Easy One-Pot Summer Pasta

Ingredients 

¼ cup olive oil 

3 large garlic cloves, grated

1lb short pasta

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups chicken broth

1small zucchini, diced

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 

1 pint of cherry tomatoes on the vine

1/2cup heavy cream 

1cup grated Parmesan cheese 

A few basil leaves

1 container of mini mozzarella balls

Ground black pepper 

Directions

Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet with a cover, add the garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the pasta and salt: cook and stir until the pasta is toasted, about 3-4 minutes. Add the broth, cover the pan, and simmer the pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes, depending on the pasta you use. Most of the broth will be absorbed.

Add the zucchini, red pepper flakes, and tomatoes, and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the cream, Parmesan, and basil, cook until the cream is absorbed.

Add the mini mozzarella balls, stir, and heat for a minute. Top with freshly ground black pepper.

Serve on pasta bowls with Italian bread.

Air Fryer Tuna Kabobs For Dinner

 Marinade

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 minced garlic cloves

1 tablespoon Greek seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Kabobs

2 fresh tuna fillets, snout 6 oz, cut into 1-inch cubes

¼ cup red onion, cut into 1-inch cubes

Bamboo sticks soaked in hot water or metal skewers, about 4-6 in. Long enough so that the skewers fit in the fryer.

Directions

Combine the marinade ingredients in a ziplock plastic bag and set aside.

Thread the tuna and onion on 4 skewers. Place the skewers in the plastic bag and refrigerate for several hours.

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F and heat for 5 minutes.

Place the prepared skewers into the air fryer basket for 4 minutes and turn the kabobs over. Cook for 4-5 minutes more, depending on how well-cooked you like your fish.

Serve with Greek Salad and pita bread.

Greek Salad

Ingredients

1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 red bell pepper, large-diced

1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 red onion, sliced into half-rounds

1/2 pound feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)

1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted

For the vinaigrette:

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 cup good red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup good olive oil

Directions

Place the cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, and red onion in a large bowl.

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta and olives and toss lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

 2 servings 

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef

1 tablespoon of oil

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

For the gravy 

2 packages of brown gravy mix

1 medium onion, sliced

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

¼ teaspoon dried thyme 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 

Confine the seasonings and mix with the beef.

Form into two equal patties.

Place a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the beef patties and brown on both sides. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Add the onion and the mushrooms and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the powdered gravy mix, thyme, and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Stir until thickened. Lower the heat and return the patties to the skillet, cover the pan, and simmer the patties until tender, about 10 minutes.

Serve the patties and gravy with mashed potatoes and spinach.

Saute until translucent. 

In a large bowl, add all of the remaining steak ingredients and the sautéed onion. Mix until incorporated. Shape into 2 patties. 

Using the same skillet, heat the pan and add the steaks. After one side gets brown, approximately 5 minutes, turn them over and reduce the heat to low. Cook until the internal steak temp reaches 145 degrees. Remove the steak patties to a plate.

Gravy Ingredients

4 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water for a slurry

1/4 teaspoon  garlic powder

½ onion diced

1¼ cups beef stock

½ tablespoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

½tsp browning sauce, such as Kitchen Bouquet or Worcestershire sauce as a sub

Gravy Directions 

In the skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and

onion. Cook for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent, and add the mushrooms. Brown the mushrooms for 8-10 minutes and add the seasonings, beef stock, browning sauce, and Dijon mustard. Mix well, and once it comes to a slow boil, mix in the slurry (cornstarch and water mixed well). This will thicken the gravy.

Add the steaks and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.

Serve with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable.

An Easy Way To Make A Ravioli Dinner

 

Creamy Herb Ravioli

Ingredients

Two 9-oz packages of fresh CheeseRavioli

4 tablespoons butter

2 garlic cloves grated 

¼ cup pasta cooking  water

Salt and cracked black pepper to taste 

1 cup Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

½ cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves or any combination of herbs you like

Directions

In a large, deep skillet, cook ravioli in lightly salted boiling water until just al dente, about 5 minutes. Remove a ¼ cup of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta into a colander.

Melt the butter in the empty skillet and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a low boil and reduce to a simmer. Return the ravioli to the skillet and heat gently.

