Category: Pasta

Creamy Mushroom and Shrimp Pesto Sauce Over Linguine

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I have a recipe that will keep you coming back for more. This dish will give you all the flavors in one pot.

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 can Pesto Sauce
  • 2 cups mushrooms
  • 1 box linguine pasta
  • 2 bags shrimp (40-60 or more)
  • salt
  • pepper
  • olive oil
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese
  • onion
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 4 cups spinach

How To Prepare

  1. Boil pasta according to package
  2. Heat a large skillet and coat bottom of the pan with olive oil
  3. Sautee green pepper and onion
  4. Season with pepper and pinch of salt
  5. Add spinach and only cook for 2 minutes and immediately add mushrooms
  6. Pour Pesto sauce on top of sauteed ingredients
  7. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and mix all the warm ingredients together
  8. Toss in drained pasta and mix
  9. Lastly, add fresh basil on top and cover or 2 minutes

Goes great with cheese garlic bread and a Cesar salad.

Serve Warm……. ENJOY!

You could have chosen any blog to read, but you chose mine, and I’m honored.

~Belladonna~

 

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

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We all have a different idea of what a great birthday gift. Mine is to make you your favorite dish or dessert. I like to see people happy and what better way to put a smile on the birthday boy or girls face than with food. Read More

How to gain 5 pounds in 10 minutes Mac and Cheese

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Maybe it’s just my metabolism but I think I could gain 5 pounds just by sniffing this mac and cheese. I’m used to making my mac and cheese with cauliflower (https://belladonnasflashlight.blog/2018/06/22/cauliflower-mac-and-cheese/ ) but this time I went all out and made sure I had all the ingredients that would make my greedy husband and son smile.

I didn’t hold back on the calories with this goody and sometimes you shouldn’t but just be mindful of your servings. Portion control is everything and a little exercise before consumption is highly recommended.

Oven on 375°

10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Box of pasta
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups of milk
  • 3 tbs butter
  • 2 cloves of garlic or 1tbs of garlic powder
  • 1 cup mild cheddar
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar
  • 1 cup mozzarella
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese

Cook your pasta as suggested on the back of the packaging. Drain and shake parmesan cheese and melted butter on top and set aside.

In a large bowl add your eggs, milk garlic powder pepper and salt. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly. Set aside.

Sprinkle your cheese all on top of your pasta in a large nonstick pan. Then pour your milk mixture on top. Using a wooden spoon push down on the mixture to make sure your milk is evenly distributed on your dish. Place in oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes and serve warm.

 

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I am honored!

~Belladonna~

 

Ravioli with Sautéed Spinach

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I love the month of December so much. It is a beautiful time of year, and for me, it’s a great time to cook and bake. I hope all enjoy some of these delicious and easy to prepare meals.

During Thanksgiving, I prepared Ravioli with a light cream sauce, and we LOVED IT! But this time I wanted to try it with my favorite pasta sauce. You can find how I prepare my sauce in a previous post. In that post, you will learn how to amp up your can sauce as well as making a homemade sauce. Either way, you will be pleased with the result.

I chose to amp up my favorite can sauce with this particular recipe. I was rushing against time and trying to get dinner on the table quickly. So I grabbed up one of my new favorite items from Target and broke out the pots and pans.

I can’t express enough how much I love the Ravioli from Target. It has a fresh taste and ingredients that I can pronounce. So that’s a win. If I can read them, I can eat it!

Ingredients

  • 1 package of Ravioli
  • 6 to 8 cups of Spinach
  • 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 TBSP of Black Pepper
  • 2 TBSP Garlic Powder or 2 cloves of Garlic
  • 3 TBSP of Oregano

Bring water to a boil and cook Ravioli for 4-5 minutes, drain noodles and set aside. In another pan add olive oil to a warm pan, spinach, garlic powder or garlic cloves, black pepper, and oregano.

Please watch the video below and leave me any questions or comments that you may have.

You could have chosen any blog to read  but you chose mine  and I am honored.

~BellaDonna~

Ravioli With a Light Creamy Sauce

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I can only speak for myself when I say that motherhood can make you feel like you are constantly jumping through hoops of fire. My day starts at 6:30 am, and I a moving nonstop until 8:30 pm. Your life can literally feel like it will blow up in flames when you have 3 kids that like to play every sport known to man, a husband that travels and you also work. Sometimes I find a quiet spot in my house and just stare at the wall. I don’t think I even blink. I’m too tired to blink. 

