Uncle Bills Asparagus Pasta Primavera Recipes

ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in the asparagus. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, ham, basil, oregano and rosemary. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally., Stir in the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook 3 minutes longer or until heated through. , Meanwhile, cook linguine according to package directions; drain and place in a large bowl. Add asparagus mixture and toss. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH PEAS, ASPARAGUS AND KALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; add the peas, asparagus and kale to the pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking and stir occasionally. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and vegetables.
• Meanwhile, combine the olive oil, all but 2 tablespoons chives, the lemon zest and juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. Add 3 tablespoons cold water and pulse until smooth, scraping down the inside of the blender. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the tarragon and drizzle with olive oil.
• Add the pasta and vegetables to the chive puree along with 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water and half of the cheese; season with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat, adding more cooking water to loosen, if necessary. Serve topped with the remaining cheese and chives.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.

UNCLE BILL'S ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
• Add garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus; cover and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the mushrooms, ham, basil, oregano and rosemary.
• Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper.
• Cook 3 minutes longer or until heated through.
• Meanwhile, cook linguine according to package directions.
• Drain and place in a large bowl.
• Add asparagus mixture and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

UNCLE BILL'S BOW TIE PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot or pasta pot, add 16 cups of water or until 3/4 full in pot.
• Add olive oil and salt and bring to boil.
• Add bow tie pasta and cook uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until el-dente.
• In the meantime, break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• Place asparagus in a small 5" x 8" microwave safe casserole dish.
• Add 2 tablespoons of water to dish.
• Place dish in microwave and cover with a plastic round cover.
• Microwave on HIGH (full power) for 4 minutes.
• Immediately remove from microwave, drain and immerse in cold water to cool.
• When cooled, drain and cut asparagus into 1/2" pieces; set aside.
• In a small frying pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, onions and red hot pepper flakes and saute on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or until onions are translucent, stirring often.
• In a medium-size saucepan on medium-high heat, add 1/2 cup of butter, cream cheese, whipping cream and lemon juice.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.
• Add garlic/onion mixture to cream cheese mixture and whisk well to blend.
• Add nutmeg, pepper, salt and parmesan cheese and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken; stirring often.
• When bow tie pasta is cooked, drain well and add cream mixture to the pasta; stir well to coat pasta.
• Add additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.
• Serve immediately with garlic bread, cooked chicken or prawns.
• You may also use linguini, spaghetti, rotini and any other penne pastas.

PIZZA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place pizza crust on pizza pan, prick several times with fork tines and bake for 7 to 8 minutes.
• In a medium skillet, heat the Italian dressing to a boil and add the garlic and onion, cooking until the onion is wilted.
• Stir in the asparagus, carrot slices, broccoli flowerets and mushrooms.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender.
• Remove the pizza crust from oven and top with sliced Roma tomatoes, sprinkle basil over tomatoes and cover with the vegetable mixture.
• Sprinkle the roasted red pepper over all and top with mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan.
• Return to oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

CREAMY PENNE PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat-high heat; saute asparagus and carrots until tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic; saute until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir Parmesan cheese, cream, and black pepper into vegetable mixture until cheese melts and sauce is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta to sauce and toss to coat.

UNCLE BILL'S ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• Cut tips off asparagus and set aside.
• Cut remainder of asparagus stems into 1 inch pieces.
• In a frying pan, add butter and chopped onions and saute' until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• In a large saucepan, add water, cubed potatoes, asparagus pieces, saute'ed onions and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a food processor or blender, puree' soup in batches and return to saucepan.
• Add chicken soup base, fennel seeds, pepper, salt and asparagus tips and cook on medium heat until tips are soft and start to dissolve, about 10 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.

