Untrained Housewife

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Spicing Up Pasta – Ragu Asks How do You do it? $200 Giveaway

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Rainbow PastaIn this “Mom’s The Word” video from Ragu, they want to know- how do you spice up pasta? For many of us, pasta is the go-to dinner for desparate last-minute meals because it is easy. But, I’ve learned that pasta doesn’t have to be boring.

There are tips in the video below, but here are a few of mine for changing up the way you use pasta:

1) Change The Sauce – It doesn’t always have to be the same “red” sauce, as my kids call it. Try a cheesy sauce for a mac-n-cheese replacement that is a bit healthier. Or use a cream sauce like alfredo, my personal favorite. We also like to add salsa or other garden veges to the pasta sauce – especially when our squash vines were in overdrive!

2) Change up the Pasta – Do you have to boil it? What about baking? Does it have to be straight spaghetti? What about swirly spaghetti or ribbons or shells? (Yes, you can tell I have a toddler. My apologies to the gourmet foodies out there for calling it “swirly” spaghetti.)

3) Add Fresh Herbs and Vegetables – I touched on this above, but why not add your fresh garden produce or latest Farmer’s Market find? Sauteed mushrooms or onions can add a delicious smoky flavor to a pasta dish. We like adding fresh herbs too, as I shared in my basil pesto recipe post, and will sometimes mix a pesto cube into the sauce directly!

Share Your Tips and Win $200!

Mandatory Entry – I’d love to have you share your favorite pasta tips or recipes below. One random winner will be awarded one (1) $200 gift card! So come on – What is your favorite way to spice up your pasta dishes? What is your family secret for delicious pasta meals?

Extra Entries –

1- Be subscribed to Untrained Housewife newsletter or RSS feed (leave a comment)

2- Tweet about this giveaway “Spice up Your Pasta and Win $200 from @RaguSauce and @UntrainedHW #momstheword http://bit.ly/RaguPasta” (leave a comment for each tweet. One daily is allowed)

3- Follow @UntrainedHW and @ on Twitter (Leave a comment for each)

The giveaway ends on Thursday, 9/15/2011, at 11:59 CST, so get your entries in now!

Don’t forget to Like the Untrained Housewife and Ragu Sauce Facebook Pages to keep up with the latest news, recipes, giveaways and discussions!

This giveaway is part of an on-going and compensated relationship with RaguSauce and yes, my children really do call them “swirly spaghetti noodles.”

The winner was Tracy Robertson and she has been contacted.

Photo Credit to moonlightbulb

About Angela England

Angela England has written 562 posts in this blog.

Founder of Untrained Housewife, Editor-in-Chief of Blissfully Domestic (http://blissfullydomestic.com), mother of five, wife of one, and God-seeker always.

Filed Under: Family, Featured, Giveaways, Meal Plans Tagged With: , , , ,

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Comments

  5. Celery (the leaves), onions, & fresh roasted garlic. Chopped very fine and added to the sauce. Adds just the right amount of flavor for us. 🙂 Now I’m hungry.

  9. I absolutely LOVE your pasta pic! My kids would love that pasta! What kind is it? I agree with you on the sauce and the pasta.. we change those things for a whole new meal and it’s so much fun. I love pasta because it’s easy on nights when I can’t spend 60 minutes making a meal! (P.S. I cannot win because I am a #momstheword Ambassador, but wanted to leave you a note!)

  10. My favorite pasta secret is to make my pasta like I would make risotto, at least for noodles like cavatappi or bow ties. Lightly toast in a touch of olive oil, then slowly add the liquid, allowing the noodles to absorb the flavor, too. The extra bit of starch can help create a creamy, hearty sauce, without the added fat and calories of cream, too!

  11. Here are my tips:
    *I like to add texture to my pasta by adding a can of diced tomatoes to the sauce.
    *A can of Rotel tomatoes will add a little heat.
    *A can of diced carrots adds texture and a little sweetness that is nice.

  13. How do I spice up my pasta dishes? I always add a half of spoon of EVOL, and I cook the pasta1 minute less than ‘el dente’, and combine the pasta sauce and pasta together in a saucepan (cooking the pasta and then pouring the sauce over the pasta does not provide the pasta to absorb the flavor)….sometimes spicing up is changing how you cook!

