Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

Recipe from here & also from Brittany!

Ingredients

• 2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
• 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix (I used McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning)
• 1 pound wheat penne pasta
• 3 cups marinara sauce (I used Muir Glen Tomato Sauce)
• 1 cup grated fontina cheese
• 1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.

In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. (I also sprinkled some panko bred crumbs on top for crunch.) Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

Zesty Grilled Veggies

Recipe from here.

Ingredients:

4 zucchini (1-1/2 lb.), cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
3 each red and yellow peppers (1-3/4 lb.), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

Place veggies in grill basket.
Grill 10 min. or until crisp-tender, turning occasionally. Please in large bowl.
Add dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese.

Corn and Two-Bean Burgers with Chipotle Ketchup

Recipe from here.

These were really good....except next time I think I'll skip the Chipotle Ketchup and just use my Heinz Chili Sauce...which is the best burger topping EVER.

• YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 burger)
• COURSE: Main Dishes, Sandwiches

Ingredients

• Burger:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup canned whole-kernel yellow corn, drained
• 1/4 cup prechopped onion
• 1 large egg
• Ketchup:
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 
  
• Remaining ingredients:
• 4 (2-ounce) Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns
• 4 lettuce leaves (optional)
• 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato (optional)
• 
  

Preparation

• To prepare burgers, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Combine kidney beans and black beans in a large bowl; partially mash with a fork. Add breadcrumbs, corn, onion, and egg; stir until well blended. Form bean mixture into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) patties. Add patties to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until crisp and beginning to brown.
• To prepare ketchup, combine ketchup, honey, lime juice, chile powder, and cumin, stirring with a whisk.
• Spread 1 tablespoon ketchup on bottom half of each bun; top each serving with a patty, 1 lettuce leaf and 1 tomato slice (if desired), and top half of bun.
• 
  

Sorry for my crappy photo :)

Eggplant and Mozzarella Melt

Ingredients:

• • 2 large eggs
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 3/4 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
  • Olive oil, for baking sheet
  • 1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
  • 1 loaf (8 ounces) soft Italian bread
  • 2 cups store-bought tomato sauce
  • 8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread breadcrumbs in a pie plate or shallow bowl.
2. Oil a rimmed baking sheet. Dip eggplant rounds in egg, then dredge in breadcrumbs, turning to coat completely; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake (without turning) until golden and tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, split bread lengthwise, and place cut side up on another baking sheet; press gently in centers to create a well. Layer both halves with tomato sauce, eggplant, and cheese. Bake until cheese is browned in spots, 6 to 8 minutes.

Eggplant Parmesan

Recipe from Cooking Light

Other Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes minutes
Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

Eggplant:
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
2 cups whole-wheat panko
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 (1-pound) eggplants, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Cooking spray
Filling:
1/2 cup torn fresh basil
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Remaining ingredients:
1 (24-ounce) jar premium pasta sauce (I used 1 & a 1/2 jars)
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup (3 ounces) finely grated fontina cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. To make eggplant, combine 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant in egg mixture; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place eggplant 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes.

3. To make filling, combine basil and next 6 ingredients (through egg).

4. To assemble, spoon 1/2 cup pasta sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer half of eggplant slices over pasta sauce. Sprinkle eggplant with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with about 3/4 cup pasta sauce; spread half of ricotta mixture over sauce, and top with a third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Repeat layers once, ending with about 1 cup pasta sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Remove foil; top with remaining third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts; cool 10 minutes.

Eggplant Parmesan

I had an eggplant leftover from my lasagna last week, so I attempted good ole' eggplant parmesan. Shockingly, I have never made it before. I got a few tips from my friend Julie, and just made it without any recipe, almost as if I was making chicken parmesan. I'll glady take any more tips to improve this delicious meal!

