Creamy Pasta and Chicken Casserole with Spinach & Sundried Tomatoes

To make this a vegetarian dish, omit the chicken and use soy cheese instead of the cream cheese and parmesan.

Looking for a gluten free meal? Use brown rice pasta instead of the whole wheat!

3c cooked whole wheat pasta
2c broccoli florets
1c mushrooms; sliced
1c onion; diced
2 cloves garlic; minced
3/4c sundried tomatoes; julianned
2c fresh spinach
2t olive oil
1c evaporated skim milk
4T reduced fat cream cheese
4T parmesan cheese; grated
1/2c panko breadcrumbs
2T sherry
1t kosher salt
1t black pepper

- Sautee onions, garlic, and mushrooms in olive oil with salt & pepper until onions are softened.
- Add the tomatoes, broccoli, and sherry and continue cooking until sherry has evaporated.
- Add the cream cheese and evaporated milk and simmer on low until broccoli is tender.
- Toss pasta with the sauce and the spinach.
- Move the mixture to an oven safe casserole dish.
- Top the casserole with the parmesan cheese and panko
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the panko topping is golden.

Serves 4

Did You Know?
Panko is a variety of breadcrumb from used to create a crunchy coating. It is made from bread without crusts, thus it has a crisper, airier texture than most types of breading. Look for Panko in the Asian section of your market.

(Nutrition Information Pending)

Refrigerator Lo Mein

I call this refrigerator lo mein because I make it using whatever is in the refrigerator at the time. You can follow the recipe as written below or sub your own vegetables and protein. This dish works well with shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork. Omit the meat for a great vegetarian meal, or a side dish.

1/4c red bell pepper; julianned
1/4c onion; julianned
1/4c celery; sliced
2T scallion; diced
1c broccoli florets
1c baby corn
1c shiitake mushrooms; sliced
1/4c water chestnuts; sliced
1c pork tenderloin; cooked and diced
3c whole wheat fettuccini; cooked
2 clove garlic; minced
1T ginger; minced
1T canola oil
3T teriyaki sauce
2T sherry
1t dark sesame oil

- Sautee vegetables in canola oil, starting with the hardest vegetables first
- Add garlic, ginger and sherry. Continue cooking until vegetables are just undercooked
- Add pasta, teriyaki sauce, and sesame oil
- Toss with scallions and serve.

Serves 4

(Nutrition Information Pending)

Whole Wheat Orzo with Vegetables and Lemon Zest

2c cooked whole wheat orzo
1c onion; diced
1c red bell pepper; diced
1 clove garlic; minced
1c mushrooms; diced
1c zucchini; cored and diced
1c summer squash; cored and diced
2t olive oil
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
zest of 1 lemon

- Sautee onion, pepper, and garlic in olive oil until onion is lightly caramelized.
- Add mushrooms, zucchini, and squash.
- Sautee vegetable mixture until zucchini and squash are just cooked through.
- Toss vegetables and orzo together with lemon zest.

Optional Toppings

- cooked shrimp
- goat cheese
- feta cheese

Serves 4