peas and cheese.
5. Serve Immediately.

SLOW COOKER BUTTERNUT SQUASH TORTELLINI

 

YIELD:  6-8 SERVINGS

 

PREP TIME:  15 MINUTES

 

COOK TIME:  5 HOURS

 

TOTAL TIME:  5 HOURS 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

•  2 teaspoons olive oil
•  1/2 cup chopped onion
•  3 cloves garlic, finely minced
•  1/4 teaspoon minced dried rosemary
•  1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
•  1/4 teaspoon dried sage
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1/4 teaspoon pepper
•  2 pounds peeled and cubed butternut squash (about 4 cups or so)
•  3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
•  4 to 8 ounces cream cheese, light or regular (depending on how creamy you want it), cubed
•  1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving, if desired
•  1 1/2 pound refrigerated tortellini (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is starting to soften, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the rosemary, thyme, sage, salt and pepper.
2. Place the butternut squash in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Add the sautéed onion and garlic and then pour in the chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
3. Add the cubes of cream cheese and the Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker. Stir until mostly melted. Using an immersion blender (or using a blender or food processor in batches), blend the mixture until smooth (and return it to the slow cooker if needed). Stir in the tortellini. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until the tortellini are tender.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

NOTES

Tortellini: all tortellini are not created equal, I'm afraid. Based on past experience and recipes, I don't think the dry tortellini in the pasta aisle will work out very well (but that's just an untested opinion). I highly recommend using refrigerated tortellini (I usually get mine from Costco but have seen it at my grocery store, too).

Maria's notes:  I used 8 oz of cream cheese but next time I will use 4 oz--it was VERY creamy.

HTTPS://WWW.MELSKITCHENCAFE.COM/SLOW-COOKER-BUTTERNUT-SQUASH-TORTELLINI/

Caesar Angel Hair Pasta

Caesar Angel Hair Pasta from Delish.com

Yields: 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients
12 oz angel hair pasta
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 slices bacon, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c low-sodium chicken broth
1 pt cream Caesar dressing
1/2 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 T juice of 1 lemon
1/4 c freshly chopped parsley

Directions
1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook angel hair until al dente.  Drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil.  Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper and then add to skillet.  Cook until chicken is golden and cooked through, 8 minutes per side.  Let rest 10 minutes, then slice into strips.  Wipe skillet clean.
3. Return skillet to medium heat.  Add bacon and cook until crispy.  Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.  Reserve about two tablespoons of back fat in skillet.
4. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.  Pour in broth to deglaze pan. Stir in Caesar dressing and bring mixture to a low simmer.  Add angel hair, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and parsley, and then toss until combined.  (If sauce is too thick, gradually add pasta water, about 1/4 cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency.)

Creamy Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 small shallot, diced
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 C. all-purpose flour
5 C chicken broth
14 oz. refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 tsp kosher sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
6 oz. chopped fresh spinach
2 C half & half

Directions:
1. In a large stockpot set over medium-high , cook the sausage until browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel lined plate; set aside.

2. Add onion, shallot and carrot, saute for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Add the garlic and saute  for an additional 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning.

3. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add in the chicken broth, whisk to combine. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 6 minutes.

4. Pat as much grease as possible off of the sausage, then add it along with the tortellini, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, spinach, and half & half. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until the tortellini is fully cooked.

5. Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan, if desired.

Recipe from lifemadesimplebakes.com

Macaroni and Cheese

1 to 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni, rigatoni or spinach egg noodles (about 6 oz)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup flour
1 3/4 cups milk
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Cook macaroni as directed.  Cook and stir butter, onion, salt and pepper over medium heat until onion is slightly tender.  Blend in flour.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat.  Stir in milk.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.

Place macaroni in ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.  Stir cheese sauce into macaroni.  Cook uncovered in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.  5 servings.

Note:  I got this recipe from Cherise :-).

