Cooking with Tammy: Pastabilities
Hi, my name is Tammy and I'm a carboholic. No, I don't want a 12 step program to help me. I embrace this addiction with open arms.
The older I get though, I do try to make conscientious choices as to which carbs I indulge in and which carbs I save (well, at least try to save) for a treat. Some people think that carb-free diets are a great way to lose weight. While I've seen some people experience weight loss while following this idea, they generally tend to gain in back once carbs are reintroduced to their diet. While I'm not a dietician or nutritionist, I do know that carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. Carbohydrates provide the body with glucose, which is converted to energy used to support bodily functions and physical activity. The healthiest sources of carbohydrates —unprocessed or minimally processed whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans and unhealthier sources of carbohydrates include white bread, pastries, sodas, and other highly processed or refined foods.
One of my favorite carbs to eat is pasta. Spaghetti has long been one of my favorite meals. Growing up, it was my request to my mom for my birthday dinner every year! While I still love spaghetti, I now try to make choices that help keep my pasta healthier.
Pasta comes in so many shapes, sizes and flavors and can be mixed and mingled with so many other foods that the possibilities are endless. I've coined this pastabilites! What I do now to focus on making my pasta dishes healthier is to start with whole wheat pasta. Ok, I do confess that I don't use it all the time but since it's January and many of us are on the healthier options bandwagon, this article will focus on using whole wheat pasta. You can, of course, substitute your favorite pasta into any of these ideas & recipes. If you have gluten allergies, try brown rice pasta. It has a very similar taste but tends to be a little more "starchy" after you cook it so I tend to rinse it before using it in a recipe.
In addition to being a very versatile staple, pasta is also very inexpensive. Another reason to love it! Quite often I will cook more pasta than I need for our meal so I can use the leftover pasta for another dish later in the week.
Have you ever considered having pasta for breakfast? No, not leftovers from the night before like a piece of lasagna or cold spaghetti! Make a frittata! Sounds fancy? A frittata sounds fancy but is basically just an open faced omelet. Any plain pasta can be used to make this delightful dish to start your day. Get as creative and crazy as you want with what you add to it. Simply start with a non-stick pan, saute' your choice of vegetables (I like onion, spinach, tomatoes & zucchini), toss in the pasta and then add a couple scrambled eggs (or egg whites or egg substitute). Cook over a lower heat than you would an omelet until it starts to set. I generally put a lid on the pan to help this process. You can either then flip it over to cook the other side or put your pan in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 400 degrees until it's completely set. An easy way to flip is to slide your frittata onto a pan lid and then turn it over into the pan! You can add cheese after flipping or before putting in to the oven. Great way to use leftover veggies as well!
Here's a few other pastabilities for you to try!
Spaghetti noodles: Turn them Asian and make lo mein by adding soy sauce, chicken, fresh (or frozen) veggies; go Thai by adding in some peanut sauce!
Macaroni noodles: I've long outgrown the "blue box" mac & cheese but sometimes do make homemade mac & cheese. Another option for elbows is pasta salad with lots of chopped up veggies and low fat mayonnaise.
Lasagna noodles: Have you ever tried swapping Alfredo sauce and chicken for the red sauce and beef? It's a great twist & I usually add spinach and mushrooms. Really tasty with whole wheat lasagna noodles too because of the nuttier flavor imparted by the whole wheat.
So, readers, what is your favorite twist on pasta? Let me know & post your creations on Facebook my food page, Good Food for Every Mood!
- Tammy O'Hara, Cooking with Tammy
