Tag: Cooking

Family, Food

Pasta with Peas and Bacon

thestlouiscooks

Bacon Pea Pasta

It was one of those kind of nights.  I didn’t want to do take out and I didn’t want to go to the grocery store.  It was time to get creative and pull together a meal with some of the ingredients I had at home. Of course, I picked out some of my favorites – pasta, garlic, peas, and bacon!

This meal was so quick and easy and the entire family loved it. It’s a light dish (not low fat), but light and not heavy.  You could use any kind of pasta and/or vegetable.

Who doesn’t like a dish with bacon in it anyway?

Ingredients

  • 1 Bag of Frozen Peas – defrosted
  • 1 Box of Linguine Pasta
  • 1 Small Onion Chopped
  • 4 Cloves of Garlic
  • 6-7 Slices of Cooked Bacon
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • 4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

Directions

  1. Cook Pasta according to package directions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, add olive oil to large pan and sauté the onion and garlic.  I use a lot of garlic.
  3. Add peas to pan and stir.  Cook the onion, garlic and peas over medium heat and add salt and pepper as desired.
  4. Drain pasta and add to pea mixture on the stove.  Lightly toss to coat all of the pasta and pea mixture.
  5. Break up bacon pieces and add to pan.  Lightly toss bacon into pasta.
  6. Serve immediately and add fresh parmesan.

Enjoy!  This one is a keeper.

Family, Food, Kids, Snacks

Mini Festive Flag

thestlouiscooks
All American Flag Snack
All American Flag Snack

I couldn’t resist making another flag snack this Labor Day weekend.  However, this time I wanted to change-up my old “go to” flag recipe.  I envisioned a smaller flag using raspberries for my red color.  It worked out great.  There is nothing easier than making these kabobs.  I must admit that I think this smaller version is prettier.  This all American treat is always a favorite with the kids too.

Mini Festive Flag

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Take five skewers/sticks and thread two raspberries, two marshmallows and four blueberries.  Follow pattern.
  2. Take seven more skewers/sticks and add four raspberries and three marshmallows.  Follow pattern. Arrange on a platter or dish.

The original Festive Flag recipe can be found on this blog http://wp.me/p3uZx8-U.  It’s a bigger version using strawberries.

You pick your favorite patriotic snack.

Enjoy!

Family, Food

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

thestlouiscooks

Peppers

A little heat and color makes these southwestern stuffed peppers oh so good!  I purchased these beautiful peppers from our local grocery store that is known for its awesome produce, Dierbergs.  And, of course, I doubled the recipe because we like left overs in this house.  However, they did not last long.

Ingredients

  • 6 Peppers of any color (best with four lobes, check bottom)
  • 1 pound of lean Ground Beef
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of Garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of Taco Seasoning
  • 2/3 cup of Salsa
  • 2 cups of cooked Rice
  • 1 cup of Black Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup of Corn (fresh, canned or frozen)
  • 1-1/2 cups of shredded or grated Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese

Directions

  1. Rinse peppers in cold water.  Cut each pepper in half lengthwise, through the stem, removing all seeds.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Brown the ground beef in a large frying pan, breaking up the meat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add taco seasoning, salsa, rice, black beans, and corn.  Cook and stir all together for 5 minutes.
  4. Fill each pepper half with stuffing. Place in large corning ware and cover.
  5. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes.  Sprinkle the cheese evenly over all the pepper halves. Bake 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy these hardy peppers with a light salad or as a meal.

Southwestern Stuffed peppers 2

Drinks, Family, Kids

Summer Smoothies

thestlouiscooks

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

We love smoothies in the summer time.  Heck, we like them all the time. There are so many different types of smoothie recipes out there, but this first one is my absolute favorite.  I always have all the ingredients in the kitchen. Yogurt is always in the fridge and Costco‘s Kirkland Frozen Three Berries or any other frozen berry variety. My best recommendation is to double the recipes.

The Banana Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt or any berry type
  • 3/4 cup of orange juice
  • 1 cup of Costco’s Kirkland frozen three berries (any kind is fine)

Directions

  • Blend all ingredients for 30 seconds to make 2 healthy servings.  Yummy!

Here is another great smoothie recipe based on ingredients we had at home…

The Banana Pineapple Smoothie

Banana Pineapple Smoothie

 

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • Hand full of ice cubes
  • 1/3 cup of fresh pineapple or canned pineapple
  • 1 cup of orange/pineapple juice (or any variety)
  • 1 tsp. of vanilla

Directions

  • Blend all ingredients for 30 seconds to make 2 healthy servings. Yummy!

The beautiful thing about smoothies is you can get creative, try different flavors, use what you have at home and enjoy!