Pasta with Creamy Cheese Sauce - Pasta med krämig ostsås

PASTA WITH CREAMY CHEESE SAUCE

Pasta med krämig ostsås

Serves 4

8.8 oz macaroni, fresh or dried

1 tablespoon olive oil

8.8 oz streaky bacon

1 cup regular milk

8.8 oz mascarpone cheese

3½ oz grated Cheddar cheese

salt, pepper

2 fresh rosemary sprigs

Preheat oven to 392F.

Boil the macaroni until al dente and pour off the water. Mix the pasta with olive oil. Cut the bacon in pieces, fry until crisp and set aside.

Mix pasta, milk, mascarpone and half of the grated Cheddar in a saucepan. Flavor with salt and pepper and heat it all through. Finely chop the rosemary and add half of it to the sauce. Pour it all in an oven-proof pan and sprinkle with remaining cheese and rosemary. Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Basically macaroni and cheese I should imagine. So good.

Enjoy!

Bella

Red Lentil Lasagna - Lasagne med röda linser

RED LENTIL LASAGNA

Lasagne med röda linser

Serves 4 to 6

2 carrots

7 oz squash

1 onion

3 garlic cloves

3 tablespoons finely shredded basil

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons tomato paste

0.8 cup dried red lentils

2 cans crushed tomatoes, 

each approx 14 oz

1.2 cup water

1 vegetable bouillon cube

salt, black pepper

chili flakes (can be omitted)

10.6 oz lasagna plates, preferably fresh

1.6 cup creme fraiche

1.2 cup ripe, grated cheese

1 mozzarella ball, 4.4 oz

Decoration:

parsley

Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 437F.

Peel and finely chop the carrots. Trim and dice the squash. Peel and finely chop onion and garlic. Sauté carrots, squash, onion, garlic and basil until smooth and glossy without coloring in a spatious frying pan with oil. Add tomato paste and fry for about 1 minute. Add lentils, crushed tomatoes, water and bouillon cube and simmer for about 10 minutes. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper and some optional chili flakes.

Grease an oven-proof pan, approx 8 x 12 inches. Alternate lasagna plates, tomato sauce, creme fraiche and cheese in the pan. Finish with a layer of tomato sauce and top with grated mozzarella. Bake just below the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Decorate with parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Bella

Spaghetti with Squash and Anchovies - Spaghetti med squash och sardeller

SPAGHETTI WITH SQUASH AND ANCHOVIES

Spaghetti med squash och sardeller

Serves 4

14 oz spaghetti

2 garlic cloves

4 anchovy fillets

1.1 lb cherry tomatoes

1 squash

3½ oz grated Parmesan cheese

olive oil

lemon juice

salt, black pepper

Boil the pasta and prepare the other ingredients while it's cooking.

Finely chop garlic and anchovies. Split the tomatoes. Split the squash lengthwise and remove the pips, then roughly grate it or shred with a potato peeler. Mix garlic, anchovies, tomatoes, squash and Parmesan. Drain the pasta and stir it into the anchovy mixture.

Drizzle with some olive oil and squeeze some lemon juice over it. Flavor with salt and black pepper and blend well.

Enjoy!

Bella

Pasta Au Gratin with Cheese, Mushrooms and Spinach - Pastagratäng med ost, svamp och spenat

PASTA AU GRATIN WITH CHEESE,

MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Pastagratäng med ost, svamp och spenat

3 kinds of cheese, mushrooms and fresh spinach makes this pasta gratin completely irresistible.

Serves 4

14 oz pasta of your choice, but 

preferably shells

14 oz mixed mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

approx 7 oz fresh baby spinach

approx 8.8 oz camembert

or brie cheese

8.8 oz mascarpone cheese

salt, pepper

3½ oz pitted black olives (optional)

approx 2½ oz grated Parmesan cheese

For serving:

salad

Preheat oven to 392F.

Boil the pasta in lightly salted water until it's al dente. Trim and slice the mushrooms and fry it in olive oil until lightly colored. Stir in the spinach and soften it up. Dice the camembert or brie and stir this into the pan together with mascarpone and the optional olives. Flavor with some salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta and pour it back into the saucepan. Stir in the mushroom-cheese mixture in the pasta and pour it all in a greased, oven-proof pan. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Serve the gratin with a green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Creamy Chicken Fillet with Mushrooms and Arugula - Krämig kycklingfilé med svamp och rucola

CREAMY CHICKEN FILLET WITH 

MUSHROOMS AND ARUGULA

Krämig kycklingfilé med svamp och rucola

Serves 4

1 lb 5 oz chicken fillets

1 onion

3 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons butter

5.3 oz mushrooms, 

e.g. oyster mushrooms (can it really 

be called that?)

0.4 cup white wine

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1.6 cup heavy cream

salt, pepper

oregano

1 tablespoon Maizena

10.6 oz pasta of your choice

0.4 cup black olives

2½ oz arugula

7 oz mini tomatoes

For serving:

Parmesan cheese

Shred the chicken fillets. Peel and chop onion and garlic. Sauté the chicken in a frying pan with butter. Add onion, garlic and mushrooms in pieces and continue cooking for a couple of minutes. Add wine and vinegar and let the wine be soaked up. Pour in the cream and reduce by boiling another 10 minutes. Flavor with salt, pepper and oregano and thicken the sauce. Make sure the chicken is cooked through.

Boil and drain the pasta. Blend in olives, arugula and split tomatoes into the chicken. Turn in the pasta and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Bella

Tuscan Chicken with Pasta - Toscansk kyckling med pasta

TUSCAN CHICKEN WITH PASTA

Toscansk kyckling med pasta

Serves 4

1 lb 5 oz chicken fillets

1 + 1 tablespoons olive oil

salt, pepper

2 onions

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 can cherry tomatoes, 14 oz

0.4 cup water

2 tablespoons concentrated

chicken fond

0.4 cup black olives

pasta for 4, of your choice

Decoration:

basil

Parmesan cheese

For serving:

salad

Cut the chicken in pieces and brown all around in a frying pan with oil. Flavor with salt and pepper and transfer to a shallow, wide saucepan.

Peel and cut the onions in wedges. Peel and chop the garlic and sauté all onions in a frying pan with oil. Add tomato paste and continue cooking for a minute or so. Stir in the canned tomatoes, water and chicken fond and bring to a boil. Pour it all into the saucepan. Boil the chicken in the tomato sauce, add olives and flavor to taste.

Boil the pasta, drain and mix with the chicken. Pour it up on a serving plate and top with basil and Parmesan cheese. Serve with a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Chili Shrimp Spaghetti - Spaghetti med chiliräkor

CHILI SHRIMP SPAGHETTI

Spaghetti med chiliräkor

Serves 2

2 servings spaghetti

10.6 oz un-peeled shrimp

2 garlic cloves

½ red chilifruit

1 red bell pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ lemon

salt, pepper

1 oz arugula

0.2 cup pasta water

0.4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Boil the spaghetti and reserve 0.2 cup of the pasta water.

Peel and chop the garlic. Trim and chop the chili pepper and bell pepper. Saute garlic, chili pepper and bell pepper in a pot with oil without coloring. Add peeled shrimp and grated lemon zest and heat it all through. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Blend together the shrimp with spaghetti, arugula, pasta water and Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Bella

Spinach Pasta Rolls with Cheese Sauce - Spenatpastarullar med ostsås

SPINACH PASTA ROLLS WITH CHEESE SAUCE

Spenatpastarullar med ostsås

Serves 2

6 fresh lasagna "plates"

Filling:

7 oz frozen leafy spinach

1 shallot

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

8.8 oz cottage cheese

Cheese sauce:

1.2 cup regular milk

2 tablespoons flour

0.8 cup ripe, grated cheese

salt, pepper

For serving:

tossed green salad

Preheat oven to 437F.

Filling:

Thaw the spinach. Peel and chop shallot and garlic. Sauté onion, garlic and spinach in a frying pan with the fat until all liquid is gone. Allow to cool, then mix with cottage cheese. 

Place a couple of tablespoonfuls of the filling on each lasagna "plate" and roll up from the short side. Split the rolls and transfer them, seamside down, in greased, oven-proof pans.

Cheese sauce:

Beat milk and flour in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes while stirring. Add 0.4 cup of the cheese and let it melt in the sauce. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper. 

Divide the sauce over the pasta rolls, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes. Serve with a tossed green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Garlic Gnocchi with Ham and Feta - Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

GARLIC GNOCCHI WITH HAM AND FETA

Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

Serves 4

1.1 lb fresh gnocchi pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 crushed garlic cloves

14 oz diced tomatoes

7 oz smoked ham

2.6 oz crumbled feta cheese

1 tablespoon dried oregano

salt, black pepper

Fry the gnocchi with oil and garlic until golden. Mix tomatoes, ham, feta cheese and oregano. Stir the pasta into the tomato mix and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ground Meat, Bell Pepper and Spaghetti - Spaghetti med paprikafärs

GROUND MEAT, BELL PEPPER AND SPAGHETTI

Spaghetti med paprikafärs

Serves 2

1 onion

10.6 oz ground meat

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

7 oz crushed, canned tomatoes,

preferably chili flavored

2 teaspoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon basil

salt, pepper

1 tablespoon concentrated

veal fond

1 bell pepper, whichever color

Peel and chop the onion and sauté in butter until tender. Add the ground meat and cook until crumbly. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper and veal fond. Boil for about 10 minutes. Add trimmed, shredded bell pepper and simmer slowly for about 5 minutes.

