mmmmm: trader joe's bruschetta pasta

i am borderline addicted to trader joe's. there are just so many wonderful things to try! this dish is a family favorite, a huge hit with guests and makes for delicious left-overs. it is also ridiculously easy to make--ready in less than 15 minutes! try it and let me know if it becomes a favorite in your house as well. 


ingredients:

1 box/bag of pasta (you pick). note: tonight i made it with gluten free rice pasta and it was delish!

1 container of the trader joe's fresh bruschetta sauce (you can find it in the refrigerated section near the cheeses and hummus). note: i sometimes make this dish with 2 containers, but it's pretty saucy.

1 container of small mozzarella balls, quartered (you can use two if you are a cheese fan).

1/2 cup of fresh basil, cut. 

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

salt + pepper to taste


directions:

boil water and add some salt to flavor the pasta. then add the pasta and cook as directed.

open mozzarella containers up, drain, quarter and set aside. cut up the basil, and set aside. open bruschetta container (you can choose to heat it up a little, if you wish.

as soon as you drain the pasta, add all the ingredients and serve immediately. the heat of the pasta will heat the sauce and cheese. add salt and pepper to taste. if you decide to cool the pasta before adding ingredients, this dish is excellent cold.
note: i have made this dish with chicken before and it is fantastic.

mmmmm, mondays: eggplant pasta

(recipe and photo credit: real simple magazine)

it's eggplant season and i don't know about you.....but i just never know what to make with eggplant. i was lucky enough to be served this yummy dish at a friends house and it is truly fabulous. this recipe serves 4, but i have been doubling it for the yummy leftovers. give it a try and let me know what you think. enjoy!

ingredients:

1/2 box penne pasta

1 medium eggplant cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup of grape tomatoes, cut in half

6oz fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1/4 teaspoon each crushed red pepper, sea salt, and pepper

1/2 tablespoon of crushed garlic
optional: cut basil leaves to garnish

directions:

cook pasta according to directions on the box.  Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain pasta, and return to pot.

at the same time the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet or pan and cook eggplant until tender and brown(ish)-about 8-10 minutes

add tomatoes, garlic, red pepper, salt and pepper to the eggplant, continue cooking until tomatoes soften, about 2-3 more minutes.

combine pasta with eggplant mixture, add reserved water and mozzarella, toss and serve.  

mmmmm, mondays: orzo pasta with prosciutto & basil

orzo pasta with prosciutto & basil

this is *such* a yummy pasta! the best part is that you can use whatever ingredients you have on hand. don't have prosciutto? use some chopped up grilled chicken or steak. don't love mushrooms? use another veggie that you love. have fun with this! there really is no way that you can mess it up. cook the orzo and your veggies and then mix them all together. SO good!

ingredients:

1- 12 oz box of orzo pasta

2T olive oil

1 package sliced mushrooms

1 c. shredded parmesan cheese

1 c toasted pine nuts

1/4 c chopped, fresh basil 

2 cloves of garlic, minced

6-8 slices of prosciutto

salt and pepper

instructions:

cook orzo as package directs

heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat

add garlic and mushrooms and cook for approx 10 minutes until cooked through then reduce heat to low. 

while mushrooms are cooking, toast pine nuts and set aside.

drain pasta. add to skillet with pine nuts, chopped basil, prosciutto and parmesan cheese. season with salt and pepper. 

serve with additional cheese and chopped basil, if desired.

(this is in the skillet, before the pasta was added)

mmmmm, mondays: bruschetta pasta

this is the standard go-to recipe in my home. it is easy to make, everyone likes it and it makes for fantastic left-overs. try it--you won't be disappointed.

i have two ways that i make it: one is lightening fast (i pretty much just throw together a bunch of pre-made goodies) and the other one takes a little more time, but is 30 minutes. tops.

here are the directions for both:


slower:


ingredients:

5 fresh, small vine tomatoes, diced

1 container of cherry or grape tomatoes, diced

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2-4 cloves mashed garlic (depends on how much you like garlic)

salt and pepper to taste

1 lb. your favorite pasta

1/2 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese packed in water, cut into small cubes OR 2 tubs of the small mozzarella balls (i like to cut them into halves or quarters, but you don't need to)

1 container fresh basil leaves, finely shredded





we are having some people over, so i am using 2 bags of penne (plus, i love having leftovers)


instructions:

cut the tomatoes into a small dice. drain them in a colander (you don't want all of the guts/seeds).

in a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and 3/4 of the chipped basil.

season with salt + pepper to taste.

let sit for 15 minutes to marry the flavors....or leave in the fridge overnight.

cook the pasta (as directed on the box/bag)

right before you serve it, add the pasta to the cheese and the basil to the tomato mixture and toss gently.

heaven.




lightening fast:


ingredients:

1 box/bag of pasta (you pick).

1 container of the trader joe's fresh bruschetta sauce, drained (you can find it in the refrigerated section near the cheeses and hummus).

2 containers of small mozzarella balls (use only one, if you are not a cheese fan).

1/2 container of fresh basil, slivered

salt + pepper to taste


directions:

boil water and add some salt to flavor the pasta. then add the pasta and cook as directed.

open mozzarella containers up, drain and set aside. cut up the basil, and set aside. drain the oil out of the bruschetta, and set aside.

as soon as you drain the pasta, add all the ingredients and serve immediately. the heat of the pasta will heat the sauce and cheese. add salt and pepper to taste.


**note: you can add grilled chicken or shrimp and it is yummy, too!**






hope this ends up to be one of your family's favorites too!




check out these fun cookbooks that use trader joe's items in their recipes: