Springy Shells

16 ounces medium pasta shells (or other short pasta)
1 pound asparagus, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (avoid tough parts)
1/2 pound broccoli, cut into small florettes
1/2 pound zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini), diced
1/2 cup frozen peas
3 green onions, sliced (white and light green parts)
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
20 to 22 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Extra olive oil, for drizzling
Cook pasta until extremely al dente—with still quite a bit of bite.
Melt butter with the olive oil over medium-low to medium heat, then add in the garlic.
Add the asparagus to the pan and cook for five minutes. Sprinkle in a little salt. Add the broccoli and cook for one minute, then add the zucchini and cook for one or two more minutes. Add the frozen peas, stir together, then turn off the heat. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, eggs, salt, and pepper until well combined.
To assemble, butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Add half the pasta, then spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture over the surface. Sprinkle 1/3 of the Parmesan over the ricotta, then 1/2 of the vegetables. Repeat with the rest of the pasta, the rest of the ricotta, and another 1/3 of the Parmesan. End with the rest of the vegetables and the rest of the Parmesan.
Drizzle with a couple of tablespoons olive oil, then bake for 25 minutes on 350 degrees or until nice and hot.
Serve with extra Parmesan, crusty French bread, and chilled white wine.
Yummy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/springy-shells/

P-Dub’s Gazpacho

P-Dub’s Gazpacho

2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 large red onion, diced
1 large cucumber, diced
5 ripe tomatoes, diced
1 zucchini, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 cups tomato juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/8 cup (more to taste) red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (less to taste) sugar
Tabasco to taste
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Optional:
Finely minced jalapeno (for those of you who love heat)
Sliced avocado
Cilantro
Sour cream

Grilled shrimp

In the bowl of a food processor or in a blender, combine the minced garlic with half the red onion, half the cucumber, half the tomato, half the zucchini, half the celery, half the tomato juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, and a dash of salt. Pulse until all ingredients are blended well; mixture will have a nice speckled, colorful texture. Pour into a large bowl and add the rest of the tomato juice, and half of the remaining onion, cucumber, tomato, zucchini, and celery. (Reserve the rest of the diced vegetables for garnish.) Stir mixture together and check seasonings, adding salt if needed. Chill soup for at least a couple of hours; soup needs to be very cold!

Remove the soup from the fridge and stir. Check seasonings one last time. Ladle into a bowl and garnish with remaining diced vegetables, a sliver of fresh avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. Finally, place a grilled shrimp on the top and serve with grilled slices of bread.

This is a to-die-for summer dinner.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/gazpacho/

Mushroom Bacon Breakfast Strata

10 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 pieces
12 white mushrooms, sliced
8 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup half & half
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
10 ounces Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips

Fry bacon pieces in a large skillet until done but not overly crispy. Drain on a paper towel, pour grease from skillet.
Add mushrooms to skillet (don’t clean skillet first) and cook until done.
Mix eggs, half & half, salt, and pepper.
Arrange pita chips in an 8 x 11-inch baking dish. Slightly press to flatten.
Tear pieces of cream cheese and evenly distribute over the top.
Distribute mushrooms and bacon over the top, followed by the cheddar cheese.
Pour egg mixture evenly over all ingredients.

Place into the fridge for several hours of overnight (makes a handy breakfast casserole!), then bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until eggs are set.

Cut into squares and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/mushroom-bacon-sausage-strata/

Pioneer Woman’s Spinach Salad

3 eggs
7 slices thick cut, peppered bacon
1 small red onion (or 1/2 large onion)
1 package white button mushrooms (about 12 mushrooms)
8 ounces baby spinach, washed, dried, and large stems removed
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Dash of salt

Cook eggs: cover with water, bring to a boil, then turn off heat and allow to sit in water for 20 minutes. Drain off water and add ice on top of eggs.
Fry bacon until crispy/chewy. Remove to a paper towel. Remove 3 tablespoons grease and set aside. Add 2 add’l tablespoons of grease to a separate skillet over medium heat.
Slice red onions very thinly, then add to skillet. Cook slowly until onions are caramelized and reduced. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Slice mushrooms and add them to the same skillet. Cook slowly until caramelized and brown. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Chop bacon.
Peel and slice eggs.
Make hot bacon dressing: Add 3 tablespoons bacon grease, vinegar, sugar, and Dijon to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk mixture together and heat thoroughly.
Add spinach to a large bowl. Arrange onions, mushrooms, and bacon on top. Pour hot dressing over the top; toss to combine.
Arrange eggs over the top and serve.

Enjoy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/the-best-spinach-salad-ever/

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Crust:
25 Oreos
4 tablespoons butter, melted

Crush the Oreos until they’re fine crumbs. Pour melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, or until set.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Filling:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 8-ounce package softened cream cheese
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 8-ounce package Cool Whip, thawed

Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed Cool Whip and beat mixture until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.

Pour filling into crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Warning: This is ultra, ultra-rich. Cut small slivers—your guests will thank you!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/another-pie/

Pioneer Woman’s Key Lime Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Crust
18 graham crackers (the 4-section large pieces)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter

Crush crackers in a food processor or Ziploc bag. Pour them into a bowl and stir in sugar and melted butter. Press into a pie pan and bake for 5 minutes or until golden and set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.

Filling
1 heaping tablespoon lime zest
1/2 cup lime juice
2 egg yolks
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Mix lime zest, lime juice, and egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Add in condensed milk and mix on high until smooth and thick. Pour mixture into crust and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven, allow to cool, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour—more if possible.

Serve with sweetened whipped cream and more grated lime zest.

Enjoy every single bite!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/key-lime-pie-sorta/

PW’s Corn Fritters

4 generous cups corn kernels: fresh, frozen, or canned
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk, more to thin if necessary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
Canola oil, for frying

Optional ingredients: Powdered sugar, maple syrup

Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add eggs, milk, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir together to make a batter.
Add corn and chives to batter. Fold together to combine.
Heat canola oil to 365 degrees. When oil is heated, drop spoonfuls of batter and cook, flipping to the other side, until golden brown.
Drain on a towel-lined plate. Serve alone, with dipping sauces, or sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with maple syrup.

Divine!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/corn-fritters/