Saturday, September 26, 2009

Quick, Easy and YUMMY!!!


I got this idea from Jenny over at Picky Palate. I just LOVE all of her recipes! I wanted to try this because we've been needing some simple but tasty recipes and let me tell ya, this one hit the spot! Of course her's turned out way prettier than mine, but I had one little one that was kinda pretty!! ;0) Here is my version:

Bar-b-Que Chicken Pizza Roll-ups


1 can Pillsbury Pizza dough

Ranch dressing

Rotisserie chicken, chopped up with bar-b-que sauce mixed in ( I used Sweet Baby Ray's...our fave around here!)

1 cup cheese ( I used Pizza cheese which has mozzarella, smoked provolone, romano and parmesan)

Ranch dressing and Bar-b-Que for dipping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open the pizza dough and spread out into a rectangle. Drizzle with ranch dressing and spread evenly over the dough. Next add bar-b-que chicken and your cheese of choice evenly over the dough. Starting with the long end of the dough roll it up into a long log. With a sharp knife slice about 1 inch pieces and place onto a greased baking sheet. **HINT** , if you place the cut side up onto the baking sheet they might turn out a little prettier...I didn't notice that until the end! Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown. Serve with ranch or bar-b-que for dipping.

Tara

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Happy Fall Y'all...

Well, our first cold front blew in and it's really gotten me in the mood for some good ol' comfort food. I'm making my fall menu, but here's one to get started with...

Macaroni Grill Penne Rustica
(our version, of course)

4 oz. grilled chicken breast
½ pack thick bacon
16 oz. penne pasta
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp paprika
Mozzarella cheese

Sauce:
1 tsp butter
2-3 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 cup marsala wine
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chopped rosemary
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cups heavy cream


Sauté garlic in butter in large pan. Add marsala wine, mustard, salt, rosemary, cayenne pepper, and heavy cream. Cook pasta according to directions. Cook bacon, then use left over grease to saute the bell pepper, set aside. Slice chicken into medium-bite size pieces. Combine sauce, cooked pasta, diced chicken, cooked bacon, bell pepper, parmesan cheese, and paprika and mix thoroughly. Spread in pan. Top with chopped rosemary and mozzarella cheese. Bake @ 475 for 10 minutes.


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A little after school snack



I wanted to try out this yummy treat today so I baked up a batch for the kids to enjoy when they got home from school! They were so delicious. The hubby even liked them as an after work treat as well... ;0)



Butterscotch Blondies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup nuts (optional) , I chopped some pecans in my mini-food processor
2 Tbsp. confectioners' sugar

Cream the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla and mix well. Stir in the nuts. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake at 35o degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooded toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven to cool. Sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar and cut into squares. Serves 16.

Enjoy!
TARA

Monday, September 21, 2009

New 5 Star "Keeper" in our House!!!

I couldn't believe how much my family enjoyed this recipe! Even my kids!!! They are already wanting it again! It's a must try...

Chicken Piccata
(recipe and image via Ina Garten)

2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 extra-large egg
1/2 tablespoon water
3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs (I used Garlic & Herb from Progresso)
Good olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 cup dry white wine
Sliced lemon, for serving
Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce. For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

* Very good with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and crusty bread!!! Yum...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Help - I need quick and easy meals!!!

This new school year is CRAZY!!! I have four kids at four different schools - and no one rides the bus!!! (I know, that's my choice) My oldest has football practice everyday, I'm in CBS twice a week, and then there's church and youth group throughout the week, and choir for my daughter - not to mention homework!!! I know that sounds chaotic but actually two of my kids are taking a break from sports!!! And the youngest is too afraid of sports!!! ;) lol... Anyway, all of this to say - I really need some quick and easy meal ideas from all of you!!!

Keeping with that theme, here's a recipe I found over at Getting it Together. I changed it up a little to make it easier for me and to fit our tastes. Thanks Chrissy for making my life a little less hectic. Consider yourself exempt from my little challenge today to all my other fellow food-bloggers!!!

