I love pasta. ANY pasta... spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, rotini... you name it. Mike and Lizz are pasta fiends, too. At least once a week, it's on our dinner table. Whether a cold pasta salad or a hot meal -- it's probably the most versatile food you can buy!
I was recently contacted by the National Pasta Association and asked to create a pasta-based meal for my family and my readers. Of course, I jumped at the chance!
Ya'll know I've been on a steady program to lose (safely) some unwanted pounds. And pasta fits right in with my long-term plans.
Pasta Fits your healthy eating! Both whole and enriched varieties provide a perfect foundation for healthy, nutritious and satisfying meals. Pair pasta with a variety of nutrient-dense foods and create meals that you can feel good about serving your family. Nutritious “pasta partners” include:
✓ Fiber-filled vegetables and beans
✓ Heart-healthy fish and vegetable oils
✓ Antioxidant-rich tomato sauce
✓ Protein-packed cheese, poultry and lean meats.
Pasta Fits your diet! Watching calories? Creating lower-calorie pasta meals couldn’t be easier. To help lower the calorie content of your favorite pasta meal, consider swapping out 1/4 to 1/2 of the pasta called for in the recipe for the same amount of beans or veggies. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked pasta, replace one cup of the pasta with white kidney beans or steamed broccoli or a combination of the two. You’ll subtract total calories per serving and add filling fiber!
Using Heartland's Gluten-free, Wheat-free Penne Pasta, I made a casserole with spaghetti sauce, ground turkey, and skim-milk cheese!
I did NOT tell the family that I was using a gluten-free, wheat free product to gauge their reaction.
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey breast, browned and drained
1/2 pound Italian Sausage, browned and drained
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 package skim-milk shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package skim-milk shredded Italian cheese (5 Cheese works great)
1 large container Ricotta Cheese
DIRECTION:
Saute diced onion and garlic in large saucepan, when onions become translucent, add ground turkey and Italian sausage. Brown and thoroughly drain the turkey / sausage. Pour sauce over meat mixture and simmer on low.
Prepare Penne Pasta according to direction and drain. Add to meat mixture and combine thoroughly.
While pasta is cooking, mix the shredded cheeses together.
In 9X9 casserole dish, spread a layer of the meat mixture to cover the bottom, then spread on a layer of the ricotta, and sprinkle some of the shredded cheese. Repeat until the cheese is on the top layer.
Place in a 350 Degree Fahrenheit oven for approx. 45 minutes. Cheese will be nicely brown and bubbly. Serve with hot bread and enjoy!
***If you have cheese left over, spread it on the bread and place in the over to make a superb cheesy bread!
Did my family know that it was gluten-free and wheat-free? Nope! Not until I told them! Trust me, taste doesn't suffer when you go gluten and wheat free! It tasted fantastic! (We had no leftovers!)
You can discover a wealth of Pasta Recipes on the Pasta Fits website!
Pasta Fits!
• Your Lifestyle – Pasta meals can be fast and easy to make on the go! Many pasta dishes can be prepared in less than 30 minutes making pasta an ideal ingredient for everyone; from moms on the run to college students in between classes.
• Your Budget – As of March 2012, on average pasta costs $1.45 per pound. Add lean meats and proteins to your pasta for a low budget meal that the whole family will love!
• Your Diet – With roughly 100 calories per half cup serving, very little sodium, fat and no cholesterol, pasta is an ideal foundation for building healthy meals. Pasta is a great delivery system for protein-packed veggies and lean meats.
The folks at Pasta Fits would love to connect with you, get your feedback, recipe suggestions, and more! You can follow them @pastafits on Twitter, "LIKE" them on Facebook, and join them on Pinterest, where they post the most delicious recipes!
Those generous folks have also offered one of my readers the chance to win a fantastic Pasta Prize pack with which to make your own delicious, healthy meal for your family!
The Prize Pack includes: Dreamfields® Spaghetti, Mueller’s® Whole Grain Spaghetti, Heartland® Gluten Free Wheat Free Penne, Heartland® Gluten Free Wheat Free Spaghetti, Ronzoni Healthy Harvest® Spaghetti, Ronzoni Garden Delight® Rotini, and an Ultragrain Pasta® Spaghetti Spoon!
Just follow the entry instructions below!
***Open to USA only. One entry per person, per email, per household, please. All entries are verified!***
DISCLOSURE:
I received the same pasta package that is being offered to my readers. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
81 comments:
100 calories per 1/2 cup serving debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Enriched pasta containes folic acid which is essential to pregnant women. Pasta can be a healthy economical meal choice and made lower calories by adding more veggies
Ttrockwood
Ttrockwood@yahoo.com
I learned it has about 100 calories per 1/2 cup serving
I learned that the chinese were making a noodle like food as far back as 3000 b.c.
one of america's favorite foods
I learned that Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing the first “macaroni” machine to America in 1789 when he returned home after serving as ambassador to France.
I learned that the US Department of Agriculture highlights the important role that carbohydrates such as pasta play in building healthful meals.
twinkle at optonline dot net
I learned that the average American consumes 20 lbs. of pasta annually. This makes it the 6th highest food per capita in the country.
Tip of the Day – Try an unsweetened, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal as croutons in salad or in place of crackers with soup.
that it has 100 calories per half cup serving
sunnybrookdc1 at yahoo.com
I learned they have some good recipes on there! I bookmarked their site.
Pasta is not bad for you, weightwise. You also have to cook whole wheat pasta at the correct minutes to be in the boiling water. Then it comes out great.
