Baked Spinach and Ricotta Rotolo
This was a fun dish to make and I made it before I really learned to cook. It seemed a little complicated then but I’ll try it again soon and see how I feel. The creamy-ness of ricotta combined with tomato never gets old.
Chicken Spaghetti
I don’t even know how to describe this dish. It’s spicy, it cheesy, it’s amazing. It sort feels like you’re eating an appetizer because of the Velveeta, but it’s sooo good I don’t care.
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Chicken Tetrazzini
When we first moved to Louisville, we knew no one. It was just me, Larry and Sabrina. After signing Sabrina up to play basketball in 1st grade, we met our new besties, Richie and Sherry. They’re really just one word…RichieandSherry. Before we knew it, we were eating dinner with them and Richie’s parents every Sunday night. This Chicken Tetrazzini dish was a staple on that Sunday rotation. It tastes like creamy chicken goodness, laughter and friendship. The BEST.
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Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta
This definitely feels more like a New Orleans dish than a traditional Italian pasta dish, but nevertheless…this is it’s home. Great flavor and comforting. This is one I keep forgetting about but love it every time I make it. Don’t skimp on the seasonings.
Frankie’s Spuntino Meatballs
Spaghetti & Meatballs? Isn’t that for kids? Well, these aren’t. My sister’s husband AAden made these one time when I visiting them in New York and I couldn’t get over how delicious they were. And this recipe makes a boatload. The pine nuts and golden raisins really set it off and give it that je ne sais qua. I mean non so che succede!
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Frankie’s Spuntino Tomato Sauce
I always thought tomato/spaghetti sauce was complicated. Well, it isn’t. It takes a long freaking time to make, but it honestly couldn’t be easier. Or cheaper. The hardest part is pronouncing it. This sauce is from Frankie’s in New York and it is the real deal.
Low-Fat Lasagna
My step-monster, Julie Churchman, made this a lot growing up. Not only it is a healthier version of a traditional lasagna, but it’s super easy to put together. I don’t know if it’s because this is what I’m used to, but I much prefer this lasagna to a traditional lasagna at an Italian restaurant!
Million Dollar Pasta
I have no idea where I found this recipe but it used to be called Million Dollar Spaghetti. After the first time I made it, I thought…why the hell would anyone make this with spaghetti. I don’t know about you, but I’m a grown up and I don’t need to be splashing spaghetti sauce all over my clothes if I don’t absolutely need to. So I switched to rigatoni and we like it much better. I also added a bit more sour cream and cottage cheese than the original recipe called for. Lastly, I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS buy roasted garlic spaghetti sauce. This is a decadent and MEATY dish…don’t fuck it up with some weird spaghetti sauce that has veggies in it. Gross.
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One Pot Tortellini and Sausage in Tomato Cream Sauce
The perfect big, fat cheesy dish for big, fat cheesy people like me. YUM!!
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Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Lemon, Mascarpone & Spinach
The hardest part of this recipe is pronouncing ‘Mascarpone’ because it’s spelled wrong. It should be MaRscapone (like how Cotija cheese should be Cojita). So yeah, that’s what I call it. Regardless, this is a really nice, refreshing pasta that’s different from the traditional tomato-y dishes. Thanks, Martha!
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Pesto Pasta with Sausage
This recipe is an adaptation my sister threw together one time when I was visiting her in New York. It’s another dish that will feed a crowd. One of the few times I use a microwave when cooking, I steam the cauliflower in the microwave. The rest of the recipe is a piece of cake.
Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells
Pasta is definitely one of my favorite dishes to eat. I LOVE this dish and it makes a TON. So when I have a big crowd, this is my go to pasta dish. I like to use arabiatta pasta sauce because it has a kick. You can also get the same effect by using spicy sausage.
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Sausage & White Bean Gnocchi
This dish is jam-packed with goodness. It’s hearty, has a ton of flavor and is pretty daggone healthy.
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Seafood Pasta Bake
One of my all-time favorite dishes to make and eat. It’s really pretty easy to make and doesn’t take very long. You can be creative with the seafood. I often add scallops and sometimes add lobster if tails are on sale at the grocery.
Shrimp Scampi & Fresh Linguine
A light, quick and easy recipe from Blue Apron. One of our favorites!
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TikTok Feta Pasta
This was the first recipe craze I remember from TikTok. It seemed too easy to be delicious. Well, it’s easy but it’s also absolutely delicious. I can’t believe the complex flavors you get out of this simple dish. You can also add any myriad of meats/veggies to suit your taste. This dish is a no-brainer.
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Tuna & Tomato Pasta
This dish just makes me feel better about myself. It’s got that comforting thing because it’s pasta, but I use brown rice pasta so this dish is just straight up healthy. It’s simple and easy but has lots of flavor.