pasta - Stuff Parents Need

Mix and Match Pasta Recipes

All you need to do to pull together a large variety of options for everyone in your family is to have several different types of pasta available in your pantry, as well as several different sauces in your pantry or fridge, and several different toppings that come together in a flash. Most of those toppings can also be found in your pantry, your fridge, or even your freezer! Stay stocked up on theses items and a meal almost makes itself for you! If you have older kids, this is a great way for them to start to learn to cook for themselves!

Pasta Options

Here’s what I offered up to my family as options. I actually decided to cook a small amount of each pasta type, and then kept unused pasted sealed in the fridge, and that made lunches even easier for the next few days. It was glorious!!!

I think wagon wheels would also be great to offer, but I couldn’t find any at my local store :-(.

Pasta Recipes Add-Ins:

Now it’s time for the really fun part: the add-ins! This is where kids can start to feel really empowered about their meal options, and they can build exactly the kind of pasta they want, switching it up depending on their mood! I have tried lots of different dishes just by rearranging the key ingredients, and it has been a great way for “leftovers” to feel brand new!

Extra Indulgence: Cheese!

If you really want to go all-out and make a super rich pasta dish, just offer up a selection of cheeses. It is SO yummy, you guys!

Want to see what my 4-year-old “made” for her dinner? I think she did a great job!

Love the idea? Pin it or share it with your friends (easy share buttons over on the left!).

What’s your pasta personality? You have one, you know. We all do! Carrabba’s has a Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook that can help you determine yours. Hop on over and take the quiz. Go ahead. I’ll wait!

Ok, what were your results? My pasta personality is spaghetti, which is just SO perfect considering what you’ll find below…

As part of this post, I’d like to share my family’s signature pasta dish. This is one of our very favorites. Tim’s family has been making it for who knows how long (longer than I’ve been on the scene, and I’ve been hanging out with him for over a decade, now!). It’s a pasta dish that has eggs in it. Sounds gross, I know. But stick with me….you’re gonna love it!

Spaghetti Carbonara

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup olive oil or butter (we go half and half)
2 eggs lightly beaten
12 oz of turkey bacon, diced and cooked
1/8 cup dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 lb spaghetti

Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil/butter on medium-high and add the garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes. Mix the oil/butter/garlic mixture with the cooked and drained noodles. Add the eggs in and very quickly mix. The idea is that the eggs will cook onto the noodles . After the eggs have been mixed in, add the turkey bacon, parsley and Parmesan cheese.

And then get ready to die from the joy of this dish. It is so awesome!

If making a pasta dish at home is not on your list of things you wish to accomplish, then just head on over to Carrabba’s, where you’ll find some fantastic limited time special offers, which include seven dishes served with soup or fresh salad. And the price tag is awesome, starting at just $10! Here are a few examples:

Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.

Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.

Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.

While I still hold that my Spaghetti Carbonara will blow you away, I wouldn’t blame you if you put down your cooking utensils and headed for your nearest Carrabba’s. With over 230 locations, there’s probably one close by!

And don’t forget to tell me your pasta personality in the comments! Any other spaghettis out there???

Disclosure:I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.