Save Time on
School Nights
Simple, Savory Recipes
For Busy Families
During the school year, plenty of evening hours are spent
completing homework, attending extracurricular activities
and preparing to repeat the school-day routine the
next day. For many families, having time to prepare and cook quality,
nutritious meals can be next to impossible.
Instead of choosing between valuable family time and hours
spent in the kitchen, RAGÚ blogger, fitness enthusiast and busy
mom Jamie Krauss Hess recommends stocking up on go-to pantry
staples you feel good about and including them in quick, nutritious
recipes everyone can enjoy together.
BC Health, Beauty & Fitness 48
Try recipes such as Mini Turkey Sloppy Joes, which swap out
beef for ground turkey to provide a flavorful alternative while offering
a special twist to a classic family favorite. Quinoa Penne
with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce can hit the spot with just a handful
of ingredients. Or, if the little ones clamor for a more kid-friendly
dish and the adults don’t mind a throwback to childhood, Grown-
Up Tomato Mac and Cheese can provide the best of both worlds.
All three recipes take less than an hour to make and feature
RAGÚ Simply pasta sauces, which are made with 100 percent
olive oil and contain no added sugar. They’re available in four varieties
including: Traditional, Chunky Marinara, Chunky Garden
Vegetable and Flavored with Meat. By using simple ingredients
like California vine-ripened tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini,
onions and spices, the results are a taste-tempting sauce with
recipe versatility.
Grown-Up Tomato
Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 minutes • Cook time: 30 minutes • Servings: 8
In large pot, combine pasta and water. Cook over mediumhigh
heat 20-22 minutes, or until pasta is done, stirring occasionally.
In bowl, combine 2 cups cheddar cheese, Pecorino Romano
cheese and corn starch. Reduce heat to medium; stir milk, cheese
mixture and sauce together with cooked pasta. Cook 5-7 minutes,
or until cheese is melted and mixture is thickened, stirring
frequently.
Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and pepper; serve
immediately.
Tip: This stovetop method eliminates the need to drain the
pasta after cooking. The starchy pasta water gets stirred in and
helps create an extra-rich sauce. Elevate this dish by sprinkling
crushed Parmesan cheese crisps on top before serving.
1 box (16 ounces) gemelli pasta
4 cups water
2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese,
shredded, divided
1/2 cup (2 ounces) Pecorino
Romano cheese, grated
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
1 jar (24 ounces) Traditional Pasta Sauce
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper