One-pot Chicken & Penne Parmesan

I couldn't figure out what to make for dinner last night so I pulled out a bag of penne, and found this recipe. It was SO good. I altered it a bit since I didn't have the veggies it called for. Seriously SO SO SO GOOD! Bryan couldn't stop telling me how good it was ;) (maybe that is because he rarely gets a made from scratch meal these days)

1 T Butter or margarine
3/4 lb. boneless, skinless ckn breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1-3/4 cups (14 oz can) chicken broth
1/2 package (8 oz) Penne Rigate, uncooked
1 pkg (16 oz.) frozen broccoli, carrot and cauliflower mix (I used fresh cut carrots and frozen green beans)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

In 5 qt saucepan over medium heat, cook chicken till no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add broth; heat to boiling. Add uncooked pasta, veggies, and pepper, stirring to coat pasta with liquid. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 13 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or till pasta is barely tender and most liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir together soup, milk, and 1/2 C cheese till smooth; stir into chicken mixture. Heat till mixture just comes to a boil; sprinkle with remaining cheese.


Serves 8. Or 2 if you are hungry :)

Italian Sodas

These were at the Move Over Martha dinner too and were so yummy and a lot of fun!

2 TBSP Torani Syrup
Deli Ice
Club Soda
Half and Half
Whip Cream

Fill 16 ounce glass with ice. Add the syrup, then fill glass 3/4 the way full with club soda. Followed by Half and Half. Top with whipped cream and stir a little with your straw. You can get the syrup at Harmons or any Italian market. We had raspberry, peach, and strawberry all were very yummy! Pics here.

Peasant Bread

I belong to a group in our neighborhood called Move Over Martha. It is a cooking group more on the gourmet side. We had a dinner last Friday and this bread was part of it. It was delicious. So delicious that I attempted bread making yesterday. This recipe is so easy that even I didn't mess it up! Perfect with any Italian entree. YUM YUM!

1 package quick rise yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 TBSP sugar
2 cups warm water
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 TBSP melted butter

In bowl mix yeast and sugar. Add water and let the yeast dissolve (about 3 min). In mixing bowl add flour, seasoning, and salt. Then add yeast mixture. Mix for about 5 minutes. Spray hands and cookie sheet with cooking spray. Divide dough into two balls and form into balls. Cover with towel and let raise for 30 minutes. Reshape dough, and brush with 3 TBSP melted butter. Sprinkle with a little more Italian seasoning and a little sea salt. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes then lower temperature to 375 and cook for 15 more minutes. Serve as is, or dip in olive oil and balsamic. Click here for pictures.

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

I tried these a few weeks ago and they were YUMMY! I found the recipe here.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup vinegar (cider, white wine or red wine vinegar)

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

6 oz tomato paste

2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (to taste)

3 lbs or so beef roast (pork would work great too!)

Directions:

Mix together all of the ingredients, except for the meat, in the slow cooker, stirring well to combine.

Cut the meat into large chunks and place into the slow cooker, turning the pieces to make sure everything is coated with the sauce.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling apart. Shred the meat and return to the sauce to keep warm.

To serve, toast your favorite buns until golden brown and pile with meat! Also great with a few slices of cheese thrown onto the bread before you toast it... yumm!

Easy Homemade Ice Cream without a Machine

This recipe has been going around the blog world.  I have seen it a couple of times. THIS was the first place that I saw it.
We decided to try it for our FHE treat one evening.  It was good.  I am not really of fan of homemade ice cream from a machine.  I felt like this was closer to store bought than the machine kind is, but it is still different.  If I were to make it again I would make it the day before so that it is in the freezer longer.  It tasted better the next day when it was harder. 
Here is our version.  We made S'mores ice cream(check out the link for other flavor ideas):

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup marshmallows
1/2 cup graham crackers broken up
3 Tbs melted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

Whip heavy cream in large bowl with an electric or stand mixer until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, butter, marshmallows, and vanilla in large bowl. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, then gently fold in whipped cream.

Pour into a 2-quart container and cover. Freeze at least 6 hours or until firm. 

