Amanda's Easy, Delicious Soup & Salad Pasta!

This is an easy pasta dish I discovered yesterday, perfect for a pantry sweep. I made up the clever title "Soup & Salad Pasta" because the sauce is made up of greens and soup. This is more of a guide than a recipe, so use your own judgment and experiment with different kinds!

Ingredients:
• 1/2 package (or 1/2 lb.) pasta [I used white Rigatoni]
• 1/2 cup greens, or as desired, torn into small pieces [I used kale]
• 1/2 cup cream soup or flavorful broth, or as desired [I used Imagine brand Creamy Butternut Squash Soup]
• Toppings or seasonings, as desired

Instructions:
1.) Cook the pasta al-dente, as instructed on the box. Rinse with cold water when finished, then return it to the pot.

2.) Pour the soup on first, then the greens, then any other seasonings you wish to use. Mix very well.

3.) Turn the stove back on medium, stirring frequently. The soup should thicken into more of a sauce. If it doesn't thicken within 5 minutes, add a SMALL amount of thickener such as flour or cornstarch. Cook until heated up, and serve.

I am hoping to start eating and living healthier this summer. (My break is going to start in a week, after I complete my final exams.) Stay tuned for more adventures!

Easiest Pasta with Peanut Sauce!

I guess I'm going to start posting recipes now. I was really bored with what I was eating, so I decided to start trying out new things with what's in my kitchen. I really had a craving for peanut sauce, but I didn't have too many important ingredients. So I found this simple Thai Peanut Sauce recipe and adapted it based on what I had already and how it came out. The end result was delicious! But you can change it as you see fit.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp. water
2 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. apple sauce (I used tropical fruit sauce!)
1 tbsp. minced ginger (or 1/2 tbsp. ground ginger)
1/2 tsp. brown sugar
1 clove minced garlic (or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder)
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Pasta of your choice (I used one serving size of spaghetti)

Boil water for your pasta, and cook according to directions. While it's cooking, mix all of the other ingredients well in a bowl. Drain the pasta, but reserve a small amount of water if the sauce seems too thick. Return the pasta to the pot and add the peanut sauce. Mix well and serve!

Let me know if you have any (easy!) changes to make to it.