Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2 quick and easy meals for your crazy, busy holiday schedules!

I've been so busy lately that I haven't left much time for cooking...too much shopping, wrapping, Christmas party hopping and Christmas movie watching to do! I know we are all busy so I thought I'd share two delicious and super easy recipes with you.
First I give you Rotini with Salsa di Limone...perfect to throw together as you are wrapping gifts.
 Here is what you need:
1 lb. rotini pasta
1 1/4 lbs. Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 C. Olive oil
1 Large lemon, zested and juiced (to maximize juice, roll lemon on counter top with your palm)
1 C. crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Boil pasta and cook 8-10 minute until tender, drain pasta, reserving 1 c. of the pasta water. Place hot pasta in a large bowl and add tomatoes, olive oil and lemon zest & juice, feta cheese, salt and pepper and 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Toss to combine, adding the remaining pasta water if desired.
Hubby always likes to have meat with his meal so he added chicken to his, but I loved the pasta just as is! YUM!
Now for an easy evening Pot Roast throw these things in a crock pot when you get up in the morning...
3 potatoes, thinly sliced
2 large carrots, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3-4 lb. pot roast
1/2 cup water
1 Bay leaf
Start by cutting up all the veggies (minus the onions)and placing them in the bottom of the crock pot. Put 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a pot, cover the pot roast in salt and pepper and brown both sides then place in crock pot over veggies. Use the left over olive oil to brown the onions before placing them on top of the pot roast in the crock pot. Add the water and don't forget to add the bay leaf for a little extra flavor. Cook on low for 10-12 hours.
Now with the 10-12 hours you have before your Pot Roast is ready, go ahead and shop, bake or wrap. Speaking of wrapping,  I discovered these Trader Joe's gift tags found on their grocery store bags and I am using them on all my gifts.
My cats are always ready and willing to help with any home project.
One reason of many why I love Trader Joes! I hope you have time to try one of these recipes in all of your holiday craziness.

4 comments:

Katie said...

That pasta looks delicious! We are having spaghetti and meatballs in my house tonight and that picture just made me all the more hungry!!

Natalie said...

Love those Trader Joe Tags!

courtney said...

ahhh i just love those kitties!! :D those recipes look incredible...esp the one with the feta... i LOVE feta!

Emily said...

What's cuter than a kitty with presents?

p.s. I totally went out and bought a pot roast today - thanks for the advice.