Pizza Pasta

1 box mini farfalle pasta (cooked according to package)
1 can Hunts Garlic and Herb sauce
1 lb. bulk sausage of your choice
1 stick pepperoni cut lengthwise and diced
1 cup grated mozzarella
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 yellow onion diced

Sauce:
brown sausage and drain if needed. Add onion and pepperoni. Saute until onions are softened. Add Garlic and Herb sauce, heat to low boil. Stir in sour cream and turn down to low or simmer.

Drain pasta and stir in sauce and cheese.

Creamy Italian Chicken

Serve this flavorful crockpot chicken recipe over rice or noodles.

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
• 1 stick of butter, or for less fat 1/3 cup water
• 1 package (8 ozs.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (10 3/4 ozs.) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 1 can (4 ozs.) mushroom stems and pieces, drained (optional)
  
• Hot cooked rice or noodles (I like fettuccine)
  

Place the chicken breast halves in a slow cooker. Combine salad dressing mix and water; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese and soup until blended. Stir in mushrooms. Pour cream cheese mixture over chicken. Cook 1 to 3 hours longer or until chicken juices run clear. Serve Italian chicken with rice or hot cooked noodles.
Serves 4.

Vodka Cream Pasta

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
• Coarse salt and pepper
• 16 ounces pasta such as penne rigate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
• Crusty bread, for passing

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Pass pasta with crusty bread.

~Rachel Ray

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

1 Tbl. Butter
2 cloves garlic
1/2 - 1/4 c. sun dried tomatoes
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. whipping cream
2 chicken breasts
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil - optional. I don't know where it goes in the recipe and don't think it is really needed.
1 Tbl. basil - or less
12 oz. pasta - penne or angel hair (the whole box, 16 oz., is too much) Fresh Parmesan cheese

Melt butter, cook garlic. Add chicken broth and cook with sundried tomatoes for 10 minutes. Add cream and spices and simmer until thick, about 5 min. Pour over cooked pasta. Add sliced grilled chicken on top and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

I start the pasta boiling and cook the chicken while I make the sauce. I cooked the sauce with the cream in too long once and it cooked down to where there was less sauce. I think if you cook it for about 5 minutes with the cream, that should be long enough.
~From the kitchen of Paige H.

Wedding Pasta Salad

Garden Rotini Salad (Serves 20 -25)
8 C. Garden Rotini
1 C. shredded carrots
2 C broccoli florets
1/2 C bell pepper, chopped fine
1 1/2 C peeled and shopped cucumber
1 small can sliced or chopped olives, drained
2 C diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 C sliced celery
1 bunch green onions, finely sliced, including tops
3/4 C chopped parsley (Italian parsley if available)
2 1/2 C fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 C Italian Dressing
1/2 C Caesar Dressing
1/4 C red wine vinegar

Step 1: Prepare vegetables. Mix them together and add 1/4 C of the Italian dressing and refrigerate.

Step 2: Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cold water.

Step 3: Add vegetables to room temperature pasta.

Step 4: Add remaining dressings, red wine and Parmesan cheese. Save 1/2 C for garnish and serve.

I had this salad at Diana's wedding and loved it so much that I served it and mine and Kory's wedding.
~From the kitchen of Diana D.