What I Make for Dinner When I’m Short on Time

When I made my New Year’s resolution, my goal was to expand my cooking ability and try new things and I made it clear that pasta with pre-made sauce would not count.  Well, it still doesn’t, and what I’m about to share with you does not count as my weekly new recipe.  But believe it or not, I don’t always have the time to spend over an hour in the kitchen dicing and mashing and letting dough rise and I expect many of you are in my same boat.  So today I’m sharing one of my old go-to favorites that has been totally neglected since January 1.  This is what I make when I get home starving after a softball game or from a happy hour with a crappy food menu (although I really do try to avoid those).  It takes 15 minutes at most and I generally have the ingredients on hand, thank you Trader Joes.

Pesto Gnocchi with Seafood and Asparagus

Serves 2, generously

• 1/4 cup Trader Joes Basil Pesto alla Genovese
• 1/2 package Trader Joes seafood blend
• 1 package Racconio whole wheat potato gnocchi (Trader Joes)
• 1/2 package frozen asparagus (of course you can use fresh)
• 10 grape tomatoes, halved
• 3 cloves crushed garlic (use garlic press)

1. Start boiling water in a medium sauce pan. Thaw the seafood blend and the asparagus in the microwave; meanwhile cut the tomatoes (about 5 minutes)
2. Spray a pan with cooking spray and add seafood, asparagus and garlic.  Cook over medium heat (about 5 minutes)
   
3. Cook the gnocchi for no more than three minutes.  It cooks fast and you don’t want it toosticky.  (3 minutes)
   
4. Strain, rinse and toss with pesto and vegetable/seafood blend and serve! (2 minutes)

Enjoy a 15 minute meal for you and a friend!

Johanna