Tuscan Garlic Chicken Recipe

Tuscan Garlic Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

¾	cup all-purpose flour
½	tablespoon salt
1	teaspoon pepper
½	teaspoon dried basil
½	teaspoon dried oregano
4	boneless, skinless chicken breasts
5	tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1	tablespoon finely minced garlic (about 4-5 cloves)
1	red bell pepper, cut into thin strips or chopped
½	cup low-sodium chicken broth
6	ounces fresh spinach
½	cup heavy cream
2	teaspoons cornstarch
1	cup lowfat milk
1	cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1	pound fettuccine

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a shallow pie plate or similar dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Dip each chicken piece in the flour mixture until both sides are well coated.

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat until the oil is hot and shimmering. Carefully place the chicken breasts in the pan, cooking them for 2-3 minutes on each side, until they are golden and browned but not cooked all the way through (they’ll finish up in the oven). Don’t scoot the chicken around once you lay it in the hot oil! Let the oil work it’s magic to sear the crust on the chicken. If you get all antsy and try flipping too early and/or moving the chicken around the pan, the breading is lightly to fall off. Gently remove the chicken to a foil-lined, lightly greased baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Set aside and tent with foil until ready to use.

While the chicken is cooking, heat a large pot of water to a boil and add the noodles, cooking until al dente. Also, wipe out the skillet with a couple paper towels and return it to medium heat, adding the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and bell pepper, sauteing for 2-3 minutes.

Stir in one tablespoon flour and stir constantly while cooking for another minute. Add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring the mixture to a low simmer, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes. In a small liquid measure, whisk together the cornstarch and cream. Add the spinach, milk and cream mixture to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted and sauce is slightly thickened, about 2-4 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

When the pasta has finished cooking, drain and return it to the pot. Toss the pasta with half of the cheese sauce. Place some of the coated pasta on each plate. Top with a breaded chicken breast and spoon some of the sauce over the top of the chicken and pasta. Serve immediately.

Baked Ziti Recipe

Baked Ziti Recipe

Ingredients:
12 ounces rigatoni pasta
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 1/2 cups homemade or store bought marinara
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 parmesan, grated
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a small handful of salt and pasta to water and stir. Boil pasta for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is al dente. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of oil, pour into a large mixing bowl and
3. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium- high heat. Add sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook sausage for about 5 minutes or until evenly browned. Drain and add to pasta.
4. Discard grease and add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic to pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour onion mixture over sausage and pasta mixture and toss together.
5. Add marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan and gently fold together until fully incorporated. Adjust seasonings.
6. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8”x 8” baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese bubbles and browns.
8. Allow ziti to cool for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.

Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups Recipe

Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups Recipe

9 lasagna noodles

2 ½ cups alfredo sauce

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

oregano

garlic salt

3 cups shredded Mozzarella, or cheese of your choice

Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick spray and pour ½ cup alfredo sauce, or just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Boil 8-10 cups water in a large pan, cook lasagne noodles until al dente. (I usually cook 1 or 2 extra just because lasagna noodles always seem to break on me when I am stirring them.)

Now this is the important part! Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water to prevent them from sticking to each other. Then, lay out each noodle individually and blot dry with a paper towel.

Spread about 2 Tbs. alfredo sauce over each noodle. (if there is too much sauce you will have a big mess on your hands!) Sprinkle oregano and garlic salt on top of sauce. Take 1/9 of the shredded chicken and spread it out evenly over each noodle. Add approx. 3 Tbs. cheese. To roll up, start at one end and roll the noodle over the toppings. You will need to lift the noodle a little to prevent squishing out the inside ingredients while rolling.

Place the roll-ups in the pan, one by one, seam-side down so they don't come undone. Once they are all in the pan, pour the remaining alfredo sauce over the top. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted on top.

Antipasto Bites Recipe

Antipasto Bites Recipe

Ingredients

• 24 slices of hard or genoa salami (about 4 inches in diameter)
• 1 c marinated artichoke hearts, chopped fine
• 1/2 c roasted red peppers, chopped fine
• 4 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes
• 1/4 c fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

1. press one salami slice down into a regular sized muffin cup in a muffin tin
2. bake at 400 degrees for approx. 10 mins until salami is crisp
3. transfer to a plate to cool
4. mix all other ingredients together and spoon into cups to serve

Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta Recipe

Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• 1 small onion 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes 
• ½ tsp dried oregano 
• ½ tsp dried basil 
• pinch red pepper flakes (optional) 
• freshly cracked pepper to taste 
• ½ tsp salt 
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste 
• 2 oz. cream cheese 
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan 
• ½ lb. penne pasta 
• ½ (9 oz.) bag fresh spinach 

