Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe

Dinner time! Check out this very colorful & healthy side dish just in time for fall. The sweet and tangy cranberry dressing complements the orange in the recipe. This can be a side dish or an alternative meal option for vegetarians!

Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe 

Ingredients

4 oz. orzo
1 navel orange (about 7 oz.)
2 tbsp. cranberry sauce
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Pinch chili flakes
4 cups/4 oz. baby arugula
1/4 cup/1 oz. chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 cup/1 oz. dried cranberries

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, trim top and bottom ends of orange. Stand fruit on one of the cut ends; remove outer peel, following natural curve of fruit to remove bitter white pith. Working over a bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to release segments; set aside.
3. Whisk together cranberry sauce, oil, 2 tbsp orange juice (from segments), vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and chili flakes; toss with pasta.
4. Stir in arugula, orange segments, walnuts and dried cranberries.

Tips:

• If you don’t have a navel orange, use 2 clementine or mandarin oranges.
• Substitute pecans, pumpkin seeds or almonds for walnuts.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 277 calories, 12 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 166 mg sodium, 39 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 5 g protein

A PastaFits.org original recipe.

More Fall Recipes:

• Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe
• Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
• Jello Brain Food Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread  
• Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Hot & Cold
• Easy Dinner in a Pumpkin
• Baked Vanilla Cinnamon Apples
• Zombie Food
• 15 Pumpkin Recipes

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe

Fall screams comfort food! So many of us have been waiting for cooler weather to make a batch of our favorite comfort food. Pasta dishes are included in this list. One way to make pasta dishes more for fall is to add in ingredients that go with the season, like cranberries! Embrace the flavors of fall and the up and coming Thanksgiving with our festive penne recipe. It makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving or as the star of the show in a fall weekday dinner or lunch.

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided
4 cups/1 lb. sliced onion
2 Tbsp. sliced sage leaves
¼ cup/½ oz. dried cranberries (preferably no sugar added)
4 oz. penne
2 cups/9 oz. Brussels sprouts, halved

Directions:

1. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 TBSP of the oil and all of the onions. Sprinkle with salt.
2. Slowly cook, stirring from time to time until golden (about 30 minutes). Stir in the sage leaves and cranberries.
3. While the onions are caramelizing, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package directions. Drain and reserve.
4. Also while the onions are cooking, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil and cook the Brussels sprouts until just softened (about 5 minutes). Drain.
5. Remove the onion mixture from the pan to a bowl. Heat the same pan over medium high heat. Add the remaining 1 TBSP oil and sauté the Brussels sprouts until browned (about 3 minutes). Stir in the penne and the onion mixture.
6. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

An exclusive PastaFits.org recipe.

Makes 4 servings

More Fall Recipes:

• Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe
• Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
• Jello Brain Food Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread  
• Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Hot & Cold
• Easy Dinner in a Pumpkin
• Baked Vanilla Cinnamon Apples
• Zombie Food
• 15 Pumpkin Recipes

Pasta with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Pesto {Easy Summer Recipe}

Summer is a great time to cook lighter and cheaper meals. I love getting all the in season produce at my local stores, farm markets and road side stands. How about you? Do you cook much in the summer? What are some of your favorite summer recipes? 

Check out this yummy pasta dish which is featured in the August issue of Woman’s Day, now on newsstands across the nation, features two covers and plenty of ways to cut down on costs while allowing you to live and eat the way you want to. 

Pasta with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Pesto

Serves 4 - $1.62 per serving

Ingredients

·         12 oz. fettuccine

·         2 small zucchini (about 8 oz. total)

·         1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

·         1 Tbsp. olive oil

·         1/3 cup pesto

·         Kosher salt and pepper

·         4 oz. bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls), halved

·         Torn fresh basil leaves, for serving

 Directions

1.       Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve ¾ cup cooking liquid, drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

2.       Meanwhile, grate the zucchini on the large holes of a box grater, turning the zucchini to grate the outside first (discard the soft core). In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, olive oil, 2 Tbsp. pesto and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper. Fold in the zucchini and mozzarella.

