2 Easy Pasta Dishes

By: Hearn2

These meals will please your family & friends, and will take no time at all to have a nice meal on the table.  This time of year its great to have a couple of go to recipes that you can make any night of the week with little prep time.

1. Macaroni & Cheese

The old stand-by with a twist!

1 pound macaroni

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups warm 1% fat milk

1 cup grated low-fat cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

Boil the macaroni in at least 4 quarts of salted water until just firm. Drain and set aside.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and blend thoroughly. Let cook 2 minutes.

Slowly add the warm milk, stirring constantly, until well blended. Add the cheese and Tabasco and continue stirring until the cheese is melted and whole mixture is smooth and thick. Place the macaroni in a deep oven-proof casserole. Pour the cheese mixture over and fold in. Place in a 400 degree F. oven for 20 minutes until hot through and browned on top.

Serves 4.

2. Twists with Chicken & Red Peppers

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 whole chicken breast, skinned and cut into julienne strips

2 sweet red peppers chopped, or 2 roasted red peppers in a jar

1/2 cup light cream

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1 pound twists or any other short pasta

In a large skillet, saute’ the onion and garlic in the olive oil. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat, stirring often for 5 minutes until the chicken is lightly browned.

Add the red peppers and cook for another 5 minutes or until soft and blended.

Add the cream and Tabasco sauce and simmer for 5 minutes more. In the meantime, cook pasta in boiling salted water. Drain. Pour over the sauce, toss well and serve. Grated cheese is a good addition.

Serves 4

Serve these dishes and enjoy all the compliments from your family and friends. A salad and some good Italian bread and you have 2 easy and cheap meals.

About the Author

Hopefully these pasta dishes will help you enjoy a family meal in this hectic month. With a few basic pantry staples you can always have some quick and easy meals.

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