Just in case you missed it?
A long time ago in a land far away called Kentucky….
….I made hot dog pot pie.
Yep.
It was kind of my invention.
Created from desperation when we lived in the middle of the country and I didn’t have any other meat in the house and the closest protein was 25 miles down the road.
Suffice it to say it was not my finest hour.
But somewhere along the way? The mom who didn’t cook?
Raised four amazing kids who know their way around a kitchen. Including my oldest, Denton. Last week he went to the Farmer’s Market and brought home the prettiest vegetables and was inspired to make one of the yummiest, freshest, most delicious dishes I’ve eaten in a while.
Garden Vegetable Spaghetti.
Here he is.
Isn’t he cute?
Denton is my puzzle solver, my state capital phone-a-friend, my board game challenger and my one-of-a-kind gift giver. If you meet him, he’ll make feel like you are the only person in the entire room. He’ll make you laugh and tell you stories and help you think about things from a different perspective and wash every dish in your house without you ever having to ask.
He’s the official host of our annual caroling party and the Cajon player in the family sing-alongs and the leader of our band of merry men.
And somewhere along the way?
He taught himself to cook.
He’s always sending me pictures of dishes he’s created like chili and chicken with broccoli and succotash and I marvel and dolphin clap and tell him I am the luckiest duck in the entire world to have him as a son and would he make something for me.
And last Saturday he did.
Last Saturday I sat in the kitchen with the music playing and the sunshine streaming and my heart spilling over with happiness.
And watched as Denton made this.
After he finished we tasted it and it was SO GOOD. It’s the perfect light dish full of things that are good for you (including this protein spaghetti that he used) and the combination is perfect for summer. The protein spaghetti really filled me up and made the dish so satisfying. I’d never heard of protein spaghetti before until Denton told me about it. His trainer recommended it to him.
You can see it here.
So I asked him for the ingredients and how he made it so I could share it with all of you.
Here’s the recipe for Garden Vegetable Spaghetti.
Garden Vegetable Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
3 medium zucchini
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lb uncooked Italian sausage
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large shallot, chopped
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp chipotle seasoning
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup basil leaves
1/2 cup feta cheese
Directions:
- Cook spaghetti as instructed on the box, adding salt to boiling water.
- Quarter and chop the zucchini.
- Cut the sausage into 1/2-inch sections. Sprinkle the chipotle powder, oregano, and black pepper on top.
- Heat the sausage in a skillet until nearly cooked through.
- Remove the sausage and warm the oil in the skillet.
- Add back the sausage as well as the zucchini, garlic, shallot, tomatoes, vinegar, and basil. Cook on medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes or until the zucchini is slightly soft.
- Combine the contents of the skillet with the spaghetti in a bowl and toss until mixed.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese on top and serve.
Garden Vegetable Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini
- 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large shallot, chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp chipotle seasoning
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 3/4 cup basil leaves
- 14 oz. protein+ spaghetti
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
Instructions
- Directions:Cook spaghetti as instructed on the box, adding salt to boiling water.
- Quarter and chop the zucchini.
- Cut the sausage into 1/2-inch sections.
- Sprinkle the chipotle powder, oregano, and black pepper on top.
- Heat the sausage in a skillet until nearly cooked through. Remove the sausage and warm the oil in the skillet.
- Add back the sausage as well as the zucchini, garlic, shallot, tomatoes, vinegar, and basil. Cook on medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes or until the zucchini is slightly soft.
- Combine the contents of the skillet with the spaghetti in a bowl and toss until mixe
- Sprinkle with feta cheese on top and serve.
I’m so proud of you Denton.
YOU GOT THIS.
It’s so much fun watching you grow and take on the world and accomplish amazing things.
Especially in my kitchen. 🙂
PS If you have any questions for Denton about the dish, you can leave them in the comments. He told me he’s more than happy to help. 🙂
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post
what a cutie! and extra Bonus he can cook! you are blessed! XXXOOO
Great Moms raise great kids! And he's very handsome......SCORE!!!
I guessed right away he was an awesome son and young man; he has you as a role model, KariAnne, but his cooking talent is an added gift. I love his recipe and will put it in next week's rotation. The protein pasta is brilliant and a game changer. I look forward to more of Denton's amazing recipes. Count me in as a tester!
We have more recipe ideas on the way---especially for the holidays!
What woman can resist a handsome man who can cook! Whoever snags him will be a lucky woman! The recipe looks yummy. What brand of spaghetti? Please?
It's made by Barilla! You can see the pasta here: https://bit.ly/3QLtjYa
Hi Denton....I'm Lydia Martin's Aunt Laura and I screenshot the page to send her...she says "hello"
Hi Mrs. Laura, good to hear from you!
This looks amazing and I’m looking forward to making it for my family. We love recipes with zucchini. Living in Texas in the summer can be a challenge at meal time because we don’t like heating up the house with the oven so whenever we can just use the stove, we do! Thank you so much for sharing! Please thank your son as well!
