Pasta Improv

Create delicious, nutritious meals in minutes!

Dreamfields pasta can be the base to any delicious meal or side dish. Toss with ingredients on hand and you have a nutritious and tasty meal in minutes. Pasta fits into all lifestyles–from those who are on the run and seem to have nothing on hand, to those who enjoy gardening and have seasonal fresh produce, to those who don't know what to do with Sunday's leftover roast beef or chicken. Even a classic bowl of buttered elbows with Parmesan cheese will satisfy hungry kids in minutes.

Ingredient	Amount for 1 Serving	Amount for 4 Servings
Pasta	4 ounces dry	1 pound dry
Vegetables	1 cup	4 cups
Meat, poultry, fish and/or cheese	1/3 to 3/4 cup	1 1/3 to 3 cups
Sauce	1/4 to 1/2 cup	1 to 2 cups
Flavorings	1/2 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons	2 teaspoons to 1/2 cup

Pantry Stockers

Stock up on ingredients when on sale, and keep essential favorites on hand for quick meals...

In your Cupboard
Anchovy fillets Artichoke hearts (jar) Beans (Chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans) Bottled Italian dressing Broth (beef, chicken or vegetable) Capers Garlic (fresh or bottled minced) Lemon juice Nuts (pine nuts, walnuts, almonds)	Olives Olive oil Pasta Sauces (Alfredo, marinara, pesto) Roasted red bell peppers (jar) Spices (herbs, nutmeg) Tomatoes (Italian-style pear shaped, canned) Tomatoes (sun-dried) Wine (for cooking and drinking)
In your Freezer
Meats (beef, chicken, fish/seafood, pork) Vegetables
In your Refrigerator
Cheese (cheddar, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan) Cream Eggs Herbs (fresh basil, mint, parsley, etc) Mushrooms Onion (green, red, regular) Prosciutto or other cured Italian meats Salad greens Vegetables

Try these easy-to-prepare Pasta Improv Meals for 2!

Quick Chicken Alfredo
8 ounces Dreamfields Penne Rigate
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup fresh asparagus, chopped
1/2 cup cooked chicken, cubed
1 cup prepared Alfredo sauce
Fresh Parmesan to sprinkle
Salt and Pepper to taste, freshly snipped basil if on-hand

Spaghetti della Salsiccia
8 ounces Dreamfields Spaghetti
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
2/3 cup hot Italian sausage links, sliced julienne
1 cup marinara sauce
Fresh Parmesan to sprinkle

Pasta Cooking Tips
For perfect pasta every time, follow these simple tips:

1. Use plenty of water. One pound of pasta requires at least 4 quarts of water.
2. Bring water to a full, rolling boil. Add one tablespoon of salt per pound of pasta, if desired.
3. Add pasta to boiling water gradually.
4. Stir pasta gently to keep pasta from clumping.
5. Leave the pot uncovered and keep water at a constant boil. Stir occasionally.
6. Test the pasta 2 minutes before recommended cook time to check for preferred tenderness.
   It should be firm to the bite, or al dente.

Visit these other websites for more recipe ideas:

DiabeticCooking.com
iVillage.com
CookingLight.com
LowCarbLuxury.com


As with all food and meals eaten by consumers with diabetes of any type and using medication of any type, careful and frequent monitoring of blood glucose is necessary and frequent contact with a physician is mandatory for good health.