Serve immediately,

Air-fryer Asparagus

Ingredients

1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed

Salt and pepper to taste 

1 1tablepoon of Olive oil 

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Directions

Combine the asparagus with the remaining ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Marinate for an hour.

Preheat the air fryer 

to 375 degrees F and heat the fryer for 5 minutes.

Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in the basket and cook for 5-6 minutes

Serve with the ravioli.

Orange Scallops With Veggie Friesd Rice

Scallops In Orange Sauce 

Serves 4

1 tablespoon peanut sauce

2 garlic cloves minced 

1 lb dry-packed sea scallops 

Tempura flour or all-purpose Flour, for dredging

1 tablespoon soy sauce 

1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce 

1tablespoom rice wine

1 teaspoon hot sauce or more if you like it spicy 

1 teaspoon sesame oil

¼ cup fresh orange juice 

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Directions

In a small bowl, combine orange juice with soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, and hot sauce.

Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Dredge very lightly with flour.

Add Scallops and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Turn the scallops over and cook the other side for 1 minute.

Add the orange sauce and heat until the sauce is hot, 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with orange peel and serve with fried rice.

Veggie Fried Rice

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided

1 egg, beaten

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 cups diced raw or cooked vegetables (see suggestions, below)

3 cups cold leftover cooked rice

2 tablespoons soy sauce

4 green onions, sliced

(veggie ideas:

Sliced, diced or shredded, raw or cooked celery, green or red pepper,carrots, bean sprouts, zucchini, green beans, peas or snow peas,

Instructions

In a wok or a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil over high heat. Add egg and cook, stirring, until egg is scrambled. Remove scrambled egg to a plate.

Pour the remaining oil into the wok. When it is very hot, add chopped onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 or 3 minutes or just until onion is softened. Add raw vegetables first, followed by cooked vegetables (the first ones into the pan should be the veggies that take longest to cook, like raw carrots). Already-cooked veggies should be added last. Now add cooked meat, stirring to mix well and heat through.

Finally, add rice, stirring constantly to break up the lumps of rice, mix it with the other ingredients and heat thoroughly. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and cook, stirring and tossing, for 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in scrambled eggs and green onions and stir-fry for one more minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Dinner Frittata

 

Ingredients 

4 servings

4 Italian sausage links, any type, sliced thin

1 medium onion sliced thin

1cup sliced bell peppers

2 cooked potatoes cut into wedges

1/4 cup olive oil 

1teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

10 large eggs, beaten

6 slices of your favorite cheese (American, mozzarella, provolone, etc.)

1/4 cup fresh herbs,

Such as parsley, chives, and thyme.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet,

Add the sliced sausage and cook until brown on all sides.

Add the onion and bell peppers and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.

Add the potatoes and sauté until hot.

Add the beaten eggs and cook until set on the bottom and sides.

Arrange the cheese slices on top. Put the pan in the preheated oven and bake until the top is set and the cheese has melted about 8-10 minutes.

Heat the Italian bread at the same time the frittata is baking,

Serve with a mixed green salad.

Keeping It Simple Inside When It Is Hot Outside

 Air Fryer Cheesburgers

2 servings

Ingredients

1? 2 lb lean ground beef 80/20

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons vegetable  oil

2 buns, any kind

4 cheese slices

Favorite toppings

Directions

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.

Season the beef with the seasonings..

Form the ground beef into 2 equal-sized patties, about 1/2 inch thick, making a small indent in the middle of the patty with your thumbs. Place the burgers in a single layer in your air fryer basket.

Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway (after 4- 5 minutes).

At the end, add 2 slices of cheese on each burger & cook for an additional 30 seconds to melt the cheese. Toast the rolls if you like by placing them in the air fryer for a few minutes. Serve the burgers with your favorite toppings.

Easy Wedge Salad

Ingredients

  

1 /2 head iceberg lettuce, outer edges removed, and cut into 2 wedges

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered1 celery stak, cjpped

4 slices of bacon cooked and chopped

1/2 cup ranch  dressing

1/2 cup blue cheese

2 tablespoons green onions chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place lettuce wedges in individual salad bowls.

Tie each equally with all the ingredients and serve.