You will love it!!!! Perfect and filling for summer!
Hi kariAnne will you ask Denton what is a shallot? Is that a green onion? You had me at hotdog pie!
LOL! It's a green onion. :)
A shallot is not actually a green onion. It is a small onion that is milder than a regular onion.
A shallot is different than an onion. It's smaller and not as onion-y.
KariAnne He is so handsome and talented. He will make an awesome partner some day if not already. Not that anyone has to tell you, because your proudness resonates in your written words. Thanks for the recipe. Enjoy the weekend.
Is this the married son? Just checking for a friend. Or to see if he's willing to wait a few years for my daughter to be old enough to date him. 🤣 This recipe sounds similar to one I made earlier this week. We were gifted with a LOT of tomatoes from my in-laws, and I was able to use 5 pounds of them to make a fresh pasta sauce. Fresh veggie sauces are the bomb!
So handsome as all of you are! He has such a kind and beautiful smile too. I’ll have to give this recipe a try. Thanks!
What a cutie! He looks a lot like his mama! ...and he cooks!
Well done Denton! Nice to see a spaghetti recipe that isn't covered in a sauce....which I do like but also recipes like this. Maybe Denton can do a regular post here with recipes. He does have a great smile and is handsome. Seems like a good package.
Awwww! He has the SWEETEST heart ever!
Spaghetti looks yummy and the recipe sounds delicious. I'm definitely going to make it next week. Thank you Denton!
The recipe sounds good. I will have to change the feta cheese as my hubby wont eat it!! Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend and keep us informed on your brothers progress. I keep him in my prayers.
We tried it with parmesan cheese too---but we liked the feta better!
I was just thinking it would be delicious with those little mozzarella "pearls" that they sell nowadays. Thank your sweet son for sharing the recipe - look forward to more! Oh, and for all you folks out there who don't cook - this is exactly why you find a partner who will! I'm the baker at our house - though not too often as it hits my hips right away - as well as the dish cleaner so it all balances out. :)
Looks like a fabulous dish to make! Definitely will be trying it this week! Thanks Denton for us and make sure to add any new recipes he comes up with! Always looking for fresh and new recipes! And prayers for your brother... Please keep us posted!
You will love it! It's super light and the protein pasta really fills you up!
What is going on with his brother that Mary Ellen is sending prayers??
KariAnne's brother is in the hospital.
Denton is adorable. I see the family resemblance. How wonderful that he loves to cook— one more feather in his cap— lucky you, Mama!
I am the luckiest mom in the world!!!!
Yes, he IS cute and I see the resemblance!
Sounds fabulous and Denton is the cutest ever!!! I know you are so proud of him in so many ways. Thanks so much for the recipe.
This looks so good and I have garden zucchini to use up too. I'll need to use gluten free pasta, but will give it a try. Thanks for sharing the recipe. (By the way, a man that wonderful and a cook is a catch!)
Looks delicious!
Well, isn't he a heartbreaker? That smile is killer! The food looks, and sounds, delicious. Leave out the sausage, and it's right up my alley. Good job, mama! You raised a good one.
Denton = ♥ Well done, sir. A son who cooks for his mamma is a good man. No surprise there with his the great parents! And he is the whole package cuz yes, he certainly is a cutie.
Thanks everyone for the sweet comments! This was fun!
What an excellent son, to help out his Mama. Looks delicious I'll try it next week after grocery shopping.I can't wait for more easy recipes.Thank you.
I plan to make this for tonight's dinner. It looks delicious. Thank your brother for me! Happy Weekend. Karen B.
Hi, KariAnne! I appears that Denton is everything that makes a mamma proud -- Smart, handsome, sweet and creative! And of course he treats his mamma the way she should be treated! Your family always makes my heart melt! Okay, I have a question for the chef -- Could I substitute other vegies for the zucchini (my hubby doesn't "do" zucchini)? I am thinking mushrooms, French filet beans, broccoli, or halved Brussel sprouts, or maybe a combination? And wouldn't gluten free pasta work too? I can't wait to try Denton's recipe -- Sending a big thank you to him, and thank you for sharing this!
Hi Judi! 1. The zucchini is a good "base" vegetable that the tomatoes and garlic will stand out against. If your husband isn't a fan of zucchini, you could try squash or cucumbers since they're in the same family (although cucumbers have a bit more flavor), or sliced bell peppers for more of a stir-fry feel. You can definitely add the other vegetables you mentioned for more textures and flavors - just be careful of putting too much in one dish! 2. I have never cooked with gluten-free pasta, but I'm sure it would work fine. You might sample a few different kinds before cooking the dish - allergen-free substitutes don't always taste the same as the original dish, so find one you both like!
Hey, Denton! Thank you for your reply and for the great suggestions! I think I will try it with red bell pepper and mushrooms, and maybe toss in a tiny bit of pepperoni! I hope your momma features more of your recipes in the future -- this has been really fun! Judi