Author Archives: cookingwithcandi

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner-Mustard and Balsamic

Posted on May 15, 2020 | 1 comment
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Chicken in Marinade for 1/2 hour

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Chicken finished cooking

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plated chicken

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Lemon and chopped Rosemary

IMG_7545 I made this for dinner the other night and I have to say it was very delicious. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs, of course you can use any cut of chicken you’d like.  All I needed was the chicken and the fresh rosemary.  I had all the other ingredients on hand. You will need to marinate for about 1/2 hour and cooking time is about an hour, no need to marinate over night which is part of what I loved about this recipe.  Balsamic Vinegar and Dijon Mustard and a few other easily obtainable ingredients make this a no fuss recipe.  This recipe is for 8 boneless skinless thighs but feel free to double it up, I used about 10 thighs . It would be perfect on the grill as well. I used my oven and I have to say we both loved this recipe.

The chicken would also be wonderful on day 2 as a leftover in a salad!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8 boneless chicken thighs

1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard ( make it heaping)

1/4 cup of Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup of Olive Oil

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice ( I average lemon)

2 Tbsp. Fresh Rosemary chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

app.  1/4 tsp. of kosher salt, I just sprinkled lightly over the chicken and about 6 grinds on the pepper mill. If you’re doubling recipe you will obviously need more salt and pepper

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the mustard, vinegar, garlic, rosemary and lemon juice. Slowly add in the olive oil with the mixture while you whisk–to emulsify.

Place the chicken in a container or Pyrex  (don’t use metal). I sprinkled about 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt over the chicken tops.  Pour the marinade over the chicken. I left it out for 1/2 hour and let it marinate, you can refrigerate it.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Transfer the chicken to a sprayed ( cooking spray ) baking dish and empty any remaining sauce on top of it.

Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour , or until the chicken is cooked through. It got a nice crust without drying out the chicken after one hour. Depending on your oven and the size of your chicken 1 hour should do it. If you’re working with breasts you’ll have to cut into chicken after 50 minutes to check for doneness depending on the size of your breasts. Haven’t tried it on the grill yet but I can’t imagine this would be anything but delicious, just don’t burn it up!!!!!

Once cooked I spooned a little cooked marinade over the chicken and rice!

Yummy!

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Lemon Couscous with Chicken and Peas

Posted on May 15, 2020 | Leave a comment

photo (11)  Lemony couscous with grilled chicken and peas!!! Love it!!! and there you go, it was so easy using very few ingredients and very yummy!   I used chicken breasts and threw them on the grill pan with a little olive oil , salt and pepper. If you really want to make this easy you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. You can also substitute any grain of your choice. I happen to love the Israeli couscous ( pearl couscous), it’s not as mushy and has a better texture for this dish especially. I also like to use organic lemons when I’m using the zest of a lemon. If it’s just the juice of a lemon I don’t get as nuts but I have to say I prefer the organic ones when I know I’ll be eating the skin of the vegetable or fruit.  Enjoy this one.

This was dinner #62 and It’s definitely a challenge to come up with new meals every night and try and remain a bit creative.  While I rotate around our favorites and sometimes just throw a steak on the grill it’s become my reality. Hopefully I have helped all of you with some new and creative dinners. Thanks for following me and please stay safe.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/3 cups Israeli couscous ( pearl)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

Zest of 2 large lemons ( organic)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 – 1 teaspoon kosher salt ( start with less and you may need to add a little more) the parmesan is salty, and you’re salting the chicken.

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

4 green onions, chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1 lb. thin chicken breasts, a little olive oil and salt and pepper or use a rotisserie chicken breast

Directions:

On a baking sheet, brush chicken breasts with a little olive oil and lightly salt and pepper. The thin cutlets grill up very quickly app. 3 minutes per side. Grill and set aside . I cut chicken up into small pieces before adding them to couscous. You can also cut up thicker chicken cutlets into 2 inch pieces and using a grill pan or frying pan cook them the same way ( olive oil salt and pepper) I like to put chicken in a bowl glaze them with olive oil and s and p and then cook them.

In a large saucepan, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Add the couscous and cook until lightly toasted , 2-3 minutes. Add the broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until the couscous is tender but still firm to the bite, app. 8 minutes.

I then stirred parmesan cheese into couscous along with the green onions, peas and cut up chicken. Taste for salt and pepper.

I plated it up and we totally enjoyed!