Dipping Chicken

This recipe was super easy and yummy. It will be added to my list of quick, easy, go-to's for when I forget to plan a meal.  It reminded us of Rumbi's rice bowls.  Next time I will add stir fry veggies to it.  I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs not legs, but you could use chicken breasts as well.

Ingredients:

8 Chicken legs, bone in

1/3 cup soy sauce

Brown sugar

Garlic salt

Black pepper

Directions:

1.      Pull skin of chicken legs (less greasy)

2.      Pour 1/3 soy sauce in glass measuring cup.

3.      Add brown sugar to soy sauce until cup reads 2/3 cup.

4.      Put chicken in pan and sprinkle with garlic salt and black pepper.

5.      Pour brown sugar/soy sauce over chicken

6.      Cook at 350° for 1 hour uncovered.  Rotate chicken legs every 15 minutes.

7.      This chicken can be served on or off the bone.  Serve chicken over rice.

Southwest Super Nachos

This is one of my new favorite "it's 5:00 and I haven't thought about dinner yet" meals.  Quick and easy and almost everything is on hand in my food storage.

Shredded chicken
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes w/ green chiles (or regular tomatoes and a can of green chiles)
1/2 packet of taco or chili seasoning
 *simmer*

Top chips with shredded cheddar and microwave until cheese is melted.  Top with chicken mixture, sour cream, and fresh salsa.  

Rolo Brownie Bites with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

These are SOOO good. I made them the other night for a party. Not anything too grand done with this recipe, but super yummy. Just the way I like it!

1 box fudge brownie mix plus necessary eggs, oil & water per package instructions (or your favorite homemade recipe) 


24 Rolo candies plus extras for the cook's snack 


4 TBS. butter, softened at room temperature 


4 oz. cream cheese, softened at room temperature 


2 TBS. caramel sauce 


1 cup confectioners sugar

Remove all the wrappers and refrigerate the Rolo candies. Pre-heat oven to 325F. Prepare brownies according to package directions. Grease a 24 cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray and fill each cup 3/4 full with batter. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and immediately press a Rolo, smaller side down, into the center of each brownie bite until the top of the Rolo is even with the top of the brownie bite. Cool for a couple of minutes then carefully remove the brownie bites from the pan to a cooking rack. Allow to cool completely.

To make the frosting, whip the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the caramel sauce and blend. Add the confectioners sugar and whip until creamy and smooth. Using a pastry or plastic bag with a piping tip, pipe the frosting onto the top of each brownie bite. Chill in the refrigerator to set the frosting a bit before serving

Kahuna Burgers

Drew and I love Rumbi's Kahuna burgers (it is a double patty so is a little much for me) but they sure are tasty. Last summer we tried to recreate it on our own and they turned out yummy.

Hamburger Patties (fresh ground beef tastes the best) or chicken breast
Teriyaki Marinade
Pineapple slices
Swiss Cheese

Marinade the the patties/chicken breast in the teriyaki sauce for at least a few hours (we usually do ours overnight)
Grill the patties/chicken breast (or you can cook the chicken in the oven) as the meat nears getting done add a pineapple slice with a piece of swiss cheese on top of it. Allow to melt.
Serve on yummy kaiser rolls or hamburger buns with Mayo, Tomato, and Lettuce and whatever sides suit your fancy.

We LOVE these as burgers and as chicken sandwiches.

Vegetable Tortelini Soup

This is from Our Family Treat my neighbor does this blog and it has some super yummy recipes and fun giveaways too. You can cook this in a crock pot as well just don't add the tortellini until 10 minutes before you are ready to serve the soup otherwise it will be overcooked.

1 pound Italian Sausage
1 cup onion-chopped
2 garlic cloves- minced
1 cup carrots-diced
1 cup zucchini-diced
1 green pepper- chopped
3 13 oz cans beef broth
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 28 oz can whole tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup dry red wine (optional)
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Brown sausage. Set aside and cook saute onions and garlic, until translucent. Then add broth, red wine, tomatoes, carrots, and spices. I used a potato masher and mashed the whole tomatoes a little bit. Stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Then add pepper and zucchini. Cover and let simmer for another 20 minutes. Add tortellini for the last 10 minutes of simmering. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.