3.       Toss the pasta with the remaining pesto and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water (adding more if the pasta seems dry). Fold in the tomato-zucchini mixture and sprinkle with basil, if desired.

Here are the two covers for the August issue of Women's Day. Have you seen them? Have you picked one up? Want to chime in? Tell us which cover is your favorite at www.facebook.com/womansdaymagazine. Thanks to Women's Day for giving me permission to repost this recipe. ENJOY!

More Easy Summer Recipes

Best Ever Brownies - everyone loves these!
Mango Salsa
Avocado Feta Salad 
Chunky Guacamole
Blueberry Vinaigrette for easy salad dressing
Easy Chicken Tostadas 
Corn on the Cob with Lime-Chive Butter
Easy Pork Tacos
Aunt Salad
Honolulu Burgers
Spinach Strawberry Salad
Kid Approved Summer Meals
8 Salsa Recipes

{February 7} National Fettuccine Alfredo Day with CopyCat Olive Garden Recipe

My three girls love this fettuccine alfredo recipe. We've been making it for years thanks to friends who shared it with us. Before trying the recipe our favorite was Olive Garden fettuccine alfredo. To this day we will only eat this copycat recipe at home. Make it for your family today. It isn't a low fat or low calorie recipes so make sure you serve it with a healthy salad, some protein and watch your eating before and after for the day!

Fettuccine Alfredo 


Ingredients

1 pint heavy cream (half & half can be used but not milk)
1 stick of butter
2 tablespoon cream cheese
1/2-3/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder or fresh minced garlic
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

In saucepan, combine butter, heavy cream & cream cheese. 

Simmer this until all is melted and mixed well. 

Add the Parmesan cheese and garlic. 

Simmer for about 15-20 min. on low.

Serve with fettuccine noodles.

Kitchen Notes

Check out the original post here which includes tips on how I grill my shrimp and/or chicken to add healthy protein to this high fat high carb meal. 

Keep up with our fun food post by subscribing to our Newsletter and check out other tasty Food Holidays on Pinterest. 

Dinner Time Busy Day Lasagna

Do you have a go-to meal that you can always count on? It is good to have several of those family favorite dinner time recipe to make on a whim. This busy day lasagna is one of those recipes. It is a tried and true family recipe which I got from Rush-Hour Recipes by Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks. It is one of those quick and easy meals you can put together in the morning and then toss in the oven and bake for dinner. 

Busy-Day Lasagna
*I served this for guest and they loved it. It really was quick and easy. I made it 6 hours ahead of time and baked it 1 hour before serving.

Ingredients
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1-1 1/2 c shredded Parmesan cheese
2- 26 oz jars favorite pasta sauce, divided
2- 25 oz pkgs frozen sausage & cheese ravioli, divided
12 oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed, drained & divided

Directions
Combine cheeses in a bowl; set aside. 
Spread a layer of sauce in a lightly greased 13x9 baking pan. 
Arrange a layer of ravioli on top of sauce. 
Spread a layer of spinach on top. 
Add a layer of cheese mixture, completely covering with spinach. 
Spoon some sauce over cheese. 
Repeat all the layers, ending with a layer of cheese. 
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and sauce has reduced a little. 
Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Makes 8-12 servings.

Kitchen Notes
I used only cheese ravioli and my own ground sausage, cooked and layered with the ravioli. The only problem I had with this recipe is that at 25 minutes the cheese was not melted and the sauce wasn't bubbly. So I kicked the stove up to 400 and it was done in 15 minutes. Next time I will just cook it at 400.

Other Dinner Time Recipes

Chicken Crockpot Sliders

Slow Cooker Apricot Creamy Chicken

Slow Cooker Beer Chicken

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

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Family Favorite Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad

We must have been in a bacon mood when I was reviewing the Simple Shortcut cookbook by Gooseberry Patch because I made two recipes from this book! This is a keeper. We all loved it and it is now a family favorite recipe.

Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad

Ingredients

8 oz pkg. rotini pasta, uncooked
1 1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 T. ranch salad dressing mix
1 T. bacon bits (sorry we used 4 cooked and crumbled real bacon!!!)
3 green onions, chopped

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients until well blended. Fold in pasta. Cover and chill before serving. Serves 4.

Get the BLT Pizza Recipe here! This is another family favorite recipe!

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5 Quick and Easy Pasta Meals to get Dinner on the Table

Pasta makes for a quick dinner time meal around here. I try and make sure that there is plenty of protein and good veggies with the meal, too. I have 3 teen girls and they love pasta recipes. Here are 5 of their favorites which I almost always have the ingredients on hand to toss together for them.

Super Easy & Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs

Easy and make a head meal that can be frozen- Mini Mac & Cheese

Crock Pot & Easy Cheesy & Spinach Stuffed Shells

Easy and Family Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo 

Crockpot Pizza Soup- I easily make this every 3 weeks in the Fall/Winter months. I'm not sure why I haven't updated my picture of this meal but plan to, soon! This is an all time family and teen favorite. It is requested when they have friends over, too. 

For more family meals check my Recipe Boxes which are getting a makeover this month! So check back soon to see the tasty changes!

Recipe Box A-E

Recipe Box F-N

Recipe Box O-Z

Menu Plan Monday Link Party & Quick Pasta Meal ideas

Happy Monday and welcome to Menu Plan Monday! We are headed into our last 2 crazy week of summer and then school starts. So for this week I'm sharing with you 5 Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes which we will make a few depending on who is going to be home. I have all the ingredients for these on hand so they can easily be made at anytime! Do you have easy, go to pasta meals like this? With these meals, I will also have fruit, salad or other veggie options.

Super Easy & Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs

Featured Recipe from last week's Menu Plan Monday
Easy Meal Pasta with Goat Cheese and Capers by Lori's Culinary Creations

Easy and make a head meal that can be frozen- Mini Mac & Cheese

Crock Pot & Easy Cheesy & Spinach Stuffed Shells

Easy and Family Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo 

Featured Menu from last week's Menu Plan Monday
Afropolitans Menu Plan

Welcome back to Menu Planning Monday! Thanks to all of you who have stopped in and even linked up! Remember you can link up any menu, recipe, giveaway, review,etc that has to do with FOOD!. If you have a menu plan link up, feel free to leave that in the links too! Have a great week!

I've linked up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday link up. I will pin some of the below post on Pinterest as I have time this week!! Remember each week I try and share a recipe & menu plan each week which was linked up. If you do pin my post, please leave a comment and I will be sure to get yours pinned. Thanks! Have a super week.

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Gooseberry Patch 101 Stovetop Suppers Recipes & Giveaway

Gooseberry Patch has a new cookbook and I'm sharing it with you today! Welcome 101 Stovetop Suppers to the collection of tasty Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks! In celebration of my birthday week, I'm giving away a copy of this cookbook full of family friendly, easy summer time recipes.

This cookbook, Gooseberry Patch's 101 Stovetop Suppers is perfect for summer! Easy meals cooked on the stovetop is perfect for any busy family. There are 101 recipes in this cookbook and I cooked 3 of them already and more marked to cook, soon! Besides the tasty recipes, there is a drool-worthy photo with each recipe. I love the 101 Gooseberry Patch series because of all the photos! In case you didn't know, I'm an Early Bird Cookbook Reviewer for Gooseberry Patch where they send me a cookbook to review and one to giveaway. My own tasty opinions are always expressed here on my blog.

Here are the chapters and a few of the recipes I will try soon!

