The World According To Penne

Penne pasta is a product of Naples, Italy. The pasta was created to remind the clever Neapolitans of the days when their ancestors dipped feather quilled pens into bottles of ink in order to communicate the written word. Although the pasta has an air of delicacy, it is able to hold its weight from the lightest to the heaviest of sauces.

Deliberating over how to begin a meal, it is not easy unless it happens to be a soup that can be light enough to be served as an appetizer or stand alone as an entree.

Penne Pasta Soup
(Serves 4 bowls or 6 cups)

3-cups swiss chard, julienned(cut into long strips)
3 or 4 cloves garlic
1-Tlb. olive oil
3-cups penne pasta
1-medium onion, chopped
4-14oz. cans chicken broth
2-cups water
1-8oz. can Italian tomatoes with basil
2-whole carrots, sliced thin,precooked
1/2-cup parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. dried basil

Directions: In a dutch over or a soup pot:
Heat the olive oil and saute the onion and the garlic until they are wilted. Add the precooked carrots and the swiss chard. Add the chicken broth and the water. Let the ingredients simmer(medium-low) in the broth until they are tender. Add the cooked penne pasta, the canned Italian tomatoes with basil and the dried basil. Simmer on low for an additional twenty minutes. When all of the ingredients are finished cooking, ladle into soup bowls or soup cups and sprinkle the parmesan cheese on the top of the soup. Serve with Italian bread and some ripe olives.

A rich dense portabella mushroom sauce works well with the delicate balance of penne pasta.

Portabella Mushroom Sauce
(Serves 4)
2-cups portabella mushrooms, sliced
1-medium onion, chopped
2-Tlbs. butter
1-tsp. flour
1-cup half and half
1-tsp. worchestershire sauce
2-Tlb. parsley flakes
1-cup parmasean cheese
1/4-cup red or rose wine
4-cups penne pasta

Directions: Saute the sliced mushrooms and onions until they are tender. Add the worchestershire sauce and the half and half. Stir the ingredients and then add the red or rose wine and the parsley flakes. Boil the penne pasta in salted water and drain it in a strainer.After the pasta is drained put into an oiled baking dish and pour the mushroom sauce over it. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes.

A ham and cheese sauce is for those times when a meal needs to be prepared in a hurry.

Ham And Cheese Sauce

2-cups ham, precooked
1-cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2-cup parmesan cheese
2-cups half and half
2-Tlb. butter
1-Tlb. all purpose flour
1/2-cup frozen English peas
4-cups penne pasta, parboiled

Directions: Line the bottom of a medium sized baking dish with foil and brush it with some olive oil. In a saucepan: Combine the butter and the flour. After it is incorporated add the half and half and the two cheeses. Stir until the ingredients are of a sauce consistency. In a baking dish: Arrange the penne pasta and mix in the ham and the peas. Pour the cheese sauce over the ingredients. Cover the ingredients with foil and bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes.

A penne pasta salad is a topic of debate over whether to use fresh plum tomatoes, a favorite brand of canned plum ones, or the sweetness of the sun dried. Whatever the outcome of the discussion, any type of plum tomato will do.

Penne Pasta Salad
(Serves 4)

4-cups penne pasta, precooked
2-green onions, chopped
1-Tablespoon parsley flakes
3/4-cup plum tomatoes (canned or sun dried)
1/2-cup ripe olives
1/2-cup roasted red bell peppers
3-Tlb olive oil
2-Tlb red wine
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Rub a salad bowl with a clove of garlic.Combine all of the salad ingredients.Whisk the olive oil and the red wine vinegar. Season the pasta salad with the salt and the pepper. Combine the vinaigrette dressing with the ingredients.Refrigerate the pasta salad for thirty minutes.

A light finish to a penne pasta meal is a simple fruit salad made with oranges, freshly chopped mint and toasted coconut.

Orange Mint Fruit Salad
(Serves 4)

4-cups sliced oranges
2-mint leaves, finely chopped
1-cup toasted coconut
1-anisette cookie for a garnish

Directions: Lightly combine the fruit salad ingredients and then spoon the fruit salad in individual bowls with with an anisette cookie as a garnish

Cooking since the age of fifteen, the author has always loved the cuisine of Italy.

---

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Creates National Zucchini Shortage

There are few garden vegetable that are prolific as zucchini... Read More

Rib-Eye Steak with Mushrooms and Bleu Cheese

This is a mouth watering steak. Every time I serve... Read More

All About Strawberry Shortcakes

Strawberry shortcake may be a 200 year-old American invention. With... Read More

Sweet & Sour Fish

Sweet and sour fish is one of the most popular... Read More

How to Bake: Easy Sourdough Bread

A customer emailed us and said that her mother loved... Read More

My Mothers Recipe Box

Remember the days when cookbooks weren't so readily available, and... Read More

Rowan Jelly (Mountain Ash - Pyrus aucuparia)

Sharp and sour but sweet and succulent all at the... Read More

Fire Cracker Italian Sausage Pasta

You will find that this recipe is very easy to... Read More

Mouth Watering Memphis Style Pork Ribs

The Memphis Style pork rib is one of the most... Read More

Fancy Up Your Muffins

We introduced muffins to you last week and many of... Read More

A Scone Recipe for Dinner or Lunch

There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Fish In Orange Sauce

Lean protein is your diet is essential to weight loss... Read More

Simply Salads

"It is just sensible."exclaimed my friend. She was referring to... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie - The Gravy Train

In all fairness to my mother and the great homemaker... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie - Fast Food

My parents lived for convenience when it came to feeding... Read More

Low Fat Salmon Recipes

Finding delicious low fat salmon recipes has just become easier... Read More

How to Bake Quick Bread: Apricot-Orange Nut

We love moist, fruity quick breads--and this is one of... Read More

How to Make a Delicious German Crumble Cake in 4 Simple Steps

In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes)... Read More

Fortunate Lemon Chicken

A delicious chicken meal for you to prepare at home.... Read More

Raisin Roll Delight

Ingredients: ¾ cup cold water plus 2 Tablesps (very important)... Read More

Blue Cheese Omnivorous

IngredientsRomaine Lettuce (head $1.29) 1 pound of steak ($10 per... Read More

Grilled Scallops with Ginger-Lime Sauce

Summer time is great for barbequing, but aren't you tired... Read More

Shrimp Scampi Recipes

Many people have different ideas on how to prepare great... Read More

Rockfish Bessie

Ingredients 5-6 lbs. Whole Rockfish 1 Onion 1 Lemon... Read More

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Homemade cookies from scratch in 20 minutes!!? 2 six-ounce packages... Read More

Italian Recipes ? Top 3 Dinner Recipes That You Should Prepare Tonight!

If you are wondering what to prepare for dinner tonight,... Read More

Easy, Tasty Chicken Wing Recipes

You can serve chicken wings hot or cold, for a... Read More

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun.... Read More

Main Dish Zucchini Recipes

With summer coming to an end, you probably have an... Read More

Spinach Salad with Mango and Papaya

This is a great summer salad, leaving you refreshed even... Read More

Use Up Those Leftovers!

Managing leftovers is a challenge we all face! Throwing food... Read More

Staight Talk from a Comfort Foodie: World Peace Through Vegetarianism

I became a vegetarian in the early 80's. The Czech... Read More

Summer Basil Pasta Salad

With the long hot days of summer, you will find... Read More