  14. We like to use a pretty classic sauce but then add capers, marinated artichoke hearts, diced sausage or bacon into the mix. And we never skimp on the garlic!

  15. I like to sometimes add ricotta cheese to our family’s favorite “red” sauce (Ragu’s Flavored with Meat) to make a simple palamino sauce my family loves. If I have fresh spinach I like to chop it up very small and add it to the sauce…it adds a dash of pretty green and is healthy to boot!

  39. I spice up my pasta with green and red peppers, green onions and a dash of garlic or garlic powder

  43. to spice up my pasta i sometimes use salsa instead of spaghetti sauce.. just cook pasta as you usually would, then heat up salsa in seperate pan (i usually also add veg’s like xtra tomato chunks, corn or bell pepper) really whatever i have laying around! and simmer for about 4-5mins then mix pasta into it! its super delish!
    wuera_mermaid22 at hotmail.com

  48. We use gluten free pastas like rice pasta and then we spice it up with yummy sauce and lots of chopped veggies (shhh, don’t tell my family they don’t know all the veggies they are eating besides tomatoes in the sauce.)

  55. Just found this website through another that I can’t remember at this time. But we saute’ our veggies before adding them to the sauce and we use a little bit of lemon pepper along with other traditional herbs to give it a bit of a kick. Totally delicious!

  56. The wonderful thing about pasta is that it is so versatile. One of my favorite change ups is to travel around the world and make dishes inspired from other countries. Some of the places I draw inspiration from are Italy, Germany, India, Asia, Spain, Greece, Turkey etc. Different flavors and different veggies, seafood and meats all lend to unique experience. Instead of chicken why not use lamb or pork. Instead of shrimp why not try salmon Instead of italian sausage why not try kielbasa or a chicken sausage. Cheese- try a different variety blue cheese or smoked gouda is great for pasta salad, mozzarella and ricotta for baked dishes, parmesean and romano for the top. Also try different types of pasta.

  59. I like to mix up the types of pasta I use and also change up the toppings. We do prefer red sauce at our house, but depending on what veggies we have in the fridge I will add to the sauce. I like adding fresh baby spinach while the pasta is hot so it wilts slightly or sauteing mushrooms and onions to add to the pasta.

  62. My husband makes the best pasta in the world. He makes it chock full of chunky things, like hamburger, olives, onions and more.
    My grandmother, who was from Italy, used to put a carrot in her sauce to simmer. She said it would add a certain sweetness. I don’t know what else she did, but her pasta was amazing too!!

  65. I like to add a can of stewed tomato’s to my pasta sauce. It add’s a real good taste. And of course, you have to have garlic bread with pasta.

  75. I’ll often swirl a little pesto on top of the sauce, or I’ll add a dash of Splenda or a pinch of cayenne pepper for some kick! 🙂 Thanks so much.

  79. Mandatory:
    Here is a family recipe: Sweet and sour meatballs (Goes great with pasta!!)
    1 lb hamburg
    1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup milk
    2 Tbsp finely chopped oion
    1 Tsp salt
    1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    1 egg
    1/2 cup packed brown sugar
    1 Tbsp. cornstarch
    1 can pinapple chunks
    1/2 cup vinegar
    1 Tbsp. Soy sauce
    1 small green pepper, coarsely chopped.

    Mix first seven ingredients; shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. Cook in ungreased pan at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Mix brown sugar and cornstarch in skillet. Stir in pineapple (with syrup), vinegar, and soy sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Add meatballs. Cover; simmer, stirring ocassionally, 10 minutes. Stir in green pepper. Cover; simmer until crisp-tender, 5 minutes.

  86. I like to add fresh Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, fresh oregano and basil finely chopped, and a touch of cayenne pepper because I like things spicy!

    I will also substitute pepperoni for hamburger when I make pasta, and serve it over Manicotti noodles!

  87. I add red wine to pasta sauce – cooking for 5 minutes evaporates the alcohol and leaves a nice richness to the sauce.

  99. I buy bulk dried organic green and red pepper and add some to the sauce as it cooks. It adds extra flavor and oacks a nutritional punch. And my kids – who say they don’t like peppers – never know the difference.

