Monday, March 31, 2008

Chicken and Noodles

Most of you know I love to cook. I love to cook when it's easy and takes less than an hour. I do not like waiting for things to cook forever. Even chicken I cook for higher temps so it cooks faster :) For whatever reason, it usually comes out ok.

I made this dish the other day when I realized I had nothing awesome for dinner. Forgive the specifics of the recipe...I don't usually measure, so if you want to make it, you pretty much have to make it up :) I made this for Matt and I, and we have had leftovers for 2 days.

You will need (for 2-4 people):
chicken (about 4 breasts?) I usually use the frozen tenderloins...about 10 of them
spices: rosemary, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (I have made it with cream cheese as well-use more though)
1/2 cup chicken broth
spinach (about 2 handfuls)
tomatoes (I used about 3 baseball sized)
shredded parmesan cheese (a few handfuls)
red onion (sliced-about 1/2 a medium onion)
shell macaroni noodles (1/2 box) or whatever cool looking noodles you might have, like camparelli (sp?)

1. Cut up chicken into small bite-sized pieces and cook in some olive oil and a little butter.
2. sprinkle a little of each of the spices ( I usually use about 1/2 tsp of each I would guess)
3. In a new pot, boil water with 1 tsp of kosher salt (makes the flavor of your food stand out better than normal salt)
4. Once water is boiling, add noodles.
5. Once the chicken is just about cooked through, add the red onions, balsamic vinaigrette, whipping cream, and chicken broth. Mix in.
6. Add a small handful of cheese to chicken mixture, let simmer.
8. Add all of the spinach and stir in.
9. Once noodles are done, pour off 95% of the water, then pour into a large serving bowl.
10. Turn off the heat and add the cut up tomatoes, stir in. Pour mixture immediately on the noodles.
11. Add the rest of the cheese. You can choose to mix it all up or let it be as it is.

It is delicious! Let me know if you have any questions.

6 comments:

Our growing family said...

Um...do you want to come over and cook tonight?!?! This sounds AMAZING!!! I am so glad that I am going shopping tomorrow so I can get the ingrediants for this! Did you make the whole thing up???? Seriously, Stef-write any down that you make up! You are a chef! Oh, and tossing in whatever you have and not really measuring is the only way to really cook! =) I have most of the ingrediants right now and I was planning on making chicken for dinner...do I dare take all of the kids to the store right now? Hmmm...
Thanks for sharing the recipe! =)

Our growing family said...

ps. you would love Olive Gardens new balsamic chicken!!!! here is a link to the pic and description!
http://www.olivegarden.com/menus/details/menu_item.asp?menu_item_id=7191&secname=dinner

Go have it! It is WONDERFUL! And it lasted for 2-3 meals for me! =)

Stefanie said...

I hope you like it, we loved it! I didn't technically make the whole thing up because I had made a recipe similar to this several months ago. Thanks for the credit though :) I will definitely have to try that one at Olive Garden-though it would probably only last me one meal! I like my food!

Doreen T. said...

I found my way to your chicken recipe through Kara's blog to Tarena's blog to yours. Can't wait to try this recipe tonight!

I'm also so glad that you, Tarena, Danica and Kara are all still friends. Through Kara, it's been wonderful watching you all grow from girls into women.

Stefanie said...

Doreen, I am so glad you found the blog! Let me know how you like the recipe. I am anxious to hear how it turns out. I have been reading your blog as well...I cannot believe how much you have moved in the past few months! You must be going crazy with that and all that physical therapy!!

Doreen T. said...

Dave and I both LOVED the chicken dish! Can't wait to use it for company.... Actually, I'd better wait a few more weeks until my dining room set arrives so that company will have something to sit on. :)