Easy creamy pasta

25 Sep 2024 Leave a comment

by A Dreamer in Pasta

I know, I’ve not posted in a horrifically long time, but this is a riff on all the easy pasta reels I keep seeing on Instagram. It’s a little time consuming in that you’ll need ~10-15 minutes to get the water boiling and ~10-15 minutes to actually cook the pasta, but after that, it’s just stirring. I’ve made it like, 3 times in the past 2 weeks, and of course, I don’t have a photo. But it’s easy, tastes great, and is satisfying.

What you’ll need:
– Favorite pasta. I’ve been going with bowtie pasta, but ziti, rotini, whatever you like should work. This recipe is based on a half of a 12 ounce box.
– Butter
– Chicken broth or a bit of reserved pasta water
– Milk or cream
– Grated parmesan cheese
– Favorite seasoning
– Optional: Cooked Protein and/or Veg

Cook your pasta, reserve some pasta water if you don’t have chicken broth, drain pasta.

Put half a stick of butter in the pan (I cut it up into pieces so it melts faster) add back the pasta. Add a splash of chicken stock or reserved pasta water, a splash of milk or cream, and a good handful of the cheese. Stir well, if it doesn’t thicken up to your liking, add some more cheese.

Add your favorite seasoning to taste. I’ve gone with Montreal Steak Seasoning, and Cajun Seasoning, and both were great.

Add a protein if you want. I’ve done chopped grilled chicken breast, and andouille sausage. I’ve not tried ham & peas yet, but I think that would work, too.

Stir more, and enjoy.

New Year, Let’s Eat!

06 Jan 2023 Leave a comment

by A Dreamer in Chicken, Pasta, Quick Prep Tags: , , ,

OK, so there was a time I would have called this a lazy day meal, but no – we’re not lazy.  We’ve all been dealing with a minimum of SIX YEARS of collective trauma, including but certainly not limited to, bad people in charge, a pandemic that won’t go away, an insurrection, and other things I am sure I have simply blocked out.  Oh, and we’re currently missing half of our federal legislature. 

In short, YOU ARE NOT LAZY.  YOU ARE TIRED AND IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE.

So, I want to take a minute to tell you about a nice “Fuck, I’m tired” meal kit I picked up at the grocery store.  It’s Chef Rana’s Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. 

Package of Chef Rana's Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo meal kit

It’s very tasty, AND VERY EASY.  You literally take the fresh(!!) pasta out of the bag and loosen it up and put it in the cooking container (which is included.)  Cut the corner of the sauce pouch, pour over.  Open bag of chicken, place on top.  Put two paper towels over the container and pop it in the microwave for 8-9 minutes, give it a good stir, and it’s done.

Because the prep is so fast, it’s good if you can’t stand for long periods of time, or you could even easily put it together sitting down at your kitchen/dining room table.  I usually make some garlic bread to go with it.  Add a salad or some veggies (frozen peas in butter sauce comes to mind!) and you have a total meal.  If you’re having a “we’re having pasta with a side of pasta” night – it will still work, it is filling and satisfying.  

It runs $15 at my market, but you’re getting 2 pounds of food there.  Still cheaper than MickeyD’s for four.  Or two for that matter. And it has a decent fridge shelf-life, so you don’t have to buy/make it the same day.

I took a snap after it came out of the microwave – but I’d already stirred it and all the chicken sank to the bottom, LOL.  I swear, there is chicken in there!

Square black container with egg noodles and cream sauce