Pasta Primavera: Done Quick and Easy

One of the easiest Italian meals to make in a hurry is pasta primavera. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up an entire meal, along with plenty of leftovers in 30 minutes. The great thing is you can improvise and add random vegetables from your fridge, like bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, peas, and zucchini (or better yet, whatever is in your garden if you have one). Turn it into a meat dish by sauteing chicken or shrimp, and thicken the sauce with cheese or a small amount of heavy cream.

Click here to read the full ingredient list and directions for this easy recipe.

Here are some other Italian recipes you might like from this blog:

* Stuffed Bell Peppers
* Crispy Baked Risotto Balls
* 10 Easy Italian Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Delicious Homemade Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

Stuffed bell peppers come in many varieties, from risotto filled to breaded stuffing filled peppers. Alternatively, you can also make your stuffed peppers a little bit healthier by opting for mixing in other fresh vegetables with your risotto or stuffing. Read on for directions on how to make this delicious homemade Italian stuffed bell peppers recipe!

Ingredients:

* 4 whole bell peppers, red or green
Add carrots, peas, water chestnuts, bamboo chutes, or fresh parsnips to add even more vegetables to this recipe!
* 4-6 celery stalks, cleaned and sliced into small pieces
* 1 can diced Italian style tomatoes, or two whole fresh tomatoes diced
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or 1/2 tablespoon fresh minced garlic (add the fresh version in with the veggie mixture below)
* 2 tbsp. olive oil
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/2 cup fresh sliced white mushrooms (optional)
* 1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a saucepan with celery, water, and mushrooms on medium heat for five minutes. Drain the tomatoes, then add to the vegetable mixture. Cook on low for approximately five minutes, until the tomatoes start to soften.

2. While the vegetables are cooking, wash the bell peppers. Cut the tops of the bell peppers off around the stem. Rinse each pepper out to remove as many seeds as possible, and removing the pit of seeds. Rinse again, and drain to remove water.

3. Add the spices to the boiling water and vegetable mix. Add the stuffing mix to the water, stirring, then fluffing with a fork.

4. Add the stuffing mixture to the inside of the peppers. Add mozzarella cheese or additional olive oil to flavor the stuffing if desired. Fill to the top.

5. Place the stuffed peppers in a tall glass baking pan, and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately.

You Might Also Enjoy:

* Crispy Baked Risotto Balls
* Ten Delicious Italian Thanksgiving Recipes
* Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
* Homemade Italian Sausage and Peppers

Crispy Baked Risotto Balls

If you're in the mood for fried food without the fat, these crispy baked risotto balls are perfect! Easy and quick, you can add a number of other ingredients to the mix, like broccoli florets, diced ham, or diced mushrooms! These make a great snack for parties, and an excellent appetizer before dinner. Bon appetit!

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (fresh)
* 2 slices prosciutto cut small and diced
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1 onion chopped
* 1 Tablespoon olive oil
* 1 cup Arborio rice
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
* 1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1 Tablespoon butter
* 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Boil the chicken broth, and saute the onion in a saucepan with the olive oil. Add the rice and cook for 1 minute.

2. Add 1/2 cup cooked broth with the dry white wine. Stir until the rice absorbs the liquid. Gradually add the broth every few minutes until all of the broth is absorbed. After absorbed, stir in the parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and butter.

3. Mix the prosciutto and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F. Sandwich the risotto between a small amount of the mozzarella and prosciutto mixture, then roll into a ball. Roll the ball in breadcrumbs. Repeat to make 8-10 balls.

4. Bake for five minutes, then turn and bake another five minutes, until crispy golden brown. Serve immediately.

More recommended Italian recipes:
* Homemade Veggie Pasta Primavera
* Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce
* Easy Homemade Pizza Dough

10 Delicious Italian Dishes for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving doesn't always have to be just turkey, stuffing, rolls, and vegetables. Many Italian American families make many Italian dishes for Thanksgiving, from stuffed shells to chicken parmesan, meatballs to sausage and peppers (in addition to the turkey!). Looking to give your Thanksgiving dinner a distinctly Italian appeal this year? Try out one of these ten delicious Italian dishes for Thanksgiving!

1. Sausage Lasagna Recipe. Not just your run of the mill lasagna, this one contains a full pound of Italian sausage to spice it up.

2. Chicken Cacciatore. This is a classic Italian dish that's especially good in the colder weather. Need step by step foolproof directions? This video will walk you through it!

3. Zuppa Inglese Recipe. Who knows how its name came into being, but it's delicious for dessert, and certainly something that will wow your guests!

4. Italian Carrot Chicken. Sometimes known as "Venetian Chicken," the pasta in this recipe is coated in a rich carrot sauce. Truly unique!

5. Crockpot Meatballs. Any space you can make by cooking something outside of the oven will help on Thanksgiving Day! That's why this easy slow cooker meatball recipe is an easy go-to plan for Turkey Day.

6. Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup. Like the meatballs listed above, you'll be thankful (as you should be!) on Thanksgiving for having the extra room in your oven with this minestrone soup recipe.


