Thursday 28 June 2012

Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs and Lemon Marinated Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes

Love the garlic gravy sauce for this pasta dish- found here:
http://godofscrumprecipes.tumblr.com/

Ingredients:

500 grams spaghetti pasta (cooked al dente)
1 pound chicken breast fillets (sliced into 1 inch chunks)

For the chicken marinade:
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped (if using driedm use half of the amount)
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped (if using dried, use half of the amount)
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of ½ a lemon
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt (not table salt)
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (to sauté the marinated chicken)

-  Add all the marinade ingredients into the chicken and marinade for 20 minutes (if making this dish in pronto) or over night (if making this dish the next day… much better).
-  Saute the marinated chicken in extra virgin olive oil until cooked (about 4-5 minutes) then set aside.

For the garlic gravy:
½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, finely minced
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 ½ cups chicken stock
1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup parsley, chopped (to sprinkle/finish the pasta)
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups whole cherry tomatoes

-  Place sauté pan over medium heat and add butter and olive oil.
-  Saute garlic until fragrant and soft.
-  Add the flour and cook for a minute.
-  Add chicken stock and simmer gravy until thickened then add the chopped basil.
-  Season with salt and pepper.
-  Add the sauteed chicken in the gravy then toss the cooked spaghetti into this  sauce.
-  Add the cherry tomatoes and finish the dish with the chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese (serve extra on the side).

Makes 5-6 servings.



Sante Fe Salad

Kind of like a taco salad:

lettuce
corn
black beans
chicken
avocado
red pepper
green onion
cilantro

Serve with one of the following dressings:

Chili Lime Dressing:
3 tbsp mayo
3 tbsp yogurt
3 tbsp water
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1-2 tsp sugar
1/2-1 tsp chili powder
pinch of salt
-whisk

Chipotle Dressing:
1/3 c chopped fresh cilantro
2/3 c light sour cream
1 chipotle chile, canned in adobo
1 tsp cumin
4 tsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp salt
-blend

Pretty Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Cake

http://www.yammiesnoshery.com/2011/08/secretly-healthy-chocolate-cake.html

Yummy chocolate cake for the times during the week when you want chocolate/treat but don't want to cheat too badly.  I topped mine with a little icing sugar/cocoa combo.  Super easy!

2/3 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2/3 cup applesauce
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded zucchini (carrots would also work)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Set oven to 350.

Mix dry ingredients, add egg, applesauce, vanilla, zucchini and chips.  Pour into a greased and floured pan (bundt, cake, muffin or loaf) and bake for 25-35 mins (depending on your pan) until your toothpick comes out clean.