Wednesday Pasta Party!

Continuing the themes for dinner time, we are incorporating a Pasta Party night. Wednesday seems a good a night as any to party! This weeks pasta dish was Shrimp Parmesan with linguine noodles. The kids always love pasta and it has all my favorite things; quick, easy and cheap! Of course you can modify this night to be as quick as Spaghetti, fun as everyone making meatballs or have the warm comfort food feeling of Lasagna. The versatility of this night keeps me sane from not having to endure yet another boring night of Macaroni with cheese and keeps the kids happy too! Just think of all the different noodle and sauce combinations! Add some veggies and meat and voila! And I really love to bust out the food processor and obliterate some veggies to hide in the sauce making it even more healthy. The kiddos really get a kick out of the different pasta shapes too. Worms, butterflies, pipes! We know these better as spaghetti, bowtie or elbow. Now if only I can convince hubby of my needs for more KitchenAide attachements for my mixer....making my own noodles would be awesome! And that gives me an idea for making raviolis! I can just picture it; the kids covered in flour and smiles, the serious looks of concentration while they try to make their little fingers work, the satisfaction of eating something they've made themselves. Sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Raviolis freeze great and then just toss them frozen into boiling water. YUM.

Here is this Pasta Party recipe! We ate it with a yummy Cesaer salad!

---Shrimp Parmesan
Uncooked thawed Shrimp
Linguine Noodles
Veggies (we used shredded fresh baby spinach, halved grape tomatoes,
diced green peppers, thinly sliced onion, fresh mushrooms)
garlic
olive oil
butter
parmesan cheese (from a block)
italian seasoning
salt & pepper


Start water for noodles and cut up veggies. Cook garlic and onion in olive oil on low. When translucient add mushrooms and green pepper. When mushrooms brown, pour veggies in bowl over spinach and tomatoes (this warms the tomatoes and wilts the spinach). Put a dab of butter in pan, add shrimp and cook until they curl and pink, careful not to overcook and make them rubbery. Add seasoning. Add veggies and cooked noodles, stir in parmesan and serve!