Uncle Bills Asparagus Pasta Primavera Food

ONE RECIPE, TWO MEALS: PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini and cook until al dente, according to the box directions. Save a cup of the pasta water and drain the rest.
• At this point, scoop out two cups of the cooked pasta and place it back in the pot. Add 1/4 cup chicken stock and 1 tablespoon butter. If needed, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water to create a thin sauce. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and stir to combine.
• Serve to your kids as is, or with 1/4 cup warmed peas, with extra grated Parmesan on top.
• Place the remaining cooked pasta back in the pot.
• In the meantime, heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli florets and asparagus pieces to the pan. Add 1/4 cup water and cover to steam, about 3 minutes.
• To the pan, add the cherry tomatoes, white wine, garlic, thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons butter and the remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let saute for a few more minutes until the colors pop. Finally, add the peas and toss. Off the heat, add the last tablespoon of butter and another 1/3 cup Parmesan. If needed, stir in a little of the reserved pasta water to create a sauce. Toss to combine.
• Serve the adult-friendly pasta primavera with fresh parsley and more Parmesan-and that extra white wine, for Pete's sake!

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• For the vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and cook for 1 minute. Then add the broccoli; cook for another minute. Add the red peppers; cook 1 minute more. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.
• To the skillet, add the butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil; allow to heat up. Add the mushrooms, zucchini and squash, and cook until starting to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and add them to the other vegetables. Set aside.
• For the sauce: Add the garlic and onions to the skillet, and cook until starting to turn translucent, about 2 minutes.
• Next, pour in the chicken broth and wine; stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen all the flavorful bits. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until reduced by about half. Stir in the cream and Parmesan, and allow the cheese to melt. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
• Add the cooked vegetables to the sauce, along with the peas and basil; stir to combine. If the sauce needs a little more liquid, splash in a small amount of broth. Place the cooked pasta in a large serving bowl and pour all the contents of the skillet over the pasta; toss to combine. Sprinkle with extra basil, and serve with extra Parmesan.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook garlic until soft, about 1 minute. Add peppers and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, asparagus and tomatoes and cook until softened, an additional 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute more. Add chicken stock, milk, salt and pepper and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until liquid has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in carrot strips.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with vegetables and sauce. Add pasta water, if necessary, to loosen mixture. Serve garnished with Parmesan, parsley and basil.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH PEAS, ASPARAGUS AND KALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; add the peas, asparagus and kale to the pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking and stir occasionally. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and vegetables.
• Meanwhile, combine the olive oil, all but 2 tablespoons chives, the lemon zest and juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. Add 3 tablespoons cold water and pulse until smooth, scraping down the inside of the blender. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the tarragon and drizzle with olive oil.
• Add the pasta and vegetables to the chive puree along with 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water and half of the cheese; season with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat, adding more cooking water to loosen, if necessary. Serve topped with the remaining cheese and chives.

CREAMY PENNE PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat-high heat; saute asparagus and carrots until tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic; saute until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir Parmesan cheese, cream, and black pepper into vegetable mixture until cheese melts and sauce is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta to sauce and toss to coat.

CHEF JOHN'S PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Hold basil bunch by the stems and dip basil leaves in boiling water until bright green, about 2 seconds. Immediately immerse basil in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the basil is cold, drain well. Remove basil leaves from stems and discard stems.
• Blend basil leaves, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup olive oil, and garlic together in a blender until smooth.
• Stir fettuccine into the same pot of boiling water, bring back to a boil, and cook pasta over medium heat until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir leek and green onion in hot oil until softened, about 5 minutes. Add jalapeno and salt; cook and stir until jalapeno is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Stir 2 cups chicken broth, zucchini, sugar snap peas, and English peas into jalapeno mixture; bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and continue cooking until asparagus is soft, about 3 minutes more.
• Pour 1/4 cup basil-garlic mixture into zucchini mixture and cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Place pasta in a large bowl; pour zucchini mixture over pasta and pour remaining basil-garlic mixture over the zucchini mixture. Spread Parmesan cheese over the top. Toss mixture briefly to combine and tightly wrap bowl with aluminum foil. Let stand until pasta and vegetables soak up most of the juices and oil, about 5 minutes. Toss again.