  100. To add protein and flavor to pasta: I cook the pasta, drain and right away add 3 whipped raw eggs and fresh garlic, and salt, pepper and a shake of Italian spices. The pasta is hot enough that the eggs cook while mixing it together, if you are not comfortable with that, go ahead and heat it a little more! Enjoy it!

  105. We love what we call NOODLES AND SAUCE. We will often make our sauce from canned tomatoes and add in some buffalo meat and onion/garlic with oregano and basil. Then the fun begins. We put a few dashes of the red pepper flakes and then grated zucchini, mushrooms, and our favorite…..artichoke hearts/quartered. If I find eggplant I will also cut that in chunks and throw it in the sauce. Yum! We have this weekly….Thanks!

  115. I add butter, garlic salt, and Parmesan to the noodles. I also use 1/2 ground sausage with 1/2 ground elk for the meat sauce and sometimes I’ll add pepperoni as well! Super yummy!

  131. My favorite thing to add to pasta is sauteed sweet onions and cremini mushrooms. When they cook for like 8 minutes and get really brown, the flavor is incredible. I also sometimes add a pinch of red pepper to my pasta sauce– it’s a tiny kick that really helps!

    hmcnaron at gmail dotcom

  140. This is so fun.
    I LOVE pasta and have at least a dozen boxes of it in my cabinet at ALL TIMES!
    One of my favorite ways to serve pasta is with a meat sauce, just brown some ground beef add sauce and a 1/4 cup wine an a dash of oregano. That is my go to meal, but I love pasta so much I serve scrambled egg spaghetti, just toss cooked pasta in a pan with two scrambled eggs and some scallions and your all set for breakfast, have a sweet tooth don’t add the scallions add a dash of cinnamon and sugar. Have an even sweeter sweet tooth, enjoy chocolate spaghetti, it’s super fun to eat and easy to make, on top of the hot pasta add cocoa powder, powdered sugar and a small amount of butter, oh yes pasta isn’t just for dinner anymore 🙂 I’ll have to check..I’m sure I have a dozen or two pasta recipes on my blog….should have named it pasta girl 🙂
    What a fun giveaway! Thanks

  146. My pasta tip is to make sure you cook the pasta appropriately. I test the pasta to make sure it is not too soft and not too hard.
    To spice up the dish I like to use a little onion powder along with the sauce.

  151. In the summer we make a whole wheat or veggie pasta and top with olive oil, roma tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

  152. My family likes when I add about 1/4 tsp. fennel seeds, some oregano, a little sugar and some chopped garlic in our Ragu.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

  156. Use garden delight ronzoni with zucchini and tomato sauce quick delicious, and filled with vegetables!

  164. Sometimes I add jalapenos to my pasta, kinda different but I love the kick it gives. Also onions and bell peppers.

  165. When the pasta is just about done, I add a bit of salsa, yum!
    Thank you.
    barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

  172. I agree. The boys love when I use different pasta shapes. It’s like I’m serving something entireley different in their eyes.

  185. One of our favorite pasta dishes is gnocchi in a crab sauce. The sauce consists of olive oil, butter, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, crab and parmesian or romano cheese. I will sometimes add asparagus as well. It is fast and delicious.

  190. well, my favorite way to kick up pasta is just by adding some great shredded parmesan cheese (real cheese, not the stuff in a shaker can) mmm, delicioso

  197. Nothing better than fresh from the garden Onions, Peppers, Tomatoes, Bay leaves and Garlic. I usually add something else too like Green Olives or Pepperoni. Or if I really want to get crazy, both

  207. My favorite way to spice up our pasta is to add dishes is to add garlic and/or hot sausage to the sauce when cooking.

  216. My best tip to add fresh herbs and spices to the water as it is boiling the noodles. It gives the noodles just the little bit of edge they need to have flavor themselves. Everyone is so concerned about the seasonings in the sauces and meats, but don’t forget the noodles can have flavor too!

  217. My mother used to add Ragu to cooked hambuger and mac & cheese with the cheese souce and some onions and bake it for 20 nins. So I still do that every now and then

  228. We like tri-colored pasta with broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, rice, shredded colby cheese and zesty italian dressing.

