Missing Ingredients Don’t Ruin the Fun

This morning, I decided to attempt to make a menu for the week.  The helpless feeling, I had, while doing it, represented by lack of confidence in making even one meal, come true.  Tonight, we had capellini Primavera, just like, I wrote down.  What does that tell us?  Probably not too much.  This was an easy dish and I didn’t blink an eye, as I gathered my ingredients.  I should have done more than blink.  I should have gone to the store and purchased the missing ingredients, mushrooms, broccoli, yellow squash

Despite, not making Olive Garden’s Capellini Primavera, I made a very nice dinner thanks to the Copykat site.  I did lots of subbing and it all came together.  I have never even been in an Olive Garden.  Needless to say, I have no clue as to what their Primavera tastes like.  The bottom line is that we had a good dinner even if was not a copy of the Olive Garden’s Primavera.  You should stop by the site.  They have an astounding number of copykat recipes.  I saw several, I would like to try.

Olive Garden’s Capellini Primavera – adapted

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine

1 cups chopped onions

3/4 cup julienne-cut carrots (1/8-by-1/8-by-11/2-inch)

1 medium zucchini cut in one inch slivers

1 cups water

1 frozen garlic cube

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, minced

1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced and cut in half

1  cup crushed tomatoes in puree

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoons garden fresh oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3/4 pound GF  angel-hair pasta

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Melt margarine in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions, carrots and bell pepper in butter 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, squash and garlic.

Sauté 2 minutes.

Add all remaining ingredients except pasta and cheese; stir well. Bring to simmer, then cook 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and flavors are well blended.

Serve over cooked angel hair pasta. 

Linked to Crockpot Wednesdays

An Attempt at Menu Planning

Since part of my menu is determined by the groups, I participate in, I am going to see if I can use that to define my week.  I have no idea, if this will work, but it is worth a try.

Sunday – Sabbath Leftovers

Monday - Capellini Primavera

Tuesday – Hachis Parmentier

Wednesday - Mushroom, onion and Basil Pizza - Ellie Krieger

Thursday – To be determined

Friday – Roast Chicken for Les Paresseux

Saturday – Chulent

This is going to be a test for me to see if I can plan ahead, when it comes to food.  Wish me good luck.