• Quick & Easy- BBQ Chicken Kabobs, One-Dish Speedy Couscous, So-Easy Pork Fritters, Skillet Chicken Fried Rice, Meatball Soup, Kickin' Cajun Tilapia, Shrimp & Orzo Salad, BBQ Shrimp & Pineapple Kabobs
• Slowly Simmered- Stroganoff-Style Steak, Ziti with Sausage & Zucchini, Pepperoni Tortellini, Pasta a la Drini, One Pot Beef Ravioli, Beef Chow Fun, Creamy Pumpkin Soup, Spinach & Provolone Stuffed Chicken
• Serves a Crowd-Maryland Crab Cakes, Grilled Sausage & Veggie Packs, Coconut Mahi-Mahi, Grilled Tilapia with Pineapple Salsa, Mom's Chicken Riggies, Pineapple Pudding

Family-Favorite Pork Tacos

Ingredients

2 tsp. oil

1-lb. pork tenderloin, cubed

1 tsp. ground cumin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 c. green or red salsa

Optional 1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped

8 10 inch corn tortillas, warmed

Garnish: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocados, sliced black olives, sour cream, shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

-Heat oil in a skillet over med. high heat and add pork and cumin. Cook until golden on all sides and pork is no longer pink in the center, 8-10 min.

-Add garlic and cook for 1 minute; drain.

-Stir in salsa and heat through; stir in cilantro.

-Using 2 forks, shred pork.

-Fill warm tortillas with pork mixture; garnish as desired. Serves 4.

Kitchen Notes-

For this recipe, we used flour tortillas and included spinach and sliced jalapeños as garnish. Easy recipe to cook and make changes that work for your family.

Pasta Puttanesca

Ingredients
3-6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 t. red pepper flakes
1/3 c. olive oil
2 15oz cans diced tomatoes, drained
1/8 t. dried oregano
1/4 c. dried parsley
3.8 oz can chopped black olives, drained
8 oz spaghetti, cooked
Garnish: grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
-In a skillet over medium heat, saute garlic and red pepper flakes in oil until golden.
-Add tomatoes and oregano.
-Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Stir in parsley and olives; cook for another 2 minutes.
-Add pasta to skillet; toss to mix and transfer to a large serving bowl.
-Sprinkle with cheese; Makes 4.

Kitchen Notes-
-We all loved this recipe. I did add in 1 lb of ground turkey to the sauce for extra protein! It was a sure hit and a new family favorite.

Taco in a Pan

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. green peppers, chopped
2 c. water
1 1/4 oz pkg taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 c. instant rice, uncooked
1 c. salsa or to taste
1 c. shredded Colby Jack cheese
1 tomato, chopped
Optional: 1 c. sliced black olives
Garnish: crushed nacho flavored tortilla chips

Directions
-Brown beef, onion and green peppers in a skillet over medium heat; drain.
-Stir water and taco seasoning into beef mixture; bring to boil and stir in rice.
-Cover and cook 3-5 minutes until rice is tender.
-Sprinkle salsa and cheese over all.
-Remove from heat; cover and let stand until cheese melts.
-Top with tomatoes and olives.
-Garnish with chips. Serves 4-6

Kitchen Notes-
-This is a great recipe as is. It works great as a layered dish by letting the taco rice mixture cool. Once cool, layer the meat with the other ingredients, including a can of pinto beans. Serve in a large container with more taco chips.
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GIVEAWAY- 101 Stovetop Suppers by Gooseberry Patch
Enter on the below Rafflecopter form & check back throughout the next week on the form because there will be added *new* daily entry options
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• The Country Cook

101 Mac n' Cheese Recipes & Pinterest Party

Guess what? I just recently reviewed a cookbook with 101 mac n' cheese recipes! It is such a delish cookbook that I wanted to make sure you had a chance to check out the review and enter the giveaway for Mac N' Cheese to the Rescue. Do you have any favorite mac n cheese recipes? If so I would love for you to link them below. I will add them to my Pasta Recipes Pinterest Board and/or my Ding Dong it's Dinnertime Pinterest Board.

My other featured board is my Top 25 Weekly Blog Parties Board on Pinterest. Find out where to find link parties! If you have a weekly party you can be added to the board. Leave your blog party link in the comments. 

HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY Party (all optional)

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please! 

2) Link up your most clicked on post, most followed Pinterest board, favorite pinterest pin, etc...anything goes.

3) Add your Pinterest name to the linky.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

5) Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Cafe and cohost Crystal and Company and 3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.