Taco Pizza

1 tube of refrigerated pizza dough
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg. taco seasoning
2/3 cup bottled chunky salsa
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup baked tortilla chips, coarsley crushed
sour cream and/or salsa

Preheat the oven to 425. Lightly coat a 12-inch pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pat dough evenly into a prepared pan. Prick crust all over with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook the beef and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Add the package of taco seasoning and cook accordingly. Add 2/3 cup salsa. Top hot crust with meat mixture. Bake 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with tomatoes and cheese. Bake 1-2 minutes more or until cheese melts. To serve, top with lettuce and tortilla chips. If desired, serve with sour cream and/or additional salsa. Enjoy!!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

How was your Summer?

I am so sorry for my absence this summer! It's been really busy around here. Sometimes life just takes over. I really missed viewing your blogs! Now that we're back into a routine - I promise to be better!! Here's a recipe that we really enjoyed this summer...

Grilled Teriyaki Shrimp Kebabs

1/4 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
48 large peeled and deveined shrimp (about 1 1/2 pounds)
32 (1-inch) pieces cubed fresh pineapple (about 3/4 pound)
1 medium red onion, cut into 8 wedges
Cooking spray

Prepare grill. To prepare sauce, combine teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds in a small bowl. To prepare kebabs, thread 6 shrimp, 4 pineapple chunks, and 1 onion wedge alternately onto each of 8 (10-inch) skewers. Brush kebabs with teriyaki mixture. Place kebabs on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 8 minutes or until shrimp are done, turning once.

Monday, August 10, 2009

I'm all about easy meals...

especially for the summer when the kids are home. We tend to get busy playing, and don't really want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. If you are the same, then give this recipe a try. I saw it in a Betty Crocker magazine while standing in line at the grocery store. My whole family really liked it!

Baked Chicken Panzanella

2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used Tyson chicken strips, cut up)
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic, onion, and oregano, drained
1/4 cup sliced green onions (about 4 medium)
1 pkg. (5 oz) Italian seasoned croutons
1/4 cup Italian dressing
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced fresh basil leaves (I just sprinkled a little dry basil on)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In an ungreased 2 quart baking dish, layer chicken, tomatoes, green onions, and croutons. Drizzle with Italian dressing. Cover with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Uncover; top with cheese. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until hot and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with basil.

Friday, July 17, 2009

A lesson in contrast...

When I saw this on myrecipes, I just knew I had to try it. Talk about summertime grillin'!!! The sweet juiciness of the peach paired with the rich, peppery bite of the arugula and then the tartness of the vinegar -- Wow!!! We loved it! And for once, we didn't change a thing!!! This is definitely a meal to impress!!!

Grilled Peaches and Pork

4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, divided
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 large peaches, peeled, halved, and pitted (about 12 ounces)
Cooking spray
6 cups trimmed arugula
1 teaspoon turbinado or granulated sugar


Place each piece of pork between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and pound each piece to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or a rolling pin. Combine 2 tablespoons vinegar, juice, thyme, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Reserve 1 tablespoon juice mixture. Pour the remaining juice mixture in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add pork; seal and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Preheat grill to medium heat. Place peaches, cut sides up, on a plate; drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side or until pork is done. Set aside. Place peaches, cut sides down, on grill rack; grill 4 minutes or until soft and slightly browned. Turn and cook 2 minutes or until heated through. Cut each peach half into 4 slices. Slice pieces of pork into 1-inch-thick strips. Drizzle trimmed arugula with reserved 1 tablespoon juice mixture, tossing to coat. Divide arugula evenly among 4 plates. Top with grilled pork strips and peach slices; sprinkle evenly with turbinado sugar.

* We grilled the peaches with the skin on, which made peeling afterward so much easier!!!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

BLT Blowout...

