Spicy Tuna Pasta & a GIVEAWAY!

I never make New Year's resolutions, but this year I did make a few cooking and blog goals for the year (like going through my massive stack of food magazines and either throwing them out or actually cooking the recipes in them!). One of my blog goals was to try to post more easy, weeknight meals, which I feel like my blog doesn't have enough of. I think I usually assume people wouldn't like recipes that appear too simple, but in reality, that's what the majority of working/busy people need, right?

This pasta dish is one of those recipes that proves that simple recipes (with the right ingredients) often make for the best meals. Homemade pasta sauces always taste so much better than the storebought kind, and this sauce couldn't be easier, with the standard onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes; but the addition of antipasto really boosts the flavour. Adding in some tuna for protein keeps the dish quick and easy, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end keeps it fresh and flavourful. Ryan and I both loved this pasta and can't wait to eat our big batch of leftovers over the next couple days!

If you make this recipe, you can enter a contest to win a $50 gift certificate! Here's how:

The recipe can be found over at Aurora Importing's site here. Like the delicious pea risotto I made a couple weeks ago, this recipe is part of Aurora Recipideo contest. Each month, they feature a different recipe made easy with the use of a short video to show how it's made. Then you can make the recipe yourself at home, take a picture, and enter it to win a $50.00 gift certificate to My Italian Cantina, an online store where you can purchase a variety of Italian and European products. This month's Recipideo for this spicy tuna pasta (along with the contest details) can be found here. Keep in mind that you can add your own personal flair to the dish to make it your own! I changed a few things with my dish, like using a lot more antipasto, and adding some hot sauce and red pepper flakes for extra spice since the antipasto I used was on the sweet side.

BONUS Giveaway to win the products featured in this recipe:

Not only can you all enter Aurora's Recipideo contest for the chance to win the $50.00 gift certificate, but the generous folks over at Aurora have also been kind enough to offer one lucky reader the chance to win the products featured in this recipe! One randomly selected winner will be sent the following products (all of which can also be purchased from My Italian Cantina), worth over $20 total. You can use them make this spicy tuna pasta or your own creative dish!

1 jar Allessia La Bomba Antipasto Spread
1 jar Allessia Tuna in Olive Oil
1 can Aurora Diced Tomatoes
1 bottle Aurora Tomato Puree
1 package Amato Penne rigate
1 box Aurora Sea Salt

How to Enter:

Each person has two chances to enter the giveaway to win these products. You can do one or both of the following for up to two entries:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what's your favourite Italian dish (either to make or eat!)

And/Or, for an extra entry:

2. "Like" my facebook page, then come back and leave a separate comment on this post telling me you liked it (or, if you already like it, leave a comment saying that!). If you "like" it but don't come back here to leave me a comment saying you did, it won't count as an entry! (Literally all you have to write is "I liked your facebook page"!)

If you don't have a blog or account anywhere, don't worry, you can still enter! When posting your comment, select the "Name/URL" option for "comment as", fill in your name, and leave the URL field blank. Easy peasy!

Rules/Details:

This giveaway is open only to those with Canadian shipping addresses (sorry, American and international friends, I hope to have more giveaways in the future that will include you!) Americans are still welcome to enter the Recipideo contest though, so you're not left out!

The contest closes Thursday, January 12 at midnight EST, when I will use a random number generator to select the winning comment. I will post the winner's name on the blog Friday morning and the winner will have 24 hours to contact me with their shipping information. So be sure to check back here on Friday the 13th to see if you won, and use the buttons on the sidebar to subscribe to my blog feed so you don't forget! Good luck!

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UPDATE:
The giveaway is now closed.  The winner has been announced here.  Thanks again to all those who entered!
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