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Lemon Couscous with Chicken and Peas

Posted on May 13, 2020 | Leave a comment

photo (11)  Lemony couscous with grilled chicken and peas!!! Love it!!! and there you go, it was so easy using very few ingredients and very yummy!   I used chicken breasts and threw them on the grill pan with a little olive oil , salt and pepper. If you really want to make this easy you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. You can also substitute any grain of your choice. I happen to love the Israeli couscous ( pearl couscous), it’s not as mushy and has a better texture for this dish especially. I also like to use organic lemons when I’m using the zest of a lemon. If it’s just the juice of a lemon I don’t get as nuts but I have to say I prefer the organic ones when I know I’ll be eating the skin of the vegetable or fruit.  Enjoy this one.

This was dinner #62 and It’s definitely a challenge to come up with new meals every night and try and remain a bit creative.  While I rotate around our favorites and sometimes just throw a steak on the grill it’s become my reality. Hopefully I have helped all of you with some new and creative dinners. Thanks for following me and please stay safe.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/3 cups Israeli couscous ( pearl)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

Zest of 2 large lemons ( organic)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 – 1 teaspoon kosher salt ( start with less and you may need to add a little more) the parmesan is salty, and you’re salting the chicken.

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

4 green onions, chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1 lb. thin chicken breasts, a little olive oil and salt and pepper or use a rotisserie chicken breast

Directions:

On a baking sheet, brush chicken breasts with a little olive oil and lightly salt and pepper. The thin cutlets grill up very quickly app. 3 minutes per side. Grill and set aside. I cut chicken up into small pieces before adding them to couscous.

In a large saucepan, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Add the couscous and cook until lightly toasted , 2-3 minutes. Add the broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until the couscous is tender but still firm to the bite, app. 8 minutes.

I then stirred parmesan cheese into couscous along with the green onions, peas and cut up chicken. Taste for salt and pepper.

I plated it up and we totally enjoyed!

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Ginger, Honey Soy Salmon

Posted on May 11, 2020 | 6 comments

Another recipe from Jessica Seinfeld that we enjoy. This is a wonderful recipe which is very tasty and very light. And did I mention easy? Very easy with very few ingredients. 5 ingredients including the salmon.

I made it this time with roasted brussels and rice pilaf .

Enjoy and continue to be safe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. skinless salmon fillets — I like to have it cut from the center so they’re the same size

1/3 cup soy sauce– I like to always use low sodium

2 Tablespoons Honey

2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice — juice from probably 1/2 an orange

1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger ( app. one inch piece maybe a little more) if you absolutely cannot get fresh ginger use about a 1/2 tsp.. powdered ginger

Directions:

Place the salmon fillets in a large ziplock bag.

In a liquid measuring cup measure the soy sauce, then add the 2 Tablespoons Honey and fresh orange juice.

Using a vegetable peeler peel the ginger, cut off any small knobs before you peel. Grate the ginger then add to the soy sauce mixture. Whisk it all together.

Reserve 3 Tablespoons of the mixture and set aside. Pour the remaining mixture over the the salmon in the bag , squeeze the air out of the bag and seal the bag and put in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes ( flip it over half way through so both sides get marinated ) don’t marinade too long — I marinaded for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile spray or line a sheet with aluminum foil — this is a sticky marinade so pan will burn — I sprayed .

Heat the broiler with oven rack app. 4 inches from the top.

Place Salmon on the prepared pan and discard the marinade from the bag. Broil until the top of the salmon starts to char– 5-6 minutes depending on your broiler. Pull out the pan and spoon the rest of the soy marinade over the salmon and broil for another minute or so. The salmon should be blackened in spots but not burnt. ( see photo)

You can check for doneness by inserting the tip of a paring knife into the thickest part of the salmon. If it flakes easily but still has a darker orange center it’s done. If not broil for another minute.

I like my salmon medium rare to medium. If you like it cooked more, you can broil it until it is the same color throughout.

www.jessicaseinfeld.com

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Baked Chicken Caprese

Posted on May 7, 2020 | 1 comment

 I sort of threw this together and I have to say this meal came out delicious. I served over zucchini noodles (zoodles) and some sliced roasted fingerling potatoes. Feel free to use pasta and since the sauce is so delicate and light I would use an angel hair type of pasta.

This was a lightened up version of a Chicken Parmigiana and it satisfied my yen for Chicken Parmigiana but much lighter than the usual fare.

Enjoy! Stay Safe and Stay Strong

Please follow me on Instagram @cookingwithcandi

Ingredients:

3-4 Chicken Breasts — I used 4 Thinly sliced Chicken Breasts

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3/4 Teaspoon dried Basil

3/4 Teaspoon Dried Oregano

1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1 -2 Cups Fresh Tomatoes– I used Campari Tomatoes and sliced in 1/2 I preferred a larger tomato here since they really break down and make a sauce from the heat . If you can’t find Campari Tomatoes use 2 pints of grape tomatoes and slice in half.

