Orzo and Chicken Skillet is a quick fix with full flavor. Tender chicken with a whisper of garlic, delicate orzo cooked in broth with healthy zucchini and tomatoes. On the table in about 30 minutes. All you need is a hearty salad to make it a full meal. Maybe a hard roll or a slice of garlic bread, for the bigger appetites. This can be prepped ahead of time. Be sure to choose smaller chicken breasts – about the size of a deck of cards -- so they cook evenly. Dice the zucchini and bag it in a sandwich or quart bag with the Italian seasoning. Place four chicken breasts and minced garlic in a large zip bag, add the bag of zucchini and freeze. Pull a can of chicken broth and a can of tomato soup, mark them for “Chicken Skillet” Measure the orzo into a small bag and tape it to one ... [Read More]
pasta
Aloha Pineapple and Ham Pasta Salad
Pineapple and Ham – an unexpected twist to pasta salad. The pineapple makes a great addition without shouting, “hey, there’s pineapple in this dish”. It plays together very nicely with all the other ingredients. Using aloha in the name bows to the idea of playing nicely with others. Mainlanders think of aloha as meaning “hello” and “goodbye” -- and it does serve as a greeting. However, “aloha” also encompasses love, mercy, compassion and the joyful sharing of a positive attitude. Kind of like this pasta salad, it’s more than it appears. This is also a versatile recipe. The original calls for red pepper which is certainly a colorful addition. However, you can substitute any sweet pepper you have available. Or use cubed chicken instead of diced ham. You can also add a half ... [Read More]
Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Roll ups
From my sister, Bee . . .Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Rollups . . . a creamy, cheesy pasta dish with chicken made over the top delicious with yummy bacon. Sooo good. I got to do the filling and rolling for this batch -- since I was hanging around the pan of browned bacon, I think. She's generous with bacon, but has this idea that everyone should have an equal chance. :-) I learned from her when visiting a couple years ago, that its so much easier to snip bacon into one inch pieces BEFORE browning. Duh! Here's what the pan looked like right out of the oven. Too bad you can't scratch and sniff, because the aroma is delightful!! Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Roll ups Print Prep time 20 mins Cook time 35 mins Total time 55 mins Author: A Pinch of ... [Read More]
Creamy Pasta and Veggie Salad
Creamy Pasta and Veggie Salad makes a great dinner salad for cool summer eating. It’s also perfect for potlucks and family. However or whenever, this salad makes an appearance it is a well balanced blend of carbs, veggies and proteins. It’s healthy and makes a big salad so it will serve a large number of people – or be a made ahead dinner salad a couple of times for three or four eaters. It’s also a nice change from mayo dressed salads and always disappears quickly. I like for my ingredients to “even out” so there aren’t little bits of leftover ingredients setting around. Three cups of dry pasta is generally about a 16 ounce package. That’s what I use if the dry pasta measures out between 2 ¾ cups and 3 ¼ cups. Any less and the salad won’t have the pasta base needed to carry the other ... [Read More]
Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Bake
Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Bake --Soooo good you’ll want seconds – and thirds! Everything goes together fairly quickly. While you are preparing the pasta, you can also cook the bacon and then the chicken. I prefer to use thinner chicken breast cuts because they cook quickly and can be more easily cut into uniform pieces. Cut the bacon before browning, either with a knife on a cutting board or with a pair of kitchen shears. I always burn my fingers trying to cut bacon after it is browned! Roux is melted butter (or other fat) and flour mixed together. When the flour has been incorporated into the fat, cook just long enough for the mixture to turn slightly golden before adding the liquid. Cooking too long or over too high a heat will make the sauce lumpy. Better to prevent lumps than try to ... [Read More]
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken spaghetti is a versatile dish. 1) It can easily handle add-ins, like a 10 ounce package of frozen mixed vegetables or 8 ounces of sauted mushrooms 2) Can be wrapped and frozen for up to six months for make ahead meals, before or after baking. 3) Can be made ahead and kept covered and refrigerated for two days before baking – great for making in advance when you’ll have guests. 4) It’s perfect for a potluck – creamy, cheesy chicken and spaghetti will please everyone 5) Bake in disposable pans for a take in meal when someone is sick or in need. 6) Package in individual serving sized microwavable containers for a weeks worth of lunches or to warm when the family schedule is crazy. A hardworking dish that everyone loves. Serve with vegetable salad for a complete meal. Chicken ... [Read More]