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender (7-10) minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander.
2. While waiting for the pasta to cook, dice the onion and mince the garlic. Cook both in a large skillet with the olive oil over medium-low heat until softened and transparent (about 5 minutes).
3. Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir to combine. Add the tomato paste and a ½ cup of water to the skillet and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the sauce.
4. Turn the heat down to low. Cut the cream cheese into a few pieces and then add them to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Use a whisk to stir the sauce until the cream cheese has fully melted in and the sauce is creamy. Add half of the Parmesan to the skillet and whisk until it is melted in. Add the remainder of the parmesan and whisk until melted in again.
5. Add the fresh spinach and gently stir it into the sauce until it has wilted (3-5 minutes). Add the pasta and stir until it is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.

Chicken Ranch Pasta Recipe

Chicken Ranch Pasta Recipe

8 ounces penne pasta
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup cooked, chopped bacon
2 cups cooked chopped chicken

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In same pot melt butter. Add flour and stir. Cook flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Continue cooking until sauce thickens. Stir in ranch dressing mix and cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add chicken, bacon and pasta.  Stir to coat.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe

1 16 oz. box Penne pasta, cooked and drained

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cubed and cooked

1/2-1 C. Franks Hot Sauce

3/4 -1+ C. Ranch dressing (or Blue Cheese)

1-2 C. Shredded cheese (Colby Jack or Cheddar)

1. Preheat oven to 350* and prepare a deep baking dish.

2. Mix together hot sauce and ranch.  In separate bowl, mix chicken, pasta and cheese.  Pour sauce over all and mix well.

3. Pour everything into prepared baking dish, sprinkle with cheese (if desired) and bake for 20-25 min.

Creamy White Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna Recipe

Creamy White Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts 
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped 
1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA, divided 
1/2 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese 
1/2 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes 
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened 
1 cup milk 
1/2 tsp. garlic powder 
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil, chopped, divided 
12 lasagna noodles, cooked

Directions
HEAT oven to 350°F.
COMBINE chicken, artichokes, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan and tomatoes. Beat cream cheese, milk and garlic powder with mixer until well blended; stir in 2 Tbsp. basil. Mix half with the chicken mixture. 
SPREAD half the remaining cream cheese mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with 3 noodles and 1/3 of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers of noodles and chicken mixture twice. Top with remaining noodles, cream cheese mixture and mozzarella; cover. 
BAKE 25 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining basil. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve. 

Sombrero Pasta Salad Recipe

Sombrero Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (16 ounces) spiral pasta
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 2 cans (2-1/4 ounces each) sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1 bottle (16 ounces) Catalina or 16 ounces Western salad dressing

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add water and taco seasoning; simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.
• Rinse pasta in cold water and drain; place in a large bowl. Add beef mixture, cheese, green pepper, onion, tomato and olives; mix well. Add the dressing and toss to coat.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Yield: 10 servings. 

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Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

• 4-8 oz fettuccine or linguine
• 10 tbsp butter, divided (I know, but I’ve tried it with less and it’s just not the same)
• 8 oz fresh, sliced mushrooms
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (you can use dried herbs if that’s all you have)
• 2/3 cup boiling water (from your noodle pot)
• 1 lb cooked shrimp (feel free to buy frozen-gasp!)

1. Boil and salt a large pot of water and cook your pasta.  I usually only use about half of an 8 oz box, preferring fewer noodles.
2. While your pasta is cooking, cook your shrimp if necessary and reserve.  If your shrimp are pre-cooked and frozen, quickly thaw them under running water.
3. In a large skillet melt 2 tbsp of butter over medium heat and saute mushrooms until soft and brown.  Season with salt and pepper.
4. Reserve cooked mushrooms and melt remaining butter in the skillet.  Add minced garlic, cream cheese, and herbs.  At this point, I generally feel like something has gone terribly wrong.  The cream cheese doesn’t really melt and starts to look almost curdled, don’t worry about it!  It will all smooth out and be wonderful when we add the water. I promise.
5. Simmer cream cheese mixture until well blended. Get a scoop of boiling pasta water from your noodle pot and mix it in, stirring quickly to smooth out the sauce.
6. Keep sauce hot and add shrimp and mushrooms, mix well and simmer (stirring often) until everything is hot and thickened, about 10 minutes-you wont ruin this sauce by accidentally boiling it so don’t worry.
7. Toss sauce with cooked noodles and serve.

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