Creamy Tomato, Spinach, and Chicken Pasta!

Creamy Tomato, Spinach, 

and Chicken Pasta!

Back home there is a restaurant called Noodles and Co. I LOVE their "Penne Rosa." This dish is very close to it and I kind of put my own spin on it to make it just a little bit different! We had this for the first time last night! It is husband approved! haha!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil.
2. 1/4 or 1/2 of an Onion, chopped very finely. (or no onion at all)
3. 2 cloves of Garlic, minced. 
4. 1 can of Diced Tomatoes.
5. 1/2 teaspoon of dried Oregano.
6. 1/2 teaspoon of dried Basil.
7. A pinch of Red Pepper Flakes. (if you do not want it spicy at all, leave this out)
8. Black Pepper to taste.
9. 1/2 teaspoon of Salt.
10. 2oz.(1/4 cup) or slightly less of Cream Cheese. (use any kind, I used Cooper Cream Cheese!)
11. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese.
12. 1/2 lb.(half a box) of Penne Pasta.
13. 3 handfulls of Spinach.
14. Chicken, grilled. (I used Trader Joes, grilled chicken, for a quick make of chicken. They are strips grilled and frozen)
15. 2 tablespoons of tomato paste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender (7-10) minutes. Drain the pasta.
2. While waiting for the pasta to cook, dice the onion and mince the garlic. Cook both in a large skillet with the olive oil over medium-low heat until softened and transparent (about 5 minutes).
3. Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir to combine. Add the tomato paste and a ½ cup of water to the skillet and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the sauce.
4. Turn the heat down to low. Cut the cream cheese into a few pieces and then add them to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Use a whisk to stir the sauce until the cream cheese has fully melted in and the sauce is creamy. Add half of the Parmesan to the skillet and whisk until it is melted in. Add the remainder of the parmesan and whisk until melted in again.
5. Add the fresh spinach and gently stir it into the sauce until it has wilted (3-5 minutes). Add the chicken(if you use the trader joes chicken I used, you will need to heat it up in the microwave just to dethaw it a little bit) and the pasta and stir until it is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Serve!

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

Chili Sauce Recipe!

Chilli Sauce!

As if Chicken Fajitas weren't good enough already, putting chili sauce on them is even better! haha!

My mom is the best at making it. Mine doesn't even compare, but this is how we make it!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 4 tablespoons Butter or Margine.
2. 3 tablespoons Flour
3. 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
4. 1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
5. 1 teaspoon Salt
6. 1 teaspoon Cumin
7. 2 ripe Tomatoes (coarsely chopped)
8. 2 cups Water
9. 1 can mild Green Chillies or Jalapeños (chopped and to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

Saute onion in margarine about 5 minutes. Add the garlic. Cook another minute. Add the flour. Cook 5 minutes, stirring often. You want this roux to get nice and brown. Add the rest of the ingredients, then whisk,Simmer 30 minutes.

Want to know how to cook Chicken Fajitas? Click--> HERE! <-- 

Want to know how to roast Green Chillies? Click --> HERE! <--

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole!

My grandma use to make this all the time! This brings back one specific memory from when I was little and I lived in New Mexico. One day is was just me and my dad at home. We were going to go on a bike ride with some neighbors but I got hurt, so we stayed home and he made me this. That's what I think of every time I make this.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 cups of Rice. (you can use minute rice, wild rice..any kind you want)
2. 2 cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup. (I use the 98% less fat kind)
3. 1 cup of Milk and 1 cup of Water. (These are my families measurements but I use 3/4 milk and 1/3 water because its too soupy if I do it the other way when it is just the two of us)
4. 3-4 Chicken Breasts, boneless.
5. A Casserole Dish or a 13x9 dish.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put the 2 cans of soup, milk, water, and 2 cups of rice into the dish and mix together well. (I use a whisk)
2. Put in your chicken. Place them to where it starts to be covered by the other ingredients.
3. Preheat your oven to 350. Cook for 30 minutes.

This is really good with steamed broccoli and melted cheese. We also steam Asparagus with it too at times. If you want to know how to steam fresh Asparagus Click--> HERE <--

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

Something Sweet Saturday: Brownie Truffles!

Brownie Truffles!

My mom makes Brownie truffles all the time! She use to make them for my birthday, my friends birthdays, and Christmas! They are really easy to make, too!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 6 cups of ground up Brownies. (use a food processor, and a batch of brownies that were made 3 days before at the least. Click here for brownie recipe --> BROWNIES <--)
2. 1/2 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream.
3. 3 teaspoons of Vanilla.
4. 1 lb. of chocolate. (almond bark, or gardelli chocolate bars, unsweetened)

NOTE: You will need wax paper and a cookie sheet!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Ground up your batch of brownies to make 6 cups.
2. Put the 6 cups into a bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, and the vanilla.
3. Mix, and roll into small little balls. Put in the fridge and chill for 20 minutes or even 2 days.
4. In a pot, fill it with 1/4 to 1/3 of water. Take a smaller pot or metal bow and put it inside the pot with the water. Put the chocolate in the smaller bowl and stove on medium. Melt the chocolate.
5. Once it's melted, drop the brownie balls into and roll it around with a spoon and lay it on wax paper which should bee on a cookie sheet.
6. Once you have finished, put them in the fridge for the chocolate to harden. (freeze after the chocolate is hardened)

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991
INSTAGRAM: haleymarie1991

Something Sweet Saturday: Brownies Recipe!

Brownies!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1 cup of butter.
2. 4, 1oz squares of unsweetened chocolate.
3. 2 cups of sugar.
4. 4 eggs.
5. 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
6. 1 1/2 cups of flour. 

NOTES: You will need a 13x9 baking pan.

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a sauce pan, melt 1 cup of butter and the 4, 1oz unsweetened chocolate. 
2. Remove from the heat; stir in 2 cups of sugar.
3. Blend in 4 eggs, one at a time.
4. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
5. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of flour.
6. Mix well and pour into baking pan.
7. Bake at 350 for about 22 minutes.

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

INSTAGRAM: haleymarie1991

Crock Pot Chicken n' Dumplings!

Crock Pot Chicken n' Dumplings!

I love Chicken n' Dumplings! They remind me of the south! This is really easy to make! 

If I can make something in a crock pot I do it! haha! It's nice to be able to just stick everything 

in there and leave it until its done! 

INGREDIENTS:

1. 3-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces.
2. 2 medium Yukon Gold Potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces.(about 2 cups)
3. 2 cups of whole baby carrots.(you can cut those in half if you want)
4. 2 stalks of celery, sliced. (about 1 cup)
5. 2 cans of Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup,10 3/4oz each. (I use the 98% fat free)
6. 1 cup of water.
7. 1 teaspoon of dried thyme leaves, crushed.
8. 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
9. 2 cups of all-purpose baking mix.(also known as bisquick or jiffy. I use jiffy)
10. 2/3 cup of milk.

NOTE: 9 and 10 are for the dumplings. You will make these 45 minuets before eating!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the chicken, potatoes, carrots and celery into a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Stir the soup, water, thyme and black pepper in a small bowl. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken and vegetables.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours* or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. FOR THE DUMPLINGS: Stir the baking mix and milk in a medium bowl. Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto the chicken mixture. Increase the heat to HIGH. Tilt the lid to vent and cook for 30-45 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked in the center.

NOTE: If you need to have these cooked in a shorter amount of time, you can cook on HIGH 4 or 5 hours!