But guess what everyone still has to eat. They train like athletes (because they are) So they have to eat like an athlete. Which means I live at the grocery store!!!

NO… really I do. I buy 2 gallons of milk and 2 cartons of eggs every time I go to the grocery store. My 6’3 and 210-pound son can drink half a gallon a day. Somehow that makes me proud and want to cry at the same time. During football season his appetite doubles.

I am constantly thinking of meals to feed this human tank and his athletic siblings. Sometimes I just want to throw oatmeal on the table for dinner and then collapse on the floor. But I can’t do that so, I depend on quick go-to meals.

I would love to spend 2 hours a day in the kitchen with my apron on, a fresh coat of makeup, and clean hair in an elegant French roll. Oh and don’t forget high heel shoes and while we are at it……make them red bottoms. But that is not what you will find when enter my kitchen. I may or may not have showered, hair tied in a ponytail and red watery eyes with a dazed and delusional look in my eyes.

So if you can relate to me then follow this recipe below, watch the video and get to cooking!

INGREDIENTS 

  • 1 pack of Ravioli (purchased at Target)
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • I onion
  • 1 red pepper
  • 2- 3 cups milk
  • 3  tbsp. flour
  • 3 tbsp. goat cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves or
  • 2 cup mozzarella
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan
  • Dry oregano
Bring water to a boil and add pasta. Remove and drain water after 4 minutes. In a separate pan add oil and butter. Sauté onion and red pepper. Add flour, goat cheese, and garlic. Slowly stir in milk and add all of the cheese. Place Ravioli back in the pot and sprinkle with Oregano and serve warm.

Ingredients 

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I’m honored💗

~BellaDonna~

Jumbo Stuffed Pasta 🐚

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My love for Italian food is ridiculously crazy. If I don’t make it once a week, then you know something is wrong with me. I have made everything from Manicotti to Baked Ziti, Ravioli, Tortellini, Lasagna, Italian Meatballs, and everything in between. Did I already say that I LOVE pasta? Oh okay, I think you get it.

If you follow me on Instagram and check out my insta stories you will see that I make pizza a lot. I make it so much that I can do it in my sleep. So based on that you might think that pizza is my favorite Italian meal. NOPE! You would be wrong.

Hands-down one of my favorite meals to try are stuffed jumbo shells. I have had them stuffed with cottage cheese and spinach, lobster, shrimp, ground beef, and Italian sausage. There is an endless number of options! But let me tell you two secrets to having a fantastic shell.

Step one….. do not overcook the shell that is the absolute worst thing you can do. Overcooking your shell’s will cause them to become limp and making it impossible for your ingredients to stay inside.

Step two…..stuff the heavens out of your shells. No one wants a half stuffed shell at least not me!!!

Ingredients

  • One box of Jumbo Shells
  • 6 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • Two teaspoons Black pepper
  • Teaspoon Salt
  • 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese
  • Parmesan cheese

Boil your pasta shells for 5 minutes and set aside to cool.

In a heated pan add olive oil and sauté your spinach.

Any large bowl mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, black pepper, salt, and spinach.

Begin to stuff shells 🐚, place them in your pan and drizzle with olive oil.

Cover and Bake on 375° for 20 minutes

Uncover and broil for two minutes.

Please refer to my previous post on amping up bottled pasta sauce or making homemade sauce.

To complete your meal add either my crusted Parmesan salmon Or fettuccine, thin pasta noodles or baked chicken.

I always add a large Caesar salad with this meal. Just adds that bit of a crunch that you need.

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I’m honored!

~BellaDonna~

Baked Bow Tie pasta and Chicken

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I’m always trying to find a new recipe for a great pasta dish. Pasta is a great source of protein for athletes that need to feul up the night before a big game. Also awesome to eat at least 3-4 hours before a game. Since my house is full of athletes I try to think of new ways to amp up my dishes so they don’t get boring. I don’t know about you but I hate cooking the same crap over and over again. I’d rather not cook if I have to do that.

I like to keep my family guessing and see their expressions when they take that first bite. I truly get offended if they don’t say how much they like it…no pressure though! LOL

For me a meal is much more than a meal, its an event and it brings my family together. Nothing better than a feel good meal that will put everyone in a really good mood and forget about anything  that may have made you upset during the day. Sometimes with my kids schedules it is impossible to sit down and all it at the same time. But at least 5 times a week, we make that happen. My time with them will not always be at my finger tips so I take advantage of the time I have now.

