Way back when, I wrote a post about my favorite recipes. Since then, I've learned that cooking is a lot more fun if you know a few "extra" tricks. I recently have added to my kitchen with the purchase of a QD Maker and a mincer/chopper. While I have not taken the opportunity to make any of my hummus quesadillas with that QD Maker yet, my girlfriend taught me a new recipe which opens the door wide open for a lot of creativity (define that word as you wish).
SIMPLE PASTA
Minimum ingredients:
-Pasta (~12 oz.)
-Sauce (~25 oz.)
-Mozzarella cheese (~8 oz.)
Instructions: Cook the pasta, then mix it in a bowl with the sauce and 6 oz. of cheese (e.g. 3/4ths of the bag), then place it in baking dish and top it with the rest of the cheese and cover for 30 minutes at 375°F.
Here's where the fun begins because you can add flavors to this dish in almost any way you want. Personally I like to hit the dollar store (lucky for me, there's a $.99 Only store across the street from me) and add a few more ingredients directly into the sauce. Particularly, I enjoy diced tomatoes and mincing up olives. I have also added meatballs, onions, and/or mushrooms on occasion, depending on my cravings that specific day. Olive oil is always recommended! Ditto for basil, oregano, garlic powder, and/or onion powder.
