Happy St Patrick’s Day Everyone! I spent the day cleaning teeth, then was welcomed home by our little neighbor boy pinching me for not having green on my scrubs! I so remember doing that to everyone in school.
I opened up the fridge tonight not having any clue what I was going to make for dinner. As I was searching through all of the veggis I needed to use up, I thought, let’s make a veggi pasta. This pasta was so good. For being a last minute dinner, I must say, it turned out fantastic!
Some of my favorite dinners have been created at the last minute with my kids running in and out of the kitchen like maniacs! Hope you all enjoy! I’ve got to go finish the Bachelor, some of these girls are wacked! The clarinet performance??!! Seriously?!
Last minute deliciousness!
Vegetable Ziti with Garlic Caper Cream Sauce and Bacon Crumbles
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 medium red bell peppers, finely diced
8 oz bag sugar snap peas
2 medium zucchini, halved then thinly sliced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons capers
¾ Cup heavy cream
1 1/2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
12 slices precooked bacon, crisped and crumbled (I get the box from Costco)
1. Cook ziti noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside.
2. Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pot over medium heat. When hot, stir in bell peppers, sugar snap peas, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes then reduce heat to low.
3.Place oil into a medium skillet over medium heat.Saute garlic and capers for 2 minutes.Stir in heavy cream, salt and pepper.Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until bubbly and starting to thicken slightly.
4. Pour noodles into vegetables then pour sauce over pasta. Stir in crumbled bacon until combined on low heat. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
**This pasta is also great topped with Feta Cheese, if you’re a Feta Fan**
Vegetable Ziti with Garlic Caper Cream Sauce and Bacon Crumbles
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound dry ziti pasta noodles
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium red bell peppers finely diced
- 8 ounces sugar snap peas (I used an 8-oz bag)
- 2 medium zucchini halved then thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons capers
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 12 slices precooked bacon crisped and crumbled (I get the box from Costco)
Instructions
- Cook ziti noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside.
- Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pot over medium heat. When hot, stir in bell peppers, sugar snap peas, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes then reduce heat to low.
- Place oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and capers for 2 minutes.Stir in heavy cream, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until bubbly and starting to thicken slightly.
- Pour noodles into vegetables then pour sauce over pasta. Stir in crumbled bacon until combined on low heat. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Welcome to my online kitchen! Picky Palate is where you’ll find family friendly recipes along with the best Disney eats, tips and copycat recipes! 
looks great!
again, anything w/bacon in it must be good 😉
Yum, bookmarking this recipe for sure. And you had me laughing out loud at your Bachelor comment. Seriously – don’t they realize they are on national t.v.?
Great tip Anne,
Camilla has great recipes. Cashew butter does sound interesting. I’ll have to try it. For now, bring on the cream!
Thanks Deborah,
I know, the Bachelor gilrs seems to get worse every season. I couldn’t watch a few of the musical performances last night. I mean, who does that?
What a great looking pasta dish!!
I gave up watching the Bachelor a few seasons ago – I would just get so embarrassed by some of the girls. It also makes me grateful that I’ve already found my Prince Charming and I don’t have to go through the dating game anymore!
This recipe looks awesome! I saw on Enlightened cooking a heavy cream substitute of raw cashews blended with cold water to make ganache… I haven’t tried it yet but it would certainly be easier on the diet! I’ll make this with the cream anyways though, lol!
Recipegirl,
I know, I know, heavy cream is the enemy! I like to portion control so I can enjoy this fab sauce!
Thanks Emiline!
I still need to watch the pasta show, it’s tivo’d.
Patsyk,
Thanks, no heavy cream for you either huh? If you find something that tastes good ant is low fat, let me know!
Thanks playful professional!
Steph,
I wish I was a cooking genius, too funny! So glad you enjoyed the lettuce wraps. My family loves them as well!
Jenny, you are a cooking genius! I love all of your recipes! I just made your Lettuce wraps last night, and they were a big hit, absolutely delicious!
This looks delicious. I’m gonna have to try it out. Thanks!
Wow! Now that’s an impressive last minute dinner! It looks so good, but I agree with recipegirl, I can’t do the heavy cream with trying to eat healthier… maybe something else could be substituted for it?
The pasta looks great. It reminds me of the pasta show they had on Food Network the other night.
I can do everything except that heavy cream- that’s the kiss of death for my diet right now. All of that exercise is worthless if I down spoonfuls of heavy cream! Other than that, this looks simply delicious. You’re so amazing that you can just throw dinner together like that!