With it being so freaking hot this summer it's hard to get motivated to cook! I was sitting on the couch thinking about cooking supper and I remembered a dish I hadn't made in a long time that requires very little energy to make and no oven. So, if you're hot and tired and have to cook something for supper, Pasta Primavera has to be one of the perfect summer dishes to make.

Here's what you'll need:

16 ounces Rigatoni or other pasta
5 tablespoons Butter
1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
1 bag of Stir-fry Frozen Vegetables
1 cup Milk
8 ounces Cream Cheese
2 cups Cubed or Diced Ham
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

First, you'll need to cook your pasta. I used Garden Rigatoni, but I've used spaghetti, vermicelli, bow-ties, and penne pasta. Put a pot of water on to boil, add a little salt and when it's boiling, add your pasta.

While the pasta is boiling, put 3 tablespoons of butter and the minced garlic in a skillet and turn your burner on medium-low. Add the bag of frozen vegetables, give it a stir and put the lid on it.


Once the vegetables are thawed and tender, add the cream cheese and milk. I slice the cream cheese as I'm adding it to make it easier to stir while it's melting.


Next you'll add the ham. I buy diced ham and use about three-fourths of the package. You could use leftover ham cut up into small pieces. I wouldn't use lunchmeat because the thin pieces will stick together and  won't get distributed evenly through the mixture. Trust me, I've tried it in a pinch and it's just not as good. So, stir in the ham and turn the burner down to the lowest setting. Put the lid on and let it simmer while you're checking on your pasta.


If you have to go chase down your phone or a kid before you get a chance to check your pasta, make sure you stir the sauce mixture when you get back so it doesn't burn to the bottom of your skillet. Regardless of what you're chasing or not chasing, once it's bubbling, give it a stir, put the lid back on and go ahead and turn off the burner. Now, if the pasta is tender it's time to drain it. I always test it by seeing how easily I can cut through it with my spoon against the side of the pan.


After the pasta is drained, pour it back into the pan. Mix in the last 2 tablespoons of butter and the Parmesan cheese.


Now stir the sauce mixture in with the pasta and viola, you've made Pasta Primavera. This made enough for 3 meals for me and the hubby. He didn't get a second helping, but it was because I put enough on his plate to equal two helpings so I wouldn't have to get up!


I'm pretty confident this would feed a family of eight. You would definitely have six very generous servings.

I was going to make this last week, but for one reason or another I didn't get to. This is good stuff and I decided today was the day I was going to make it. Something I don't always bring up is how economical my dishes are. This one is a little more expensive because of the Velveeta, but the whole meal is still right at $6.50 and it will generously feed a family of 4 or 5.

1/2 Velveeta - $2.50
Diced Tomato & Green Chilies (Rotel) - $1.00
16 oz. Pasta - $1.00
Seasoned Ground Turkey - $1.25
Corn - $0.75

And here's how easy it is to make:

First, put a pot of water on to boil. Add a little bit of salt and turn the burner on high.

I used taco seasoned ground turkey, but if you use ground beef or turkey, just add a package of taco seasoning mix in with it while it's browning. Brown the meat and drain it in a colander. My wooden spoon with the flat end on it is perfect for breaking up the meat while it's browning. I got a package of wooden spoons at Walmart for $0.97 and this one was in it.


While the meat was draining in the colander, I opened up the Velveeta. I love Velveeta cheese!


You only need half of it, so cut it in half and wrap the rest up to use for another dish. Also, Velveeta is something else I don't skimp on. I've tried the generic brands and they're oily and have a different taste. Cut the half of the Velveeta you're going to use into chunks.

Turn the burner on medium and stir until the Velveeta is melting and just starting to bubble. Turn off the burner. Don't worry if the Velveeta hasn't completely melted, it will. I think it was at this point that the water for the pasta had started boiling. I added a little bit of oil to the water and then added the pasta to the boiling water. I used Penne pasta, but you can use Rigatoni, Macaroni or even Spaghetti noodles.


I never time how long my pasta boils. When I think it's done, I scoop out a noodle, run some cold water over it and taste it.


Drain the pasta in a colander.


Put the pasta back in the pan and add the cheesy meat sauce to it and stir it up.


Put it on a plate and eat!


I was going to steam some asparagus to go with it, but since the bunch I got tasted funny I heated up a can of corn to go with it. This dish is definitely hubby approved! My husband asked for seconds and would have gotten thirds if he had room. Honestly, I think he's saving room for the Key Lime Icebox Pie. Check back soon for that post!