Recipe: Penne Pasta with Spinach and Bacon

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski

Nothing beats a good pasta for a hearty, healthy, quick and convenient meal. This one includes a great source of nutrients (spinach) with one of my family's favourite flavour punches (bacon). From AllRecipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp. Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
  3. Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture

Recipe: Chicken Parmigiano Casserole with Fresh Basil

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski

From: LCBO

Fresh basil is an inexpensive winter luxury that adds depth of flavour and tantalizing aroma to this layered bake. Serve with a soft mound of thyme-scented polenta or earthy mushroom risotto and the freshest vegetables you can find, simply steamed.

Sauce
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 sweet red pepper, seeded and diced
1 carrot, very finely grated
28 oz (796 mL) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp (5 mL) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (25 mL) finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper


Casserole
8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
4 to 6 tbsp (60 to 90 mL) olive oil
1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 cups (500 mL) fresh Italian or French breadcrumbs
1 cup (250 mL) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup (50 mL) finely chopped fresh basil
8 oz (250 g) mild provolone cheese, sliced or grated

1. To make sauce, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté 2 or 3 minutes or until fragrant. Add red pepper, carrot and tomatoes, including juice. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Partially cover and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in sugar, basil and black pepper. Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.

2. Remove fillets from chicken breasts. Place each piece of chicken, including fillets, between pieces of plastic wrap or inside a heavy plastic bag. Flatten to 1/2-inch (1-cm) thick using a flat mallet or bottom of saucepan. Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Stir flour with salt. Lightly flour 3 to 4 pieces of chicken at a time. Sauté 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Chicken may not be fully cooked. Remove and repeat with remaining chicken adding more oil as needed. Spoon some of the tomato sauce into hot frying pan to deglaze. Stir back into sauce in pot.

3. Stir garlic with 2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil in a small bowl. Add bread crumbs, half of grated Parmesan and chopped basil. Toss crumbs until coated.

4. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch (3-L) baking dish or coat with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup (250 mL) of sauce in bottom. Arrange chicken in a single layer, overlapping pieces as needed. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and provolone cheeses. Spoon another cup (250 mL) of sauce over top. Sprinkle evenly with crumbs. You may refrigerate covered casserole and remaining sauce for several hours if making ahead.

5. Bake uncovered in centre of oven for 40 to 45 minutes (10 minutes longer if casserole has been refrigerated) or until bubbly and top is golden brown. Reheat remaining sauce. Place a small amount of sauce on warmed serving place. Top with a portion of casserole. Pass remaining sauce.

Recipe: Quick Lasagna

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski


Quick Lasagna

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
9 lasagna noodles
  1. Brown beef in skillet with onion and garlic.
  2. Drain fat and add spaghetti sauce.
  3. Combine ricotta/cottage cheese, eggs and milk in a bowl, season with salt and pepper.
  4. Layer a 9x13" pan with just enough sauce to cover the bottom and lay three lasagna noodles in the pan.
  5. Cover with sauce, then ricotta/cottage cheese mixture, then shredded mozzarella.
  6. Repeat until left with a layer of noodles at the top. Cover with sauce, shredded mozzarella and a final sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Farenheit for 30 minutes covered, and 15 additional minutes uncovered.
Best served with a delicious side salad, soup and crusty bread!

Recipe: Easy Beef Fajitas

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski

My mother came to visit last night and we actually made this quick and yummy dinner. One caveat - no matter how you make it, this recipe for Beef Fajitas always ends up being more than you need. The joy of this meal is its versatility - you can add different elements if you'd like (new vegetables) or change up some of the ingredients (cheddar to feta) if you're looking to create some new flavour combinations.