Tri-Colored Pasta Salad

12-ounce package tri-color rotini pasta, cooked and drained
2/3 cup creamy Caesar dressing
1/2 teaspoon coarse, kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 roma tomatoes, diced
1 (6-ounce) can black olives, drained and chopped
1/4 cup finely diced red onion (or green onions)
3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
6-10 fresh basil leaves, cut into strips or torn into pieces
1/4 cup basil pesto
1/2 to 1 cup sunflower seeds

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions. Drain and coat with the Caesar dressing while still warm.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the extra basil. Toss well to combine. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve (4-8 hours). If the pasta salad seems dry after refrigerating, add a little more Caesar dressing and stir to combine. 

Chicken Noodle Stew

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow or white onion (about 1 medium onion)
• 1 cup chopped carrots (about 2-3 peeled carrots)
• 1 cup chopped celery (about 2-3 stalks)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 16 ounces frozen egg noodles (like Reames brand)
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3-4 cups cooked, chopped chicken 
• DIRECTIONS

1. In a 5- or 6-quart pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until hot and rippling. Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are slightly tender, 5-6 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper and chicken broth and bring to a boil. 
2. Add the frozen noodles and simmer for 18 minutes (or according to package directions), until they are mostly tender (they'll cook a few more minutes in the next step). 
3. In a liquid measuring cup or blender, whisk or blend the milk and flour together until smooth (no lumps!). Whisk the mixture quickly into the soup and simmer for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4. Stir in the frozen peas and cooked chicken and heat through. Add additional salt and pepper to taste before serving. The soup will thicken as it sits (and if there are leftovers, they'll definitely thicken up even more in the refrigerator).

From:  Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Lasagna

From:  Mel's Kitchen Cafe

INGREDIENTS

Red Sauce:
• 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Creamy Filling:
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup cottage
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Noodles and Cheese:
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 9 no-boil lasagna noodles 

DIRECTIONS

1. For the sauce, in a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook the ground meat and onion until the meat is cooked through. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, dried basil, salt and pepper. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes.
2. For the filling, in a medium bowl mix the ricotta, egg, basil, parsley, salt, and Parmesan cheese. 
3. To assemble the lasagna, lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking pan. Spread 1/2 cup or so of the sauce over the bottom into a thin layer. Layer as follows: 3 noodles, red sauce, creamy filling, mozzarella, 3 noodles, red sauce, creamy filling, mozzarella, 3 noodles, red sauce, remaining mozzarella. (Basically, all layers - the noodles, red sauce, mozzarella - are split into three layers and the creamy filling is divided among two layers.)
4. Cover with greased foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, bake 20-30 minutes more until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
5. *Freezable Meal: Prepare recipe right up until the baking step and then cover with a double layer of lightly greased aluminum foil. Freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. To bake, increase baking time to about 40 minutes covered and 20 minutes uncovered. If baking from frozen, bake covered for 1 hour and 30 minutes, uncover and bake 30-40 minutes longer.

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter (I don't use that much. Just enough to sauté the orzo.) 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
2.	Stir in chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 - 20 minutes. (Closer to 15)
3.	Mix in Parmesan cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to shallow bowl. Garnish with basil sprigs. from Loriann

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Summer Corn Pasta

from Rachel Ray
Serves 4 as a main dish
Serves 6-8 as a side dish

Ingredients:
1 pound dry pasta
6 slices smoky bacon, chopped
6 ears of corn on the cob, shucked
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup half-and-half cream (whole milk or cream works too)
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme leaves
A few dashes of hot sauce or 1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup torn sweet basil leaves

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil over medium heat. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook to al dente.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook a few minutes until rendered and crisp. Put a small bowl inverted into a large bowl, steady the corn cobs on the smaller bowl and scrape the ears. Add 3/4 of the scraped corn and any corn liquid to the pan with the bacon. Add the shallots and red pepper and liberally season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

3. Add the remaining corn and half-and-half to a food processor and puree until smooth.

4. Pour the stock or wine into the corn and vegetables, and simmer over low heat for a minute to reduce. Stir in the thyme and corn-cream mixture and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, to thicken. Add the hot sauce or cayenne and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

5. Drain the pasta and add it to a large serving bowl. Pour in the sauce, add a couple of handfuls of cheese, about 1/2 cup and toss. Top with torn basil and pass the remaining cheese at the table.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Michael says this is his favorite pasta dish that I make. It is really easy and fast.