HEALTHY PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in an extra-large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add asparagus, mushrooms, and squash; cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, carrot, garlic, oregano, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes; cook until tomatoes begin to soften, about 1 minute.
• Drain penne; stir into vegetable mixture along with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Top servings with remaining cheese and serve with lemon wedges.

UNCLE BILL'S ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
• Add garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus; cover and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the mushrooms, ham, basil, oregano and rosemary.
• Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper.
• Cook 3 minutes longer or until heated through.
• Meanwhile, cook linguine according to package directions.
• Drain and place in a large bowl.
• Add asparagus mixture and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

PRIMAVERA WITH PROSCIUTTO, ASPARAGUS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the pasta for 8 minutes; add the asparagus, carrot and snap peas and cook for 3 minutes. Check the pasta and vegetables to make sure they're cooked through but still have texture, then drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan, add the ham and shallot and cook until lightly browned, 3 minutes or so. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the cream, stock and mustard and simmer for a minute or two, scraping up any brown bits.
• Add the pasta and vegetables to the pan. Toss and cook for another 2 minutes, until cooked through and the pasta is coated. Taste for seasoning, add salt if necessary and serve immediately in warm bowls.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a stock pot.
• Add asparagus; cook 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Add pasta to boiling water; cook according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
• Cut the chicken crosswise into 1/4 inch wide strips.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken; saute 5 minutes.
• Add asparagus, peas, salt, pepper, and garlic; saute 2 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Stir in cream and juice; cook 1 minute.
• Add pasta and cheese; stir well to coat.
• Remove from heat; stir in basil, green onions, and parsley.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH PROCIUTTO, ASPARAGUS, AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt it generously, and start cooking the pasta. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the asparagus and carrots and cook for 3 minutes (for example, for a 9 minute penne, add the veggies at the 6 minute mark, or for a 14 minute penne, add them at the 11 minute mark). Check the pasta and vegetables to make sure they're cooked through but still have texture, then drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the ham and shallot, and cook until lightly browned, 3 minutes or so. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the cream, stock, and mustard, and simmer for a minute or two, scraping up any brown bits.
• Add the pasta and vegetables to the pan. Toss and cook for another 2 minutes, until cooked through and the pasta is coated. Taste for seasoning, add salt if necessary, and serve immediately in warm bowls with grated Parmesan available.

UNCLE BILL'S BOW TIE PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot or pasta pot, add 16 cups of water or until 3/4 full in pot.
• Add olive oil and salt and bring to boil.
• Add bow tie pasta and cook uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until el-dente.
• In the meantime, break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• Place asparagus in a small 5" x 8" microwave safe casserole dish.
• Add 2 tablespoons of water to dish.
• Place dish in microwave and cover with a plastic round cover.
• Microwave on HIGH (full power) for 4 minutes.
• Immediately remove from microwave, drain and immerse in cold water to cool.
• When cooled, drain and cut asparagus into 1/2" pieces; set aside.
• In a small frying pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, onions and red hot pepper flakes and saute on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or until onions are translucent, stirring often.
• In a medium-size saucepan on medium-high heat, add 1/2 cup of butter, cream cheese, whipping cream and lemon juice.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.
• Add garlic/onion mixture to cream cheese mixture and whisk well to blend.
• Add nutmeg, pepper, salt and parmesan cheese and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken; stirring often.
• When bow tie pasta is cooked, drain well and add cream mixture to the pasta; stir well to coat pasta.
• Add additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.
• Serve immediately with garlic bread, cooked chicken or prawns.
• You may also use linguini, spaghetti, rotini and any other penne pastas.

CREAMY PHILADELPHIA® PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, heat dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and vegetables; cook 10 to 12 min. or until chicken is cooked through, stirring frequently. Add broth and cream cheese; cook 1 min. or until cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Add Parmesan cheese; mix well.
• Drain pasta; return to pot. Add chicken and vegetable mixture; toss lightly. Cook 1 min. or until heated through. (Sauce will thicken upon standing.)

HEALTHY PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and put a steamer (or colander) over the water. Steam the beans, asparagus and peas until just tender, then set aside. Boil the pasta following pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, fry the leeks gently in the oil and butter for 5 mins or until soft. Add the fromage frais to the leeks and very gently warm through, stirring constantly to ensure it doesn't split. Add the herbs and steamed vegetables with a splash of pasta water to loosen.
• Drain the pasta and stir into the sauce. Adjust the seasoning, then serve scattered with the cheese and drizzled with a little extra olive oil.