In the Kitchen

I love to cook. I didn't start really enjoying it until after I was married over six years ago. When I first took an interest in cooking, I wouldn't stray from a recipe. I had to follow it word for word, and I would hope and pray that the food turned out alright. We were also very poor when we first wed, so I came up with some pretty interesting and cheap meals. My husband said I was notorious for cooking rice, then adding a can of cream of chicken soup to it, and calling it dinner. Eek!

Now, I like to experiment with cooking. For dinner the other night, I made a delicious meal and I wasn't following a recipe. It felt like a great accomplishment, and I wouldn't have been able to do that a short time ago. I consider it breaking the rules of my Type A personality. I call the recipe Yummy Pasta.

Try it out:

Ingredients

1 lb Pasta, cooked (fusilli works best because it absorbs and holds the yummy sauce)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup ---(I don't actually use condensed soup, I'm just including this ingredient as a shortcut for those that do. If you are interested in making your own, healthier version of condensed soup, see my recipe below*).
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese, cut into 1" cubes
1/2 C Salsa
1 C Asparagus, cut in 1" pieces
1 C mixed vegetables, frozen or canned
1 sm can mushrooms
1 C chicken, cooked and cubed
1/2 pint Cherry tomatoes, halved
^if needed, add a little bit of milk to thin the sauce


Bring pasta to boil. Cook according to package. During the last two cooking minutes, add asparagus to the water.

In a saucepan, combine soup, velveeta cheese, and salsa. Heat. Add mixed vegetables, mushrooms and chicken. When asparagus is ready, add it. Heat through. Add cherry tomatoes last.

Combine with pasta and serve. Yummy!!!

**Condensed soup alternative (this recipe makes a 1 can substitution)
Mix together:
1/2 C nonfat dry milk
2 T cornstarch
2 ts low sodium chicken bouillon
1/4 ts onion powder
1/4 ts garlic powder
1/4 ts basil
1/4 ts thyme
1/4 ts pepper
9 oz cold water

Heat together; stir frequently.

Be sure to add the cornstarch to COLD water, or you'll have a gooey mess. Also, you can save time by making mixes, then adding water later. Just be sure to label how much water to add. To make it cream of celery, add celery. Or, add a can of mushrooms for cream of mushroom soup. It is a healthy alternative.