1 pound spaghetti
8 ounces (8 slices) bacon, cut 1 inch thick crosswise
Coarse slat and freshly ground pepper
3 large eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup half-and-half

Directions:

1. Set a large pot of water to boil (for pasta). In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8-12 minutes; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
2. Salt boiling water generously; add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, Parmesan, and half-and-half. Set aside.
4. Working quickly and using a fork or pasta serving utensil, add hot pasta to egg mixture. You want to leave some water clinging to the pasta. Add bacon; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine (heat from pasta will cook the eggs). Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese.

Mexican Lasagna

from melskitchencafe.com

*Note: this lasagna isn't super heavy on the sauce, just enough to plump up the pasta noodles perfectly and help everything hold their shape (not dry...just not overly saucy). I split all the ingredients (sauce, cheese, noodles) into three layers but feel free to simplify and just halve everything and do two layers only. Less noodles, more sauce. It's up to you. Also, the ingredient list looks long, but it comes together quickly, especially with the no-boil lasagna noodles.

*Serves 6-8

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
dash of ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 ½ cup frozen corn kernels, white or yellow
1 (6 ounce) can olives, chopped
9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles (I love the Barilla brand), or boil and drain regular lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream, light or regular
8 ounces cream cheese, light or regular


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan and set aside.

In a large 12-inch skillet, brown the ground beef or turkey and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the grease. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste. Stir to combine well and cook for about a minute. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, cayenne, oregano and salt and pepper. Mix well. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir to combine. Add the black beans, corn and olives. Mix well and heat through, about 5 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer three (or four, depending on the brand of noodles you use) noodles over the sauce. Spread 1/3 of the sauce over the noodles. Dollop 1/3 of the sour cream and 1/3 of the cream cheese (just pinch off chunks and toss them on top) across the sauce. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheeses. Repeat the layers two more times until all the ingredients are used.

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more, until the lasagna is hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into and serving.

Beach Street Lemon Chicken Linguini

I have made this three or four times and EVERYONE loves it which is amazing in and of itself!

**This recipe requires marinating the chicken for 3-12 hours so plan ahead!**

1 lb. linguine
2 tablespoons olive oil
Zest from one lemon
Juice from one lemon
3 green onions, chopped (white and green parts)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Marinade:
½ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed (smashed with the back of a large knife or saucepan)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (cut this down to 1 1/2 teaspoons if you want less heat but don’t omit entirely or you will lose great flavor)
Juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 chicken breasts, sliced

Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and whisk lightly before pouring into a ziploc plastic bag. Pat chicken dry and toss in marinade to coat. Refrigerate 3-12 hours.

When ready to cook, preheat skillet over medium heat and pour contents of plastic bag (both marinade and chicken) into the skillet. Saute over medium-high heat until chicken is cooked.

Combine juice of one lemon, lemon zest, olive oil, green onions and fresh parsley together in a small bowl. Set aside.

While the chicken is sauteing, cook linguine in boiling salted water until done; drain and return to warm pot. Pour lemon juice/olive oil/green onion mixture over pasta and mix lightly. When chicken is finished cooking, add hot pasta mixture to the skillet with the chicken and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and toss in parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

2 Tbsp butter
2 chicken breasts
3 cloves garlic
1-2 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning, depending on tastes (see below)
4 bell peppers, any or all colors
8 oz mushrooms
8 oz heavy cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1. Cut the chicken in cubes/stripes and saute in butter until brown.
2. Add garlic, green onion, and Cajun seasoning. Mix together.
3. Add bell peppers and mushrooms. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, until mushrooms are soft.
4. Add heavy cream. Heat up and simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Stir in cheese and serve over pasta (I prefer penne, but anything would work.)

Trevor would like me to add the 2 Tbsp of the Cajun seasoning makes is spicy enough for tears, but I like it. Just make sure to have lots of milk with your meal and probably some bread!

