Pasta and Grains

Fettuccini with Shrimp Sauce (Paul)

1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon marjoram, crushed
3/4 pound fresh or frozen shelled shrimp
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup skim milk
2 1-ounce slices processed Swiss cheese, cut-up
2 tablespoons snipped chives or chopped green onion tops
4 ounces tomato fettuccini or medium noodles, cooked

In saucepan, combine chicken broth, wine, marjoram and dash of pepper. Bring to boil. Add shrimp. Return to boiling. Cook 1 minute or until shrimp are tender. Remove shrimp. Cover and set aside. Bring broth mixture to full boil and boil until reduced to about 1/2 cup (approximately 20 minutes). Combine cornstarch and milk and add to reduced mixture in saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Add cheese and chives. Stir until cheese melts. Return shrimp to saucepan and heat through. Serve with pasta. Makes 4 servings.

Risotto (Sheila)

2 tablespoons butter/margarine
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small to medium-sized onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 cup rice (short grain is better)
3-1/2 cups chicken broth or 3-1/2 cups water with 3-1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
Pinch saffron (optional - 1/8 tsp. turmeric is a good, less expensive substitute)
Salt to taste
1/2 cup Parmesan, Romano or Asiago cheese (1/4 cup if imported Romano)
1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Heat together butter/margarine and olive oil in large, heavy saucepan or 10-inch skillet with tight-fitting lid. Sauté chopped onion over medium heat until soft and golden, stirring often. Add garlic and rice; stir until rice is "milky" and opaque, about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup broth and optional saffron, reduce heat, cover and simmer until most liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Add about half the remaining broth, stir and recover pan. Cook for about 10 minutes. Add rest of broth, stir and recover pan; cook until rice is tender and most liquid has been absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes longer. Stir in cheese and optional butter before serving.

Hearty Fisherman's Lasagna (Paul)

1-1/2 pounds frozen cod, haddock, Boston blue, turbot or pickerel fillets
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup sliced green pepper
2 tablespoons butter
19-ounce can stewed tomatoes (540 ml)
5-1/2 ounce can tomato paste (156 ml)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1/2 teaspoon basil
6 lasagna noodles, cooked
12 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Partially thaw fillets and cut into 1-inch pieces. Sauté vegetables in butter until onion is transparent. Stir in tomato paste, tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer 5 minutes. Layer half the noodles in 8-cup (2 liter) well-greased, shallow baking dish. Cover with half the fish, half the sauce and half the cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes until bubbly and browned. Makes 6 servings.

Pasta with Garlic and Bread Crumbs (Sheila)

12 ounces angel hair pasta
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
1/3 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Heat olive oil in large skillet over low heat. Add garlic cloves. Cook slowly until garlic is golden, about 7 minutes. Remove garlic and discard. Add bread crumbs to skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes until golden. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to mix. Remove from heat. Drain pasta. Transfer to serving bowl. Pour sauce over hot pasta and toss to serve. Serves 4.

Spaghetti with Smothered Onions (Sheila)

1-1/2 pounds onions
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pound spaghetti noodles

Cut onions into very thin slices. Combine with olive oil in large skillet. Cover and cook over low heat (simmer) for 45 minutes. Uncover. Cook at medium high heat until onions turn amber. Add salt, pepper and wine. Cook over high heat, stirring until wine evaporates, for about 3-5 minutes. Stir in parsley and remove from heat. Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente ("to the tooth" - not mushy). Just before pasta is done, add Parmesan cheese to onions, reheating if necessary. Drain pasta and serve with onions as a sauce.

Lasagna (Sharon)

Sauce:
1 pound Italian sausage or hamburger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon whole basil
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1 large can tomatoes (2 cups)
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste

Brown meat slowly. Spoon off excess grease. Add next five ingredients. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Cook 10 ounces of lasagna noodles (package directions) in large amount of salted water. Drain and rinse.

Combine for filling:
3 cups ricotta or cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
2 tablespoons parsley flakes
2 beaten eggs
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Slice 1 pound of mozzarella cheese thin. Place half the noodles in a 13" x 9" x 2" pan. Cover with half the cheese filling, half the mozzarella and half the meat sauce. Repeat. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.

Lasagna-the-Easier-Way (Sheila)

1 large jar prepared spaghetti sauce, your choice
10 ounces lasagna noodles
2 eggs
1 large carton ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
2 tablespoons parsley flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound mozzarella cheese, grated

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions in salted water. To prevent sticking and boil-over, add 1-2 tablespoons oil to the cooking water after it has reached a hard boil. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Beat eggs and add ricotta, Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, salt and pepper. Layer half the noodles in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Spread half the ricotta filling over the noodles and top with half the spaghetti sauce and half the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or till bubbling. Or, assemble earlier, refrigerate, and bake about 45 minutes at 375 degrees. Serves 8-10.

Wild Rice Buffet (Sharon)

1 cup wild rice
1 10-ounce can chicken broth
1 10-ounce can water
10 pork sausages, browned, drained and cut into small pieces
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup blanched almonds, slivered

Wash wild rice. Combine with broth and water in a large, covered pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow boil for one hour or until rice begins to open and is soft. Sauté onion and mushrooms in skillet used for sausage. Add sausage, onion and mushrooms to rice. In same skillet used for sausage and onion-mushrooms, combine flour and cream. Stir constantly to make a creamy sauce, adding more cream or water if necessary. Bring to boil for three minutes. Add seasonings. Pour rice mixture, sauce and almonds into large casserole. Mix well and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 10 to 12.

Risotto with Spring Vegetables (Roy)

5 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup butter, unsalted
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup shallots, finely chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup asparagus tips
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
1/4 cup Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 cup parsley, minced
1/2 cup Italian-blended grated cheese

Heat butter and olive oil over medium high heat in heavy deep frying pan, saucepan or casserole. Sauté shallots until soft and lightly golden but not browned. Stir in rice and sauté until well-coated with oil and butter, about 2 minutes. Add wine and rest of vegetables. Begin to add broth, 1/2 cup at a time, adjusting heat if necessary so liquid does not evaporate too quickly. Keep liquid simmering. Stir constantly, scraping bottom and sides of pan until liquid has evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes total. Serves 8.

Eileen's "Pasta Stuff" (Sheila)

Heat some olive oil in a skillet and sauté "too much" garlic (5-6 cloves, crushed). Add about 6 chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in olive oil). Continue cooking for a couple of minutes. Throw in a "handful" (3/4 to 1 cup) feta cheese, shredded. Turn off heat and remove to cool burner or surface. Add about a "handful" (about 1/2 a bunch) of washed, roughly chopped cilantro. Stir to wilt. Serve over angel hair or similar pasta.

Pesto Pasta Sauce (Sheila)

Puree together in a blender:
3 cups fresh basil (or 1/2 cup dried basil)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced

Mix together with cooked pasta. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes.