Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

What You Need:

1 carton of chicken stock (Swanson 32oz)

4 cups of water

4-5 carrot sticks cut and peeled

7-8 garlic cloves peeled (optional to cut)

2 celery sticks chopped

1/4-1/2 of a sweet onion chopped

2 tablespoons of chicken flavor bouillon (I use knorr)

1/2 teaspoon of fennel

1 stick of unsalted butter

Salt and pepper for taste

1/2 bag of egg noodles

Half of Rotisserie chicken shredded

Steps:

1. In a large pot add the stick of butter with onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until soft.

2. Add chicken stock, 4 cups of water, and chicken seasoning, and fennel. Bring to a boil.

3. Add egg noodles to soup and allow to cook. For about 15 mins. Next add in the shredded chicken and allow to simmer for an additional 5-8 mins.

4. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot.

Easy Alfredo Sauce

This Alfredo sauce is so yummy! Enjoy!

What You Need:

2 cups of Parmesan Cheese

1 (8 tablespoons) stick of unsalted butter

1 cup of heavy cream (8oz)

A few dashes of salt and pepper

1 teaspoon of fresh parsley finely chopped and a little extra chopped for garnish

Steps:

1. Melt the butter in a small sauce pan on medium heat, once butter is melted add heavy cream. Allow to simmer while mixing for 2 minutes seasoning with salt and pepper.

2. Add Parmesan cheese and parsley. Add a few dashes of milk or pasta water to thin sauce out a little. Allow to cook and very low heat until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Chicken Thigh Dry Rub Recipe – Taste So Good On the Grill

This recipe only requires a few ingredients and it’s delicious. I’ve only ever used this dry rub on chicken thighs, hence the title.

I prepare the dry rub, then rub it all over the chicken really good. Afterwards I allow the chicken to sit in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Then, we grill it. This dry rub with the smokey flavor from the grill really provides a great flavor.

What You Need:

1 tablespoon of chili powder

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of paprika

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 teaspoon of onion powder

2 teaspoons of salt

(Dry Rub Recipe good for 1.5 to 2 lbs of chicken)

Steps:

Mix all seasoning together in a bowl and then rub all over the chicken thighs. Be sure to open the thighs and really make sure it’s rubbed all inside as well.

Suggested Ways To Serve:

We enjoy making chicken tacos or nachos with this recipe. You can also enjoy with rice or potatoes on the side.

Chopping up for nachos

Enjoy!

Naked Pasta With Grape Tomatoes, Spinach, And Rotisserie Chicken

Servings: 4-6

What You Need:

6 tablespoons of A Hearty Olive Oil

1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic

2 generous handfuls of grape tomatoes cut into halves

A bouquet of fresh spinach chopped lightly (the Spinach will shrink)

About 8oz (half of a 16oz packet) of thin Spaghetti (I used ‘American Beauty’)

Salt, pepper, and rosemary for taste

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese (give or take)

Note: use my measurements as a guide. If you want less, do less. If you want more, do more. Cooking is about experimenting and getting creative!

Steps:

1. Fill a pot with water and turn on to a high-medium heat. In the meantime add 2 tablespoons (two times around the pan) of olive oil with minced garlic and grape tomatoes in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until tomatoes are soft and garlic becomes caramelized on a medium high setting. Add tomatoes and garlic to 2 1/2 qt dish. Keep stove on.

2. When water begins to boil, add a few good shakes salt into the water (at least 1 tablespoon. It is possible to over salt pasta water) break pasta noodles in half and add to simmering pot.

3. Add spinach to skillet with leftover garlic, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until just a little wilted. Will begin to shrink fast, watch closely. Add spinach into dish with tomatoes.

4. While pasta is still cooking, shred the rotisserie chicken and add to dish with tomatoes, garlic, and spinach.

5. Once pasta is complete (no white in the middle of the noodle) drain, and add noodles to dish.

6. Add remaining olive oil, add Parmesan cheese and mix well. Top with Rosemary.

Suggested Sides: Caesar salad and toasted French bread with olive oil and garlic.

Barbecue Meatloaf

Servings: 4 – 6 servings

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Temperate should read 165 when complete.

What You Need:

1 lb ground beef

1 cup bread crumbs

1 diced onion OR 1 tablespoon of onion powder

1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 egg beaten

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Reserving 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce.

2. Mix well with hand, form loaf shape and place in loaf pan. Pour remaining barbecue sauce over loaf.

3. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Allow meatloaf to rest for about ten minutes. Check meatloaf temperature, it should read 165.

Enjoy with fresh veggies and roasted potatoes.

Chicken Fajitas Under The Broiler

The Lime is essential, don’t forget it!

Chicken Fajitas Under The Broiler

Makes: 4-6 servings Time: 25 mins in oven (oven time can vary)

What You Need:

1 lb to 1 1/2 lbs of thin chicken breasts cut into 1/4 inch strips

1 lb of baby bell peppers cut in half and seeded

1 large yellow onion sliced

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Chili Powder

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of paprika

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 large lime

8 to 10 warmed tortillas

Steps:

1. In a small bowl mix together the chili powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

2. Line a sheet pan with foil. Arrange baby bell peppers on the sheet pan. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil onto the peppers and apply half of the seasoning from the bowl to the peppers.

3. Place the sheet of peppers under the broiler for about 15 to 20 mins until peppers begin to blacken a little and char. (If your broiler has a setting for low or high, set it to high)

4. In a medium bowl combine the chicken strips, tablespoon of olive oil, and the rest of the seasoning.

5. Pull out sheet pan and place chicken strips onto the peppers. Broil for an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

6. Squeeze lime over entire sheet of peppers and chicken.

Serve with warmed tortillas, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, or salsa! So easy and delish!

Enjoy!

Note: This is all made with the broiler setting on your oven. You are NOT baking these. Broilers can be tricky, it’s okay to keep opening your oven to check with the peppers. With the chicken though, 5 mins is the magic number! Don’t open the oven!

Before olive oil and seasoning is added.
Add seasoning to chicken strips in a medium bowl
It’s amazing what the BROILER can do! YUM! Again, don’t forget the lime!