Cajun Seasoning:
2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp dry thyme
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder

Baked Manicotti

recipe from www.mykitchencafe.blogspot.com

This is fantastic! I did add the red pepper which I really liked, but for some it might be too much of a kick--just adjust to your taste. I didn't love it reheated so next time I am going to put half in the freezer and just make it in a smaller dish. It made enough to feed my family twice.

Tomato Sauce
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (in juice)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried basil

Cheese Filling and Pasta
3 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 cups)
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
2 large eggs , lightly beaten
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
16 no-boil lasagna noodles (I use the Barilla brand - apparently they are supposed to be the most similar to homemade pasta and I love them, both in this and in lasagna)

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat oil, garlic, and pepper flakes (if using) in large saucepan over medium heat until fragrant but not brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan chese, mozzarella cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and herbs; set aside.

To assemble, pour 1 inch boiling water into 13 by 9-inch baking dish, then add noodles one at a time. Let noodles soak until pliable, about 5 minutes, separating noodles with tip of sharp knife to prevent sticking. Remove noodles from water and place in single layer on clean kitchen towels; discard water in baking dish and dry baking dish.

Spread bottom of baking dish evenly with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Using soupspoon, spread 1/4 cup cheese mixture evenly onto bottom three-quarters of each noodle (with short side facing you), leaving top quarter of noodle exposed. Roll into tube shape and arrange in baking dish seam side down. (You should be able to fit 8 manicotti in each row, allowing all 16 to fit in the dish). Top evenly with remaining sauce, making certain that pasta is completely covered.

Cover manicotti with aluminum foil. Bake until bubbling, about 40 minutes, then remove foil. Sprinkle manicotti evenly with remaining 1 cup Parmesan. Bake until cheese is browned and bubbly, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

The manicotti can be prepared right up until the baking step then covered with a sheet of parchment paper, wrapped in aluminum foil, and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. (If frozen, thaw the manicotti in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.) To bake, remove the parchment, replace the aluminum foil, and increase baking time to 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Grilled Chicken & Pasta with Walnut Pesto

½ Cup walnut pieces
3/4 Cup basil leaves
1 tsp chopped garlic
½ Cup grated Parmesan
½ Cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste.

Combine above and blind in blinder until smooth. Grill 2 chicken breasts and brush with pesto just before done. Cook 8 oz box of pasta, drain and mix with remaining pesto. Slice chicken diagonally in strips and fan out over pasta. Add chopped fresh tomato.

Parmesan Chicken with Tomato Cream Sauce

Chicken
1/4 cup low fat milk
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
½ cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
2 Tbs grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves
vegetable cooking spray
8 oz linguine

Combine milk and mustard, stir with wisk. Combine breadcrumbs and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Dip chicken in milk mixture; dredge in breadcrumbs. Place chicken on a baking sheet with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 30 min.

Tomato Cream Sauce
1 tsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans tomatoes, diced
1 Tbs fresh basil
1 Tbs chopped oregano
2 tsp chopped parsley
4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 Cup milk
1 Tbs flour
4 Tbs Parmesan Cheese
Heat oil in saucepan over med high. Add garlic, tomato and next 5 ingredients. Bring to boil. Simmer uncovered 20 min stir often.

Combine milk and flour in small bowl stir well with whisk well in small bowl. Gradually add milk mix to tomato mix, stir constantly. Cook 5 min add cheese. Serve over linguine and chicken.

Minestrone

3 whole chicken breasts, cooked and diced

6 C. chicken broth

1 lb pork sausage, cooked and drained

2 carrots diced

3 ribs celery diced

2 zucchini diced (optional)

1 onion diced

4 cans crushed tomatoes, partly drained

1 can kidney beans drained and rinsed

3 cloves garlic minced

2 tsp. salt

pepper

3 TB parsley

1 tsp basil

2 bay leaves

8 oz. pasta of your choice, cooked and drained

1/2 c. chopped spinach

Cook chicken in broth. Cook veggies in broth until tender, but still a little crisp. Add remaining ingredients and simmer. The longer you simmer this soup the more liquid the noodles absorb. Do not over cook!