Okay lets dig into this delicious dish. Grab your ingredients and watch the video below.

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups mozzarella
  • 1 box of bow tie pasta
  • 3 tbsp garlic goat cheese
  • 1 can of alfredo sauce
  • 3 cups of spinach
  • 4-6 chicken breasts

Start with butter and sauté one onion, whisk in flour until smooth. Add  milk, chicken broth. Next add goat cheese and keep stirring until it is completely melted, alfredo sauce and spinach.

Add bow tie pasta after it is cooked and water is drained. Sprinkle mozzarella and place dish in oven on broil for 3-4 minutes. Cheese will be dark golden and a beautiful crust will form.

If you want to add chicken for that extra protein, all you need to do is season it and bake for 20 minutes on 350 degrees.

Now the way that I like to serve this dish is by slicing the dish and taking out one scoop. Once you do that you will see all the yummy liquid. place the chicken in there and flip it once, then put the chicken on your plate and top it with the baked bow tie pasta.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe and let will share your reactions with me.

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I am honored!

~Bella Donna~

Lasagna with Meat and Without

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I have so many weaknesses when it comes to food. I LOVE TO EAT but I love to cook  more. Being able to change your normal meals and make them a little bit more dazzling is so much fun to me. So I hope that you will try this recipe and then tweak it and make it your own.

There are so many different ways you can make lasagna and all of them are delicious. I love making lasagna because we always have so much leftover. Not to mention the ingredients have had time to marinate together and by the time you dig in the next day the flavors are bursting with goodness.

Now go get those pots and pans out. Its time to cook so put fear aside and just mix some of your favorite veggies together and add your sauce.

My favorite go to is listed here in detail.  I always make 3/4 with meat and the rest meatless. I also have to have a 3 layer lasagna, it looks beautiful when it is served on a beautiful plate. I plate my lasagna with a side salad and garlic bread because that is a must!

Bake on 375 wrapped tightly with foil for 40 min and uncover for 20 minutes. Let stand for 30 minutes and then slice and serve

Ingredients

  • Oven ready lasagna noodles
  • 3 lbs of meat
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 head of broccoli florets
  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • cottage cheese
  • 8 ounces of mozzarella
  • 8 ounces of cheddar cheese
  • your choice of seasonings
  • 2 cans of pasta sacue ( my favorite is Bartoli)
  • olive oil

No need to boil your noodles if you bought the already baked noodles. So go right to adding olive oil to a hot pan and meat. Season to taste, and remove when cooked though out. Add veggies and more olive oil to the pan, once veggies are sautéed add sauce.

First layer, add meat and veggie mix, half of the cottage cheese mozzarella and cheddar cheese and repeat until you get to the top layer. The top layer will consist of everything with the exception of cottage cheese. cover with foil and bake on 375degrees for 40 minutes then remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Let it cool for 15 minutes and enjoy.

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I am honored

~Bella Donna~

Calzone

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I am so excited to share this recipe with all of you! If you love calzones then please try this recipe. I have made these over and over again and I know that I finally nailed it.

The crust is buttery, crisp, and delicious!!!!! But here is the best part, you only need a few ingredients.

  • Bake 375 degrees for 20 min then turn the oven up to 400 for 5 min

If the crust isn’t firm then place it back in to the oven until it is slightly golden and firm

~Ingredients~ will make 2 calzones

Mix the following together

  • One pack of yeast
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • 2 tsp of salt
  • 2 tsp of sugar
  • 2 tbls of olive oil
  • 3 cups of flour (add enough so that the dough is no longer sticky)

Now form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic and place in the refrigerator for atleast an hour (may refrigerate over night)

Next add the following

  • 1 jar of pasta sauce
  • pepperoni
  • green pepper
  • red pepper
  • etc.
  • mozzarella

 

  1. Fold the two ends
  2. Fold the side and place one side on top of the other
  3. Make sure it is secured tightly or toppings will fall out
  4. Rub olive oil over the entire calzone and place in the oven

Please leave me any questions and follow me for more recipes and much much more!

You could have chosen any blog to read but you chose mine and I am honored!

~Bella Donna’s Flashlight~

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