Tasty Tuesday

I have been out of commission quite a bit this summer! I am pregnant with #2, and in the midst of finding out, we’ve moved, become first-time homeowners, and I was recently in the hospital with bad head pains.

Ugg!

When life gets crazy, having simple, easily thrown together recipes are key to survival. With school starting in just a few weeks (augh! I don’t have school-aged children, but my husband is a teacher, so it feels just as jarring for school to start), these quick and easy recipes will be essential! It’s hard getting re-adjused to the School Year Schedule, with the addition of busrides, homework, and Fall Sports. Make sure to keep good recipes on hand!

One of my favorite quick and easy recipes for crazy nights is Baked Ziti. Sadly, even though I am 50% Italian, I only recently learned how to make Ziti. And I felt pretty sheepish, when I realized just how simple it is and how fast it comes together! This is great to throw together in the morning (or the night before), so it is ready to thrown into the oven when you get home. 30 minutes later, and you have a warm and tasty dinner! Add a bagged salad and a loaf of crusty bread, and your family will be full and satisfied (and hopefully will provide some leftovers as well!)

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Baked Ziti

•1 lb (1 box) ziti pasta

•1 jar of prepared tomato sauce

* I TBS of minced garlic

•15-16oz of Ricotta Cheese

•2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1) Cook pasta according to package directions, drain.

2) While pasta is cooking, combine sauce, ricotta cheese, garlic, and 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese in a mixing bowl. When pasta is done/drained, combine with the cheese/sauce mixture. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

3) Spread into 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes

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I like adding the garlic to give it more of a “homemade” taste. This recipe comes out perfect every time, and is a real crowd pleaser. Yum!

Have a great week, and make sure to enjoy these last few weeks of Summer!

You can read more about Steph’s life and recipes at her personal blog, Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom

Tasty Tuesday

Welcome to another installment of Tasty Tuesday here at Chester County Moms! I’ve been trying to mix it up (no pun intended) with recipes for every course: main meals, desserts, sides, etc. Since Cookouts will soon be the summer staple dinner of choice, I wanted to throw out a great family recipe (from my family, of course) for an amazing summer side!

We all have pasta salad and macaroni salad recipes in our Recipe Repertoire. The recipe I bring you today is a macaroni salad recipe that my mom, Georgine, makes. I’ve grown up with it, so I love it. But, I’ve made it a lot for cookouts and parties, and I get a great reception over it every time. With the addition of green olives, it has a kick that many other macaroni salads do not have, and I think it is a cut above the rest 🙂

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Georgine’s Macaroni Salad

• 1 box (1lb) Elbow Macaroni, cooked, drained and cooled according to package directions
• 1 cup of chopped green olives with pimentos (reserve 2 TBS of the olive juice from the jar)
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1 stalk of celery, chopped (I don’t like celery, so I don’t use it!)
• 1 to 1-1/2 cups of mayonnaise

Combine the pasta, olive juice and mayonnaise (if you like mayonnaise, use the higher amount listed). Add chopped olives, celery and shredded carrots. Combine and enjoy!

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So great! Again, I don’t like celery (I know, it doesn’t taste like anything – but I think it’s the crunch it adds that I don’t like), so I don’t use it. If you want to get crazy, add a little Red Bell Pepper! So many options!

I’ll bring some more great Summer recipes over the next few weeks, so check back!

You can read more about Steph’s life and recipes at her blog, Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom.

Tasty Tuesday

I came up with this recipe during the blizzard season from a few months ago. While enduring Cabin Fever, after being cooped up for several days on end, I couldn’t help but develop a craving for restaurant food. My body wanted OUT of this house, and AWAY from the same food we’d been eating for days on end.

I have found that being able to recreate restaurant meals at home is a great way to save money. For a fraction of the cost of eating out, you can enjoy the same great tastes with your family. I love this. And trying to imitate the recipes juuuuust right is a fun adventure.

This recipe is my version of a simple Olive Garden favorite – “Capellini Pomodoro.” I order it almost every time I go to Olive Garden. I realized it is a super simple meal, one that I should be able to make at home. So I tried. And it worked. And it’s GOOD.

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Steph’s Linguine with Tomatos, Garlic and Basil

• 1 box of Linguine (I used 100% Whole Wheat)
• 1-2 TBS Olive Oil
• 1-2 heaping TBS Minced Garlic (depending on your taste buds)
• 1 can of Petite Diced Tomatoes, partially drained (leave a bit of the juices)
• 1/4 cup of Fresh Basil, chopped (or 1 tsp of dried basil)
• (Optional) Grated Parmesan Cheese

1) Prepare Linguine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2) While Linguine is boiling, eat Olive Oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, and saute 2 minutes (do not overcook). Add tomatoes (with reserved juices) and basil. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until mixtures is almost bubbling.

3) Add the linguine to pan, and toss with the tomato mixture for 1-2 minutes.

4) Transfer to serving bowl, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese if you like.

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Not only is this meal tasty, but it comes together in a SNAP for those crazy week night dinners. It is so simple, without losing any ounce of deliciousness. Those are my favorite kind of meals!

I hope you enjoy – leave a comment below to let us know how this turns out for you!

You can read more about Steph’s life and recipes at her other blog, Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom…

Tasty Tuesday

How are we surviving here in the southeastern corner of PA? Are you tired of all this snow? How have you been spending your snowed-in days? I have spent my snow days cooking and baking! Whenever there is a good possibility of a storm, I head to the grocery store to stock up. Nope, not on eggs and milk. Rather, on the ingredients that will become beautiful culinary creations that I can enjoy despite the raging storms outside!


With that said, I cannot wait for Spring 🙂


Heading back to the topic of recipes, I have an awesomely SIMPLE recipe to share with you today. I truly believe that we often overlook the simple recipes. And it is a shame – because sometimes the simple recipes make the best meals! Sometimes, they are SO simple, that I want to hit myself in the forehead and say, “Duh, Steph.” But, I put away my pride and enjoy the simplicity!


The recipe I have for you today is 2 ingredients. TWO. Does that blow your mind? I promise that it tastes awesome. The recipe can be served as a meal, alongside some veggies and bread. It can also be served as the side dish to a main meal for several people. It’s up to you. Also – it is meatless, so DOUBLE SCORE!

Easy Tortellini

• 1 bag of tortellini (I highly recommend Barilla’s Ricotta and Spinach Tortellini – 1 small bag for 2 or 3 people, or 1 large bag for a family)

• Italian Dressing (I like flavored Italian dressing, like Kraft’s Roasted Red Pepper Italian dressing – although I’m not sure they make it anymore)

1) Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Drain.


2) Pour enough dressing on to coat, about 1/4 cup, give or take

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And…that’s it. For whatever reason, it’s super tasty. You can control the fat and the intensity of flavor. The recipe also allows you to use your creativity (which I ALWAYS encourage) – try 4 cheese tortellini and balsamic vinaigrette. Meat Tortellini with Asian Toasted Sesame dressing. There are tons of combinations, so don’t be shy!


Friends, cooking does NOT have to be complicated. Why spend an hour on dinner, when you can spend 15? And your kids love it? And you aren’t exhausted afterwards? So don’t feel bad using simple, straight-forward recipes. You are not cheating the system. You are embracing the system.


It can be our little secret. I won’t tell if you won’t…




You can read more about Steph and her recipes at her other blog, Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom.