For many of my readers, August means Back to School time for the kiddos...so the #SundaySupper theme for our final installment from Katie Workman's The Mom 100 Cookbook is Easy Back to School Dishes. Since there are no non-feline kids in residence at Casa Garcia, back-to-school isn't something normally on our radar. However, fall is the busiest time of year for me at work...which means that it's a good time for me to have some quick and tasty weeknight dinner recipes in my hip pocket. The last thing I want to do after a long day in the office is come home and cook a complicated dinner! Quick and tasty are my main goals during the workweek. The recipe I'm sharing today certainly qualifies: Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Bake is ready for the oven in about 20 minutes, then it does the rest of the work while you toss together a salad and set the table!
Katie provides a recipe for a simple homemade tomato sauce in her book. However, to save time, I opted to use my go-to jarred sauce: Rao's vodka sauce. It has a touch of cream that added a subtle richness to this dish. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights: simply add cooked pasta of your choice to the sauce -- I used penne, then add some diced fresh mozzarella and fresh basil before popping into the oven. Since Michael likes extra protein, I added some diced cooked chicken breast before the pasta went into the oven. After 20 minutes, you've got an ooey-gooey pasta dinner that will satisfy everyone at your dinner table. I've yet to meet a person who doesn't LOVE cheesy pasta! Add a simple salad and some crusty bread, and you've got a complete meal in less than an hour!
Katie provides a recipe for a simple homemade tomato sauce in her book. However, to save time, I opted to use my go-to jarred sauce: Rao's vodka sauce. It has a touch of cream that added a subtle richness to this dish. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights: simply add cooked pasta of your choice to the sauce -- I used penne, then add some diced fresh mozzarella and fresh basil before popping into the oven. Since Michael likes extra protein, I added some diced cooked chicken breast before the pasta went into the oven. After 20 minutes, you've got an ooey-gooey pasta dinner that will satisfy everyone at your dinner table. I've yet to meet a person who doesn't LOVE cheesy pasta! Add a simple salad and some crusty bread, and you've got a complete meal in less than an hour!
gently adapted from The Mom 100 Cookbook
Step 2: Add 3/4 lb. cubed cooked chicken breast and stir until all ingredients are evenly combined. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish or 13x9 pan. Chop 4-5 basil leaves and sprinkle on top of casserole.
Step 3: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the top of the casserole is golden-brown. Let sit for five minutes before serving. Dish into serving bowls and top with more fresh basil and/or grated parmesan.
Step 3: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the top of the casserole is golden-brown. Let sit for five minutes before serving. Dish into serving bowls and top with more fresh basil and/or grated parmesan.
This simple dish was SO tasty...zesty sauce, gooey melted mozzarella, and a touch of basil in the background! I would've been fine eating this dish without the chicken, but Michael was happy to have the extra bit of protein. This recipe is very versatile too: add in some sauteed mushrooms to keep it veg-friendly, or maybe add some sliced Italian sausages to make it more hearty. The basic framework is the perfect blueprint for improvisation, depending on what's in your kitchen on a given night!
For more advice and tips on Back to School dinner planning, I hope you'll take a moment to visit Katie's fabulous Mom 100 website and blog. You'll find tons of ideas for saving time in the kitchen...as well as tons of great family-friendly recipes. If you would like to add The Mom 100 Cookbook to your cookbook collection, you can purchase it via Amazon. It's a great cookbook, full of wonderful easy-to-make recipes that don't sacrifice flavor in the process.
Be sure to join the #SundaySupper brunch for a live Twitter chat with author Katie Workman this evening at 700EST. She'll be sharing Back to School recipes during our chat. In the meantime, take a peek at the recipes my fellow #SundaySupper members are sharing this week:
Easy Breakfast ideas:
For more advice and tips on Back to School dinner planning, I hope you'll take a moment to visit Katie's fabulous Mom 100 website and blog. You'll find tons of ideas for saving time in the kitchen...as well as tons of great family-friendly recipes. If you would like to add The Mom 100 Cookbook to your cookbook collection, you can purchase it via Amazon. It's a great cookbook, full of wonderful easy-to-make recipes that don't sacrifice flavor in the process.
Be sure to join the #SundaySupper brunch for a live Twitter chat with author Katie Workman this evening at 700EST. She'll be sharing Back to School recipes during our chat. In the meantime, take a peek at the recipes my fellow #SundaySupper members are sharing this week:
Easy Breakfast ideas:
- Hawaiian Scrambled Eggs Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Scrambled Eggs with sausage and fresh herbs by Basic n Delicious
- Breakfast Wraps by Magnolia Days
- Scrambled Eggs with Herb Croutons Comfy Cuisine
- Scrambled Eggs for Preschoolers In the Kitchen with Audrey
Lunchbox Wraps:
- Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap by Meal Planning Magic
- California Chicken Wraps by Momma’s Meals
- Chicken, Hummus, and sautéed Vegetable Wraps by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Grilled Roast Beef Wraps with Horseradish Mayo by Juanita’s Cocina
- Mesquite Turkey, Mango and Pepper Jack Wraps by Shockingly Delicious
- Hummus, Cucumber, Roasted Pepper and Carrot Lunchbox Wrap by Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Quick and Easy Mozzarella and Meatball Wrap by Mama Mommy Mom
- Herbed Beef Wraps by Brie’s Bites
- California Wraps by Daily Dish Recipes
Easy Weekday Suppers:
- Sautéed Corn, with Double Bacon, Scallions and Shrimp by The Meltaways
- Garlic Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken by Supper for a Steal
- Kebab Chicken & Grilled Veggie Wraps with Tahini Sauce by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Choose Your Topping Grilled Pizza by In the Kitchen with KP
- Quesadillas Your Way by Mrs. Mama Hen
- BBQ & Cheddar Chicken Quesadillas by Big Bears Wife
- Yum Yum Salmon Quesadillas by Family Foodie
After School Snacks:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares by Girlichef
- Fudgy One-Pot Raspberry Cocoa Brownies by Chocolate Moosey
- Fudgy One-Pot Brownies by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Pear Choco Walnut Coffee Cake by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Peach Clafoutis by The Messy Baker Blog
I love mozzarella anything and you made this recipe look so good! This is now on my must try list for easy weeknight meals.
ReplyDeleteIt's SO GOOD...lots of melty cheese! I will be making this a LOT this fall!!
DeleteI have been wanting to make this recipe for a while. You have made it look so good I really must make it soon. Melty cheesy goodness for sure.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with it...and feel free to make your own sauce if you have a bit more time! I think it would be great with sliced Italian sausage and sauteed onions/peppers!
DeleteThis is right up my alley! Love all of the fresh mozzarella!
ReplyDeleteI only had 1 cup on hand, but the recipe actually calls for a bit more. As it, it was mega-cheesy...and I really prefer fresh mozzarella. Have fun with this on, Jen!
DeleteOhh I have some leftover chicken sausage. I think I will make this this coming week. Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI think this one's going to be a regular in my fall dinner rotation too...so versatile and SO yummy!!
DeleteLook at all of that glorious cheese in that dish. I'm beginning to hyperventilate a bit. This dish looks so good. I'm totally putting this on my menu. Happy #SundaySupper!
ReplyDeleteThe more cheese, the better...I had half a container of bocconcini in the fridge, so I used that. I normally would've used more, but didn't since I had chicken in the dish as well!
DeleteOh my! Does this ever look good! I can't live without pasta! Amazing photos! Happy #SundaySupper!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS have at least two boxes of pasta in my pantry...I can make a quick dinner with whatever else I can find in the fridge/cupboard/freezer. It's such an adaptable food!!
DeleteI've made this dish, too...and YES, the whole family loved it. And I loved that it was just so simple! Yours looks amazing and makes me want it all over again. :)
ReplyDeleteSimple + tasty = a winner in my book! Some nights, I want something fast...but don't want to order pizza. This is the perfect solution!!
DeleteLooks fabulous! Something I would cook if I had company coming over.
ReplyDeleteHey, doll! This is simple goodness...and you can use homemade sauce if you have a go-to one. Now that my life is finally settling down a bit after next weekend in NOLA, let's tag up for lunch before the end of the month!!
DeleteI eat pasta all the time. I love the idea of finishing it up in the oven. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat lets the cheese get melty and sort of deepens the tomato flavors...I don't always finish pasta in the oven, but it works well with this recipe!
DeleteLove the idea of adding the mozzarella! Another must try! Thanks for sharing #SS!!
ReplyDeleteYeah...that gooey mozzarella is swoon-worthy for sure! This is such a great dish...
DeleteThis looks outstanding, Wendy! And my picky daughter would even eat it! I'm so glad you're celebrating #SundaySupper :)
ReplyDeleteI'm craving a plate of this now.
ReplyDeleteWendy...I am on such an Italian pasta kick lately. But I especially love this pasta bake and how those fresh balls of mozarella are just nestled into the casserole! I am most definitely putting this one on my list! Scrumptious! : )
ReplyDelete