quick dinners

Weeknight dinners can be such a challenge! Finding fast recipes are a must during busy weeks. Here are two quick recipes that used up some leftovers and were delicious!

Pasta with Swiss chard, onion and sausage

Boil some short pasta (penne, bowtie, rotini, etc.), drain and set aside. Cook a few sausages and slice. I used 3 Italian sausage - cook and set aside. Slice and sautee half an onion. When onion is about translucent, add sausage back in and pasta. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of EVOO in the pan with a touch of black pepper. Take a leafy green like Swiss chard, spinach or even broccoli rab, roughly chop and add to pan. Constantly stir until greens are wilted. The beauty (and ease) of this dish is you don't really need spices because sausage has such flavors that come out in the cooking. Top with a little grated Parmesan cheese.

Sweet potato, spinach, zucchini & white bean quesadillas

Peel and cube a sweet potato, steam until soft. Drain and mash with a fork. Sautee a chopped zucchini and a can of drained and rinsed white beans in a little EVOO. When zucchini is soft, add about 2 to 3 handfuls of fresh spinach. Sautee and add season with S&P. Spread the mashed sweet potato on a corn tortilla. Layer sweet potato, jack cheese, zucchini sautee mixture and top tortilla. Grill in a pan or griddle on the stove (coat the pan with EVOO first). Cook until cheese is melted and corn tortillas are lightly golden. Serve with salsa and sour cream. These quesadillas are delicious - a little messy, but good!