In a long line of dinners it’s tough to come up with new and different ideas for dinner but this was what I made last night and it’s a big thumbs up for a little Un-orthodox chicken parmesan but really delicious! I would describe it as a de-constructed version of Chicken Parmesan with no frying ( which is the part I hate the most ) . Yesterday I took out a package of thin sliced chicken breasts from the freezer and at around 5 p.m. started to think about what I would do with them. At 6 I started my prep and we sat down to this delicious dinner at 6:45 ! Quick and easy one pan recipe that went from stove-top to oven to table in app. 1/2 hour. You can’t beat that.

I usually have home-made tomato sauce in the freezer but since there was no planning on my part I used Raos Arrabiata Sauce which I love and always have on hand. ( their Marinara is also a house staple) I used regular Panko Bread Crumbs because I didn’t have the Italian flavored ones in the house ( and it was perfect) For Pasta I used whatever I had in the house and felt like having , spaghetti would be perfect or any macaroni type. I used Penne this time but any pasta will do or no pasta if you prefer. A vegetable would be fine here as well. We had a green salad and the chicken and we were both pretty happy with the results.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

I used about 1/2 a box of pasta for the 2 of us — for more use the whole box –any type pasta you prefer will work

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning — always have this on hand for my sauce– available in almost all spice aisles in the supermarket

1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/4 Teaspoon coarse black pepper or freshly ground

1/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs — I used regular Panko and it was just fine . Italian style would work here as well

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

You’ll need 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil to cook chicken and 1 Tablespoon for bread crumbs

1 package of thin-sliced boneless , skinless chicken breasts

12 ounce jar of Marinara or Arrabiata Sauce — I prefer Raos — any one you like or use your own

App. 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella — that’s what I had in the house of course you can use fresh or sliced Mozzarella as well

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 475 degrees

Prepare Pasta according to directions while you’re prepping the chicken

In a very small bowl combine the salt, pepper and Italian Seasonings and set aside

In a small bowl, combine the Panko, Parmesan Cheese and 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil and mix well and set aside

Coat the bottom of a large deep oven-proof skillet with about 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil ( if you need more add a little more) Heat oil over medium high heat . I placed chicken in pan and sprinkled with some of the spice mixture cooked for 3 mins. on 1 side and then flipped and sprinkled more spice mixture to the other side. You can also do this first — sprinkle one side place that side down and then sprinkle the other raw side . Up to you whatever works.

After another 3 minutes — you want chicken browned but not over cooked — these are thin breasts. Turn off heat and then pour the sauce in the pan around the chicken and a little on the top of each piece. Top each piece with mozzarella and sprinkle the panko mixture over the top.

Transfer the skillet to the pre-heated oven and bake un-covered for about 10 minutes but all ovens are different so keep an eye out. You’ll want cheese melted and Panko topping is browned. Serve over cooked pasta and enjoy!

This was a delicious twist on chicken meatballs. The meatballs were so amazingly moist and tasty and I served over Jasmine Rice and it was just perfect. The original recipe is from Bon Appetit and I took a few liberties with it. We like spicy food so I used some Sriracha along with the ketchup — you can make this as spicy as you like or not spicy at all depending on how much or how little Sriracha you use or use none at all. If you’re in the mood for something a little different this one’s for you. We just love meatballs and we’ll eat them any which way. Have fun with this one. And you all know that my husband absolutely still refuses to eat broccoli so it was his loss because it was delicious.

*a little note I use my mini chopper to chop ginger and garlic and I use it for onions as well . It gets it finely minced. If you don’t have one of these mini choppers I highly recommend it’s use to get garlic, ginger and onions and other vegetables finely grated when recipe calls for that.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: Sauce

2/3 cup Ketchup — I decreased the ketchup and added about 1/3 Sriracha – and it was very spicy but we like very spicy . So please either keep it 2/3 of ketchup for totally not spicy or decrease a little ketchup and add a little Sriracha.

1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce

2 Tbsp. Water

2 Tbsp. Honey

4 tsp. Soy Sauce

1/2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated

1 garlic clove — finely grated — see note above about finely grating

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients: Meatballs and Broccoli

app. 1 lb. of Broccoli — you just want florets so if you’re starting with a head of broccoli you’ll have to trim and cut etc. I just bought a 1 lb. package of broccoli florets available in most grocery stores these days. ( not frozen)

2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil divided — 1 for broccoli and 1 for Meatballs

2 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt divided — 1 1/2 for Broccoli and 1 for Meatballs

* a pinch of Crushed red Pepper which is also optional

1 lb. ground chicken– I try to use 85/15 chicken the 90/10 tends to be very dry and really the best is ground dark meat if you can find it

1 large egg beaten to blend

4 scallions , thinly sliced

2 garlic cloved, finely grated

1 ” small piece of ginger , finely grated

1/3 cup Panko ( Japanese Breadcrumbs)

1 Tbsp. Sesame Oil — I use regular Sesame Oil but you can use Toasted as well

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Rice for Serving any kind you like , I used Jasmine this time but any kind will do

Directions:

Mix ketchup, Sriracha ( if you’re using) , Worcestershire Sauce, water, honey, soy sauce, grated ginger, and pepper in a small saucepan. I measured out about 1/4 cup mixture into a small bowl for glazing meatballs, later. Bring remaining mixture to a simmer over medium high heat stirring occasionally and reducing heat if necessary, let sauce thicken , about 5 minutes. Transfer sauce to a small bowl or leave in pan and remove from heat.

