Saturday, October 27, 2018

#One Pot Pasta by @Denise Swanson


My husband and I love Italian food, but I hate having to boil and strain the pasta. So when I found this recipe that calls for cooking the pasta right in the sauce, I was all in. Not only does it save time and cleanup, but it also infuses the noodles with more flavors. An added bonus to this recipe is the ability to substitute or add ingredients. Switch the spinach for any fresh vegetables you have on hand—sliced zucchini, mushrooms, kale. You can also add diced cooked chicken or ham. 


Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
 1 cup chopped onion
 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped about 3 teaspoons
 2 cans diced tomatoes and chilies, undrained
 1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonins
 8 ounces spaghetti or any short pasta shape, such as elbow macaroni, rotini, or shells.
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 10 ounce fresh spinach
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat. Add onions and garlic to pan and sauté until onion starts to brown. 









Add tomatoes, stock, oregano, and pasta, in that order.
Bring to a boil.
Stir to submerge noodles in liquid. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 7 minutes or until pasta is almost done. Uncover and stir in salt.

Add spinach a little at a time until it wilts. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.












Sprinkle with cheese.

OUT NOW—BOOK #2 DIE ME A RIVER

AMAZON




The chips are down in Scumble River

School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd had hoped that her maternity leave would be at least a little relaxing, but when she and her husband, Wally, meet with the priest to discuss their newborn twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley rocks the rectory. And although the business was closed at the time of the blast, there's a body inside.

As police chief, Wally is inevitably drawn into the investigation, which seems to indicate that foul play is afoot again in Scumble River, and Skye can't help but do a bit of her own sleuthing. But the clues come fast and furious, ranging from an odd new stranger in town to animosity toward the gambling machines that had recently been installed at the bowling alley, and Skye finds herself wondering if this could be the puzzle that stumps her for good.

New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson has penned another hit for cozy fans with Die Me a River, the latest installment in her beloved Welcome Back to Scumble River mystery series.

***
BOOK #1 IN THE Chef-to-Go SERIES


BARBES & NOBLE

Right when Dani thinks she's hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion―cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.

But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She'll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears―perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

Enjoy the occasional romance?

Take one smoking-hot top chef who thinks food should be a sensual adventure, add a venture capitalist who has struggled with her weight since she was a teenager, and mix well. Is this a recipe that sizzles, or is he just another craving she must resist?

* * *

Deanna Sloan has worked too hard, dieting herself from a chubby teenager to a sleek businesswoman, to give in to her hunger now. Enduring four years as the target of her high school classmates’ cruelty taught her that only three things matter—power, money, and looks.

Leaving her small town behind, shedding the excess pounds, and obtaining a job with a six-figure salary are all steps in the right direction. However, in order to keep on target, she needs to outshine the other twenty venture capitalist associates at her new firm, maintain her weight loss, and be prepared to double-cross anyone who gets in her way. Walk in the park, right?

Wrong! Her first assignment is an investment appraisal of one of Chicago’s top chefs. Nico Thorne has come to her firm for the seed money to open his own restaurant. He is smoking hot and just a glimpse of his navy blue eyes in a photo clouds Deanna’s brain and dampens her panties. Will the flesh-and-blood man make her dissolve into a puddle of mindless lust that will derail her fast track to success?

Like Deanna, Nico’s past drives his present choices. He hates his father for using his mother’s social status to further his career, then abandoning her. As a teenager, Nico’s anger at his father resulted in a hair-trigger temper and a vow never to fall in love. Although Nico may have learned to control his demons, he still avoids women who even hint at wanting anything deeper than a few nights of uncommitted fun.

That is until he sees Deanna. Her cinnamon curls and soft green eyes totally captivate him. As they spend more and more time together, Nico’s determination to keep their relationship casual dissolves and he realizes that she might be his amore mio. But will he be able to convince Deanna that he’s the one for her?

Deanna fights her attraction to Nico, fearful that giving in will mean the loss of both her figure and her job. Can Nico overcome a lifetime of distrust? Can Deanna embrace life—imperfections and all?

Publisher’s warning: This book contains sensual consummated love scenes.

Series description:

First in Denise Swanson’s new Delicious contemporary romance series. All books are complete with no cliffhangers and a guaranteed HEA!

Coming November 6 Book #2 Dangerously Delicious!

Catch up with me on FACEBOOK

5 comments:

  1. I like the addition of the tomatoes and chilies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! It does give it a little kick.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds like it was meant to happen in my kitchen . . . something new and EASY for the spousal unit to play with. Thanks!

    pjcoldren[at]tm.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. The colors look great together.
    If you want the pasta submerged, why not put it in the pan first and then cover it with the rest?

    ReplyDelete