Penne Genovese **** {RILEY LIKED IT!!!!} (Erin)

Can a recipe-reliant sister make a meal with only a brief mention and tiny picture from her favorite cookbook? YES, she can! Seriously, there are only 9 words about this recipe in Cook This, Not That! I still managed to make it (with adding a few twists of my own), AND it was tasty!

Since this recipe specifically written in the cookbook, I can tell you how I made it without angering the copyright gods. :) The cookbook mentions penne, grilled shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and basil pesto. I used whole wheat penne, sauted shrimp, roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, and sauteed spinach.

I have never eaten whole wheat pasta. It didn't have a different flavor, but the texture was different...a bit more bite to it. Jase liked it, and the girls didn't seem to notice a difference. I couldn't decide. I didn't dislike it, and I will continue to use it since it is so much better for us.

I decided to roast the cherry tomatoes. I drizzled about 1 T. of olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper onto the tomatoes and stuck them in the oven at 425 degrees until the skin popped. I ended up peeling off the skin, which took little effort. I put another T. of olive oil in my skillet. There I sauteed some chopped garlic, shrimp, spinach leaves, and the peeled tomatoes. When the shrimp were cooked, I added the penne and basil pesto. Finally, I let Madeline grate some parmesan cheese over the top.

Madeline - Liked this a lot. She loves shrimp. She ate her whole serving and asked for seconds.

Riley - Actually ate this!!! I fixed her something different but still slipped her a few bites in between bites of her dinner. I think she liked this better than what I made her!

Jase - Liked this a lot. He isn't a big shrimp eater and did mention it would be better with chicken.

I liked this. Again, the pasta was strange, but the flavor of the meal was good.

Shrimp - had on hand

Penne - $1.29

Garlic - had on hand

Olive Oil - had on hand

Spinach - $1.49

Tomatoes - $3.49

Pesto - had on hand

Three, Two, One, "Start Cookin'!"