peas

Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto, a dish with a difference

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What could be more eye catching than ring-shaped pasta? Tortellini (read here other news) those little circles of meat or cheese-filled pasta – livens up any plate.

They are sometimes called belly-button pasta and can be an interesting switch from spaghetti and fettuccine and regular shaped pasta choices

To make the tortellini you need salt, 1 pound meat-filled tortellini, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 4 ounces prosciutto, finely chopped, 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 cup peas, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, and ½ cup grated parmesan cheese.

To prepare you first heat a large skillet over a medium flame and heat oil and prosciutto and cook until it’s crisp.

Add 1 cup of pasta water and simmer for about 3 or 4 minutes and add cream continuing to simmer until thickened.

Just before the tortellini is done add the peas to eater and cook until they are tender. Drain the pasta and the peas and place in a skillet and coat with the sauce and add parsley and sprinkle with cheese.

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Pasta primavera

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Pasta primavera is a dish made from pasta and fresh vegetables. Sometimes chicken is added but the meal is usually vegetables only. Ingredients such as broccoli, carrots, peas, onions, and green bell peppers, and tomatoes can be used. The pasta used can be bowtie or penne.

To make pasta primavera you will need 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips, 2 medium zucchini, cut into thin strips, 2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips, 1 onion, thinly sliced, 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips, 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs, 1 pound bowtie pasta, 15 cherry tomatoes, halved, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.

Next preheat an oven to 450 degrees F and on a large heavy baking sheet, toss all the vegetables with oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.

Put half of the vegetable mixture onto a large baking sheet and arrange evenly. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes.

Cook the pasta in a separate bowl of water until al dente for about 8 minutes. Next toss the pasta with the vegetables in a large bowl and combine.

Add the cherry tomatoes and enough of the left over cooking water to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

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Arancini, meaty rice balls

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arancini

Arancini is an Italian dish said to have originated in Sicily and is typically served in the Sicilian port city of Messina.

The meal is fried, stuffed, rice balls which are coated with breadcrumbs and filled with meat sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and peas. Some other variations also include mushrooms, pistachios or eggplant.

The ingredients include vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, beaten, 2 cups Risotto with mushroom and peas, ½ cup parmesan, grated, 1 ½ cups bread crumbs, salt, and 2 ounces mozzarella, cubed.

For the rice mixture all that is needed is 500g of risotto, chicken or beef stock, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 medium egg and ¾ cup Parmesan.

To make the risotto melt butter in a large pan add rice and fry for a few minutes. Add stock and stir into the rice until cooked. Leave to cool at room temperature.

Then combine eggs, risotto, parmesan, and bread crumbs. Fold mixture into balls and coat with remaining bread crumbs. Place one mozzarella cube in the centre of each ball.

Add oil to a large saucepan and heat over medium flame, add balls and fry until golden brown. Add salt to taste.

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Shepherd’s Pie, hearty filling food

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shepherds_pie
Whether you call it a Shepherd’s Pie or a Cottage Pie, if a down-home hearty meal is what you’re searching for then this dish is the tasty, filling, traditional choice.

Shepherd’s Pie is an English or Irish dish traditionally made with mashed potatoes, mutton or lamb but is now most often made with minced beef. It can be topped with cheddar cheese for an extra zingy flavour.

The ingredients include two pounds of potatoes, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, garlic, salt, grounded pepper, dried thyme, ¼ all-purpose flour, 2 pounds ground beef, 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup of whole milk, 1 large onion chopped, tomato paste, ½ cup peas, and 6 carrots diced.

To prepare first preheat the oven to 450. Boil potatoes until tender; Drain and crush with milk. In a separate saucepan, heat vegetable oil, add ground beef, flour, onion, carrots, thyme, garlic, peas, and tomato paste. Cook beef until browned.

In a casserole, pour beef and carrot filling. Add the potato topping using a spatula to spread over beef. Add grated cheese and bake in an oven for 20 minutes or until topping is browned. Let sit five minutes before serving.

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