Eggplant and Spinach Over Spiral Noodles

Eggplant and Spinach Over Spiral Noodles

This savory dinner will have vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike lining up for seconds.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups eggplant cubed
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 teaspoons red wine
  • 1 package spirelli pasta

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
  • Brown the eggplant on all sides and transfer to a greased slow cooker insert.
  • Add the spinach and wine.
  • Cover and cook for four hours on low.
  • Boil the spirelli according to package directions or until the pasta is al dente.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Top with ricotta cheese and red pepper flakes.
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Four-Cheese Stuffed Lasagna Cups

Four-Cheese Stuffed Lasagna Cups

Try this version of compact lasagna in the slow cooker.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup asiago cheese
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 package fresh lasagna sheets
  • 16 ounce jar tomato sauce

Instructions

  • Mix the cheeses and herbs in a bowl.
  • Cut the lasagna sheets into 12-inch squares.
  • Spoon the mixture into the middle of a square lasagna sheet.
  • Fold the pasta around the cheese, into a cup, and secure with toothpicks.
  • Place the cups in an oiled slow cooker insert.
  • Coat the lasagna cups with tomato sauce.
  • Cover and cook on low for four hours.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Serve with a green salad to complete the meal.
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Course Cheese / Crockpot / Pasta
Cuisine European / Italian

Spicy Onion Penne

Spicy Onion Penne

Chase off the cold with this hot dinner.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 4 cups onion sliced
  • 1 leek sliced
  • 2 hot cherry peppers seeded and chopped
  • 1 package penne pasta

Instructions

  • Ad the oil, garlic, onion, leek, and peppers to the slow cooker insert.
  • Cover and cook on low for nine hours.
  • Boil the penne pasta according to the package’s directions, or until al dente.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

For added flavor, include browned and crumbled Italian sausage with this dish.
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Course Crockpot / Pasta
Cuisine European / Italian

Garlic and Parsley Pasta

Garlic and Parsley Pasta

Give this vegetarian-friendly dish a try. You may find the fragrant recipe makes its way onto your regular dinner rotation.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 5 garlic bulbs
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • 1 package rotini pasta
  • 1 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Instructions

  • Cut the tops from the garlic bulbs and place in a slow cooker insert.
  • Drizzle oil over the garlic; cover and cook on high for five hours.
  • Boil the rotini pasta according to the directions on the package, or until al dente.
  • Toss the pasta with the garlic, garlic oil, and parsley.
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Serve with a garden salad for a complete meal
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Course Crockpot / Pasta
Cuisine European / Italian

Pasta Fazool

Pasta Fazool

Ever wondered about the dish named in the classic song “That’s Amore”? Recreate it for your love in the slow cooker
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 1 package small shell pasta
  • 2 cups cannellini beans
  • 12 ounce can stewed tomatoes
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • ½ onion diced
  • ½ cup carrots diced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cups fresh spinach

Instructions

  • Combine the cannellini beans and tomatoes in a greased slow cooker insert.
  • Add the broth, onion, carrots, garlic, rosemary, parsley and thyme to the insert.
  • Cover and cook for four hours on high.
  • Add the spinach; continue cooking for 10 minutes.
  • Boil the small shell pasta according to package directions or until shells are al dente.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Consider topping the finished dish with crumbled bacon or grated parmesan.
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Course Crockpot / Pasta
Cuisine European / Italian

Tomato Florentine Soup

Tomato Florentine Soup

Don’t open one more can of tomato soup until you’ve tried this recipe.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 12 ounce can stewed tomatoes
  • 12 ounce can tomato paste
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • ½ cup couscous

Instructions

  • Add the carrots, celery, onion, spinach, garlic, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and Old Bay to an oiled slow cooker insert.
  • Cover and cook on high for four hours.
  • Stir in the couscous and cook for an additional 20 minutes, or until the couscous is tender.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Serve alongside breadsticks for dipping.
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Cuisine European / Italian
Diets Vegetarian

Agrodolce Stew

Agrodolce Stew

In Italian, “agrodolce” means sweet and sour.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound pork loin cubed
  • 2 shallots minced
  • ½ cup raisins
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Spray the insert of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Add the pork, shallots, raisins, sugar, vinegar, salt, and olive oil to the insert.
  • Cover and cook on high for five hours or until the pork is cooked through.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Serve over a pasta of your choice, if desired.
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Course Crockpot / Pork / Stew
Cuisine European / Italian

Cipollinis and Artichoke Sauce Over Penne Pasta 

Cipollinis and Artichoke Sauce Over Penne Pasta 

This tasty vegetarian entrée may convert the most diehard carnivores.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds cipollinis whole
  • 3 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 2 pounds artichoke hearts
  • ¾ cups olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 package penne pasta

Instructions

  • Put the cipollinis in the bottom of a greased slow cooker insert.
  • Sprinkle the garlic into the insert.
  • Add the artichokes and drizzle the oil over everything.
  • Sprinkle with salt; cover and cook on high for four hours.
  • Boil the penne pasta according to package directions or until al dente.
  • Sprinkle the dish with mozzarella before serving.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Try this recipe with sliced chicken breast for more protein.
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Course Crockpot / Pasta
Cuisine European / Italian

Pasta Marinara

Pasta Marinara

Add a personal touch to this Italian stalwart by making the marinara from scratch.
 
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 4 tablespoonsgarlic minced
  • 1 onion chopped
  • cupbrown sugar
  • cupvinegar
  • 1 tablespoonhoney
  • 4 cupstomatoes diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • ¼ cupchicken broth
  • 2 teaspoonsdry oregano
  • 1 packagespaghetti pasta

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.
  • Cook the garlic and onion until onion is translucent.
  • Transfer to an oiled slow cooker insert.
  • Add the sugar, vinegar, honey, tomatoes, pepper, broth, and oregano.
  • Cover and cook on high for four hours.
  • Pour the sauce in a food processor and blend.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Sprinkle the finished dish with grated parmesan cheese.
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Course Crockpot / Pasta

Shrimp Risotto

Shrimp Risotto

Adding different types of protein will offer endless possibilities and help make your risotto even more filling.
Portions:4
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ onion chopped
  • 1 ¼ cups Arborio rice
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 2 cups precooked shrimp tailless and deveined
  • 3 cups chicken broth

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
  • Sauté the onion until translucent.
  • Add the Arborio rice and wine, stirring until half of the liquid cooks off.
  • Transfer the mixture to a greased slow cooker insert.
  • Pour in the broth.
  • Cover and cook on high for two-and-a-half hours.
  • Add the shrimp, cooking for an additional 15 minutes of until the shrimp is curled in a “C.”

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the finished dish.icken broth
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