www.portobellofood.com http://www.portobellofood.com Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 How To Make Homemade Pesto Sauce http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/13/how-to-make-homemade-pesto-sauce/ http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/13/how-to-make-homemade-pesto-sauce/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.portobellofood.com/?p=10 Pesto sauce originated in Italy where fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and parmigiana cheese were combined with a mortar and pestle. While the original ingredients are still used in many pesto sauces, a mortar and pestle are no longer required.

To make a basic basil pesto sauce at home, you will need:
2 cups of fresh basil leaves, washed and patted dry
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of pine nuts, lightly toasted
1/3 cup parmigiana cheese, grated or shredded
1/4-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese in a food processor.Want more? Click here/tag Begin processing the ingredients and add the olive oil in a steady stream until all ingredients are fully incorporated and the texture is smooth.

Pesto sauce is best when served immediately over warm pasta. While you can use any pasta variety, penne pasta pairs especially well with the pesto sauce.

You can experiment with pesto sauce by adding sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or fresh arugula. Walnuts can be substituted in place of pine nuts.

Pesto sauce can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for several days, or you can freeze it to be used later.

]]> http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/13/how-to-make-homemade-pesto-sauce/feed/ 0 How To Cook The Perfect Noodles http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/10/how-to-cook-the-perfect-noodles/ http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/10/how-to-cook-the-perfect-noodles/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.portobellofood.com/?p=9 When cooked at the correct temperature for the correct amount of time, your noodles will come out just the way you like them. Not following directions will result in soft, soggy over cooked or partially-raw hard undercooked noodles.

To cook the noodles, begin by boiling water in a small pot. Be sure the water comes to a boil before placing the noodles in the pot. Using a pinch of salt and a cover on the pot helps the water to boil faster. After the water comes to a boil, add the seasoning stock package. This is how the noodles get their flavor. Gently stir the stock in the water to ensure that the flavor is evenly distributed through the water.

Turn the temperature to low after placing the noodles in the pot. Depending on the number of packs used, they only take between 3 and 5 minutes to cook. You will know the noodles are ready because they will become soft and break apart. If you are able to stir through the noodle without a problem, they are ready to be taken out of the pot. Draining the noodles with a strainer allows you to enjoy the noodles without the excess soup.

]]> http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/10/how-to-cook-the-perfect-noodles/feed/ 0 Reasons To Cook With Sausage Instead Of Ground Beef http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/07/reasons-to-cook-with-sausage-instead-of-ground-beef/ http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/07/reasons-to-cook-with-sausage-instead-of-ground-beef/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.portobellofood.com/?p=8 Ground beef is the basis of so many delicious meals. There is chili, lasagna, and even tacos, pasta dishes, and nachos that are the regular time honored favorites. But if a different taste and appeal is desired, substituting sausage for that ground beef might make a regular favorite one that everyone clamors for time after time.

Ground sausage come in so many flavors, so it broadens recipes in lots of different ways. Italian, Polish, chorizo, and even ground seasoned turkey can embellish the flavor of even chili, and that regular spaghetti sauce to a whole new level. Starting with ground sausage directly from the butcher is really ideal, but there are some great selections in the sausage and bacon section that are comparable, and can be whipped up quickly for a great meal.

Using sausage as a ground beef substitute means that it should be cooked longer for doneness, and completely drained before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. It is seasoned more robustly than ground beef, so be sure to adjust salt, pepper, and other additional seasonings in the recipe as well.

Finally, it is not a bad idea to use both ground beef and sausage in chilis, spaghetti, and lasagna. They will keep coming back for more, every time.

]]> http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/07/reasons-to-cook-with-sausage-instead-of-ground-beef/feed/ 0 Broccoli And Chicken Lasagna With Alfredo http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/05/broccoli-and-chicken-lasagna-with-alfredo/ http://www.portobellofood.com/2011/10/05/broccoli-and-chicken-lasagna-with-alfredo/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.portobellofood.com/?p=7 If you want a quick Broccoli and Chicken Lasagna With Alfredo, it can be accomplished.

One bag of frozen broccoli florets
One pound of boneless chicken breasts, seasoned with oregano, basil, thyme, garlic and onion powders, black pepper to taste
One can of cream of mushroom soup
One jar of alfredo sauce
One cup of grated parmesan cheese
One pound of fettucini pasta, cooked al dente and drained

Mix together chicken breasts, and seasoning, and cook thoroughly in two tablespoons of olive oil. Drain carefully. Cut the chicken into strips.Mix the alfredo sauce and cream of mushroom soup, and add to the chicken breast. Cook til just heated.

Oil a small casserole with olive oil. Place one layer of the chicken mixture on the bottom, and then with a layer of fettucine pasta. Alternate until there is a layer of chicken on top. Spoon additional grated parmesan on top and then place in an oven at 375 degrees for thirty minutes.

There you have it. Serve with some garlic bread, some salad of your choosing, and a dessert of some fruit and light vanilla ice cream. A light fruity wine might be good too, if that is more of what you want.Take a look here to learn more: Easy Mexican Meal

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