My Menu Blog

1 pound eggplant
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
tomato sauce
shredded mozzarella
freshlt grated parmesan

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. peel and slince eggplant into rounds
3. oil and salt each side, bake 10 minutes per side
4. sautee garlic and onion
5. in cassarole dish, spoon small amount of tomato sauce in bottom, sprinkle sauce with oregano
6. layer eggplant slices in dish
7. pour remaining tomato sauceover eggplant
8. sprinlke with onion/garlic mixture, mozzarella and parmesan
9. reduce oven heat to 350 degrees and bake cassarole 25-30 minutes

4-6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup half and half
1 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch nutmeg

1. melt butter in large saucepan (large enough to hold pasta later)
2. add half and half to melted butter and heat through
3. add cooked pasta, toss then remove from heat
4. add cheese, toss until cheese melts
5. add salt/pepper and nutmeg and toss

You can add chopped cooked chicken or sauteed mushrooms to finished dish.
You can also add broccoli or spinach to pasta while boiling.

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp (reserve 4 whole, chop the rest)
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1 1/2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. sautee garlic in oil to infuse the oil, remove and discard garlic
2. add chopped shrimp to oil in skillet
3. sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning
4. saute until heated through, 1-2 minutes
5. toss hot sauce with pasta or chill and serve over bed of lettuce
6. top with freshly grated parmesan

If served hot with pasta, you can add some fresh spinach in the pasta pot for minutes before the pasta is finished.

1 cup tomato juice (or V-8) or chicken stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste
optional: minced hot pepper

1. process all ingredients in food processor until smooth
2. let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes for flavors to blend or refrigerate overnight
3. heat sauce through and toss with pasta or over chicken and veggies

You can add sliced sausage, mushrooms, peas, or mozzarella