Friday, June 29, 2012

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pasta
This is one of my husband's favorite dishes. He absolutely loves it (and I do too!). It's fairly easy to make, most of the ingredients I have at home and don't need to go out and get anything, except for the heavy whipping cream. Super quick and DELICIOUS! Enjoy! :)


Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/2 tsp. if you have pre-minced garlic--I get mine from Costco)
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast
1 (16 ounce) package pasta (I use any kind, it all tastes fantastic!)
1 onion, chopped
1 cube chicken bouillon, crumbled
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup milk
4 green onions, sliced diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese




My ingredients



Step 1: Cut your chicken breasts up into small bite sized pieces.



Step 2: In a large saute pan, heat the oil, butter and garlic over medium heat.




Step 3: Add the chicken pieces until cooked through. Make sure that each piece gets coated with butter and garlic mixture.
Put the chicken in a bowl and put to the side. Keep extra oil in the pain.




Cut up the onion into small pieces. I have this chopper that I got from Costco (can you tell where my favorite place to shop is??). It comes with a couple different attachments for different sizes and makes cutting vegetables much easier.

Step 4: Meanwhile, cook the pasta on the side. I use any type of pasta that I have in the house. It really doesn't make a difference and tastes delicious no matter what type you use.
My cute kitchen cheerleader!
Step 5: Add onion in the pan and saute, stirring often until the onion is soft. 
Step 6: Add bullion cube and water and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
                                           

Step 7: Cut up green onions into small 1/2 inch pieces.

Step 8: Stir in cream, milk, green onions and Parmesan cheese.
I stir with a whisk to make sure the cheese is well blended.
Add chicken and let it sit on low for about 10 minutes. The longer you let it simmer for, the thicker the sauce will get. 



YUMMY!!


Step 10: Enjoy! My husband is always excited when I make this for lunch/dinner. It's one of his favorite dishes. 

Directions


  1. Cut your chicken breasts into small bite sized pieces.
  2. In a large saute pan, heat oil, butter and garlic over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until juices run clear. 
  3. Remove chicken from pan let cool and put in a bowl to the side. Reserve oil in pan.
  4. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions on package. Drain.
  5. Reheat oil in pan, add onion and saute, stirring often, until onion is soft but still white. 
  6. Add bullion cube and water; bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for approximately 10 minutes.
  7. Cut up green onions into small 1/2 inch pieces. 
  8. Stir in cream, milk, green onions and Parmesan cheese.
  9. Add chicken and let it sit on low for about 10 minutes. The longer you let it simmer for, the thicker the sauce will get. 
  10. Serve and enjoy!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Broiled Herbed Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce

Broiled Herbed Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce
This is a great recipe when you want something fast, easy and flavorful. I am a very visual person so I like to have the option of step by step photo directions as well as written directions. Scroll to the bottom for written directions as well.


Ingredients 



  1. teaspoon salt
  2. teaspoon dried oregano
  3. 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  4. 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
  5. 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  6. 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  7. 4 chicken breasts (I get mine frozen, packaged from Costco)
  8. tablespoons butter, melted
  9. tablespoons lemon juice
  10. teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (or I also used dry parsley...it probably tastes better fresh but it works either way)

  11. Utensils

I defrost my chicken breasts in warm water in a bowl. 


Step 1: Turn your oven to "broil".
Step 2: In the small bowl, combine the salt, oregano, garlic powder, lemon pepper, paprika and red pepper.
I use my whisk to stir the ingredients together so that they are uniform.



Step 3: Cover a roasting pan with foil and place a rack in it.
Step 3 cont.: Lightly spray the rack with cooking spray.

Step 4: Place the chicken on the rack and sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning mixture (save some for the other side).

Step 5: Making sure your oven rack is about 7-8" from the heat, broil the chicken until golden brown (about 12-15 minutes).

Step 5.5: Have a cute sidekick cheering you on! 















Step 6: Turn the chicken pieces over and sprinkle with the remaining spice mixture.


Step 7: Broil about 8-10 more minutes, or until chicken is done.
Step 8: While the chicken is finishing in the oven, combine the melted butter, lemon juice and parsley in a pot on the stove. Melt together just until well mixed, not too long.
Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve with whatever sides you desire. 
Hope you enjoy it as much as my family did! Check back in for more recipes and everyday living tips! :)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven on broil.

2. In a small bowl, combine the salt, oregano, garlic powder, lemon pepper, paprika and red pepper.

3. Cover a roasting pan with foil and place a rack in it; lightly spray the rack with cooking spray.

4. Place the chicken on the rack and sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning mixture (save some for the other side).

5. Making sure your oven rack is about 7-8" from the heat, broil the chicken until golden brown (about 12-15 minutes).

6. Turn the chicken pieces over and sprinkle with the remaining spice mixture.

7. Broil about 8-10 more minutes, or until chicken is done.


Lemon Butter Sauce: While the chicken is finishing in the oven, combine the melted butter, lemon juice and parsley in a pot on the stove. Melt together just until well mixed, not too long. Spoon a small amount of sauce over each piece of chicken when served.