With roughly 100 calories per half cup serving, very little sodium or fat and no cholesterol, pasta is an ideal foundation for building healthy meals.
jandplee at att dot net
Something I learned - pasta has only about 100 calories per half cup serving!
Thank you.
I learned that pasta is only 100 calories per half-cup serving.
I learned 8 oz. uncooked small to medium pasta shapes = 4 cups cooked and got some great tips on making good pasta.
Pasta boosts energy and satisfies hunger.
Love3570@aol.com
I learned that the average American eats 20 pounds of pasta annually! I think my niece must be an overachiever. LOL! :D
las_va@hotmail DOT com
pasta has only about 100 calories per half cup serving
Eating a balance of both whole and enriched grains is recommended by nutrition experts in order to ensure a diet rich in the essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that promote health and help reduce risk of chronic disease.
I learned that Pasta made its way to the New World through the English, who discovered it while touring Italy.
-Jen Haile
The average American consumes 20 lbs. of pasta annually
masugr@yahoo.com
I learned Thomas Jefferson brought the first macaroni machine to the US
I learned that there are lots of yummy pasta recipes on the website.
I watched and enjoyed the Pasta video.
elysesw@aol.com
I learned that Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing the first “macaroni” machine to America in 1789 when he returned home after serving as ambassador to France!! grammypenny@frontier.com
I learned that pasta fits your healthy eating. If your counting calories then low calorie pasta dishes are for you =) For me.
Kaci Guisinger Harrison
That pasta is one of American's favorite foods.
I learned that it has about 100 calories per serving
I'm glad I love pasta b/c it fits into healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and wt. loss.
I learned that they have some cool recipes such as Zucchini + Tomato Frittata!
Thanks,
selinda_mccumbers at yahoo.com
it has 100 calories per half cup
jessicawedwards@gmail.com
can be used in a weight loss program
The MyPlate icon from the US Department of Agriculture highlights the important role that carbohydrates such as pasta!!
twitted this today, 29/11
http://www.twitter.com/myspotme
I learned that pasta satisfies hunger
It is economical. Thanks gahome2mom/gmail/com
I learned that the Chinese were making a noodle-like food as early as 3000 B.C. And Greek mythology suggests that the Greek God Vulcan invented a device that made strings of dough (the first spaghetti!).
abfantom at yahoo dot com
I didn't realize that pasta really isn't that bad for you!
pasta is an ideal foundation for building healthy meals.
With roughly 100 calories per half cup serving, very little sodium or fat and no cholesterol, pasta is an ideal foundation for building healthy meals.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
Great review! I totally agree that pasta can be healthy:) Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
that the Chinese made a noodle-like food as early as 3000 B.C.
that the Chinese made a noodle-like food as early as 3000 B.C.
The average American eats 20 pounds of pasta every year!
The Chinese were making a noodle-like food as early as 3000 B.C. And Greek mythology suggests that the Greek God Vulcan invented a device that made strings of dough (the first spaghetti!).
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
At 1.45/lb, pasta is one of the most affordable meal options there is. I am skullaria at gmail dot com Thanks!
I learned Whole grain pasta offers an additional boost of fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants and important nutrients like magnesium and vitamin E.
caryn9802 at yahoo dot com
I found out about the complex carbohydrates in pasta provide essential fuel
Only 100 calories per half cup serving? This is an amzing fact I learned and will look out for when shopping!
100 calories per half cup serving, very little sodium or fat and no cholesterol
I learned pasta is very low in sodium and cholesterol-free.
I learned that Americans consume 6 billion pounds of pasta each year.
I learned there are roughly 100 calories per half cup
diane(dot)wortman(at)gmail(dot)com
i leaned that theres only 100 calories per half cup serving
it boost energy and has 100 calories.
roughly 100 calories per half cup serving wow thats awesome
I learned that by [legend] Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy.
magickalblessings26{at}gmail.com
I learned that the average american consumes 20 lbs of pasta each year
addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com
has approx 100 calories per 1/2 ounce serving that is good when you're on a diet
Reducing calories, not carbohydrates, helps you lose weight. :)
It has 100 calories per 1/2 cup serving!
arifamily at comcast.net
Pasta was recently cited as one of America's favorite foods!
I learned that pasta dates to the 4th century BC!
I learned that 'enriched' isn't a bad thing!
nickyflowers1978@hotmail.com
I learned they have awesome recipes! Can't wait to try em out!! myamurphy@mail.com
roughly 100 calories per half cup serving
I learned that pasta has very little sodium
Whole grain pasta offers an additional boost of fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants and important nutrients like magnesium and vitamin E.
MeHimAndTheCats at gmail dot com
I learned that they have great recipes on the site.
The United States produces 4.4 billion pounds of pasta annually, making it the second largest pasta-producing nation.
tdlsfm(at)yahoo(dot)com
The United States produces 4.4 billion pounds of pasta annually, making it the second largest pasta-producing nation.
learned it has about 100 calories per 1/2 cup serving
I learned that "Carbohydrates like pasta provide glucose, the crucial fuel for your brain and muscles. Pasta is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, which provide a slow release of energy. Unlike simple sugars that offer a quick, yet fleeting boost of energy, pasta helps sustain energy."
Amy_M
amybabya79 at yahoo.com
i learned that pasta has 100 calories per half cup serving
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
It contains no cholesterol
pasta is one of American's favorite foods
Brittney House BBrittBrat1398@yahoo.com
100 calories per half cup serving, dorothy deakyne
I learned that there is 6 billion pounds of pasta consumed per year by Americans.
vikki.billings@yahoo.com
I learned that we eat about 20lb per year! WOW!!!
I eat approx 20 lbs of pasta??? wow!
Post a Comment