1/3 cup Red Onion — diced

3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1 – 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella– if you’d like you can also use Fresh Mozzarella –sliced

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place Chicken Breasts in a large baking dish or cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with Olive Oil, basil, oregano, garlic powder , salt and pepper

Place halved tomatoes and diced red onion all around the chicken

Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and brown sugar

Bake for 18-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the breasts. I did app. 18 minutes because these were thin sliced breasts — thicker ones will take a few minutes more

After chicken is cooked through (peek at it with a little slice )sprinkle with the cheese

Set oven to broil and place baking pan on the top rack. Broil for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted .

I served with Zucchini noodles and roasted fingerling potatoes.

Delicious!!!

 

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Cinco de Mayo Salad and Green Goddess Dressing

Posted on May 5, 2020 | Leave a comment

photo (2)photo (5)photo (2) photo Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! This salad is fresh and delicious and perfect for celebrating the day. If you’d like add a protein to it — chicken , shrimp or even tofu. May is here and it brings warm weather and beautiful flowers and springtime has finally arrived here .  This is a perfect way to bring a little Cinco de Mayo into your home in a pretty healthy way.

Any excuse to celebrate a holiday with a new recipe! Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone and here is a new salad and salad dressing to help celebrate with. While I am not a vegan and don’t always cook that way,  I tried this salad dressing which I found in Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, “It’s All Good”, and I have to say it is all good! All good ingredients. I am not talking diet food–just good, healthy food, that when eaten in moderation, yields very good results. I used * Vegenaise in making this and highly recommend it in the place of mayonnaise. You can also use yogurt in its place. This is low salt and low sugar. Delicious, fresh ingredients. I made it with the delicious salad listed below. I love love cilantro, and I have to say that if you don’t love cilantro, this one’s not for you. I used half of a jalapeno and it was not hot at all, next time I will use a little more.  I scraped the seeds out. Be very careful handling jalapenos and their seeds–make sure to wash your hands well afterwards and maybe wear gloves to prevent any problems.

*This dressing will keep well in a jar for up to a week.

*a little story about Vegenaise, which is lighter than mayonnaise and contains no eggs, milk or animal products. No GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms). Mix it with Dijon for great flavor in the place of real mayo. Extra added bonus is a great jar to store future salad dressings in.

Stay Safe Guys and Enjoy the Day!

Be in control of your ingredients as much as possible.

Ingredients:

*this will be vegan if you use Vegenaise

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup of Vegenaise, yogurt, or mayonnaise

2 scallions, white and light green parts only, chopped

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)

1/2 green jalapeno, roughly chopped (you can use more or less, whatever level of heat you like)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon honey

DRESSING DIRECTIONS:

Blend all ingredients in a blender except for olive oil (I open the top and pour oil in after all other ingredients are combined.) It is a beautiful light green color with specks of dark green. Joel was definitely suspicious of the color but he really loved it! Gave it a big thumbs up!

This should serve 4 nicely as a salad but adjust quantities based on how many people you are feeding.

SALAD INGREDIENTS:

About two hearts of romaine Lettuce, shredded

1/2 can of yellow corn (or 2 fresh ears of corn, shucked)

1/2 can black beans (I use organic canned beans and rinse and drain them)

4 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced

1 ripe avocado, cut into chunks

approx. 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (I used delicious cherry tomatoes, halved)

1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Green Goddess Dressing (see above)

If you’re using fresh corn, you’ll have to cook it first. I used the canned version this time. Place the lettuce in a large bowl and dress it with about 1/4 cup of the dressing, just so it’s nicely coated. I then added beans, tomatoes, scallions, avocado, cilantro and corn. Add a little more salad dressing, and serve immediately. Joel likes a lot more dressing on his salad so I served with dressing on the side. And no he didn’t eat all that stuff in the salad; he just ate lettuce and tomatoes…he really doesn’t know what he’s missing!

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Chicken with Peach and Sriracha

Posted on May 3, 2020 | Leave a comment

I posted this recipe once before a while back from Jessica Seinfeld’s cookbook Food Swings. I am re -writing it and re-posting it because I just re-discovered it on my site and it is quite delicious and I think it’s very easy to make and very few ingredients. I usually make it with coconut rice and that recipe is on my site as well.

Am on Dinner # 55 and it’s definitely a challenge to try and come up with new and exciting recipes for dinner. I will say that there are days that Breakfast for Dinner wins out and just make an omelette or frittata or just scramble up some eggs and roll with it. I am always thinking ahead now about my dinner plan. I am trying to help all of you with preparing dinner the best I know how and give you some new and old recipes that will inspire you to stay in the kitchen and cook dinner. These are by far very trying times for all of us.

You’ll need a rimmed baking sheet or any oven-proof baking dish will do.

http://www.jessicaseinfeld.com

Stay Safe Stay Home and Be Well.

Ingredients:

I used all chicken thighs — but you can use whatever you like app. 2 – 2 1/2 lbs. of chicken. I actually made 1 1/2 lb. for the two of us with a little left over for lunch. I used the same amount of sauce. You can add drumsticks, wings , whatever chicken parts you’d like.

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup peach jam or preserves

1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger–Using a vegetable peeler , peel the ginger and cut off any small knobs before you peel. (start out with app. a 2 ” piece of ginger–that should do it)

1 Tablespoon Sriracha Hot Sauce — this recipe is not spicy despite the use of this sauce

1 Tablespoon tamari or soy sauce — I like to use reduced sodium but use whatever you have

3 scallions, thinly sliced

*1/4 cup chopped peanuts, salted regular Peanuts for serving and this is optional

Directions:

Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees — rack should be in the center of the oven

Pat chicken dry with some paper towels.

I sprayed my rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray –this is a very sticky sauce and you’ll want to spray well if no cooking spray line with aluminum foil

In a large bowl, mix together the peach preserves, Sriracha and soy sauce. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat.

Arrange the chicken on rimmed baking sheet or a large baking dish and pour any remaining sauce over the chicken pieces. I also added a little water (1/4 cup) to sauce in pan

Roast for 35- 40 minutes depending on the size of your chicken pieces. After 20 minutes check to make sure sauce isn’t burning and if it’s very dry add a little more water to pan. Sauce simmers away but you don’t want it to burn. Continue to roast for another 20 minutes or so until the chicken is cooked through. I used a meat thermometer and it was at 165 degrees so the chicken was done.

Cook the coconut rice if you’d like or any other kind of rice . Plate up the chicken over the rice and spoon any sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with the scallions and chopped peanuts if you’d like and Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sheet Pan Chicken with Tomatoes and Pancetta

Posted on April 30, 2020 | Leave a comment

Love love Sheetpan Meals and love love boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Perfection on a sheet — I always love Melissa Clark’s recipes and this is one of her recipes .  I made a few little changes which suited me but feel free to check her recipe out available @nytimes.com/recipes 

I served with rice and a green salad and it was kind of perfect.

Stay Home and Stay Safe until further notice.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 – 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs — available in most supermarkets or ask your butcher

9 whole unpeeled garlic cloves

1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt — plus more as needed

2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for tomatoes

Juice of 1 small lemon

1 Tablespoon Sweet Paprika

1 Teaspoon dried oregano

1 Teaspoon brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 pint cherry tomatoes — use different colors if you can get them or whatever you have

4 ounces diced pancetta — available in the bacon section of your supermarket

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

I marinated for a couple of hours prior to cooking and recommend this. If you don’t have time to marinate it’s OK . It’s not imperative but helps flavors to meld together perfectly.

Season Chicken all over with salt and pepper. I laid out on baking sheet .

Smash all the garlic cloves with the side of a knife and peel them. Finely grate one garlic clove and put it in a small bowl — if you don’t have a grater mince the one clove . Stir in the 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, Juice of a small lemon, paprika, oregano, brown sugar and cumin. I whisked all ingredients together and poured over the chicken and tossed to coat. As I said I let the chicken marinate for a few hours.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a bowl add tomatoes and remaining smashed peeled garlic cloves . Season tomatoes and garlic lightly with kosher salt and drizzle olive oil till there is a light glaze over the tomatoes and garlic. Then add the tomatoes to baking sheet with the chicken spreading them around the chicken. Scatter pancetta throughout the tomatoes.

Roast until chicken is golden and cooked through , I cooked for 30 minutes. After 15 minutes I stirred the tomatoes and the pancetta without touching the chicken. Put back in oven for the next 15 minutes.

When cooked I plated up some rice stirred up the tomatoes and pancetta around the pan scraping up all the little brown bits from the bottoms and sides. Spoon tomato mixture over the chicken to serve.

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Cashew Chicken

Posted on April 26, 2020 | 1 comment

This cashew chicken recipe with stir fried chicken and roasted cashews in garlic sauce tastes like take-out from your favorite Chinese restaurant. It’s a perfectly easy weeknight meal and I added Jasmine Rice but any rice will do .

