There's Something About Pasta

Happy Monday! How is it that it's 60 degrees outside and pouring rain when just last week, it was literally freezing outside? From what I understand, there's even a chance of snow this weekend. Here's to crossing my fingers that we are done with the snow (at least for the next few weeks)!

Growing up in an Italian family, we ate (and still eat) a lot of pasta. I mean really, what's not to like? It's comfort food to the max. At my mom's house, I always ate white pasta, but now I try to make it healthier by choosing whole wheat. Honestly, I can't tell the difference between the two, and have come to actually prefer it over white pasta.

When I was a little girl, my mom used to make what I call shells and peas. She would take the mini shells and throw in some gravy, peas and ricotta cheese and call it a meal. I don't know what it was, but every time my mom made it, I felt like I needed to devour the entire bowl.

Seeing as I have a ton of peas to use up in my freezer, I thought I'd make my own version, baked ziti style.

I started off by thawing out a bunch of peas by running them under hot water.


Aren't they pretty?

Next, I cooked some pasta and mixed it in with the peas.



I mixed in some gravy, put it all in a casserole dish, topped with cheese and baked it for about 10 minutes.



When it was all done, it looked like this.


And, because you know how much I love cheese shots, I have this one for you as well.


Yummy melted cheese!

Question of the Day:
What's your favorite pasta add-in?

Until next time!
~Anne Marie