As usual, the other day Tara and I were discussing what we were making for dinner. I told her about the Betty Crocker email I had gotten and thought the BLT wrap looked really good. It was a good thing too because my pantry was bare and those ingredients were about all I had. Well, she had the same ingredients on hand too. So, we both made the same dinner Monday night. Being a recipe follower - I made it exactly as I was instructed to!!! ;) lol... It was very good but Tara's version might have been better. I think the Ranch dressing that she added probably took it up a notch. Guess I'll have to do it that way next time!!!

Kathy's BLT Wraps

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
2 cups bite-size pieces lettuce
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 large tomato, chopped
1/3 cup mayo or salad dressing
6 flour tortillas

Toss all ingredients except tortillas. Spread one-sixth of bacon mixture on each tortilla. Fold up bottom third of each tortilla; roll up to form cone shape with folded end at bottom. Enjoy!






Tara's BLT Wraps


Ingredients:
  • chopped lettuce
  • chopped tomatoes
  • 6-8 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon
  • chopped avocado
  • couple squirts of Ranch dressing
  • salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and wrap it up!
Tara


Rachel from Rachel VS. "The Kitchen" is celebrating her 100th post today!!! Congrats Rachel!!! She's also having a giveaway - so go on over and check it out!!!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Something different...


My family and I LOVE Chicken Cordon Bleu. The other day I ran across this recipe on Allrecipes and thought these would be fun to make. They were a big hit at my house and will definitely be on the menu again, real soon!


Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites




16 ounces ground chicken
3/4 cup cooked, diced ham
1 egg
1 cup bread crumbs ( I used Progresso Bread Crumbs - Italian Style)
6 ounces Swiss cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
canola oil for pan-frying



Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine the chicken, ham, and egg in a large bowl until well blended. Gradually add bread crumbs until the mixture loses its stickiness and can be easily formed into balls.
Form the chicken mixture around the cheese cubes, forming 2 inch balls. Place on a plate.
Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a deep skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the balls until the outsides are golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels, and place in baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven until cooked through and cheese is soft, about 20 minutes. Cool briefly before serving.


**Before frying the chicken balls in the oil I rolled them in more bread crumbs to give a outer crunch....YUMMO!
Tara

Sunday, July 12, 2009

A Good summer salad...



I'm not really sure if we've posted this recipe before or not but this is one of my faves! We had it for dinner last night and I forgot to take a picture of it before I plunged into it. The longer it sits the better the flavors can soak in, but I do like the crunchiness of the noodles and they will get softer the longer it sits! ENJOY!




Broccoli Slaw


1 pkg Broccoli Slaw

2 pkg Ramen noodles, chicken flavor, crunched up with your hands

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup sunflower kernels

3-4 chopped green onions


**Sauce**

½ cup sugar

½ cup white vinegar

1 cup vegetable oil (I use a little less, maybe like 3/4 of a cup)

2 tsp. sesame oil

2 pks seasoning from ramen noodles


Mix the first 5 ingredients into a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl mix the 5 ingredients for the sauce. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the sauce on top of slaw mixture and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. ENJOY!!




I found the neatest tip...

for the BEST CORN ON THE COB EVER!!!! I found it over on Feasting Friends. Missy found a new technique that will give you that "sweet taste" every time you make corn on the cob. The secret is just adding a few simple ingredients to your water!!! For years I've been boiling my corn in just plain ol' water! She says that if you try it this way - you'll never go back to just plain water ever again!!! I can't wait to put some corn on my menu for this next week!!! How 'bout you? What's your secret to making sweet corn?

Sweet Corn on the Cob

4 ears of corn
water (enough to cover the corn)
3/4 cup Heavy cream (or substitute with milk)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter (optional and to add to the water)

Fill a large stock pot with enough water to cover the corn. Add milk, sugar and butter. Stir to mix. Bring to a boil, then add corn cobs. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, or until just tender. Do not over cook or the corn will become tough. Also, never salt the water, as it also toughens the corn.

