Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

This recipe is another keeper. All five members of the Heber Sullivan clan gobbled it up. The recipe came from here, but I made some slight modifications. The way I made it serves about 6.


1 T. olive oil
1/2 C. finely diced onion
2 t. minced garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sugar

2 C. heavy cream
dash of cayenne pepper
3 T. finely chopped fresh basil leaves

½ C. shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
1/4 C. parmesan cheese

1 diced fresh tomato

Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until translucent (about 4 min). Add minced garlic and saute an additional minute or two. Dump in tomatoes, salt, and sugar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat and stir in cream. Lightly simmer (do not let it boil) until mixture is reduced by 1/3. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses.

Pour over 12 oz hot cooked whole wheat pasta, I used rotini. (You really want to use whole wheat if you are serving this as a main dish to make it more filling. This is a great sauce to cover the texture if you aren't used to whole wheat.)

Egg and Tomato Gratin

Maybe it was because the boys had spent the afternoon swimming and were famished, but everyone in the family downed this. So despite the fact that this has eggs and, therefore, is only loosely vegetarian, it is still going in the 2009 12 meatless meals my family loves.

I've made it with scrambled and hard boiled eggs. Both were great. Serve it over toasted French bread.

Egg and Tomato Gratin (from Orangette)

Pepper Steak and Mushroom Rice Pilaf

Link here.

Brownies

Recipe from my mom


2 sticks of butter
10 tbsp cocoa (1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp)
2 C sugar

Beat well.

Add:
4 eggs
1 1/2 C flour
dash of salt.

Combine. Batter is very thick. Spread in 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Tuscan Lentil Soup

This Tuscan Lentil Soup is nothing spectacular, but it's good, and every person in my family ate it, multiple bowls even. Therefore, it is going in the top 12.

Salad Wrap

This isn't really a recipe, just a reminder that I can make these next time I'm scrolling through my blog for a dinner idea.

Flour tortilla
Spinach
Lettuce
Canned or leftover chicken
Cheese
Hard boiled egg
Ranch

Fish Tacos

After searching long and hard for the Fast and Easy Tilapia Tacos with Pineapple Salsa recipe I came to the conclusion that it doesn't exist. Instead I think I used this recipe as a guide, and modified it for the ingredients and time I had on hand. Dave loved it and that is saying a lot because Dave usually just tolerates fish.

Marinade (this is copied straight from the recipe):

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
  
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Dice 3 tilapia fillets and marinate while you make the salsa. Wrap in foil and grill, or saute on the stove.

The Food Network recipe has a complicated salsa recipe with ingredients I don't buy. I just made my own pico de gallo with fresh tomatoes, green peppers, red onion, cilantro, salt and pepper and added some pineapple. Last time I made it I may have just mixed pineapple into salsa.

Serve in warm corn or flour tortillas with diced avocado, crema (sour cream with a little lime juice), fish and pineapple salsa.

See fast and easy.