February 19, 2015

Linguine with Prosciutto, Mushrooms, and Peas

I grew up thinking that pasta required one of two things:

Tomato sauce or cheese.

It’s taken me some time to realize that there are so many more pasta possibilities…be it a creamy white sauce, rose, vodka sauce, mushroom sauce, or something much lighter, such as a vinaigrette.

Once I started traveling abroad, I really learned how much more is out there. Trips to Italy, especially Rome, opened my eyes to how many ways pasta can be prepared. So many great dinners on cobblestone streets, kept warm by outdoor heaters in the January night, conversations over bowls of drippy noodles… I wish I could recall every dish the way I remember those colorful nights. Some things stick with you longer than a recipe.

Now, some of my favorite pasta dishes have no real sauce at all, they are just tossed with amazing ingredients, such as this prosciutto, mushroom and pea combination. This is a dish similar to one I had high above the Amalfi Coast, perched at a window overlooking Positano miles below. It’s a trifecta of deliciousness, and it’s pretty darned healthy. Lots of fiber, thanks to the mushrooms and the sexy Little Black Box of Dreamfields, which has a higher amount of fiber than may other boxed pastas. Now that I am eating healthier and watching every single thing I consume, I make sure I get the most out of each ingredient, and Dreamfields helps me make these decisions. I’ve been a fan of the brand for years now, and that’s not about to change. The texture, the flavor – it’s exactly what I want from my pasta.

If you are looking for a healthy, quick, and flavorful dinner option – take a look at this recipe. I’m so pleased with how it turned out, especially because it took less than 15 minutes to get it on the table. No matter how busy I am, 15 minutes is doable. I can’t even drive to get fast food in less time than that!

Linguine with Prosciutto, Mushrooms, and Peas

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 box Dreamfields Linguine
4 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
12 ounces golden shiitake mushrooms, sliced
8 ounces fresh snap peas
6 ounces prosciutto, cut into strips
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup sour cream
Salt & pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese, as needed

Instructions

Prepare linguine according to box.
While pasta is cooking, heat butter in large skillet and cook onions until golden and aromatic. Add mushrooms and peas, and cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
Add prosciutto, and cook an additional 2 minutes.
Pour stock and sour cream into the mixture and stir until combined. Allow to cook until liquid has reduced by half, about 3-4 minutes.
When pasta is ready, drain and toss with prepared mixture. Season as needed. Plate and serve with sprinkled Parmesan.

Make 6 servings.

Nutrition information (1/6 of recipe): 403 calories; 19g protein; 54g total carbohydrates; 15g total fat; 7g saturated fat; 50mg cholesterol; 761mg sodium; 8g total dietary fiber.

Dreamfields Twitter Party

That’s right – I’m hosting another Twitter Party for my favorite pasta brand! Come join us on Friday, February 20 at 1pm EST for a fun hour of everything pasta – and how we can all be a little healthier this year and every year. And did I mention prizes? Yes! There are prizes, just for joining us. Come by and participate, won’t you?

Pinterest Contest

DREAMFIELDS HEALTHY PASTA UNVEILS “LBB FOR A HEALTHIER ME” CONTEST ON PINTEREST

Pinners can enter for a chance to win pasta, cash and more

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 5, 2015—New Year’s resolutions are typically long forgotten by the time the Groundhog looks for his shadow. So Dreamfields Pasta – the “little black box (LBB)” in the pasta aisle – is reigniting motivation with the launch of its “LBB for a Healthier Me” contest on Pinterest this month.

For the month of February, participants are encouraged to arrange photos onto a special Pinterest board to showcase simple ways to make life a little bit healthier . . . and keep those resolutions alive. Pins can include healthy pasta recipes, exercises, fun activities and inspirational messages, and anything that inspires long-term commitment to wellness.

“Small steps, like choosing a high fiber pasta like Dreamfields, are most effective in making healthy changes that last a lifetime,” said Liz Housman, director of marketing for Dreamfields pasta. “Just like a LBD (Little Black Dress) is the foundation to a well-rounded wardrobe, Dreamfields’ LBB (Little Black Box) is the foundation to a healthier diet.”

Participating in the contest is easy. Users can log in to their personal Pinterest accounts and add as many photos to their contest board as desired. Contest entry captions should explain how each image contributes to pinners’ goals, using at least one of the official program hashtags–#HealthyPasta, #LittleBlackBox or #DreamfieldsPinterestContest.

Entries are official once participants submit their name, email and contest board URL at www.TryDreamfields.com/Contest . The contest’s official rules and a link to a coupon are also available on that page. To begin your search for healthier pasta inspiration, visit Dreamfields on Pinterest.

www.TryDreamfields.com/contest

Disclaimer: I am a ambassador for Dreamfields. I adore the brand, that’s no question! All thoughts and opinions are my own.