Chicken, red potatoes, and green beans

I have a few recipes that I make sure to have the ingredients on hand so that I can make them quick.  This is one that I love to make.  I have canned green beans on hand at all times and chicken that is frozen, so all I must make sure to have is potatoes.  My preference is red potatoes but you could use any potatoes you want.  So now, on to the ingredients:

3 chicken breast (frozen or thawed is fine)
5 fist size red potatoes cut up
2 cans of green beans
1 stick of butter
1 package of Italian seasoning

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and put the chicken, then potatoes, then green beans in a 9x13 pan.  Slice the butter up and put the pats on too of the green beans.  Then sprinkle the Italian seasoning over it al.  Cover it with aluminum foil and cook for 375 degrees for 1 hour or until the potatoes are soft and the chicken is cooked. 

I always stress thinking I haven't let it cook long enough for the chicken.  Even when it is thick pieces that are frozen, one hour to a hour and 10 minutes is okay.  There is enough liquid to make sure that that everything is moist.  I also store everything together with the juice to have for the next day.  This is a great meal that anyone can fix.  Even the leftovers are amazing and warm up good. 

What is a go to recipe that you love?  leave the link to your recipe so I can build up my stash too!

Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes over Pasta

Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes over Pasta
Ingredients:
1 cup low or reduced sodium, non-fat chicken broth
1 1/2 oz. Sun Dried Tomatoes (not packed in oil, about 16)
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons white wine
1 teaspoon 7-10 leaves of fresh basil
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups cooked hot pasta ( I like penne)
Parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Combine broth and tomatoes in a small sauce pan and warm gently on low heat. Take off heat and let sit 5 minutes. Drain, reserving broth. Finely chop tomatoes and set aside. Place chicken, 1/2 cup broth, wine, basil, oil, salt and pepper in saucepan and heat gently till hot. When pasta is done, drain and toss with chicken mixture and tomatoes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

You can also use wheat pasta to cut out some calories. :) Dried basil can be used, but I love, love, love fresh basil.

What other recipes would you like to see?

Chicken Bundles

This is one of the most amazing recipes that I have ever made. Doesn't it look yummy? I am sure that there are ways to make it lower in fat but measuring out skim milk, using margarine (which will work fine), and using fat free cream cheese but I was wanting the ooey gooey goodness of everything last night! This is an amazingly easy recipe and everything flows. It will take a total of 20 - 25 minutes to make and I was so focused that I forgot to fry squash to put with it last night. He doesn't ask for certain things to be made too much but this is one that he asks for. I also figure that you could use tuna or turkey. The turkey would really need to be pulled and moisture added to make it taste right. Here we go with the recipe!!!

Chicken Bundles
1 can of cresent rolls 3 oz cream cheese
3 Tbs butter
1 can chicken breast, drained
2 cups Minute Rice
Slightly less than 2 cups of water
Salt to taste
1 tsp butter
1 can Cream of chicken soup
1 can milk

Roll-upsPre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Put cream cheese and the 3 Tbs of butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. (If not soft enough to blend microwave in 1 second increments until they are able to be blended – not melted). Blend together. Add the drained chicken and mix. Unroll the crescent rolls and put 1/8 of mixture on each roll. Bring the corners of roll together. They won’t all come together and there will still be mixture showing. This is fine, it won’t affect the bundle. Put in the oven on a cookie sheet and bake until lightly brown.

RiceWhile bundles are cooking, add the salt and the 1 tsp of butter to the water and bring to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the rice. Stir and take off the heat, covering with a lid. Let the rice sit at least five minutes.

SauceMix soup and milk together with a wire whisk. Cook over medium high heat until just starts to boil, stirring constantly.

Put the rice in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Put the cook bundles on top and then cover with sauce.
I always let this sit for approximately 5 minutes to let it mix and "mari" and cool off!
*This is enough that we eat half and save the other half for the next day. It does heat up well and tastes just as good the next day!