Broccoli Aglio E Olio

 Pasta with healthy broccoli was one of the Friday staples when I was growing up.  Raised Roman Catholic during our Lenten season we abstained from eating any meat on Friday's so Mom would make the below dish along with others on Friday's.  You can make it any day of the week but on Friday's it was either pasta with broccoli, homemade Italian mac and cheese with stewed tomatoes, tuna fish in pasta sauce, grilled cheese.  It our home there were many meatless dishes that I will share along the way.  Have a great day!

Family Favorites from my kitchen to yours,

Pasta with Garlic and Oil:(Aglio E Olio)

Italian for 'garlic and oil,' pertaining to pasta dressed with garlic and heated olive oil.

 You can make this recipe with cauliflower too! I have also used different shapes pasta too..Shells are excellent as well. or better yet try any type pasta you may have in your pantry!  Enjoy!  A nice veggie meal!  



When there are days I just don't know what to make for some reason pasta always tops the list..Everything seems  to go with pasta..Pasta and red sauce, pasta and roasted vegetables, Alfredo pasta, seafood and pasta, buttered pasta the list can go on and on.. So today I am making a favorite of ours,  Broccoli and pasta with olio. .I have eaten this before lots of times and I have brought it with me as a side for picnics and get together. Family and friends agree Broccoli is a nice add in to pasta and olio( Olive oil and garlic) you can't help but love. Enjoy!!!  Happy Cooking!!

Note:  You can make this dish minus the broccoli.  Saute garlic, oil slowly with parsley in olive oil..Cook pasta, drain and mix together.  Garnish with Italian cheese of choice!

1 large head broccoli or broccoli crowns ( cut in pieces)
3 garlic cloves minced
1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
2 T butter optional
salt and pepper to taste
grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Cook cleaned broccoli in lightly salted water. Drain.

In the pot that your cooked your broccoli place 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil and butter. Once butter is melted and oil is warm, Place drained broccoli in pot add minced garlic and simmer..Take pot off stove add and some salt and black pepper if necessary to taste.

Cook 1/2 to 3/4 lb. pasta of choice according to directions.  Before draining, reserve 1/2 pasta liquid..Add pasta, grated Pecorino Romano cheese and reserved pasta water..Stir..add a little more cheese and serve..  Bon Appetite! Note:  I have eaten it right from the refrigerator..so cold is good for me too!

Happy Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

7/5/12
8/30/12 
8/29/13 
11/7/14
6/8/16

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

No fuss no muss just good home cooking to enjoy.

When we went to the beach this summer this is one of the meals we made.  It was very easy and everyone enjoyed it. A few of our grandchildren are food fussy but this meal was eaten by everyone with great enjoyment.

When I made this meal I used 2 +lb. farfalle pasta and doubled the cream and reserved water.

1 bunch broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces

1 boned, skinned chicken breast half (14 oz.), cubed 

8 ounces Farfalle

3/4 to 1 cup heavy whipping cream

About 1/2 cup freshly shredded parmesan or romano cheese

  Salt and pepper

Note: I doubled the above recipe for the cream sauce because we like lots of sauce as to not have the pasta become dry.

 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook broccoli.

***There are two methods for cooking chicken.  Either cook chicken in water until it is no longer pink or saute chicken in several tablespoons olive oil and a little butter and set aside.  You decide.

Cook broccoli until tender and bright green, 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a colander, leaving water in pot.  Either Add chicken to pot; cook until opaque, 2 to 4 minutes or lightly saute chicken in olive oil and a little butter until slightly browned.  Cut chicken in bite size pieces as well as broccoli.

2. If using boil top method for chicken use the same pot and  boil pasta until just tender to the bite, about 10 minutes. **Reserve 1/2 to 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta.

3. In the same pot simmer cream, reserved 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup parmesan over medium heat, stirring often. Add broccoli, chicken, and pasta, stirring to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with additional  salad on the side.

