Posts Tagged Italian
Three Cheese Baked Penne
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Italian, Low Calorie, Main Course, Poultry, Vegetables on March 16th, 2010
I needed something quick and easy before I started work and so I came across this recipe. Sometimes pastas can come out a bit bland or the sauce too “tomato-ey” or overpowering. Between the sweet Italian sausage, the three cheeses, and the additional herbs – even my young son (who has turned out to be my worst critic, go figure) can’t get enough!
Your supplies:
2.5 c uncooked whole wheat penne
2 (4 oz) links sweet turkey Italian sausage
1 c finely chopped green bell pepper
1.5 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1/8 tsp black pepper
dash of salt
10 grape/cherry tomatoes, halved
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (8-0z) can garlic and herb tomato sauce
3/4 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 c crumbled goat cheese
1/4 c grated Parmesan
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with spray. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage and cook 2 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add bell pepper and next 6 ingredients; saute for 6 minutes or until pepper is tender. Stir in tomato sauce. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add pasta to pan, tossing to coat.
4. Spoon mixture into a prepped 8 in square baking dish. Stir in mozzarella and goat cheeses; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 7 minutes or until bubbly and top is browned. Makes 6 (1. 25 c) servings.
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 326
Fat: 10.9 g
Protein: 20.8 g
Carbohydrate: 38.9 g
Fiber: 4.9 g
Cholesterol: 47 mg
Sodium: 641 mg
Spinach and Tofu Stuffed Shells
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Italian, Low Calorie, Main Course, Pasta, Vegetarian Entree on January 12th, 2010
Unless you tell, no one will ever be able to tell that the tofu provides the creaminess in this dish!
You will need:
18 dried jumbo shells
8 0z frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dried
2 tbsp green onion (green and white parts)
1 tsp bottled minced garlic
14 oz soft silken reduced fat tofu, drained
1 c loosely packed fresh basil, stems removed and chopped
whites of 2 large eggs or egg substitute equal to one egg or 1 large egg
2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
pepper to taste
1.5 c tomato based meatless pasta sauce
12 oz no salt added tomato sauce
2 more tbsp parmesan cheese
1. Cook shells according to package directions and carefully rinse in cool water. Heat a large skillet over med heat, remove from heat and then spray down. Cook spinach, green onion and garlic until all liquid has evaporated and spinach is heated through. Put in a large bowl. Crumble tofu into spinach and mash/combine well. Stir in basil.
2. In a small bowl which egg whites and add parmesan cheese, nutmeg, pepper and stir this into spinach mixture.
3. Mix tomato sauces together and place half this mixture in a 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish. Fill pasta shells with spinach mixture and top with remaining sauce and parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 mins at 350. Makes approx 6 servings. Enjoy!
Assembling the shells. . .
Your end product!
***I would have put in a tad bit more garlic and if you wanted something “heavier” you can use a meat based sauce as well. Regardless, this was perfect paired with salad and don’t forget garlic bread if you want the whole “complete” Italian deal (refer to Van’s Truly Kick-Ass garlic bread!).
Nutritional Information (per serving – 3 shells):
Calories: 195 (Yup, that’s right!)
Total Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 2 mg
Sodium: 374 mg
Carbohydrate: 31 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 12 g
