Senior Care News

Caregiver Recipes: Greek Pasta Casserole

Caregivers in Memorial, TX

Caregivers-in-Memorial-TXAt the end of another busy day in your elder care schedule, sitting down to a delicious, satisfying meal is a wonderful way to reconnect with your family, relax, and replenish your body. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to come up with ideas for meals that you can prepare quickly and that will not only appeal to everyone that you need to feed, but fit in with your nutrition goals for them.

This meal combines crowd-pleasing pasta and cheese with the goodness of vegetables and chicken along with Greek-inspired flavors for a unique and delicious take on the usual family dinner. Packed with protein, vitamins, and fiber, this dinner is perfect for every member of your family. If there are any leftovers, be sure to refrigerate or freeze them so that your parents and their elderly health care services provider can enjoy them later for a quick lunch or easy dinner.

What You Will Need

  • 1/2 of a cup of crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 of a cup of shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon of dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped green pepper
  • 1/4 cup of chopped red onion
  • 2 cans of ripe, drained, sliced olives
  • 1 package of frozen chopped spinach
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 can of tomato sauce
  • 4 cups of cubed, pre-cooked chicken breast
  • 1 package of whole wheat penne pasta
  • A sharp knife
  • A cutting board
  • A large pot
  • A large bowl
  • A 13 by 9 inch baking dish
  • Cooking spray
  • Olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Aluminum foil
  • Thermometer

What to Do

  • Using the sharp knife and the cutting board, chop the onion and set aside
  • Thaw and squeeze dry the chopped spinach
  • Drain the diced tomatoes
  • Fill the large pot with 3/4 of the way with water and place on high heat
  • Once the water has come to a boil, add olive oil and salt to taste
  • Drop the pasta into the boiling water
  • Cook for 12 minutes or until al dente, stirring occasionally
  • Drain the pasta and set aside, covered
  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, tomatoes, tomato sauce, olives, spinach, onion, basil, green pepper and oregano
  • Add the pasta and mix well, until the pasta is well combined
  • Coat the 13 by 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray
  • Transfer the pasta mix into the 13 by 9 inch baking dish
  • Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the various cheeses until fully covered
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
  • Place the casserole in the oven and allow to bake uncovered
  • Bake for up to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and it is heated through
  • Remove and allow to cool for just a minute or two before serving
  • If freezing the casserole, allow it to cool completely
  • Cover and freeze, up to a month
  • When ready to cook, remove from the freezer and place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
  • Bake the casserole until it is heated all the way through or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees F
  • Remove and serve hot

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Memorial, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.

Donna Wrabel, LMSW

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