Growing up with a father who loves to cook Italian food made me a total sucker for pasta. Then, I lived in Austin for 4 years and became an even bigger sucker for tex-mex. So when I found a dish that combines my two great food loves, you would think, 'what more could a girl want?' How about a quick and easy way to put it all together, and while we're wishing for things, make it low in fat as well? Done.
The Main Dish
Tonight I'll be making "quick and easy southwestern pasta." It's a delicious combination of noodles and vegetables smothered in a salsa based sauce. What I love even more than the taste, is it requires little preparation and cooking time. So it is a great meal to throw together after a long day.
The Side Dish
I'll be serving my pasta with a side of "Mexican cheesy bread." It's a fun twist on traditional garlic bread.
Let's start cooking!
I start tonight's dinner by prepping the "Mexican cheesy bread" and cooking the noodles for the pasta.
Mexican Cheesy Bread
Total Time: 15 minutes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
What you'll need
1/4 loaf french bread, halved
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican flavored cheese
1/2 tomato, diced
The Main Dish
Tonight I'll be making "quick and easy southwestern pasta." It's a delicious combination of noodles and vegetables smothered in a salsa based sauce. What I love even more than the taste, is it requires little preparation and cooking time. So it is a great meal to throw together after a long day.
The Side Dish
I'll be serving my pasta with a side of "Mexican cheesy bread." It's a fun twist on traditional garlic bread.
Let's start cooking!
I start tonight's dinner by prepping the "Mexican cheesy bread" and cooking the noodles for the pasta.
Mexican Cheesy Bread
Total Time: 15 minutes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
What you'll need
1/4 loaf french bread, halved
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican flavored cheese
1/2 tomato, diced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add taco seasoning to melted butter. Mix well.
3. Place bread on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Spread seasoned butter over each side of the bread loaf.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add taco seasoning to melted butter. Mix well.
3. Place bread on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Spread seasoned butter over each side of the bread loaf.
4. Top with diced tomato. Sprinkle on cheese.
* Tip -- if you want to spice things up you can also top with a jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced.
* Tip -- if you want to spice things up you can also top with a jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced.
6. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
* Tip -- if you put the bread in the oven as soon as you start making the sauce for the pasta everything should be ready at the same time.
* Tip -- if you put the bread in the oven as soon as you start making the sauce for the pasta everything should be ready at the same time.
Southwestern Pasta
Total Time: 20 minutes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
What you'll need
1 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
1/2 zucchini, halved and sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1/2 can yellow corn or Mexicorn, drained
1/8 cup milk
1/2 cup salsa
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In a medium skillet add cream of chicken soup, salsa and milk. Mix well over low heat.
3. Add in zucchini, bell pepper and corn. Stir occasionally until mixture begins to bubble (about 5 minutes).
Total Time: 20 minutes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
What you'll need
1 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
1/2 zucchini, halved and sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1/2 can yellow corn or Mexicorn, drained
1/8 cup milk
1/2 cup salsa
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In a medium skillet add cream of chicken soup, salsa and milk. Mix well over low heat.
3. Add in zucchini, bell pepper and corn. Stir occasionally until mixture begins to bubble (about 5 minutes).
4. Stir in noodles. Mix well over low heat until pasta is heated through (about 5 minutes).
5. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
6. Sprinkle on parmesan cheese before serving, if desired.
Once the Mexican cheesy bread is baked and the pasta is heated through, dinner is served!
Once the Mexican cheesy bread is baked and the pasta is heated through, dinner is served!
The skinny on the southwestern pasta
Not only is this pasta dish a quick and easy solution to dinner, but it is also low in fat and calories. Below is an approximate breakdown, per serving, of calories and fat for my southwestern pasta:
3/4 cup rotini pasta: 210 calories and 1 gram of fat
1/4 cup salsa: 35 calories and 0 grams of fat
1/4 can cream of chicken soup: 45 calories and 1.5 grams of fat
2% milk: 10 calories and .3 grams of fat
Vegetables: 50 calories and .5 grams of fat
Total calories: 350
Total fat: 3.3 g
Recipe adapted from Campbell's Kitchen Southwest Chicken and Pasta
Not only is this pasta dish a quick and easy solution to dinner, but it is also low in fat and calories. Below is an approximate breakdown, per serving, of calories and fat for my southwestern pasta:
3/4 cup rotini pasta: 210 calories and 1 gram of fat
1/4 cup salsa: 35 calories and 0 grams of fat
1/4 can cream of chicken soup: 45 calories and 1.5 grams of fat
2% milk: 10 calories and .3 grams of fat
Vegetables: 50 calories and .5 grams of fat
Total calories: 350
Total fat: 3.3 g
Recipe adapted from Campbell's Kitchen Southwest Chicken and Pasta
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