  234. To spice up my pasta, I use Ragu sauce, meat flavor is my favorite and then to make it special, I add a jar of roasted red peppers, finely minced. I wouldn’t bother mincing the peppers but I have some here who wouldn’t touch a pepper with a long pole. Little do they know they’re eating them with pleasure in their favorite pasta sauce!

  243. Veggies- if I am in a hurry I dump some frozen veg right into the pasta water near the end of the cooking time, if I have plenty of time I roast them then add when pasta is cooked.

  253. I really can’t say how I spice up my pasta. My kids are really into boring right now. Baked Ziti is about as wild as we get around here.

  261. I add italian sausage, chopped colorful bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives… I also love using lots of different shapes of pasta, and colors, etc!

  265. I like to add red pepper and Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb. Sometimes I also add spicy sausage.

    rogsdock[at]gmail[dot]com

  273. I not only add salt to my boiling pasta water, I’ll add garlic powder, or dried herbs, or even parsley stems. It really flavors the pasta as it cooks and makes for a much more flavorful meal 🙂

  278. My favorite thing to put on pasta is a homemake sundried tomato pesto…rehydrate the tomatoes, put in food processor with fresh basil and olive oil . Simply toss with cooked pasta and some reserved pasta watter. Quick and so tasty.

  285. I like to sautee some onions, garlic, carrots, red pepper flakes and chick peas, toss with pasta and top with fresh parsley, basil and tons’o’romano.

  289. Cook the pasta like risotto adding a cup of broth at a time for a huge flavor boost (but not calories)

  291. I love red pepper flakes too. I also like to add capers to my angel hair and clams. Freshly ground pepper is better too me than regular. Let me leave a new recipe I wrote down that Giada on the food network made. I for one can’t wait to try it
    Her twist on Pesto
    3 cups of Arugula
    2 Avocados
    2 garlic cloves
    2 limes
    1 cup fresh basil rough chopped
    salt and pepper
    Blend everything in the food processor blend with the pasta.
    Add cup of Parmesan cheese and cup sliced almonds add a little of the pasta water if needed.
    Sounds great doesn’t it.

    gabe411 at hotmail dot com

  298. Just recently, I’ve enjoyed mixing jar of marina & alfredo sauce, adding spicy sauteed italian sausage (sliced at an angle) – you can leave out if some diners don’t eat meat and add it to the dish upon serving, crushed garlic, oregano & pepper to whatever pasta I have on hand (cooked, but not fully), sprinkle mozzarella cheese throughout and cover with a layer of same cheese. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is bubbling. Sprinkle w/fresh parm. Prepare to delight!

  314. The ways I spice up pasta depends on whether I am serving a hot dish or cold, but many of the things are the same–adding black olives, tomatoes (sun-dried are good in hot dishes), spicy sausage, artichoke hearts, etc.

  315. I LOVE pasta! It’s so versatile! Serve it with butter or sauce, add meat or just spices…so many ways to create totally different dishes 🙂

    Thank you for the great giveaway!

  322. my secret is sour cream..

    it’ll fix up any sauce good or bad! we use it all the time gives it an extra richness.

  327. We love to play with our food, we try different sauces and meats. Pesto with chicken is our favorite.

  328. I love pasta with Ragu I add garlic love it! I like green pepper, onions all of it adds alot too pasta taste! I like simple recipes make pasta all the time! Thank you so much for the great giveaway!
    tishajean@ charter.net

  333. I always add fresh garlic and mushrooms chopped up in any sauce. I also add good olive oil, and fresh oregano at the end is great! You can even add ground beef in the beginning when you put your Ragu in-at the same time, and stir it in then, and the meat will be very fine that way. Like bolognese!
    spcale at yahoo dot com.

  337. I use olive oil in the water I boil the pasta in. I love making ziti pizza for my kids. Pizza crust, plus ragu sauce, ziti pasta and topped with mozzarella cheese!

  339. Thanks for the giveaway…we like to sauté diced onion, garlic, and green or red peppers in some olive oil and add to the sauce; also some red pepper flakes & “italian” seasoning mix spices can give it a boost !

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

  353. Use Spinach or Whole Wheat Pasta in your recipes. You’re sneaking in healthy ingredients, and the family won’t have a clue!

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