Broken Pasta in a Chicken Florentine Sauce

The sauce on this pasta dish is very mellow and light. Creamy. It allows the flavor of spinach, peas, and the chicken to shine through. I hope you like it.

1 pound of long pasta, broken into pieces (I used Bucati)

1-3/4 pounds chicken breasts, cubed

3tbs + 1 tbs olive oil

2 tsp butter

1 tsp +1tsp lemon juice

1/2 dried Italian seasoning

2 cloves minced garlic, divided

1 tsp flour

pinch of red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt

a good dash of pepper

2 c cream or milk (I used a combo of fat free half-n- half and low-fat milk)

1 c shredded white cheddar cheese

1/2 c finely grated Parmesan cheese

1-10 oz box of chopped frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry

1 c frozen peas

salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, add 3 tbs olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 clove minced

garlic, and hefty dash of pepper. Whisk well to combine. Toss the chicken into the marinade and set aside for at 15 minutes (if you're going longer, cover the chicken and put in the in refrigerator).

Fill a large stock with water and bring to boil for pasta. Heat a large skillet over medium high high and add your chicken. Cook chicken until browned and juices run clear (or 170 degrees) about 7-10 minutes, depending on chunk size. Drain on a paper towel. Set aside.

When water for pasts is boiling, add a good bit of salt and pasta. Cook according to manufacturer's instruction.

While pasts cooks, return skillet to the stove. Lower the heat to medium. Add 1 tbs olive oil and 2 tsp butter. When the butters almost melted add the remaining minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Saute until garlic is soft, about 1 minute. Add 1 tsp lemon juice and mix in to combine. Add 1tsp of flour and cook for 30 seconds. Add 2 cups of cream, or milk. Stir to mix in flour. Allow this to come up to heat. Do not boil. Once the sauce is heated (steam will be coming off the top), add in your chicken, spinach, and peas. Cook for 3 minutes, until peas are heated through and chicken is warmed up. Add the cheeses and stir until melted. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.

Toss with drained pasta.

Serves 5-7

TIP: To defrost the spinach, microwave for 2 minutes. Then place the spinach in the clean dish towel and trist the ends in opposite directions until you've squeezed out as much water as possible. This could be a good job for little hands!

Florentine Stuffed Shells

These are a crowd pleaser for sure! Make these for a Pot Luck or Church Dinner, or when company's coming over. It makes a 13 x 9 inch pan of shells. Top it with your favorite marinara, or mine (which can be found here )!

1-12 oz box of Jumbo Shells
32 oz Ricotta cheese (part-skim milk is fine)

1-10 oz box of chopped frozen Spinach, defrosted (5 minutes in microwave will do this)

8 oz bag Mozzarella cheese
6 oz bag grated Parmesan cheese

2 large eggs

1 tbs minced Parsley

1/2 tsp dried Italian Seasoning

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper
1 quart marinara

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the shells according the the manufacturer's directions to al dente (chewy, not soft).

Place your defrosted spinach in a kitchen towel twist the ends in opposite directions until all the excess water is removed. Set aside.

Place a handful of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese in a bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the ricotta and remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Mix thoroughly. Next, add the Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, pepper and spinach. Again, mix thoroughly. Set aside.

Spray a 13x9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Add a ladle of marinara to coat the bottom. Set aside.

Drain the shells and run cold water on them until they are cool enough to handle. Take a shell and gently pry it open. Place a tablespoon of filling in the middle, close it and place in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining shells. When you finished, cover all the shells with the remaining marinara and the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

Jazzing Your Veggies

The newest thing on the market are the "steam in the bag" frozen vegetables. They're great when you need a quick fix! But they lack something ... flavor! Here's how I jazz them up!!


Green Beans - while the vegetables are steaming heat a teaspoon of butter and a table spoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add one "smashed" garlic clove. Saute until the beans are done. Add the green beans and saute until the water is evaporated.

Corn - melt 2 teaspoons of butter in a bowl in the microwave. Add a good dash of dried basil and a pinch of pepper. Mix with a spoon and let this sit and warm with the corn is cooking. Mix in the corn when it finished.

Broccoli - melt 2 teaspoons of butter in the microwave. Add a dash of garlic powder and mix to combine. Set aside while the broccoli cooks. Toss the broccoli and butter together and sprinkle with cheese.

These are just a few ideas, but certainly not the only ones!

Cate's Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

These are my daughter's signature potatoes. They're tangy, chunky, and oh so cheesy. No gravy needed here!




6 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 oz (half a small carton) of sour cream
1/4-3/4 c of milk
3/4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, add potatoes and enough water to cover about an inch over the top of the potatoes. Heat to boiling over high heat. Add a good pinch of salt, reduce heat to medium and cover. Boil the potatoes until they are tender, approximately 15 minutes (when you can smash them easily with a fork against the side of the pot, they're done).

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.

Add the sour cream and cheese and smash by had using a potato masher. Add enough milk until they are your desired consistency.

Return the pot to the stove and over low heat, stir the potatoes until they are steamy and the cheese is melted.

Salt and pepper to your taste.

Serves 6.

Mexican Lasagna

Legend has it that Garfield invented this dish while on siesta in Chihuahua. It was such a hit that the people rallied around Garfield, declaring him El Presidente! Unfortunately, Garfield's developmentalist policies - including price caps on pasta and cheese - soon proved unpopular with the junta. Garfield was exiled and his recipe stolen by the drug cartels - but he was not to be deterred. Together, with Jon "The Engineer" Arbuckle and Odie "The Nose", Garfield struck out to recover his beloved Mexican Lasagna... but I got there first! Aye! It's mucho delicioso!

1 pound of lean Ground Beef

1- 15 oz can of Pinto Beans (not in sauce)

1- 15 oz can of Black Beans

1- 11 oz can of Mexican style Corn

1-14.5 oz can of your favorite Mexican style chopped tomatoes

4- 8 inch Flour or Corn Tortillas

1-8 oz bag of Shredded Cheese (Mexican style or Cheddar are fine)

1 packet of Taco Seasoning (I used Low Sodium Chicken Taco Seasoning)
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp granulated Garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 F. In a pan, over medium heat, add the ground beef, taco seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce. Brown the meat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain the black and pinto beans and rinse, if desired. Put the beans in a bowl. Add the garlic and salt and pepper to taste, mix well. With a fork, or potato masher, mash the beans together. The consistency is up to you. Set aside. In a blender, or food processor, puree the tomatoes. Set aside, this is your sauce. Once the meat is cooked, add the Mexican corn and saute until all the liquid is absorbed. Spray an 8 in cake pan with non-stick spray or olive oil. Add enough sauce in the bottom of the cake pan to cover. Place a tortilla on the sauce. Sprinkle the tortilla with cheese. Add half the meat mixture. Do one quick turn around the pan with your sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Add another tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Add your beans next and again, do one quick turn around the pan with the sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Add another tortilla. You guessed it, sprinkle with cheese. Add the remaining half the of meat mixture and another turn around the pan with the sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Add the last tortilla. Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.

Serves 6

Note: The purpose of sprinkling the cheese throughout is to help hold the entire lasagna together. You do not need much between the layers.

Macaroni and Cheese

Who doesn't love mac-n-cheese? What's not to love? It's hot and bubbly, ooey gooey, and rich and creamy. It's easy and satisfying. It this recipe, you will never make macaroni and cheese from a box again!!








16 oz. Medium Shell Pasta
4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (1/2 stick)
3 Tbsp Flour
2 c. Milk
1 Tsp granulated Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Yellow Mustard
8 oz shredded Swiss Cheese
8 oz shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain. Over medium high heat, in the same pot, melt the butter. When the butter is melted add the garlic powder and mustard. Add the flour and cook for one minute. Add the milk and heat until it thickens. Stir in the cheeses until melted. Add the drained pasta and using a spoon or spatula mix until all the pasta is coated. Take care not to break up the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, stir in more milk until smooth and creamy.

Serves 6 to 8

Tip: You can use any cheese you want in this recipe. However, the cheese you use, could effect the thickness of your sauce. Please don't let that stop you from trying new combinations! If you're sauce is too thin (should be a little thicker than a good fondue), just thoroughly (very thoroughly) incorporate equal parts of butter and flour together (it should look like a paste). Drop it, in parts, in the sauce until it's the right consistency. This is good tip if you mess up on the amount of liquid you use also!

Just remember! Cooking is an art, not a science (that's baking)!!