One Pot Pasta

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and incredibly delicious.  When you first look at it all in the pot, it seems like it won't come together nicely, but somehow it all works.  Takes less than 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

12 ounces linguine

12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large

1 onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)

6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish

2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

kosher salt

ground pepper

4 1/2 cups water

lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving (I used a mix of parmesan and romano)

Step One:

Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Step Two: 

Bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs, until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.  

Step Three:

Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls, and garnish with basil.  Serve with oil and parmesan.

Enjoy!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Husband Taste Rating: ****
"It was delicious!"

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 onion, chopped

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken stock

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets

1 cup matchstick-cut carrots

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Step One:

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Saute onion in hot butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Step Two:

Whisk 1/4 cup melted butter and flour together in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until flour loses its granular texture, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk if necessary to keep the flour from burning, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step Three:

Gradually pour milk into flour mixture while whisking constantly.  Stir chicken stock into milk mixture.  Bring to a simmer; cook until flour taste is gone and mixture is thickened, about 20 minutes.  Add broccoli, carrots, sauteed onion, and celery; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Step Four:

Stir cheddar cheese into vegetable mixture until cheese melts.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.