Chicken and Pasta

This is a fresh summer pasta that is a whole meal. You will love it, I promise!

And the best part.... its a 30 minute meal!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon bottle minced garlic
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons EVOO
1 large onions sliced
3 medium tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Spaghetti (8 ounces)
1/4 cup pesto
Parmesan cheese to top and fresh basil chopped (if you have it)

1. In a bowl combine 1 teaspoon of the pepper,  1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the garlic. Sprinkle evenly over chicken. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken and onion, cook about 15 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink and onions are tender. turning chicken once and stirring onions often.

2. Remove chicken from skillet, slice crosswise into strips return chicken to skillet, add tomatoes tomatoe paste and remaining salt and pepper cook and stir until heated through.

3. Meanwhile cook spahetti according to package directions, drain, return spaghetti to the hot pan stir in pesto.

4. Serve chicken and tomato mixture on top of pesto coated spaghetti and top with parmesan cheese and basil.

** If you wish you can serve this with an arugula salad with just croutons and lemon vinaigrette.**

ENJOY!

Summer Grilling... Happened so fast!

Menu:

Summer Veggie Mix
Tangy Barbecue Chicken

Chicken:

Simmer 1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoons each molasses and brown sugar
1 tablespoon each dried mustard and soy sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup water
Kosher salt and pepper

Until thickened (about thirty Minutes)
Preheat grill to medium high season 4 chicken breasts (bone in or out) grill over direct heat until golden and crisp on both sides (about 5 minutes) transwer to a bowl and toss with one cup of sauce. Place on the cooler side of the grill, cover and cook basting once until the meat is glazed (about 20 mins)

Veggie Mix

If you have a veggie grilling tray you can of course do this on the grill but the faster way is on the stove top

Yellow or White Corn
Yellow Summer Squash
Zucchini
Red Pepper
Butter Beans (if you like them)

Add to the skillet EVOO and Butter until hot (about a tablespoon each) add all the veggies until cooked and toss frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve Hot

WELCOME

Hey everyone! As most of you know I am trying to find an outlet for all my creativity lately. Other than event planning and crafts a dear love of mine is cooking. Thinking up new recipes and getting in the kitchen (or lab sometimes)! It is either the Johnson in me or the Puertorican... or maybe both!

This blog will be a mix of all those wonderful things that make me... well... me! Recipes quick and easy, appetizers fun and interesting, creative event ideas and of course I am sure, random thoughts on my mind. Please feel free to join, send the link to your friends, print off a recipe and share! That is the beauty of a good meal, it brings people together. If you need certain recipes or things like gluten free, certain allergies, or under 30 minutes, etc let me know! I love a challenge.

Also I would like to know what grocery stores everyone shops at. I am going to be getting their weekly specials and post recipes with those deals in mind (we all need to save some money these days)

I am not big into coupon clipping simply because I don't have the added time, but if one certain brand of sauce is on sale, of course I rather have the cheaper (when it comes to certain things).

Thank you in advance for reading!