pickycook.com | stuffed shells with "sausage" and mushrooms

every time i make this i think of the soprano's. i wonder what carmela's is like? Read More

this bell pepper and olive pasta is now one of our favorites. the briny olives combined with the peppers and onions is crazy good. the best part of this recipe is it is flexible. you really could use whatever vegetables float your boat - it is all about the olives in my opinion. as long as that briny flavor from the olives is there it will be amazing. Read More

farfalle with broccoli and feta

this farfalle with broccoli and feta is a go-to dinner for us. the flavors are bold and it is very doable for a weeknight. the broccoli gives you the feel good part - tastes good and is good for you - and the feta plays incredibly well with the broccoli. it gives it that quick punch of flavor that would be sorely missing from this dish if it were omitted. the garlic and the lemon come together to make a very familiar set of flavors i love. all in all - easy and flavorful. Read More

mushroom ravioli with creamy sundried tomato sauce

i also use this sauce with penne - it makes for a really yummy "adult mac and cheese. Read More

orzo with roasted vegetables

this is another lovely pasta dish adpated from the great one (ina garten). the orzo goes nicely with the roasted vegetables - it is small enough to not get in the way of the vegetables - but does a nice job of providing some substance to the dish. the bright lemon vinaigrette pulls the vegetables and orzo together. i totally forgot the pine nuts but the feta was a nice bite on top of the dish.

pasta and vegetables with warm lemon vinaigrette

oh my - talk about an improvement to pasta salad. the warm vinaigrette with the garlic, mustard and lemon juice - this is an instant hit in our house. i thought of calling it "clean out the produce drawer pasta" because you could really use any vegetables that you like raw. the best part about it - besides the taste - is it is so quick to make. Read More

penne with 5 cheeses

this pasta dish of Ina's is to die for. it is a creamy and cheesy adult style macaroni and cheese with the volume turned up. the combination of all the cheeses give it an incredible flavor - and whatever you do - DO NOT skip the smoked mozzarella.
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penne with zucchini in a lemon parmesan cream sauce

this pasta is definitely one of those quick and easy dishes. it really does come together with very little prep and takes only a bit longer than it takes you to cook the pasta. the zucchini matches up well with the lemon and parmesan cream sauce. the brightness from the lemon helps the cream sauce to not feel to heavy and the parmesan - well who doesn't love a good cheese sauce. a good sprinkling of black pepper helps to give it a nice bite. Read More

quick slow roasted tomato sauce

slow roasting the tomatoes helps to develop the sugars in the tomatoes and pulls all the juices to the surface. it is the ideal way to treat less than wonderful tomatoes. i decided to use the tomatoes for a simple tomato sauce for spaghetti. everything about this recipe is simple and it produces big flavor. Read More

roasted tomato and olive couscous

the flavors in this recipe are incredible. roasting brings out the best in the tomatoes, the vinegary bite of the olives matches perfectly with the tomatoes. i really like pearl (or Israeli) couscous. i am not a fan of the regular couscous - i think it disappears in a dish. the pearl sized holds up well against other ingredients. the tomato vinaigrette is bright and is a interesting use of the tomatoes. it helps get that tomato flavor into the couscous. Read More

roasted vegetable ragu

roasting the vegetables gives them the "heartiness" they needed to stand up in this ragu. baking the sauce after roasting the vegetables gave it a great depth of flavor - rather than it tasting like a marinara with some vegetables added. the vegetables and the sauce baked together and gave it that slow cooked taste i so miss in a meat sauce. i think even meat eaters would agree that this is an excellent substitution. Read More

spaghetti sauce

this spaghetti sauce is a balance of heat and bite. the red pepper flakes give it the heat while the red wine and vinegar give it the right amount of bite. the turning point in spaghetti sauce for me was the fire roasted tomatoes. they give this sauce an amazing smoky depth of flavor that cannot be achieved with regular tomatoes. i make this sauce with the meatless crumbles and without. it is excellent either way. serve this sauce over good ole fashioned spaghetti noodles. Read More

spaghetti with grilled tomatoes and lemon

i love the flavor of the grill. the smoky slow heat does magical things to vegetables. i often throw tomatoes on the grill just to slightly soften them and impart that smoky flavor. i also grill citrus to squirt over vegetable and pasta dishes. the heat makes the citrus swell with their juice and the grill marks are just to darn beautiful. Read More

stuffed shells

i got this recipe from a friend and made a couple tweaks to make it veggie. it takes some time to stuff the shells, but it is so worth it. and it keeps well in the fridge as leftovers. Read More

tortellini pasta salad with tomatoes olives mozzarella and carrots

i make all different kinds of pasta salad - the variations are endless really. the one constant is the warm lemon vinaigrette. it is the best thing since sliced bread - no joke. something magical happens to a vinaigrette when warmed. all the flavors are a bit more available and bright. it seems to penetrate the tomatoes, carrot, olives, mozzarella and pasta more than a cold vinaigrette. don't believe me - TRY IT! you will not be disappointed. Read More

tortellini salad with cranberries pecans and feta

this salad is the perfect early fall dinner. i am still craving the light dinners of summer but i am ready for the comforting flavors of fall. the rich buttery pecans give a wonderful crunch, the cranberries have just the right tartness, the creamy sharp feta is an indulgence and this balsamic vinaigrette is one of my favorites. i use white balsamic vinegar in addition to the regular balsamic because i think it adds a bright flavor. the cheese filled tortellini is the perfect foundation for all these flavors.

you need to do me one favor if you make this salad - be sure to get a bit of everything on your fork with each bite - the combination of all the ingredients is mind blowing! Read More

vodka penne - penne alla vodka

this is a perfect dish for entertaining. it is not that involved and doesn't create a huge mess. and besides - who doesn't love pasta! i usually serve it with some good crusty bread and a salad of mixed greens with a red wine vinaigrette.

the smoky flavor that the vodka gives to the sauce is a delight. it takes an otherwise boring marinara sauce and brings it to the next level. lots of garlic and other spices make it intensely flavorful. the cream and the butter make the sauce so silky and gives it some structure. taking the pasta out of the water before it is all the way cooked and letting it finish in the sauce really lets the sauce penetrate the noodles. one of the best parts - it is even better than the next day. Read More