Chicken and Gnocchi

Ingredients

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced
4 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp flour
1 qt half and half
1-14 oz can chicken broth
1/2 c celery, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c carrots, finely shredded
1 c onion, finely diced
1 c fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp parsley
1 pound potato gnocchi – can buy this in the gourmet section of many supermarkets (or make your own)

Saute the onion and garlic in the butter for 5 minutes.  Add the flour, and mix well.  Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.
Cook gnocchi according to package directions.
Into the butter and flour mixture, add in the carrots, celery, and chicken.  Bring soup to a boil to thicken. Once it boils add the chicken broth and bring to a boil again.  Add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings and serve!

Chicken Lasagna

Ingredients

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken meat
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8-10 minutes. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the butter for several minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the flour and salt, and simmer until bubbly. Mix in the broth and milk, and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Season with the basil, oregano, and ground black pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.
Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer with 1/3 of the noodles, the ricotta, and the chicken. Arrange 1/3 of the noodles over the chicken, and layer with 1/3 of the sauce mixture, spinach, and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Arrange remaining noodles over cheese, and spread remaining sauce evenly over noodles. Sprinkle with parsley and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Bake 35-40 minutes.  Makes 12 servings. 

Easy Italian Pasta

A little bland, but definitely room for improvement!  Add garlic and onions, or anything else you want to give it more flavor!


Ingredients

2.5 cups cavatappi pasta (8 oz)
1/2 pound sausage
6-7 medium plum roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded fresh parmesan or mozzarella cheese
seasonings/spices to taste

Directions
Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain and return to skillet.
Add tomatoes, cream, and drained pasta to sausage. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thoroughly heated (do not boil!). Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Chicken Garlic Pizza

Probably my current favorite!

Ingredients

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese

Directions
Place the chicken breast in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until no longer pink, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool slightly, then cut into strips.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with garlic, onion and basil. Pour into a chilled dish to cool, and refrigerate until set.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Roll out the pizza dough, place onto a pizza pan or other baking sheet, and spread the herb butter over the surface using the back of a spoon. Arrange chicken on top, then dot with ricotta cheese. Top with tomato slices, cilantro and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until crust is browned and center is cooked through.

Creamy Chicken and Rotini Primavera

Ingredients

1/2 pound dry rotini
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast - cubed
1 pound frozen vegetable mix - thawed
4 ounces Neufchatel cheese (reduced fat cream cheese)
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/2 cup milk

Directions
Cook rotini per package directions to desired doneness. Drain well and keep warm. Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes and cook until no longer pink. Combine cream cheese, dressing and milk and whisk until smooth. Add thawed frozen vegetables to chicken along with sauce mixture. Stir well and heat through - about 5 minutes. Serve.

Baked Ziti

Delicious.  'Nuff said.

Ingredients

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, sliced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork sausage
1 1/2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
salt to taste
1 (6 ounce) package provolone cheese, sliced
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1 (6 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. 

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook onion in oil until tender. Stir in rosemary and garlic. Transfer to a small bowl. 

Place ground beef and sausage in the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Stir in the onion mixture and the spaghetti sauce. Season with salt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In the prepared dish, layer 1/2 of the cooked pasta, provolone cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, and a little less than 1/2 of the meat mixture. Then layer the rest of the pasta, mozzarella cheese, remaining meat mixture, and Parmesan cheese. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated through and cheeses are melted.