Penne Vodka with Chicken

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I’ve been taunting y’all for two weeks now with pictures and tweets about this delight.
Put on your drool bib and rev up your printers because this tonguegasmic delight is printworthy. Simply put, it’s creamy, spicy and just yum.
It also had me going to the liquor store for the first time in 5 or so years. WE drink beer and wine, y’know.. the stuff you buy at your local HEB. Vodka, cannot be purchased at my local HEB. So I ventured past the ‘Must Be 21 To Enter’ Sign, only to be greeted by a 7 year old behind the counter and a teenager doing inventory. ummmmmmmmmmmm. TABC what?

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  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lg. shallot, minced
  • 1/2 a large yellow onion, minced
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 14.5 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 3 fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 to 1  C. heavy cream
  • 1/2 C. vodka
  • Fresh Spinach leaves, a couple of handfuls to liking
  • 2 C sliced fresh mushrooms
  • *flour or cornstarch might be necessary for thickening purposes
  • 3 chicken breasts, grilled or sauteed in vodka and garlic, thinly sliced.
  • 1 box Barilla Pasta Plus (penne or rigatoni) cooked as instructed on box
  1. In a pan over medium high heat, sautee garlic, shallot, mushrooms and onion in olive oil for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and crushed red pepper. Mix, breaking up tomatoes, and let cook on medium to high heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in heavy cream and vodka, blend lightly.
  4. Allow to bubble and simmer, stirring frequently, allow to cook for 8 to 12 minutes. If the sauce isn’t as thick as you would like, gradually add in flour or cornstarch.
  5. Right before serving, toss in spinach leaves to soften.
  6. Keep heated until serving.

Serve over pasta with fresh 4 cheese garlic bread and a crisp green salad.
I recommend tossing the sliced chicken, pasta and sauce together and then serving

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A Healthier Chicken Parmesan

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We love Italian Food and Chicken Parmesan ranks right up there at the top of my favorites list! However, with the breading and oil usually involved it isn’t always the most waistline friendly. This recipe is a full flavor, less fat version and it’s really easy to make! (BONUS)

Healthier Chicken Parmesan
(This makes 2 servings)

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, butterflied
  • 1 wedge real parmesan cheese, some sliced and some grated
  • 3 Tbsp Italian Seasonings
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil (or your favorite Italian blend)
  • 1/2  C chicken broth
  • Barilla Pasta Plus Thin Spaghetti Noodles
  • 2 Tbsp chopped flat parsley, plus some for garnish
  1. Cut 4 thin slices from the wedge of Parmesan, butterfly the chicken breasts and places 2 slices of cheese in the open center of each breast. Close the chicken breasts and sprinkle each breast with Italian Seasoning.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat add some olive oil and then the chicken and 1/2 of your garlic; cook until the chicken breasts are browned on both sides, about 25 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts and set aside.
  3. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning and more garlic, gradually add in the chicken broth and heat until bubbling, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the chicken breasts back in and heat the chicken thoroughly in the sauce. Lower to a simmer and cover until ready to serve.
  5. Serve the chicken atop your Barilla Pasta Plus Thin Spaghetti Noodles.
  6. Grate fresh parmesan cheese over the chicken and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

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Tonguegasmic Salmon and Feta Pasta

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Tonguegasmic.  That is the only word for this dish that I am absolutely delighted with!  The flavor profile and ease of this pasta ensure that this one is going to be a frequent visitor in our home.

Let me tell you why this pasta is so amazing, the basil adds just a hint of mint, the peppers add a nice light undertone of spice and the salmon and garlic are a beautiful blend. The grape tomatoes give this dish a surprising burst of roasted sweetness each time you come across one, and the herb Feta.. oh. my. stars. it got all warm and savory and mmmmmmm. I’m drooling just thinking about it. I’m tellin’ y’all, you have to try this. It’s not often that I go into something skeptically and come out a believer.. but y’all…. Nathan ate two huge helpings and I finished off one bowl and then went and nipped a few more bites out of the serving dish. It’s even good served cold for lunch the next day! NOM NOM

First, I bought this Farfalle pasta because I like the 3 colors, plus Farfalle is just fun to say:

Rachel’s Salmon Pasta

  • 2 fresh salmon fillets, roughly 12 oz (frozen works too)
  • a few dashes salt (to taste)
  • 10 oz farfalle pasta, or whatever kind floats your boat
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • roughly 15 to 20 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 C chopped green onions.
  • 3- 4 Tbsp snipped fresh basil leaves (yes, it must be fresh)
  • 1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • couple of handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
  • a few drizzles olive oil, you choose how much to use
  • 1 4 oz. package crumbled feta cheese. ( I use a garlic and herb blend)

How To:

  1. Cook pasta according to package.
  2. Drain, drizzle with olive oil, cover and set aside. Make sure this stays warm.
  3. Meanwhile, drizzle olive oil into a medium high heat pan and toss in about 1/2 of the minced garlic cloves.
  4. Cook for about a minute or until the aroma becomes very strong and the garlic starts to soften.
  5. Sprinkle the salmon with salt
  6. Add the salmon to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Turn the fish occasionally while cooking. Stir in the tomatoes, the rest of the garlic, onions, basil and peppers. Heat through, stirring occasionally. Right before you think you’re done, toss in the spinach leaves just and heat them just enough so they start to wilt. In a large bowl toss together the hot pasta, some olive oil and the salmon mixture. Top with the feta cheese.

And to steal a page from one of my favoritest foodies ever, Noble Pig, I recommend serving this with a fabulous Chardonnay, like Lindemann’s

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