I am a working mom and have a really tight schedule to prepare food. Good thing, I have my husband to cook for me, nice huh. He cooks really yummy Italian dishes that is easy to prepare. Also, since I can get my chance to prepare food during weekends, I joined a cooking club to get fresh ideas that I will share here as well.

Pesto Pasta with Tuna special

This is rich in protein.

Ingredients:

200 g		bow tie pasta or spaghetti, cooked

2 cloves	garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp		fine salt

1/8 tsp		pepper

1 can		tuna in natural oil

1 pc		medium sized onion, sliced into small pieces

1 bottle 	pesto

1 tbsp		olive oil

1. Saute garlic, onion, pesto and tuna in olive oil. Set aside
2. Prepare cooked pasta in a bowl.
3. Add the sauteed ingredients in the cooked pasta then add salt and pepper. Mix until it's equally distributed, then serve.

Chicken A La Cacciatore Pasta

This dish is good for the eye as it contains Vitamin A. 

Ingredients: 

200 g      	Spaghetti, cooked

200 g		Chicken Breast Fillet, cut into big strips

1/2 tsp		iodized fine salt

1/8 tsp		pepper

2 tbsp		margarine

4 cloves	garlic, crushed

1 pc		medium onion, diced

1/3 cup		canned button mushrooms, each piece cut into 4 wedges

1 pc 		medium red bell pepper, diced

10 pc		black pitted olives, sliced thinly

1/4 cup		water

1 pouch		Italian style spaghetti sauce (salt to taste)

1/3 cup		coarsely grated quickmelt cheese

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat pan with margarine. Pan-grill chicken until brown on both sides. Set aside.
2. In the same pan, saute garlic, onion, mushroom, bell pepper, and olives for 5 minutes. Add water, Italian style spaghetti sauce, chicken, and salt. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add cheese. Pour over cooked spaghetti. Top with extra cheese if desired.

Beef and Pasta Au Gratin

Good source of Lysine which promotes growth in the young. 

Ingredients:

200 g		shell macaroni, cooked

1/4 cup		evaporated milk

1/2 cup		grated cheddar cheese, mixed with

1/2 cup		grated quick melt cheese

1/8 tsp		iodized fine salt

6 cloves 	garlic, crushed

1 pc 		medium onion, chopped

150 g		ground beef

1 pouch		spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup		water

1-1/2 cups	spinach leaves

1-1/2 tbsp	breadcrumbs

1. While still hot, combine macaroni with milk, half of cheese and salt. Set aside.
2. Saute garlic and onion for 3 minutes. Add beef then saute for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add spaghetti sauce and water. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add spinach. Set aside.
3. Mix half of sauteed spaghetti sauce with cooked macaroni. Arrange half of macaroni at the bottom of 7" x 7" pan. Sprinkle with half of cheese.
4. Pour remaining macaroni over cheese then top with sauce and cheese. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Cover with foil then bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Cheesy Macaroni

Rich in Vitamin B1 which prevents beriberi.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp		margarine

200 g		elbow macaroni

1 pouch		sweet style spaghetti sauce

1/3 cup		evaporated milk

100 g		quickmelt cheese, coarsely grated

1. Melt margarine in pan. Add elbow macaroni, spaghetti sauce, 2/3 tsp iodized salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Cook while stirring for 5 minutes.
2. Add 2 cups water. Allow to boil, then simmer for 12 minutes. Stir in milk and cheese. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occassionally until cheese melt.

Bread and Dip

Rich in Vitamin B2 which is essential for growth and production of red blood cells.

Ingredients:

1 can		Spaghetti Meat Sauce

10 pc		sliced bread, each piece cut into 4 triangles

1/2 cup 	coarsely grated quickmelt cheese

Coating

1/3 cup		all-purpose flour

1 pc		egg, beaten

2 tbsp 		grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp		snipped parsley

1. Coating: dissolve flour in 1/4 cup water. Add 1/4 cup of spaghetti meat sauce and remaining ingredients. Mix well. Set aside.
2. Dip (do not soak) each bread slice in coating mixture just enough to dampen both sides. Fry until just browned turning only once. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
3. Heat remaining spaghetti meat sauce with cheese. Simmer until cheese melts. Serve as dip for bread slices.