1-1 1/2 lbs sliced beef
2 green sweet bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1-2 packages of fajita seasoning mix (or your own recipe)
1-2 cups shredded cheese (I like old cheddar)
1-2 cups shredded lettuce
1/2-1 cup chopped tomatoes
6-8 large flour or corn tortillas
  1. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onions and peppers until veggies are soft and meat is cooked through. Add the fajita seasoning.
  2. While meat is cooking, prepare tomatoes, cheese and lettuce and arrange in bowls.
  3. Serve meat mixture in a large bowl with additional items arranged on table around it. Each person can make their own fajita according to his or her tastes!
Additional ingredients: salsa, guacamole, cheese con queso, sour cream. black olives, green olives, green onions, red/orange/yellow sweet bell peppers, chiles, corn kernels, beans, sliced chickens, refried beans, tofu slices.

Recipe: Shepherd's Pie

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski


This recipe is not for the "traditional" Shepherd's Pie - in fact, it is much closer to a "cottage pie", as it uses minced beef instead of lamb. Shepherd's Pie has been one of my favourite foods for as long as I can remember - as a child and as an adult cooking for my own family. Although it requires a little extra time to make it the very best, this dish is the kind that can be prepared a day or two in advance and heated up when needed.

And, as with most of the recipes I will post on LifeEdit.net, it makes for great leftovers!

Shepherd's Pie
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped finely
1-2 cups canned corn kernels/sweet peas
salt and pepper
3/4-1 cup beef gravy
3 large baking potatoes, cut in large chunks (unpeeled)
1/2 cup sharp cheese, grated
sprinkle (1/3 cup) bread crumbs
  1. Place potatoes in a large pot of cold water and cook through while preparing the rest of this recipe.
  2. Brown ground beef and onions until cooked through.
  3. Drain and pour ground beef and onion mixture into the bottom of a dish.
  4. Add corn kernels/peas, s&p and gravy, mix thoroughly. Even out the mixture in the dish.
  5. Drain potatoes, mash until most of the lumps are gone (add a little milk if necessary)
  6. Spoon mashed potatoes on top of the meat mixture, use a fork to flatten the top.
  7. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and grated cheese.
  8. Cook in a 400 degrees Fahrenheit oven until the cheese is bubbling on top.

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

posted under by Kalyn Cybulski

I have decided to start a new category in LifeEdit.net; every Sunday, in lieu of a regular article, I will be posting a favourite recipe of mine. It is my goal to provide you with quick, convenient but ultimately healthy dishes that you can incorporate into your regular meal schedule.

Preplanning your dinners is a great way to keep your food budget in control, as well as your waistline. Our goal in the LifeEdit household is to plan out our weekly meals every weekend and do as much shopping or prep work as possible in those two days. Luckily for us, we are a small family for two - larger families might have more difficulty in planning and executing 7 delicious and nutritious dinners! That's where these recipes come in to help.

Chicken Pot Pie
1 chicken, cooked (either at home or a fryer chicken from the store), meat cubed or shredded
2 cups chicken broth (homemade or canned/tetra-ed)
6 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg, lemon juice and pepper
1 med. onion, chopped finely
1 1/2 cup carrot, sliced into circles
3/4 cup of peas or mixed vegetables (frozen and thawed)
1/4 cup celery, chopped finely
Biscuit Mix (i.e. Bisquick), prepared and ready to make
  1. Melt 4 tbsp butter in saucepan over low heat. Add flour and whisk.
  2. After 1 min, remove from heat and pour in chicken stock, whisk until smooth.
  3. Add milk and whisk vigorously over medium heat until simmering and all chunks are removed.
  4. Turn off heat and mix in chicken, nutmeg, lemon juice and pepper. Set aside.

  5. Melt the remaining 2 tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium heat. When butter is foaming, add the onions, celery and carrots until tender (approx. 5 minutes).
  6. Stir veggies (including peas) into chicken mixture and pour into a baking pan.

  7. Top pie with prepared biscuit mixture (can be Bisquick-style or Pilsbury Roll-style; either pour on top or place in pieces).

  8. Bake for 25-35 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, until the biscuit has risen and turned a nice golden brown colour and the chicken mixture is bubbling.