Using long tongs remove and place on a plate or in a bowl, then cover with foil until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Beat the Heat...

Here's a recipe I found over on San Diego Cooks. What fun recipes they have!!!! Perfect for summer time!

Raspberry Pineapple Bliss

1-2 Packages Macaroon Cookies
1 (half gallon) Pineapple Ice Cream
1 (half gallon) Raspberry Ice Cream

Let both flavors of ice cream thaw slightly and then mix together. Make into ice cream sandwiches or crumble the macaroons and put one layer cookie, one layer ice cream until it fits in the bowl that you have chosen. Put back in the freezer for a few minutes. Serve and Enjoy!

* I think this is a great recipe to play with! The possibilities are endless! We are big chocolate lovers, so the next time we make this I might go more that route!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Chicken Tortellini Bake...

This is a great recipe that I found over at My Kitchen Cafe. The only changes we made were that we added garlic. Excuse the messy photo - I forgot to take the photo beforehand and that's all that was left!!!

Chicken Tortellini Bake

16 ounce package of cheese tortellini
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups (about 2 chicken breasts) chicken cut up into bite size pieces
3 green onions finely chopped, white and green parts
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken broth
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup sour cream
2-4 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook tortellini for 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes and add the fresh mushrooms, garlic and green onions, cooking until chicken is done and mushrooms are golden brown. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add chicken broth and stir until thickened. Mix in sour cream until mixture is creamy and slightly thickened. Spray a 9X13 pan with cooking spray. Pour tortellini in bottom of 9X13 pan. Sprinkle half the cheese over tortellini. Put cooked chicken/sauce mixture on top and sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Bake covered with tin foil at 350 for 20 minutes, uncover and bake for additional 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown around the edges.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

An Award and Pizza Casserole...

Or what my kids like to call "Bubble Pizza"! This is so good that even the BIG kids in your house will love it!!! Yes, you're the BIG kid I'm talking about!!! ;)

Bubble Pizza

2 cups pizza cheese
16 oz. browned sausage (or pepperoni, hamburger, or bacon)
1 jar of pizza sauce
2 tubes buttermilk biscuits
*Note: I don't put veggies in this b/c my kiddos don't like them, but feel free to add whatever you would order on your own pizza.

Brown and drain the meat. Cut the 2 tubes of biscuits into quarters. Put the biscuits into a bowl along with the jar of pizza sauce. Add the meat and any other toppings you may have. Mix it all together. Pour into a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After baking for 20 minutes, take it out and add your cheese. Now pop it back in the over for 10 more minutes. Enjoy!



Heidi, from Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi was so sweet to send me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thanks Heidi, I sure appreciate it!!! :o)



There are rules to this award, so here they are:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.


I don't know if anyone will find any of these things interesting, but here goes:

1. Been married to my best friend for 17 years!!! I know this is wierd... but I really love watching him do yard work! One would think it would be nice of me to help him out - nope, I just watch!!! I do visit with him to keep him company though!!! What a sweet wife he has!!! ;) lol...

2. I love summertime because that means I have all of my kids home with me! I hate it when school starts in the fall!!! I know, you're thinking I'm not normal!!! So, please forgive me for not posting more - I'm taking advantage of these precious few months I have my kiddos all to myself!!!

3. I HATE to shop! I hate going to the grocery store and Wal-mart weekly! And believe it or not, I even hate shopping for myself!!! Which is why I tend to not buy trendy clothes! I need things that will always be in style. I only really go what you would consider "fun shopping" twice a year - once for school clothes and the other is for Christmas gifts. And I try to do online shopping whenever I can get away with it! I know - I'm definitely not normal!!!

4. I hate getting shots but I don't mind getting them in the mouth from the dentist!!! Yes, I'm a wierdo!!!

5. I have a bad habit of eating ice! I know - pretty annoying!!! That just reminds me... it's time to schedule my dental appointment!

