Chicken Marsala

Can I just start out by saying that I hate when recipes say they are "quick" and "easy" and they're really not? Well, I must say that this recipe truly was! I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, in search of a yummy way to use up the rest of some mushrooms. Not only was it super delicious, but even my little Allie ate it up, which is quite the triumph lately. My husband loved it as well. I cooked some pasta, that was perfect topped with the wonderful marsala sauce, and steamed some broccoli on the side. I didn't have any marsala wine on hand tonight, so I subbed red cooking wine with a couple pinches of sugar. I also had no sherry, so I subbed white cooking wine. I'm sure it would be even better done right :) Enjoy this dish! So easy and good. 

Ingredients:

1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
4 T. butter
4 T. olive oil
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. marsala wine
1/4 c. cooking sherry

Directions:

1. In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat chicken pieces in flour mixture.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium heat. Place chicken in the pan, and lightly brown. Turn over chicken pieces, and add mushrooms. Pour in wine and sherry. Cover skillet; simmer chicken 10 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

The Sisters Cafe: Spinach Pasta Salad with Toasted Pinenuts and Feta

All I can say is YUM! All of my favorite ingredients in one dish! Enjoy.

2 c fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 lb penne pasta, cooked
1/2 cucumber, chopped
20 pitted calamata olives, halved length-wise
3/4 c feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
1 roma tomato, chopped
1/2 c pinenuts, toasted
1/2 lb bacon, cooked crisp
1/4 red onion, sliced thinly in wedges

First chop all the veggies while the pasta is boiling. Then toast the pinenuts in a pan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. (Watch them carefully to avoid burning) Slice the bacon in 1/2 inch pieces then cook until very crisp. (Slice the bacon when it is half frozen- it works great) Let pasta and bacon cool. Toss all ingredients together with Greek Vinaigrette (I used Good Seasonings Light Greek Vinaigrette) and serve immediately.

{Tuscan Garlic Chicken}

This recipe comes from my sister-in-law's blog. Last time I cooked this for my husband he was in heaven. DELISH!

Noodles & Co. Pasta Fresca Recipe - Food.com - 308516

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups pre-cooked farfalle pasta
1/4 cup cubed roma tomato
1 tablespoon diced red onion
2 dashes kosher salt, and
cracked pepper
1 ounce baby fresh spinach
1/4 cup fresh garlic
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sweet white wine
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Sauté Instructions: In a very hot sauté pan, add: extra virgin olive oil, pre-cooked farfalle (bow-tie pasta), roma tomatoes, diced red onions, kosher salt & cracked pepper. Sear noodles, stirring occasionally until steaming hot. Add: baby fresh spinach, 1 oz. fresca sauce. Toss to combine, serve with freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Serves 4.

FRESCA SAUCE: (for 15 servings) 1/4 cup fresh garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup sweet white wine, 1 cup extra virgin olive oil.

-I first tried this dish at Noodles & Company about a year back. I was instantly in love! I was browsing what used to be recipezaar.com (now food.com) when I came across this recipe. Whoever found or came up with this was genious! It tastes just like it! First off- my husand and I can eat this all by ourselves. So in our case it serves 2 :) There are a few variations that I use. For instance last night I made this dish and topped it with feta cheese instead. We grilled some cheap salmon with lemon & herbs and voilla! It was a great meal and a healthy one too. I often chop up grilled chicken w/lemon pepper and add it to the pasta. Sometimes I toss in a few kalamata olives. SO GOOD! The fresca sauce recipe they have makes a ton! I revised it to make just enough for what you need. Here goes:

4 tsp. fresh garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tsp. balsamic vinegar
4 tsp. white wine
1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil

Enjoy! You're gonna love this stuff.