Serve with spaghetti and a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Salmon Dill Pasta - Laxpasta med dill

SALMON DILL PASTA

Laxpasta med dill

Serves 4

½ leek

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

0.8 cup creme fraiche

2 tomatoes

7 oz smoked salmon, sliced

salt, pepper

0.4 cup dill

For serving:

4 servings pasta

Rinse and slice the leek and sauté until tender in a saucepan with butter. Add creme fraiche and diced tomatoes. Boil for 5 minutes. Shred the salmon and put it in the sauce. Heat through and flavor to taste with salt, pepper and dill.

Serve with boiled pasta and a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Quick and Easy Falu Sausage Au Gratin - Snabb falugratäng

QUICK AND EASY FALU SAUSAGE AU GRATIN

Snabb falugratäng

Serves 4

1 lb 3 oz Falu sausage or

suitable equivalent

1 onion

1 tablespoon butter

2 garlic cloves

7 oz pasta

1.1 lb wok vegetables

(in Sweden that's a frozen mix

of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli,

mini corn, water chestnuts, 

green beans and so on)

7 oz cream cheese

2 cans crushed tomatoes, each

approx 14 oz

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

salt, pepper

1 teaspoon dried thyme

0.8 cup grated cheese

For serving:

salad

Preheat oven to 437F.

Slice the sausage and cut the slices in half. Peel and chop the onion. Sauté sausage and onion in butter in a frying pan. Crush the garlic and blend the wok vegetable mix into the pan. Continue cooking until tender. 

Boil and drain the pasta. Mix the pasta with the sausage mix and pour it all in a greased oven-proof pan. Beat together cream cheese, crushed tomatoes and mustard and flavor with salt, pepper and thyme. Pour this over the pasta and make sure to blend it all well. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake for about 30 minutes until nicely colored.

Serve with a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Fresh Pasta Au Gratin with Blue Cheese - Färsk pastagratäng med ädelost

FRESH PASTA AU GRATIN WITH BLUE CHEESE

Färsk pastagratäng med ädelost

Serves 4

2 packages fresh pasta with some

kind of filling that you like

1 onion

butter

2½ oz fresh spinach

1.6 cups water

0.8 cup cream

4½ oz blue cheese

salt, black pepper

8.8 oz cherry tomatoes

For serving:

green salad

Sauté the onion in butter until tender without coloring. Add spinach and let it soften. Pour in water and cream and add half of the blue cheese, crumbled. Heat the sauce until the cheese melts and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Put the pasta in an oven-proof pan and pour on the sauce. Put the tomatoes on top and crumble remaining blue cheese over it all. Cook in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes.

Serve with a green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Quick and Easy Bacon Pasta - Snabba baconpastan

QUICK AND EASY BACON PASTA

Snabba baconpastan

Serves 4

4 servings spaghetti or other

pasta you like

2½ tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves

approx 1 teaspoon sambal oelek

9.7 oz streaky bacon, sliced

leafy parsley

salt, black pepper

For serving:

Parmesan cheese

tomato salad with red onion

Preheat oven to 392F. Boil the pasta.

Pour the oil in a large, oven-proof pan. Add crushed garlic and sambal oelek (taste your way ahead, it's strong!). Cut the bacon in pieces, put them in the pan and blend. Cook in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Add pasta and chopped parsley to the pan and stir until everything is blended. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper (remember that the bacon is rather salty). Serve with grated Parmesan and a mixed salad with tomatoes and red onion.

Enjoy!

Bella

Stewed Macaroni with Falu sausage - Stuvade makaroner med falukorv

STEWED MACARONI WITH FALU SAUSAGE

Stuvade makaroner med falukorv

Serves 2

1 cup macaroni

1 tablespoon flour

0.8 cup regular milk

0.2 cup cooking cream

salt, pepper

8.8 oz Falu sausage

butter or margarine for frying

For serving:

tomato salad

Boil the macaroni and drain them. Beat the flour into the milk and bring to a boil while stirring. Add cream and boil for 3 minutes. Stir in the macaroni and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Slice the Falu sausage and fry in butter in a frying pan. Serve with a tomato salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Chuck Cooked in Red Wine with Gnocchi Pasta - Rödvinskokt högrev med gnocchi