It is pretty healthy and if you don’t have all the ingredients just improvise — if nuts are an issue leave them out and add some crunchy cut up water chestnuts. You can also add baby corn , broccoli or peppers or whatever vegetable you have in the house and would like to use. Sometimes I add the vegetables and sometimes I don’t– totally up to the cook. This is the basic recipe and add or don’t whatever you’d like.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup roasted unsalted cashews

1/4 cup water

2 teaspoons cornstarch

4 Tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 Tablespoon soy-sauce

1- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins, cut into 1 – 1 1/2 inch pieces

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

6 medium garlic cloves, minced

8 scallions — 1 bunch white and green parts separated , cut into 1 inch pieces — a rough chop and I like the flavor of the green onion but use as much or as little as you like or none at all

2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar

1/4 teaspoon Asian Sesame Oil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Place the cashews on a baking sheet in a single layer, toast in the oven until fragrant –app. 5 minutes. Set aside they will crisp up as they cool. Be careful — as soon as you smell them take them out because they will burn up quickly

Prepare the sauce in a small bowl; whisk together the water, cornstarch, hoisin sauce and soy sauce–set aside

Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, sprinkle with the salt and pepper and with clean hands make sure chicken is coated as evenly as possible

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon of the vegetable oil till very hot. Add half of the chicken to the skillet and stir-fry until lightly browned but not cooked through, about 4-5 minutes should be good depending on the thickness of the chicken.  Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Add the remaining tablespoon of the vegetable oil to the skillet –then add the remaining chicken, garlic, and white parts of the scallions. Stir fry until the chicken is lightly browned but not cooked through ( app. 4 – 5  minutes). Return the first batch of the chicken to the pan with the rest of the chicken. Turn the heat down to medium and add the rice vinegar ; cook for a few minutes to allow vinegar to evaporate. Add the sauce mixture to the chicken; continue cooking and tossing until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is nicely thickened — a few more minutes to thicken and be hot.

Remove from the heat, stir in the scallion greens, cashews and the sesame oil.

Delicious served over Jasmine Rice , brown rice, white rice whatever you like. Perfect with simple steamed broccoli stirred in or stir fry the broccoli right in there with the chicken!

 

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Shrimp Marinara

Posted on April 23, 2020 | Leave a comment

I made Marinara Sauce last week and had it in the freezer but if you don’t want to make your own try and get a hold of some Raos Marinara Sauce in a jar you’ll be just fine. Raos is my go-to jarred sauce when I need sauce and don’t have my own. Making your own is super easy but I know not everyone wants to do it. I have some recipes on my site for making your own. Look for Sunday Night Red Sauce ( Marinara) .

I made this for the 2 of us and this is what I did if you have more people just increase ingredients. No exact science here and you can make changes to suit your own preferences.

I used Bucatini type spaghetti because we like the ropy texture but you can use any spaghetti you like or no pasta or use zucchini zoodles.

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 lb. Shrimp — I used app. 12 large shrimp for the two of us –peeled and de-veined

4 Whole garlic cloves, peeled and minced

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Marinara Sauce — I made my own but probably 1/2 a jar or more depending on how much sauce you like

Spaghetti –any type you like for the two of us I used 1/2 a box but if you make the whole box it’s great leftovers the next day

*Basil is really nice served chopped up in this but I didn’t have any

*crushed red pepper is a must for us but also totally optional

Directions:

I pat the shrimp dry after cleaning and de-veining it and place in a bowl and sprinkle salt and pepper and mix around with the shrimp — or lay out the shrimp on some paper towels and sprinkle S and P , just make sure you get salt and pepper all around the shrimp– I like a bowl but it really doesn’t matter.

Heat 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook till golden not burnt if heat is too high turn it down the garlic cooks very quickly so sometimes I will put in hot oil and remove from heat till garlic turns golden and softens.

I then add the shrimp into the hot oil and cook the shrimp but not all the way through– maybe 2 minutes on each side you’ll want the to start curling and turn pink around the edges. When shrimp is cooked set aside shrimp in a dish– If you’re making double the amount of shrimp don’t crowd the shrimp in the pan you want them to sear not steam

Prepare the Pasta according to the box directions– I prefer it al dente.

After you remove shrimp pour the marinara sauce into the pan and bring to a low simmer stirring up any small bit from the shrimp. I added crushed red pepper because we like it spicy this is totally optional.

When pasta is ready I put shrimp into the simmering marinara sauce and probably cook for app. 4 minutes depending on the size of your shrimp. Obviously if you’re using small shrimp this will cook faster you’ll have to watch it.

I plated up the pasta added sauce and shrimp and served immediately

 

 

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