Chicken Spiedini (Minus the Spiedini) :-)

So I found this recipe over at What's Gaby Cooking? It was a guest post, and an amazing recipe!

Of course, I tweaked it. Preferences, ingredients available, and of course I can't leave a recipe alone... :-)

Oh, and the spiedini...that means meat on a stick. So basically I just didn't skewer the chicken.

Ingredients:
2 cans diced tomatoes, drained as much as possible

1 Tbs butter

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 1/2 Tbs sugar

1 pinch coarse salt (more or less depending on the salt in your tomatoes)

1 pinch pepper

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 clove garlic, minced

3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup bread crumbs (I used ground rice Chex)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 Tbs EVOO

4 Tbs butter, melted

8-12 oz spaghetti, cooked according to package directions (we like a quinoa-corn mix)

Lemon juice for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Simmer tomatoes, butter, broth, sugar, salt, pepper, Italian seasonings for 20-30 minutes on medium. Stir occasionally.
   
2. In a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic and a tiny pinch of salt and pepper.
3. In another, combine oil and melted butter.
4. Dredge the chicken pieces through the butter/oil mixture, then through the breadcrumb mixture.
5. Heat 2 Tbs. oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Cook the chicken until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 8 minutes total.
6. Add cooked pasta to the tomato sauce. Toss to combine.
7. Serve chicken over a bed of spaghetti. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

***Super yummy! Took me a bit to set it up and make it, but now that I've got the steps down, it is actually pretty simple. Yummy, comforting meal! This will be in the regular rotation!***

Mashed Cauliflower

I have always wanted to try this, but never got around to it...

Cauliflower was on sale recently, so I went for it, and I am soooo glad I did!

Simple:
Steam your cauliflower however you like. I use our steamer/rice cooker. You could also roast it for a deeper flavor.

Once it is done, mash it and season like you would mashed potatoes-butter, salt, pepper, garlic, etc.

It smells kinda funky, because cauliflower does. But tastes amazing! You will know it is not potato, but wouldn't necessarily guess it is cauliflower!

Another great side dish to help reduce the carbs/grains we usually eat!

Big Cheese Potatoes

2 Tbs Butter
1 tsp minced garlic
8 cups peeled, shredded baking potatoes
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup (4oz) grated Gruyere cheese
1/2 cup (2oz) grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup whipping cream (can use heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2)

Heat oven to 400
Melt butter in shallow 2qt baking dish
Add garlic
Brush to coat bottom and sides of dish
Combine potatoes, lemon juice, salt and pepper in large bowl
Combine cheeses in another bowl
Spread half the potatoes in the baking dish, cover with half the cheese
Repeat layers
Pour cream over top
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes
Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes

Serve with Italian Pork Chops and Broccoli Italiano for a complete, easy meal!

***So yummy!!! This is a recipe from my childhood, and it brought back so many memories of us all sitting around the table enjoying dinner together! My mama was/is a good cook!***

Bacon in the Oven!

Super quick, super easy!

Line a cookie sheet with foil (make sure it has decent sides on it)

Lay bacon in a single layer on the cookie sheet. It is ok if pieces are touching, but not overlapping.

Turn oven to 400, place bacon in oven, and cook for 12-20 minutes, until desired crispiness. No need to preheat the oven!

***No splatters, no slaving over the stove, delicious bacon every time!!!***

Mac N Cheese

Inspired by a recipe by Gina...

8 oz Pasta (we like a quinoa-corn pasta)
2 Tbs butter
4 Tbs Flour (we used GF)
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs onion flakes
1 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 cups shredded cheese (sharper cheese works best, we used a blend)
Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (we used ground Chex with a little salt/pepper/garlic)
Pam cooking spray

Cook pasta al dente, according to package (especially if using GF pasta)

Spray baking dish with cooking spray (or use a Demarle silicone pan like I did-no spray!)

Preheat oven to 375°

In a large skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and onion, and stir over medium heat 1 minute.

Add flour and stir another minute, until golden and well combined.

Add chicken broth and whisk until well combined. Whisk in milk, raising heat to medium-high until it begins to boil. Continue whisking for about 5 minutes, while mixture thickens.

Season with salt and pepper.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese, until melted.

Add pasta, then pour into baking dish.

Pour breadcrumbs (or Chex + seasonings) over the top evenly. Spray with cooking spray (helps browning).

Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

***Oh my! This was delicious. Of course it doesn't closely resemble the inspiration recipe anymore since I used full fat options, but hey, it's Mac-N-Cheese! It is supposed to be sinful and delicious! At least that's what hubby says :-) Hubby's request: DO NOT ever, EVER lose this recipe (and don't add veggies to my mac n cheese)! Done and done. Make this! It is definitely a keeper! (p.s. we ate this with grilled chicken and brussel sprouts. It's all about balance :-) )***