The 'How to Cook' Blog

Last night, I had one of the most delicious pasta dishes I’ve had in a while, aside from the Gnocchi with Porcini Mushrooms in Cream Sauce I had the night before. I had Pappardelle pasta in a stewed tomato sauce with Oxtail & fresh peas. It was perfectly done, right from the al-dente pappardelle pasta, which is one of my very favorite long shaped pastas (it’s like big, long ribbons  [ Read More ]

I think everyone has a particular shaped pasta they prefer over others… Some people prefer short pasta shapes, some prefer long pasta shapes, some have one of each! Well, I just thought I’d share my favorite pasta type. By far, I prefer Linguine! Linguine is a long pasta shape, as you can see in the photos above. Why do I love Linguine? I love that it is long and you  [ Read More ]

Today is Day 4 of our One Month Grocery Shopping Strike. For dinner tonight, I’m making Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli with Tomato Sauce from scratch…except for the won-ton wrappers I’m using from our freezer as the ravioli pasta dough. This squash recipe is a little involved, but well worth the work – it is absolutely amazing, healthy & even vegetarian…Probably my family’s favorite meal of the year thus far! You  [ Read More ]

This is one of the meals we created during our One Month Grocery Shopping Strike! We had everything in the house already, except onions, which is fresh produce we are allowed to use in this challenge. It was delicious, nutritious and helped us clean out our pantry cupboards! Try it – it’s easy to cook too. Type: Pasta Recipe Serve with: Garlic Bread, if desired and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese  [ Read More ]

Pasta is a staple in our cultures…it’s not just for Italians. Almost every culture has some form of pasta they prefer and love! It’s important to understand how to properly prepare it to eat with the proper taste, texture and done-ness. Here’s a great video from the Rouxbe Cooking School to outline pasta basics: Rouxbe Online Cooking School & Video Recipes Great tips!!! Here’s a few If you would like  [ Read More ]

When you’re cooking pasta, don’t rinse it afterward when you drain the water off. Why? If you do, you rinse of the starch that will hold your sauce on the noodle. Plus, you’ll cool down the pasta to a much lower temperature, even if you rinse it in warm water. So, just drain your pasta in a colander or strainer, pour it back into your pan or pot and drizzle  [ Read More ]

This recipe was written for serious endurance and professional athletes in mind…like my hubby! Even if you’ve promised yourself, or loved ones, that you would take a “break” over the holidays with your athletic training, I know you…You’re sneaking in a “little” bit of practice in anyway. So, for those “sneaky” days, you need your carbs! Here is a great, but low-fat, pasta dish that will knock your socks off  [ Read More ]

Last night, my hubby, Kenney, decided to “document” what I was cooking for dinner. Firstly, it had been a very busy for the entire household and come 8:00 pm, as I had just got home shortly before then, no one else was going to cook. So, it was me this evening in the kitchen, but I didn’t want to cook for a long time. Here’s what I did in 30  [ Read More ]

Okay, you’re at the airport, and you are STARVING…What to do? Find the first restaurant you can that interests you, right? Well, I picked the Famous Famiglia Pizzeria in Terminal A of the Washington Dulles Airport… I probably should have had the “famous” pizza, but instead felt like pasta…I got penne with tomato sauce and a garden salad… Well, the penne with sauce was just that…penne with sauce…it was ok…it  [ Read More ]

This is my go-to pasta salad in the summer-time, perfect for those hot afternoons and evenings! ~ Kimberly Edwards Type: Salad Serve With: Instead of using tuna, you may use any grilled fish or chicken breast. Prep Time: ~ 15 min Cook Time: ~ 12 min Yield: 5-6 people Ingredients: Instructions:

This is so delicious! Easier & quicker than making an Alfredo from scratch! Add tofu or chicken breast to add more protein to this dish…Awesome! ~Kimberly Edwards Type: Pasta Serve With: Fresh, crusty bread Prep Time: 8 min Cook Time: 20 min Yield: Enough for 3-4 people . Ingredients: Instructions:

A nostalgic walk when school starts and the autumn leaves are blowing. Remember soup in a thermos? My mother, many a day, sent me off to school with a thermos full of soup, and I couldn’t wait until lunch time to eat it! Easy and simple recipe included. *** Autumn in a Soup Thermos By Beth Mccain I am one of those people who anticipate with glee the clear crisp  [ Read More ]

I was in the mood for a “gorgeous” dinner tonight, and looked in our garden. It’s the end of summer and our garden has been better days, but we still have some stragglers: eggplant, tomato, green bean, green and red peppers, and great herbs. Voila! Instant dinner…Check it out, and enjoy the end of your summer! ~ Kimberly Edwards Type: Main Serve With: Your favorite wine! Prep Time: 5-10 min  [ Read More ]

Summer is coming to a close…It is truly the Sunset of Summer…Don’t you want to enjoy the last bit of summer barbecuing out on your deck or picnicking in the park with family and friends? Well, I certainly do, and I intend to. If you’re anything like me, you are trying to soak up every last ray of sunshine of the summer. I am even working outside, instead of at  [ Read More ]

Here is a video I did a while ago, but it is still probably my favorite recipe: Lobster & Apple Stuffed Manicotti with a White Wine Reduction (and Baby Spinach Salad with a Beautiful and Ever-Easy Vinaigrette). My husband, Kenney, created and made this recipe for me for one of my birthdays years ago. He didn’t write down the recipe, so over the years, we have attempted to recreate it.  [ Read More ]