Bacon Penne Carbonara with peas and Leeks

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For the love of BACON. Lazy nights equal lazy suppers. Although this dish only takes moments to prepare, it definately does NOT lack in flavour! Pasta, garlic, leeks, fresh peas, bacon and cheese. Need I say more?

bacon penne carbonara 2

Ingredients: (serves 4)

  • 3c dried penne pasta
  • 1 lb bacon
  • 1 leek, quartered and sliced and rinsed
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1.5c fresh peas
  • 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • parmigianno reggiano
  • parsley, rough chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste

bacon penne carbonara

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, salt the water. Add your penne, and cook until el dente.
  2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add your bacon. Cook bacon to your liking, drain as much fat as you can.
  3. Once the bacon is almost done cooking, add in your leeks, peas and garlic. Cook until leeks are softened and peas are bright green. (Only a few minutes)
  4. In a measuring cup, gather 1 cup of starchy pasta water and add the 2 egg yolks to the water. Beat the eggs and water together and then pour over your bacon mixture.
  5. Drain the pasta and add it to the large skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley, toss everything together and serve!

Basil Chicken Pasta

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Hi everyone!! What a weekend we have had over here! We had a wonderful dinner with friends friday evening where Jacob (our 13 month old son) got to visit and play with his “girlfriend” who is one month older than him! It was so nice to get to see them play together and eat together! How special. Saturday evening we went to Paul’s parents house to visit with his grandmother. Jacob has never met his great grandmother so it was very special for us to spend some time with her before she went back home. THEN after dinner, we had gone to a friends housewarming party! It was a fantastic (and late) night with friends! I am still exhausted today from not getting to bed early enough! Needless to say, when it came to dinner I really didn’t want to work too hard.

Thankfully in the summer I get to can and freeze home grown tomatoes from my mom, and my mother in laws gardens. I get to can stewed tomatoes, salsa, pasta sauces and soups. How lucky am I? I had one can left of stewed tomatoes, and a basil plant that was on its last legs today. SO we are having a pasta for dinner tonight. What an easy meal to make. Get a pot of water going to boil your pasta, and flavour your tomatoes for a sauce and cook some chicken. SIMPLE.

Hopefully you all had a great weekend whether it was busy or relaxing!!! Here we go!

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESIngredients: (Serves 3)

  • 2 8oz chicken breasts, pounded to the same thickness
  • fresh ground Salt and pepper
  • 1.5 tsp dried basil, divided
  • 1/2tsp thyme
  • 2c stewed tomatoes
  • 1c chicken stock (or just use the starchy cooking water from your boiling pasta.)
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1C loosely packed fresh basil leaves, sliced or torn
  • pecorino Romano cheese, freshly grated
  • 6-8oz dried spaghettini

Directions:

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Season your chicken on both sides with salt, pepper and 1 tsp dried basil. In a med-large skillet over medium heat add 1 tbsp EVOO. once thats nice and hot, add your chicken and brown it on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and on to a plate, cover it with foil. Your chicken will not be cooked through at this point.
  3. Add another tbsp of EVOO to your skillet. Add your onions, brown them. Once they’re nicely browned add your garlic and cook until fragrant.
  4. Add your stewed tomatoes and your chicken stock to the garlic and onion mixture. Season with salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp of dried basil and thyme. Add your chicken back to the skillet, cover, and let cook until chicken is cooked through. This shouldn’t take very long, use a meat thermometer to read the chicken in the fattest part. it should read 165.
  5. Once your chicken is cooked through, remove it from the sauce. Place on a cutting board and slice it all up in to strips.
  6. Add your cooked pasta, fresh basil and freshly grated cheese to the sauce and toss it all together. Add your chicken on top, or on the side. Serve!

Mexican Beef Taco’s with chimichurri

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I made this one night for about 12 people, so I had to double what I am putting down here. it was a huge hit. Serve these bad boys with grilled street corn and spanish rice. They are sure to be a hit!!!!

tacos

 

Ingredients:

-12 corn tortillas

-1 large flank steak

Steak Rub:

-1/2 tbsp each of smoked paprika, chilli powder, oregano, thyme

-1 tsp each salt and pepper (taste the blend and add more if needed.)

-2 tsp corainder

Chimichurri sauce:

-1 bunch of cilantro (stems included. lots of flavour in those.)

-1 bunch parsley (stems also included.)

-zest and juice of 1 large lime, or 2 smaller limes.

-2 jalapeño peppers. for less heat, remove the seeds and ribs with a spoon.

-5 cloves garlic (i put garlic in everything. feel free to scale down this number.)

-1/2 of a small onion, rough chopped

-salt and pepper to taste. Add this in small amounts, taste the sauce and add more if needed.

-1/3-2/3c EVOO, or more if needed

 

Directions:

-Combine all steak rub ingredients in a small bowl and rub ALL over that steak. Make 1/4″ slits with a knife AGAINST the grain of the steak, throw in a baggie and marinate for about 2 hours. (You can skip the marinating. But I wouldn’t.)

-Heat your grill to medium heat. Once hot, throw your steak on the grill. Do NOT touch it until you can easily flip it without the meat sticking to the grill. If it sticks to the grill, that side is not done. I cook mine about 7 mins per side to get a nice medium-rare to medium.

Flip the steak and cook on the other side.

-In a blender or food processor, add all chimichurri ingredients except for the EVOO. Process until finely chopped. Start adding in your oil 1/3c at a time. Blend and add until your desired consistency.

-Take your steak off the grill. Place on a cutting board, cover with foil and let it rest for about 7-10 minutes. While your steak is resting, throw your corn tortillas on the grill and warm them through.

-Cut your steak nice and thin against the grain, and on a hard angle. This will help ensure the steak is not chewy.

-Build your taco’s! Add your steak, chimichurri, guacamole if you want, some pico de gallo..anything! Delish!