Main Dishes Archives - Page 7 of 7

Zesty Squash and Zucchini Over Gnocchi

February 16, 2012 by amy 3 Comments

Around these parts we are big fans of squash and zucchini. I buy it all year ’round because it’s one of few vegetables that I know my family will eat. Trying to find new ways to invent the wheel, or in this case make a squash and zucchini dish can be a difficult task. However, I got a little inspiration from this recipe and turned this summer recipe into a warm and spicy winter dish.

If you’ve never tried gnocchi before, this would be a nice starting point for you. Gnocchi is basically mashed potato and flour rolled into little dumplings. They are usually quite tasty to kids as well as adults alike. Since I made up this recipe, I conquered making my very own gnocchi! Sure it’s made out of instant potatoes, but it’s still homemade gnocchi all the same. Look for that deliciousness soon…

Back to the squash and zucchini! Start out with some nice warm extra virgin olive oil in a pan and then saute up onions and garlic to start off your sauce.

Throw cubed squash and zucchini into stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce along with some very zesty spices to create one smokin’ pot of goodness. But in all honesty, the crushed red pepper flakes provide a LOT of heat. If you like that, you can add more. If not, 1tsp is plenty.

Then it’s time to add in the smooth and starchy gnocchi to cool down to spiciness. Toss it together and serve. You can use any pasta that you’d like. I just like the fluffiness that the gnocchi gives with the zestiness in this dish.

Zesty Squash and Zucchini Over Gnocchi

Take your squash and zucchini and turn it into a saucy and spicy main dish!

Ingredients

3 Medium Small Yellow Squash, Cubed
3 Small Zucchini, Cubed
1 14.5 oz Can Stewed Tomatoes
1 8 oz Can Tomato Sauce
1/2 Onion, Chopped
2 tsp Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Garlic Powder to Taste
Dash of Cumin to Taste
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes- This is the heat!
1 Package Store Bought Gnocchi (I use whole wheat or make your own)

Method

Cook gnocchi according to package directions. They will generally be finished when they float to the top.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until translucent.
Add in squash, zucchini, tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat until squash and zucchini start to become tender.
Toss in gnocchi and mix well.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over top. (optional)

Notes

This is really a pretty dish! Might be good for entertaining when you need to impress. Just make sure that you don’t get it too spicy in case your guests don’t like too much heat.

http://www.pennywisecook.com/zesty-squash-and-zucchini-over-gnocchi/

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Filed Under: Main Dishes, Meatless Tagged With: Pasta, Vegetarian

Easy Fried (Yes Fried!) Ravioli

February 14, 2012 by amy 6 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! Need a quick, but fancy meal tonight? These might just do the trick!

I’m not usually one for fried things. My mind associates the word “fried” with evil. Evil as in, this food is going to devilishly make you gain 5 pounds. I haven’t always had these feelings about fried things. Like most people, I really do love my french fries and fried chicken, but actually seeing the process makes me feel so dirty and well, evil. I may not like frying things very often, but I am most definitely not above it on occasion, especially when it involves a pasta filled with something yummy.

At your local grocery store, pick up a bag of the frozen ravioli. I found that Walmart has the cheapest prices of any place I looked. They were around $2.50 there. Of course, you don’t have to use frozen, but the Pennywise method surely does call for the cheapest means and honey, that’s Walmart! Technically that’s the only ingredient you really need. Besides the oil to fry it in, but you may want to have some parmesan cheese for sprinkling and marinara sauce for dipping when they are done. As for the ravioli themselves, you can do this with any that you like. They have several varieties at the stores to choose from. Spinach and Ricotta, Four Cheese, Beef…you name it.

These little guys were a huge hit at my house and I can’t honestly tell you that they will make a regular appearance at my house. But I can tell you that Ravioli is absolutely delicious fried and would make a GREAT get appetizer at a party or get together.

Easy Fried Ravioli

Chang up the same old ravioli by frying them up and serving them as an appetizer.

Ingredients

1 Bag Frozen or Fresh Ravioli (if using frozen, thaw in refrigerator ravioli completely before frying)
Vegetable Oil
Parmesan Cheese

Method

Place oil in fry machine or about 2 inches of oil into a medium sauce pan. Heat to medium-high heat. (Be careful it’s hot!)
Place thawed ravioli into hot oil (carefully!) until it puffs up and begins to brown on one side. Then turn over to brown the other. This is a VERY fast process.
Place on paper towels to drain excess oil. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on each and serve with marinara sauce!

Notes

Be sure to be very careful when placing and removing the ravioli from the hot oil. It can burn you and it’s very brutal if it does. These will fry very quickly so be sure to watch them like a hawk through the entire process. Do not crowd your pan. I fried no more than 4 at a time. This is so they won’t stick together and you have room to flip them.

http://www.pennywisecook.com/easy-fried-yes-fried-ravioli/

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Filed Under: Appetizers and Snacks, Main Dishes, Pasta

Black Bean Burgers Even Your Husband Will Like

February 10, 2012 by amy 1 Comment

Take a deep breath Amy. It’s just the very first recipe that everyone will see here on Pennywise Cook. No pressure or anything. I’ve been cooking for quite some time and I have a lot of recipes to share. So when it came time to pick one to start out with, I had trouble. In the spirit of the upcoming Valentine’s Day I thought what better of a recipe than to share one that the hubby will like too. I do find that leaving out the fact that these include black beans helps to make them a little more appealing to husbands. But after they have one, they’ll come around.

In hopes to get my family to eat more vegetables and healthier, I’m always looking for substitutions. I’m not huge into making fake meat burgers, but I really love black beans so I decided to give it a whirl. With high hopes and confidence I made up these burgers and served them to my family one night. To my surprise, the reaction from the hubby was that of pure enjoyment. He even stated, “they’re acceptable”. If you know my husband, then you know that that is HUGE praise for a meatless burger. I consider him to be a burger connoisseur among the best.

It’s pretty incredible the consistency that black beans can take on when mixed with a few other ingredients and grilled like a burger. They are very moist, much like a very well cooked burger. With all the fixin’s, you’d never even know. Here’s my recipe.

Black Bean Burgers

6 Patties

Black Bean Burgers

Ingredients

2- 15 oz Cans Black Beans- divided, drained and rinsed well
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Mayonnaise (I used reduced fat)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Tsp Dried Parsley
1/2 Cup Plain Bread Crumbs
1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6 Hamburger Buns

Method

Place 1 can of black beans in food processor with onion and Worcestershire sauce and pulse until it’s a coarse puree. Transfer to large bowl.
Mix in the mayonnaise, cumin, cayenne pepper, parsley, bread crumbs, oregano, and last can of black beans. Mixing with your hands is easiest.
Form into 6 patties. Heat oil to medium-high heat and fry burgers on each side until outsides become browned. Usually around 5- 8 minutes total.
Serve on buns with your favorite fixin’s!

http://www.pennywisecook.com/black-bean-burgers-even-your-husband-will-like/