CHUCK COOKED IN RED WINE WITH GNOCCHI PASTA

Rödvinskokt högrev med gnocchi

Serves 4

1.1 lb chuck or brisket of beef

1 onion

2 garlic cloves

1 carrot

1 piece celeriac (celery-root)

2 tablespoons oil

0.8 cup red wine

1 can (14 oz) whole, peeled tomatoes

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1½ teaspoons salt

some black pepper

2 tablespoons flour

For serving:

1.1 lb gnocchi pasta

0.4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

tomatoes

rucola (arugula) salad

Cut the meat in cubes. Peel onion and roots and cut them in cubes too. Brown meat and onion in oil in a frying pan and transfer to a pot. Add roots, wine and tomatoes and then bay leaves, rosemary, salt and pepper. If needed, add water - the liquid should cover the meat. Put a lid on and simmer over low heat for 2 to 3 hours.

Mix flour with some cold water and stir this thickening into the pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.

Serve the stew with boiled gnocchi or other pasta, grated Parmesan, coarsely ground pepper and a salad with tomatoes and arugula.

Enjoy!

Bella

Lemon Basil Pasta with Parmesan - Citronpasta med parmesan och basilika

LEMON BASIL PASTA WITH PARMESAN

Citronpasta med parmesan och basilika

Serves 4

2 eggs

1.6 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 bunch fresh basil

2 lemons

1 teaspoon salt

some pepper

1.1 lb fettuccine pasta, fresh

(to minimize the cooking time)

Separate the eggs and put the yolks in a bowl. Add grated cheese, chopped basil, grated lemon zest and fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend. Boil the pasta in lightly salted water for a few minutes.

Mix the hot pasta with the lemon mixture and 2 tablespoons of the pasta water.

Serve with green salad and tomatoes.

Enjoy!

Bella

Creamy Mushroom Bacon Pasta - Krämig svamp- och baconpasta

CREAMY MUSHROOM BACON PASTA

Krämig svamp- och baconpasta

Serves 2

Approx 2½ oz streaky bacon

7 oz mushrooms

butter

0.4 cup creme fraiche

0.2 cup grated cheese or a piece of Brie

salt, pepper

Cut the bacon in pieces and fry until crisp in a frying pan or in the oven. Drain on paper towels until serving.

Trim and slice the mushrooms and fry until golden, add creme fraiche and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add cheese and let it melt. Flavor with salt and pepper.

Serve right away with boiled pasta, crisp bacon and chopped parsley. For instance.

Enjoy!

Bella

Filled Pasta Au Gratin with Feta - Gratäng med fylld pasta och fetaost

FILLED PASTA AU GRATIN WITH FETA

Gratäng med fylld pasta och fetaost

Serves 4

9 oz fresh broccoli

5½ oz sugarsnaps

1.1 lb fresh filled pasta "bundles"

of your choice

0.4 cup heavy cream

1 garlic clove

1 teaspoon salt

some black pepper

chili flakes

5½ oz feta cheese

0.4 cup grated strong cheese

1 tablespoon olive oil

Decoration:

fresh green herbs, e.g. thyme

or basil

Preheat the oven to 390F.

Split the broccoli into florets. Thinly slice the stem. Trim the sugarsnaps.

Cook the pasta and add the broccoli and peas to the water for the last minute or so. Put pasta, broccoli and peas in a greased, oven-proof dish. Mix cream, finely chopped garlic and spices and pour this over it all. Crumble the feta on top, sprinkle with grated cheese and drizzle the olive oil on top.

Bake high up in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until nicely colored and looks done. Decorate with green herbs.

Enjoy!

Bella

Pasta Soup with Bacon - Pastasoppa med bacon

PASTA SOUP WITH BACON

Pastasoppa med bacon

Serves 4

6 cups water

2 vegetable bouillon cubes

9 oz broccoli

2 carrots

1 leek

1.2 cups dried pasta of your choice

0.4 cup creme fraiche

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

5 oz streaky bacon

1 tablespoon Maizena cornstarch

0.4 cup grated cheese

salt, pepper

thyme

Bring water and bouillon cubes to a boil in a pot. Split the broccoli into florets (also use the stem, please, cut in suitable pieces). Peel and slice the carrots, rinse and slice the leek. Add the vegetables to the pot and boil for 5 minutes. Add pasta and boil for the suggested time. Stir in the creme fraiche and vinegar, thicken the soup and boil for 3 minutes.

Dice the bacon and fry until crisp. Add bacon and grated cheese to the soup and flavor to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with thyme.

Enjoy!

Bella