Ingredients:
1 large eggplant
bread crumbs
egg
olive oil
garlic
salt & pepper
mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Peel eggplant (I hate the skin, but you can leave it on), and slice long ways into thin cutlets.
Lay slices on paper towels to get moisture out (5 min on each side worked for me).
Heat olive oil and garlic in frying pan.
Season slices with salt & pepper. Dredge thru egg and breadcrumbs, just like you would do chicken parmesan. Fry slices in pan for 5 minutes on each side. Lay on paper towels to get moisture out again.
Put some sauce on bottom of baking pan. Lay eggplant individually in pan. Add more sauce on top. Bake for 15 minutes. Slice cheese and lay on top and bake for another 15 minutes.
Serve over pasta or however you wish!

Asparagus-Pesto Lasagna

Source: Vegetarian Times

Ingredients
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups low-fat milk, divided
6 Tbs. pesto, or more to taste
2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese, plus additional for garnish, optional
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/4 lb. asparagus spears, tips cut off and reserved, spears trimmed and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 tsp.)
16 no-cook whole wheat lasagna noodles (9 oz.)
2 cups shredded Fontina or part-skim mozzarella cheese (8 oz.), divided (i used mozzarella)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Whisk flour and 1/2 cup milk in saucepan until smooth. Gradually whisk in remaining milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and boil 1 minute, or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in pesto, Parmesan, salt and pepper. Reserve 1 cup white sauce.
2. Warm oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped asparagus (not tips) and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
3. Coat 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place layer of noodles in dish, overlapping slightly. Layer with half of cooked asparagus, 3/4 cup Mozzarella and half of sauce. Add another layer of pasta, remaining sauce, remaining cooked asparagus and 3/4 cup Mozzarella. Top with layer of noodles, then with reserved 1 cup white sauce. Arrange reserved asparagus tips over top and sprinkle with remaining Fontina.
4. Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Let stand 10 minutes; serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Fresh Corn Chowder

I cut this recipe in half when cooking for two. It is good served as an appetizer. It was not filling at all, so don't make it as your only dish!

Source: Vegetarian Times + my own twist

Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups almond milk
2 1/2 cups raw corn kernels, from about 5 ears or thawed frozen
1 small avocado, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
dash of salt
cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Pureé almond milk, 2 cups corn kernels, 3/4 cup avocado and salt in blender until smooth.
2. Pour into pot and cook on low just until warm (about 2 or 3 minutes). Do not boil!
3. Ladle into bowls, garnish with remaining corn and avocado, and sprinkle with cracked black pepper.

Penne with Pumpkin Cream Sauce

This was a pleasant surprise! I was dying to try this recipe, but was also unsure how it would turn out. I paired it with asparagus, which I put on a cookie sheet, drizzled with evoo, salt & pepper, and chopped garlic. Into the oven for about 15 minutes. We had BlueMoon HarvestMoon Beer with it, and it was perfecto! I definitely recommend making this!

Recipe from Rachael Ray

Ingredients:
1 pound wheat penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
salt & pepper
15 ounce can pure pumpkin puree
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for topping
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Directions:
1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water. 2. In the same pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper; stir until melted. Stir in the pumpkin and heavy cream and bring to a boil. Return the pasta to the pot along with the reserved pasta cooking water and toss. Stir in the parmesan; season with salt and pepper. 3. Top the pasta with the parsley and more parmesan.

Penne alla Norma

Got this recipe from Martha Stewart's website!

Ingredients
1 pound penne rigate
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 large eggplant, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup torn fresh basil, plus more for garnish
3/4 cup ricotta cheese

Directions
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain pasta; return to pot.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add eggplant to skillet; season generously with salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until eggplant begins to release juices, about 5 minutes. Uncover; cook, stirring, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes (if bottom of pan browns too much, add a few tablespoons water, and scrape with spoon).
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and 1/4 cup water to skillet; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Toss sauce and basil with pasta; gently reheat if necessary. Top each serving with a spoonful of ricotta, and garnish with more basil.
Serves 4 to 6.