Yum

I know that I should be good, especially at the very beginning of a new year but I can’t help myself… maybe it’s the cold…. maybe it’s cabin fever… I don’t know what it is… maybe I’m just feeling a little nostalgic and remembering all those wonderful meals we used to eat.  You know it’s one of those meals that you used to make every couple of weeks and everyone enjoyed it.  Yet somehow it managed to disappear off the menu of things you were cooking?

This is one of those meals.  I used to make it a lot!  And I don’t think we’ve had it for years.  So it’s about time!  This was is one of our favourites!

Pepper and Feta Pasta

• Splash of Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves minced
• 1 inch or small spoon of Ginger
• 1 Onion
• 1 small Green Pepper
• 1 small Yellow Pepper
• 1 small Red Pepper
• 1 small Orange Pepper
• 1 Kale leaf
• 1 Tablespoon of Sweet Basil
• 1 Cup of Feta Cheese
• 1/4 Cup Parmesan
• 1/2 Cup of Kalamata Olives (or others if you wish)
• 1 – 2 Cups of Penne Pasta

Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.  In a large frying pan drizzle the olive oil and add in the minced garlic, ginger and onions (cut into half moon slices).  Pan fry these until hot.  Add the slices of peppers and stir to warm them up.  Add in the kale leaf chopped fine… I like to hide it since some folks here are not fans of kale.  Who can taste it and complain when it looks like oversized parsley? 😉  Meanwhile add the pasta when the water comes to a boil and cook to your preference, I like mine al dente and so cook mine about 10  – 11 minutes.

As soon as the pasta is cooked add it to the frying pan of vegetables and quickly crumble the feta cheese on the top and sprinkle with sweet basil.  Mix everything all together and lastly add in the parmesan cheese and olives.  Heat until they are warmed through and serve.

You’ll find that this is one of the easiest meals ever made.  You can add, as I have over the years, diced chicken or various other vegetables… I’ve often done this with brussels sprouts and green or yellow beans and added in a whole variety of veggies including diced sweet potatoes which are really good.  Just make sure to cook in the order of need.  ie… cook the chicken with the onions and garlic/ginger first … then add sweet potatoes also first as they take longer to cook.

It’s really the feta and the olives that make this dish amazingly delicious!  I hope you enjoy as much as we have over the years!