6. I'm donating my hair to Locks of Love at the end of summer!

7. I LOVE to eat and try new recipes. I don't eat low-fat anything!!! I eat what I want when I want - as long as I'm hungry for it. If you're interested, here's how I stay thin!

I would like to pass this award along to:
Jamie from Mom's Cooking Club
Penny from Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen
Tina from Mommy's Kitchen
Teresa from A Blog About Food
Delectable Dining
Rachel from Rachel VS. "The Kitchen"
Kim from The Ungourmet

Saturday, June 27, 2009

No1here's newest creation...

My husband is the KING of throwing things together and making a wonderful meal. I didn't feel like cooking the other night, so he goes into the pantry and the fridge and says "I have it!" I wish I had that gift!!! Here's what he came up with...

Poor Man's Ceviche

2 Tilapia fillets
1 can black beans, drained
2/3 cup frozen corn
chopped tomato
juice of 2-3 limes
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
chopped cilantro
salt & pepper

Cook the fish the same way as in the fish taco recipe. In the meantime, mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl. Add your cooked fish, and give another stir. We ate this with Tostito Scoops.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Ooey Gooey Goodness...

I can't believe I'm just now getting around to making this!!! I've been meaning to for years!!! It was so good that even my non-dessert-loving-husband loved it!!!


Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake

Cake:

1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 16-ounce box powdered sugar



Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan. Prepare Filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey. I sprinkle a little bit of powdered sugar on top before serving. Yield: 6 to 8 servings, or more if cut into small squares!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Kathy's menu - week 32

Monday - BBQ Ribs, Beans, Coleslaw, Fried Okra, My Cheddar Beer Bread

Tuesday - Taste testing... Curried Coconut Chicken and Rice

Wednesday - Burritos and Chips

Thursday - Steak, Baked Potatoes, Green beans, and Rolls

Friday's Fun Kid Pleaser - Bubble Pizza and Salad

Saturday
- Hoisin and Bourbon-Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Tomato Relish, and Rice

Sunday - Chicken Tortellini Bake and Crusty Bread

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Two More Lovely Awards...

Teresa over at A Blog about Food and Heidi from Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi were sweet enough to leave us girls the One Lovely Blog Award - how exciting!!! This award is to be passed to ten other bloggers. Which is really hard, since we all tend to love the same blogs!!! Here goes... We'd like to pass this on to...

1. Katy at Food for a Hungry Soul
2. Delectable Dining
3. Carrie at Cooking with Carrie
4. Kara at Kara's Kitchen Creations
5. Christy at Christy's Kitchen Creations
6. Monica at Lick The Bowl Good
7. Dana and the girls at San Diego Cooks
8. Chelsea at Mmm...Cafe
9. Amy and Amber at The Sisters Dish
10. Jaime and Jen at Jaime & Jen Dish




Saturday, June 13, 2009

Chicken, Pasta and Alfredo...

Alfredo Sauce
1/2 cup butter
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 box of linguine or other pasta

Cook noodles, and set aside. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, cream, white pepper, and bring mixture to a simmer. Stir often. Add the Parmesan cheese and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes or until sauce has thickended and is smooth. When sauce has thickened, add the Mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. Stir frequently! You can either place pasta on serving plates and spoon sauce over pasta, or I just added it all to the sauce to warm back up and evenly distribute the sauce. Serves: 4-6


Italian Grilled Chicken
Chicken breasts
Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
Juice of a medium lemon

I clean my chicken breasts, and pour enough Zesty Italian dressing to cover it all. Let it marinade in the fridge for as long as I want it. Then in the last 30 minutes, add your lemon juice to the marinade. Then grill it up!!!

*This is how I cook my chicken for fajitas, minus the lemon!! Yummm, the best!!! I thought the lemon would be a nice touch with the pasta - and it was!!!