UNCLE BILL'S MARVELOUS LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying, add ground beef and fry until cooked, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Drain off any fat and discard.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil to frying pan, chopped onions and garlic and saute' for 5 minutes.
• Add chopped celery, diced green and red peppers, sliced mushrooms, chopped zucchini, and saute' until vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add grated carrots, cover and cook until carrots are limp, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer this mixture to a large cooking pot.
• Add tomatoes including liquid, tomato sauce, parsley, hot pepper flakes and allspice and heat to boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Blend in wine and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• FILLING: Squeeze water from spinach and discard.
• Chop spinach small.
• In a mixing bowl, combine spinach, cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, beaten egg, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, mix well and set aside.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Use a 10" x 14" x 2" deep, heavy duty aluminum foil baking dish.
• Layer about 1/2" of prepared sauce over the bottom.
• Place enough lasagna sheets to cover area and press lightly into sauce.
• Layer another 1/2" of prepared sauce.
• Place lasagna sheets over and press lightly into sauce.
• Add spinach filling and level.
• Place lasagna sheets over and press lightly into filling.
• Add another layer of lasagna sheets.
• Layer another 1/2" of prepared sauce over.
• Place another layer of lasagna sheets and press lightly into sauce.
• Add the remaining sauce over and level.
• Sprinkle top generously with grated mozzarella cheese.
• Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese over.
• If desired, grate a 1/2 cup of Emmentaler Swiss cheese and sprinkle over top.
• Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil being careful not to let foil touch the lasagna.
• Bake in preheated 450 F oven for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 425 degrees F.
• Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Remove from oven, cover and let sit to set for about 5 minutes before cutting.
• Cut into pieces and serve hot.
• Ondine Delverde Lasagna is a brand name and is sold in packages of 15 lasagna sheets and also 3- 8" x 8" aluminum foil pans.
• You can use these pans if desired.
• This lasagna is pre-cooked and does not require any cooking before hand.
• They now make fresh lasagna sheets that do not require pre-cooking.
• You may also use lasagna strips but you will require cooking these.

UNCLE BILL'S BROCCOLI SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
• Add onions, carrots, garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• In a medium size cooking pot, add water and chicken soup base and bring to boil.
• Add precooked onion/carrot/garlic to soup.
• Add broccoli florets, reserving (6- 8 pieces) of broccoli florets to be added near the end of cooking.
• Reduce heat and simmer covered, until broccoli is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a blender or food processor, puree' soup in batches and return to cooking pot.
• Stir in half and half cream and remaining broccoli florets.
• In a cup, mix together flour and 1/4 cup water to form a thin liquid.
• Bring soup to boil; add flour mixture to thicken soup as desired, stirring constantly.
• Add soy sauce, black pepper and stir well.
• Garnish with chopped parsley when serving.
• You can also use some carrot curls for garnish.
• Serve soup hot or cold.

UNCLE BILL'S PETITE PEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a microwave-proof dish, microwave peas on HIGH (full power) for 2 minutes; stir.
• Continue to microwave for an additional 2 minutes on HIGH (full power).
• Drain and cool completely with cold water and ice cubes; then drain.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix together peas, sour cream, mayonnaise, dill weed, onions and celery and mix well to blend.
• Chill for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, fry bacon until well done and crispy; DO NOT BURN.
• Place fried bacon on paper toweling to drain.
• Crumble bacon and garnish salad when serving.

THE "PERFECT" PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Stem or blanch the various vegetables (broccoli,asparagus,peas,zucchiniø- or squash,and corn) as indicated, combine them and keep them warm.
• In a skillet, saute the garlic in the oil for 1 minute,but do not brown.
• Add the tomatoes,mushrooms,carrot,parsle and pepper,and cook the mixture for about 5 minutes.
• Add this to the reserved vegetables, tossing ingredients gently to combine them well.
• To prepare the sauce, in a small heavy saucepan, melt the butter or margarine,and add flour,whisking the roux over med.
• -lowheat for 1 minute- gradually add the milk and broth,stirring constantly till the sauce thickens slightly.
• Stir in the Parmesan and basil,and heat the sauce over med.
• -lowflame,stirring until cheese is melted.
• Pour the sauce over the veggie mixture and toss gently to coat.
• Cook the spaghetti or linguine al dente,drain and keep warm.
• Place the cooked pasta in a large warmed bowl and spread the veggie and sauce mixture over the pasta, toss the the pasta gently,once or twice, and serve with additional Parmesan, if desired.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In large pot, bring water to a boil. Pour in pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil and add the vegetables. Cook through.
• Once pasta is cooked, drain, and then add the butter and parmesan cheese. Stir together. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Add pasta to the veggies in skillet. Mix. Serve with extra parmesan cheese on top. Yummy!

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a stock pot.
• Add asparagus; cook 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Add pasta to boiling water; cook according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
• Cut the chicken crosswise into 1/4 inch wide strips.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken; saute 5 minutes.
• Add asparagus, peas, salt, pepper, and garlic; saute 2 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Stir in cream and juice; cook 1 minute.
• Add pasta and cheese; stir well to coat.
• Remove from heat; stir in basil, green onions, and parsley.