Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta Dinner

My daughter was sick and I had very little in the house, I usually shop when the kids are at school.  So, this is a quick easy meal with items most people would have in the house.

Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta Dinner

-2 chicken breasts
-1 can of tomatoes
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 carrot, peel sliced and coined
-1 onion
-1 yellow pepper, chopped
-1 red pepper, chopped
-1 clove of garlic
-1 teaspoon parsley flakes
-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
-1 teaspoon italian seasoning
-salt and pepper
-rotini noodles

-in a large sauce pan add olive oil, onion, carrots, garlic and peppers.  Cook until onions transparent.  Pepper should be soft as well.  Add the can of tomatoes, spices, and salt and pepper and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.  In a frying pan on medium heat cook chicken in olive oil and brown on either side.  Slice the chicken and place in tomato sauce.  Allow to cook together for 20 minutes.  Serve over rotini noodles.

Taco Night inspired Quinoa Salad

Taco Night inspired Quinoa Salad

-2 cups of water

-1 cup quinoa

-2 tomatoes diced

-1/3 cup olive oil

-juice and zest of 1 lime

-1/2 cup taco sauce or salsa

-1 roasted red peppers

-a pinch of red chili flakes

-1/2 teaspoon cumin

-onion diced

-yellow pepper diced

-salt and pepper

-cilantro

-roast red peppers in oven at 450 drizzled in a little olive oil for about 15 minutes.  Cook the quinoa, bring water with quinoa to a boil, then cover and cook on low for 15 minutes and let sit for 5 minutes. Chop the tomatoes and mix the tomatoes, onion and yellow pepper with lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper and let sit.  Chop the red pepper.  In a large bowl mix the quinoa, red peppers, the tomato salsa, the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, red chili flakes and taco sauce.  Taste and add more salt, pepper or taco sauce.  You can also add a few drops of either Tabasco or Franks red hot.  Top with cilantro.

Oven Roasted Vegetables

Oven Roasted Vegetables

-1 red pepper chopped
-1 yellow pepper chopped
-1 medium zucchini sliced like coins
-3 green onions chopped or onion
-1 small jar of artichoke hearts (using 3 tablespoons of the oil over vegetables)
-1/2 teaspoon herb de Provence
-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
-sea salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  On a cookie sheet toss all the vegetables in the oil from the artichoke hearts.  Season with spices and salt and pepper to taste.  Allow to cook for 30 minutes.  Then broil on high for 4 minutes.

Eggplant Parmesan topped with a Mozzarella onion mushroom and pepper sauce

This was not a typical eggplant Parmesan, there was no tomato sauce, I covered them with onions, mushrooms, red, yellow, and orange peppers.

Eggplant Parmesan topped with a Mozzarella onion mushroom and pepper sauce

-1-2 eggplants (I used the round eggplant that is short and a light purple skin) sliced thinly
-flour
-2 eggs
-1 cup breadcrumbs
-2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese finely shredded
-salt and pepper
-olive oil

In a bowl scramble 2 eggs.  On one plate place about 1/2 cup of flour, on a second plate place bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper, mix together so that the flavour is evenly distributed.  Have a frying pan on medium heat coat the bottom with a thin layer of olive oil.  Take each individual eggplant and dip in flour to coat both sides.  Then dip in the egg and coat in the bread crumb mixture.  Place in frying pan browning each side.

Mozzarella onion mushroom and pepper sauce

-1 onion chopped
-1 cup mushrooms chopped
-1-2 garlic cloves chopped finely
-1 red pepper
-1 yellow pepper
-1 orange pepper
-olive oil
-1 cup red wine
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
-Paremsan cheese
-1 teaspoon chili powder (more if you want a little more flavour)

In a frying pan on medium heat add a few tablespoons of oil and heat, add onions and mushrooms and Sautée until onions soft and clear.  Add peppers and garlic.  Once peppers start to soften add chili powder, trying to evenly coat mixture.  Allow to cook for a few more minutes.  Add the wine and salt pepper, continue to stir occasionally.  Then add cheeses and mix well.  Top the eggplant these veggies.