Cooking the Pantry-Shrimp and Pasta with Sugar Snap Peas

The other day was busy as all get out for me. I found myself running late and unprepared for dinner. Do you ever find yourself in a similar situation? I know you do. That question was really rhetorical. Life often gets ahead of us and we find ourselves scrambling to catch up, right? What does one do when facing a day like that? Well, I turn to my pantry to see what I can pull together.

Pantry Shrimp Pasta and Sugar Snap Peas

A quick check of my pantry and freezer revealed the following ingredients:

The Pantry Ingredients

1 pound linguine
extra virgin olive oil
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
2 pounds jumbo shrimp, frozen
fresh garlic
fresh sugar snap peas
fresh spinach
white wine, Sauvignon Blanc
shredded Romano cheese
salt and pepper to taste
fresh parsley, chopped, about 1/4 cup
fresh baby spinach (an afterthought)

I was relieved. No need to worry. I was confident I could turn those ingredients into a tasty dinner and avoid the expense of a take out or restaurant meal. Here's what I made with these ingredients.

Directions

Heat a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large pan (with a cover) over medium heat. Fill a pot with water and a generous dose of salt to cook your pasta. While the water is heating for the pasta, cook 4 cloves of chopped garlic for 1-2 minutes in the olive oil. Add the sugar snap peas (1 cup per person) and stir to cook 3-4 minutes.

Saute the Garlic and Sugar Snap Peas

Once the water is boiling for the pasta, add the linguine, cooking for 4-5 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside. The pasta won't be cooked, but that's OK. It will finish cooking in the sauce, absorbing additional flavor. Meanwhile, add 1/2 cup white wine to the snow peas and cook for 1 minute. Then add the diced tomatoes and all but 1 tablespoon of the chopped parsley. Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.

Add Tomatoes to Make a Sauce

Add the shrimp to the sauce and top with the pasta. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Stir and add the baby spinach (about 1 large handful per person). Cover the pan and remove it from the heat. Set aside for 5 minutes. Stir to combine. Sprinkle with Romano cheese and serve.

Yum!

I made a tossed salad to serve with the pasta dish and everyone was happy. No fuss...no muss...and we saved ourselves a few dollars we might have spent going out to eat. Everyone wins! You can get the printable Shrimp Pasta with Sugar Snap Peas recipe by clicking the link.

Shrimp, Pasta and Snow Peas

What do you do when you find yourself running late and unprepared for dinner? Take out? Restaurant meal? Pantry dinner?

Feel free to share links to your quick meal solutions in the comments.

Frazzled,

Comments

TheProDivaMarch 19, 2012 at 7:51 PM
You hit the nail on the head Donna! I am always short on time, and most times I neglect to make dinner. In fact, I am sending hubby out right now to find us something to eat because I'm still working. I love that you are able to find ingredients in the kitchen and make them work for you...this is a characteristic of a great cook! I'm trying to be better!

And the pasta dish looks amazing!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Coffee and Dessert-A Perfect Pairing

Coffee and dessert go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, night and day, or Thelma and Louise. I've teamed up with three blogging friends who love coffee and dessert as much as I do to bring you three of their favorite fall desserts to pair with three specialty coffee drinks I've made in the Ninja Coffee Bar System. I was very excited to receive this Ninja Coffee Bar System (Model CF092) to review. I am by no means a coffee snob but I do like a good cup of coffee. I also like a coffee maker that is easy to use and can be depended on to produce a consistent cup of coffee day in and day-out. In the past few years, I have used a Keurig single-serving system, a French press, and a Cuisinart drip coffee maker. The Keurig is sitting on a shelf in my basement, the French press is on a high shelf in the kitchen and the Cuisinart sits in my beverage center waiting for me to return to it while I take the Ninja Coffee Bar System for a test drive. I have...

Lemon Yogurt Cake

A Lemon Cake to Delight Lemon Lovers Something happens to my taste buds as soon as spring hits each year. I start to crave lemon. It seems like I can't stop thinking about lemon squares, lemon meringue pie, and lemon cake. Does this happen to any of you? It seems that my taste buds have seasons too! Today I'm making a lemon yogurt cake to satisfy my desire for anything lemon and to use some of the slow cooker yogurt I have in the refrigerator. Lemon Yogurt Cake This is another Ina Garten recipe, from the Barefoot Contessa At Home. It's a favorite because it is moist and lemony. You'll like this recipe because it is really easy to make by hand. No electric mixer is required. So, when you are in the mood for a little sweet something you'll be able to whip this cake up in a snap. Lemon Yogurt Cake Printer Friendly Recipe Makes 1 loaf cake Ingredients Lemon Yogurt Cake Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-p...

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family? If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time. You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig. I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long. How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you searching for the ultimate, classic New England whoopie pie recipe? Look no further! Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling. While their origin is debated, New Englanders proudly claim them as their own. This recipe focuses on the traditional Maine-style filling, a cooked flour and milk mixture that creates a uniquely satisfying t...

Homemade Tomato Rosemary Focaccia Bread: A Bread Machine Gem!

Today's recipe for Tomato Rosemary Focaccia Bread will whisk you away to the rustic streets of Italy without leaving the comfort of your kitchen. Imagine warm, from-the-oven Tomato Rosemary Focaccia Bread, infused with the enticing aroma of fresh rosemary, garlic, and olive oil topped with a burst of flavor from sweet grape tomatoes. And the best part? You can whip up this tasty delight effortlessly with the magic of your bread machine. Bread Maker Focaccia Bread with Rosemary and Tomatoes This post contains Amazon affiliate links This is a simple and sensational focaccia bread recipe that's perfect for modern families seeking a touch of tradition.

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies. Fruit flies in the kitchen. Fruit flies in the bathroom. Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home. It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another. If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time.

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year. This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bre...

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Are you looking for an easy dinner roll recipe? The easiest way to make fresh dinner rolls is with your bread machine. Relax while you use the dough setting of your bread machine to get the time-intensive steps out of the way. You'll be delighted with the results of this easy bread machine dinner roll recipe. The best bread machine dinner rolls are the ones you make yourself. How to Make Bread Machine Dinner Rolls This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you use your bread machine to make dinner rolls most of the work is done by the machine. You'll be delighted with how easy it is to make fresh rolls. While most of the work is being done by the bread machine you can be doing something else.

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe. An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while.

Just~One~Donna

Search This Blog