7. Italian Stuffed Shells. You've probably had ricotta stuffed shells before, but have you tried them with spinach? They add a lot of flavor, as well as nutrition. Not to mention they won't fill you before the turkey since they're mostly vegetables.

8. Balsamic Fennel. Fennel comes into its peak season during the fall and winter months, so you should find it easy to come across fresh fennel bulbs in your supermarket. A great light starter to your meal!

9. Italian Sausage and Peppers. It's the mother of all Italian foods, authentic sausage and peppers! Delicious anytime of year, so why not on Thanksgiving?


10. Tiramisu. It's one of the most decadent, fluffy, rich, creamy, and luscious dessert recipes made by the Italians...it's tiramisu! You're in luck, too, because the website linked is dedicated exclusively to tiramisu recipes!

Homemade Vegetable Pasta Primavera

If you're looking for an easy dish to make that tastes just as good leftover, vegetable primavera is a great choice. Homemade vegetable pasta primavera can contain a variety of vegetables, from either the supermarket or your local farmstand (though the farm variety will taste better most likely!). Usually summer squashes and zucchinis make great additions, and saute beautifully. Read on for directions to make this easy Italian recipe!

Ingredients:

* One large zucchini squash, sliced and halved
* One large yellow squash, sliced and halved
* One ripe garden tomato, diced
* Small bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped
* 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
* 2 Tablespoons olive oil
* 2 Tablespoon fresh grated parmesan cheese
* 1 box penne pasta, shells, or rotini

Directions:

1. In a large skillet on medium heat, saute the olive oil with the zucchini and yellow squash for 12 minutes, or until slightly softened. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to box directions.

2. Add the diced tomatoes and basil, then saute the mixture for approximately 4 minutes, enough to warm the tomatoes and cook slightly. The tomatoes may fall apart, but will add texture and flavor to the dish.

3. Add the parmesan cheese, cooked pasta, and pepper to the mixture and toss. Serve immediately.

Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo

One of the richest and most popular dishes in Italian American restaurants has to be fettuccine alfredo. There's something about the full flavor, creaminess, and cheesiness that combine to make a satisfying, go-to Italian dinner recipe for holidays, weekends, and anytime you're feeling like the ultimate in comfort food. The beauty of making homemade fettuccine alfredo is that it's incredibly easy to make at home, with just a few basic ingredients. There are many variances in recipes all over the web, but the basis for all of them are cheese, heavy cream, and pasta.

Ingredients:

* 1 package fettuccine
* 6 Tablespoons butter
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
* White mushrooms, cleaned and sliced lengthwise thin
* Fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare the fettuccine according to package directions.

2. Prepare a large saucepan with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the butter and pepper to the saucepan, then add the prepared fettuccine. Add the cream to the mixture and heat until it thickens. Add the mushrooms and cheese to the mixture, heating throughly and tossing the mixture frequently. Melt the cheese entirely, then serve.

Some suggested items to add to the recipe:

* Cooked garden peas
* Fresh baked diced chicken breasts
* Sun dried tomatoes
* Asparagus
* Roasted red peppers

Penne with Homemade Vodka Cream Sauce

Above: another vodka cream sauce recipe, using tagliatelli pasta.

If you're tired of the typical red Italian sauces, but don't want a white sauce, penne vodka cream sauce lies right about in the middle. Simple to make, this easy homemade vodka cream sauce can be made in bulk to serve larger crowds!

Ingredients:

* 2 cups cooked penne pasta
* 4 Tablespoons olive oil
* 3 minced shallots
* 1/3 cup chicken broth
* 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
* 1/4 teaspooon crushed red pepper
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 3 Tablespoons vodka
* Fresh minced flat leaf parsley
* Grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Saute the shallots until slightly cooked. Stir in the paste, crushed red pepper, and broth. Reduce the heat to low, adding the vodka and cream slowly. Stir constantly to avoid scorching. Heat thoroughly, but do not boil or burn.

2. Toss the sauce mixture with the cooked pasta. Top with the grated parmesan cheese and parsley, serving immediately.

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough

Have a spare few minutes? You can make your own easy, homemade pizza dough and save a lot of money, not to mention enjoy the taste of fresh baked dough whenever you'd like! Pizza dough also freezes easily if wrapped sufficiently. Read on for directions on how to make this easy homemade pizza dough!

Ingredients:

* 4 cups all purpose flour
* 1 pakcet active dry yeast (.25 oz)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups hot water (approximately 120 degrees F)


Directions:

1. Combine 2 cups of flour, yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl. Beat the mixture slowly with an electric mixer on slow, mixing in the water slowly. Beat for 3 minutes on slow, pushing the dough back down the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Increase speed to medium, and add 1/2 cup of flour. Beat until the dough is stiff and drier, approx. 2 minutes. Hand stir in the remaining flour with a wooden spoon, switching to hand mixing when necessary.

2. Lightly grease the sides of a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise in a warm spot. Let the dough double in size, approximately one hour.

3. Dived the dough in half. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze, or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Now you have your own homemade pizza dough! Make it in bulk for the whole month, have it on the weekends, and save yourself some time.