Thursday, September 6, 2018

Perfect Pasta


Angel hair, elbows, rotini, oh my! Pasta comes in many different shapes and sizes (over 150!) and can be paired with an endless variety of foods. Check out these fun ideas to make your next pasta dish perfect:

Plan for Pasta
Pasta can easily be made ahead of time and reheated at mealtime. Want to avoid sticky pasta? Be sure to stir often when boiling and, when fully cooked, rinse with cold water after draining. For a quick and easy dinner, cook ground meat and veggies like zucchini, onion, and bell pepper with a jar of pasta sauce. Mix with your reheated pasta and enjoy!

Make a Meal
Pasta salad can make a full meal. Get your grain on with chilled cooked pasta, add raw veggies like carrots, cucumbers chunks, and tomatoes. Top with shredded cheese, cooked chicken, or hard boiled eggs and finish it off with a light vinaigrette dressing. Try making Chicken Club Salad, Garden Vegetable Salad, or Confetti Spaghetti for your next meal.

Crazy for Casseroles
Have some leftovers that you don’t know what to do with? Toss extra pasta, chicken, and veggies into a casserole dish with 4 tablespoons of flour along with your favorite seasonings. Add in 2 cups of broth and bake at 350 degrees until the liquid thickens. Top with low-fat cheese and bake again until brown. Or try our Chicken and Kale Casserole if you need a simple and tasty meal idea.

Tip: Make it Whole
Use whole grain pasta when you can.  Try to make at least half of your grains whole grains. Whole grains are a great source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals and can help with heart health and digestion.

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