Rigatoni with Brocolli and Sausage

Super easy and an all around crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound rigatoni
• 2 heads broccoli, cut into florets (about 4 cups)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 anchovy fillets, minced
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• Parmesan, grated, for serving

Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. In last 2 minutes of cooking, add broccoli and cook until bright green and crisp-tender. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta and broccoli.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, anchovies, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
3. 
   Add sausage to pot and cook over medium-high, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, return pasta and broccoli to pot, and add oil mixture. Toss well to combine, adding enough pasta water to create a thin sauce that coats pasta. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

Balsamic Chicken

This is a great light chicken recipe that goes with almost any vegetable side. I served it with angel hair pasta and the girls loved it!

4-6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts

2 14.5 oz can diced or crushed tomatoes

1 onion thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tblsp olive oil

1 tsp each: dried oregano,basil, and rosemary

1/2 tsp thyme

ground black pepper and salt to taste


Directions:

Pour the olive oil on bottom of  a 3 - 5 quart crock pot

Place the chicken breasts in crock pot, salt and pepper each breast

Put sliced onion on top of chicken

Then put in all the dried herbs and garlic cloves

Pour in vinegar and top with tomatoes



Cook on high 3 hours or low for 4 - 6 hours. Serve over angel hair pasta and garnish with fresh parsley or basil.

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Pita

I'm making this tonight....but I'm just positive its going to be yummy (and SO easy)! 

Ingredients

1	medium onion, sliced
1	clove garlic, minced
1	lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
1½	teaspoons lemon pepper
½	teaspoon dried oregano
¼	teaspoon ground allspice
4	pita pocket breads
½	cup plain yogurt
1	tomato, sliced
½	cup chopped cucumber
1	medium red bell pepper, sliced in thin strips

Directions

1. In slow-cooker, combine onion, garlic, chicken, lemon pepper, oregano, and allspice; mix to coat chicken with seasoning.
2. Cover and cook onLOWfor 4–6 hours.
3. Heat pita bread as directed on package. Meanwhile, remove chicken from slow-cooker; place on cutting board. Using two forks, shred chicken.
4. To serve, stir yogurt into onion mixture in slow-cooker. Spoon chicken onto warm pita bread. With slotted spoon, transfer onion mixture onto chicken; top with tomato, cucumber, and red pepper strips.

Easiest Chicken Parm Eva!

This weekly fave takes literally 5 mins to prepare.  I buy frozen breaded chicken breasts (at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Stop&Shop).  It works great with Frozen breaded eggplant slices too - also found at all stores :)

Ingredients:

Pasta sauce of choice
Frozen breaded chicken breasts (or eggplant slices)
Shredded Mozz Cheese

Coat bottom on 9x13 in pan with pasta sauce.
Place chicken on top (4-5 breasts)
Sprinkle with as much or as little mozzerella cheese
Add a little oregano, salt, pepper
(Sometimes I like to add some fresh spinach or kale too - on top of the chicken, before the cheese)

Cook at 350 for about 25-30 mins, until cheese is bubbly.  Sometimes I broil for a few mins at end to get cheese browned. 

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

A friend of mine gave me this recipe many years ago and it's been a family staple ever since!

4 Chicken Breasts

1 Can Corn

1 Can Black Beans

1 Jar of Salsa

Directions: Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 4-5 hours or Low 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving on tortillas. 

Crockpot Lemon Chicken

I found this recipe on Pinterest and have recommended to anyone looking for an easy crockpot meal. The chicken comes out so tender and the extra juice makes a yummy gravy.

1 1/2 - 2 pounds of chicken
1/2 stick butter (I usually add a whole stick but I realize that might be overkill)
juice from two lemons
Italian dressing packet

Directions: Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 4-5 hours or Low 6-8 hours.

Buttery Lemon Shrimp

Another keeper stolen from Pinterest...throw this over some pasta and enjoy :)

• Melt a stick of butter and pour it on a lined baking sheet
• Slice One Lemon and layer it on top of the butter
• Put Down Fresh Shrimp (the peeled, deveined kind to safe time)
• Sprinkle One Pack Of Dried Italian Seasoning.
•  Put In The Oven And Bake At 350 For 15 Min.