We sauteed the chicken in olive oil and butter

Mixed salad

From my kitchen to yours,

7/10/14

12/1/14

Honey Mandarin chicken salad

Hi everyone:

Going to a summer BBQ?  This might be a good choice to take along with you.

I call it Mandarin Chicken Salad

Just in case you don't want to add chicken this salad is super tasty with a lettuce mix.

Toasted Almonds really add to the flavor.

Enjoy!

Salad dressing 

 1/2 cup orange juice, 

1  1/2 tsp. Honey, 

1/4 cup olive oil, 

1/4 cup chopped chives or green onion.

 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 

Pinch salt and pepper.

1/3 cup toasted almonds.

I shake all but the almonds in a container with a lid until all are incorporated. Add chicken and almonds after tossing romaine with dressing .

Ingredients 

8 oz cubed chicken cooked 

1 large romaine shredded

1/4 cup toasted almonds

1 jar mandarin oranges drained

From my kitchen to yours

Easy Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Summer's here and yep I want ice cream.  I am not a person who loves ice cream but on some days I do crave some.  Tonight I was browsing around the internet and I came across this 3 ingredient recipe for homemade ice cream.  It said chocolate or vanilla but being an adventurous person lol  I opted to make peach. It did help that I had 3 large ripe peaches!

Here is my recipe:

2 cups heavy whipping cream 
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk(not canned coffee cream)
3 large peaches(skin removed and diced)
1 T real vanilla extract

 

Place whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in electric mixer. (you can use hand held mixer as well)

 Beat until stiff peaks form.  Add diced peaches and stir with wooden spoon to combine. Line a bread pan with either wax paper or cling wrap. Pour into pan and freeze at least 4 to 6 hours.  I let mine freeze overnight.

I used a bread pan which I thought would be easier to scoop out ice cream or any deep container will work.  

Summer fun!

Note:  I think you could use any diced or sliced fruit with this recipe.  The original recipe called for 1/4 cup condensed milk and 3/4 cup chocolate syrup for the Chocolate Ice cream recipe.

Chili with Jalapeno Recipe

It's chilly in PA today so I think it'll be a good day for spicy Chili!

If anyone needs help in what to make for dinner this week I've decided it's chili today and breaded chicken cutlets for (Tuesday) tomorrow. I just put the chili in the crockpot.!

I get bored very easily if you haven't noticed yet. lol and it allows me to explore different ideas I may have in my recipes and also in my home and garden ideas.  It keeps me busy and yes I do like to be challenged with my likes and yes dislikes too.

I decided yesterday that I was going to make chili or chili con carne as it is sometimes called.

Beef is my meat of choice and although I have used small beef cubes as well as a stir fry beef I always come back to ground beef.

This recipe I added cumin, diced tomatoes and jalapeno's which I have not ever done.

My hubby just had a huge dish and said "make it this way all the time" which kind of surprised me...He doesn't like me to change my recipes at all....

You can add some Monterrey Jack or cheddar cheese to top it when serving.

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 medium onion grated 

1 large can diced tomatoes juice included  Note: ( I usually use either tomato juice or tomato sauce) it all depends on what I have in my pantry and if it's crockpot or on the stove top.

2 cans kidney beans drained and rinsed.

3 tsp. Chili powder 

1 tsp. Chopped jalapeño or more optional (remove seeds)

1/4 tsp. Cumin

Salt and pepper 

Top with lots of cheese if desired.  Yummy!

Set on low for 5 to 6 hours.

FYI:  I fried my beef first with onion, salt and pepper  in a wee bit of oil until slightly browned. Drained slightly and placed in crockpot first and then added the other ingredients and lightly stirred and placed lid on tightly. Have a great day and here's the link to the chicken cutlets if you decide to make them.😊💕 M.j.

Chicken Cutlets

https://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2013/08/breaded-chcken-cutlets.ht





From my kitchen to yours,