Meatball and Broccoli Assembly:

Place a rack in upper third of the oven; pre-heat to 450 degrees. I sprayed a sheet pan with cooking spray and lined it with aluminum foil. In a separate bowl I tossed florets with 1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil, 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt, and a few pinches of crushed red pepper ( optional) I brushed the sheet pan with the remaining 1 Tbsp. of Vegetable Oil and then placed broccoli florets on the edges of the baking sheet to create space for my meatballs.

Mix chicken, egg, scallions, garlic, ginger, panko, sesame oil, pepper , 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt, and 4 Tbsp. Water in a medium bowl and mixed all ingredients together till just combined — don’t overmix

Using wet hands form into 12 meatballs — Probably 2 inches apiece though I didn’t measure but I got 12 beautiful sized meatballs. Arrange on baking sheet; brush with some of the reserved glaze ( 1/4 cup) ( see photo) Bake until meatballs are cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven; heat broiler. Brush meatballs again with glazing mixture; broil until broccoli is charred and meatballs are browned in spots, app. 5 minutes but keep an eye on them. At the end of 5 minutes if you’re meatballs look ready but your broccoli isn’t charred enough, remove meatballs and continue to broil broccoli till it’s charred enough.

Spoon meatballs and broccoli over rice in a bowl. Drizzle with sauce and there you go!

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This vegetable soup is a delicious blend of different vegetables brought together in a delightful tomato broth. Very easy to make and you can freeze a few containers and have wonderful soup whenever you’d like it. Of course you can change any of the vegetables for veggies you may have in the house and want to use. If you don’t have a russet potato use a different one. You can add beans such as kidney, chickpea or my personal favorite cannellini beans — just rinse a can of beans and dump it in. Or add some pasta , 1/2 cup would be fine just make sure there is enough broth at the end of cooking bring to a boil add the pasta and cook for about 15 more minutes or till pasta is done, you may have to add water/broth before or after you add the pasta. You can add some spinach, kale, Swiss chard or escarole as well. Many many different variations. I make the basic soup and when I defrost I usually add something new like beans or pasta or kale. It’s a very delicious soup and very hearty and very healthy.

*Slow Cooker Directions:

If you’d like you can also make this in the slow cooker. I would saute the onions, carrots and celery in olive oil first though. Then place in the slow cooker along with garlic, salt, pepper, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, vegetable broth and potatoes. Low heat for 4 hours. Then add the corn and green beans cook for about 10 more minutes and serve. At the end check for liquid before adding the corn and green beans you may need to add some water or broth.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/2 cup finely diced onion– yellow or white onion

3 carrots , peeled , halved lengthwise and sliced

3 stalks celery, thinly sliced and then cut in about 3 inch pieces

2 teaspoons minced garlic

Kosher Salt and Coarsely Ground Black Pepper to taste

20 oz. can of diced tomatoes– Do Not Drain

8 oz. can Tomato Sauce

1 1/4 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

6 cups Vegetable Broth — and you may need more or add water if too thick at the end — I added about 1/2 cup of water

1 large Russet Potato peeled and cut into 1/2 ” cubes

3/4 cup frozen corn

3/4 cup cut up frozen green beans or fresh

*extra liquid — you can use water or broth if you still have on hand

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion , carrots and celery to the pot.

Cook for about 5 minutes till veggies are softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute or so. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, broth and potato to the pot and bring to a simmer.

Cook for about 1/2 hour at a low simmer or until potatoes are tender. Taste and add salt and pepper . Soup will probably be ready in 1/2 hour but I let it simmer for a full hour. I added some liquid as a lot of the liquid evaporates and gets absorbed the longer it cooks.

Stir in the corn and green beans and cook for another 10 minutes or so. If you’re adding any other ingredients this would be a good time. i.e. beans, kale, pasta etc. See notes above for *slow cooker directions.

• Perfect for freezing — just will have to add some liquid as you heat it up. Broth or water is just fine.

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This is such an amazing way to make this recipe. I love Indian Food but don’t cook it all that often and since I have the time and the inclination I decided to try a few new recipes. I usually save this for take out but that’s not happening where I am right now. I have to say there are a lot of ingredients and spices you may not have in the pantry but if you can obtain the ingredients it’s really worth the effort.

I made the 2 lbs. for the two of us and have a second meal in the freezer. If you’re going through the effort to make you may as well get another meal out of it. I served over Basmati Rice but any rice will do . I also served with toasted Naan Bread on the side.

Enoy!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless , skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1″ pieces — if you must use chicken breasts go ahead I just like the way the thighs hold up to the heat better the breasts will probably be more shredded. Delicious either way!

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/2 cup Whole Milk plain yogurt– Not Greek

1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and more for taste

1 large onion, diced

3 – 4 cloves garlic minced

1 Tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 teaspoon cumin

2 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

*for extra kick you can add some cayenne pepper or chili powder –totally optional

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

3/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk — if you don’t have either one of these you can use oat milk which will be thinner and not as tasty but fine

Directions:

Place the cut-up chicken, yogurt and 1 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt in a 4 qt. or larger slow cooker and stir to combine

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on the stove-top add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender – maybe 10 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander, garam masala, cumin and turmeric and cook for another minute or so. Add the tomato paste and cook until darkened in color another minute or so. Add the drained tomatoes and another teaspoon of kosher salt and bring to a simmer, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

Transfer to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the chicken.

Cover and cook on LOW setting for 8 hours or High for 4 hours. After the initial time is over stir in the cream you’re using. If you prefer a thicker sauce leave the slow cooker uncovered and cook on the HIGH setting for another 1/2 hour. If sauce is fine the way it is cover and cook for another 1/2 hour. Taste and season with salt as needed.

I served with Naan Bread and Basmati Rice.

*leftovers can be stored in the freezer for 3 months