Skillet Chicken with Broccoli, Pasta & Parmesan

This is the closest thing to Macaroni Grill's Pasta Milano I've tried. The recipe makes it look more difficult than it actually is, I promise. It's really, really good right after you cook it and the leftovers are fantastic.

2-3 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 T olive oil
1 onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
12 ounces penne {I used whole wheat}
4 1/4 cup water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
4-5 cups broccoli {I used 4 and didn't think it was enough}
{I think I'll add 8 oz. of sliced mushrooms next time}
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed & coarsely chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated parmesan
1 1/2 T lemon juice

Season the chicken with salt & pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 1 minute without stirring. Stir the chicken and continue to cook until most, but not all, of the pink color has disappeared, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the chicken to a clean bowl and set aside.

Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, the onion and 1/2 tsp salt to the skillet. Return to medium-high heat and cook until the onion is softened. Stir in the garlic, oregano and red pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the pasta, 3 cups of water and the broth. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is very thick and almost completely absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and remaining 1 1/4 cups water. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, 2-3 minutes.

Uncover and return the heat to medium-high. Stir in the cream, parmesan and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is cooked and heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with more parmesan cheese.

I printed this recipe off a blog several months ago but have no idea which one. If I figure it out, I'll update this post to give credit where credit is due.

Roasted Broccoli & Roasted chicken

Roasted Broccoli

Take Broccoli and cut it in to small florets. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread broccoli out on cookie sheet. Lightly pour or spray olive oil over the broccoli and toss to coat the pieces so they are shiny. Spread out on pan in one layer and salt and pepper to taste. Put in a 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until the ends look brown and toasty, then turn over add salt and pepper to taste, and roast for 5-10 minutes more. This has become one of our favorite vegetables and we eat it like its popcorn! You can also do the same technique with sweet potatoes, tomato slices, onions, carrots, green peppers , cauliflower, and potatoes.

I like to make this when I am already going to be cooking something else in the oven, like roasting chicken breasts. I will just take chicken and toss in olive oil, add salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash and roast for about 40 minutes until done. When there is about 30 minutes left, I just add the broccoli on a cookie sheet on the other shelf in the oven so that everything is done about the same time.

Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potatoes & Peas

Crust
1 cup flour - I'd like to try wheat flour but haven't yet
½ tsp. salt
¼ cup and 2 Tbsp shortening
3 Tbsp. cold water

Filling
¼ cup butter
¼ cup wheat flour
1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
2 cups chicken broth (2 cups water and 2 bullion cubes)
1 ½ cups cooked chicken, chopped
¾ to 1 cup Broccoli crowns, chopped (nuke for 1 minute in the microwave).
1/2 cup frozen peas1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed (I recommend nuking it in the microwave for 3 minutes. This will speed up the cooking time).

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp of salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half and shape into balls. Roll one ball out to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate. Roll out top crust and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
3. In a large saucepan, melt ¼ cup butter. Blend in wheat flour and onion. Gradually stir in chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened. Stir in chicken, broccoli, peas, and sweet potatoes. Mix well and pour bottom pie crust. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top and allow steam to escape.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown, and filling is bubbly.

Roasted Broccolini & Beans

2 bundles broccolini, trim off ends
1 pound string beans, trimmed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Arrange broccolini and beans on a cookie sheet. Coat the vegetables in oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast 15 to 18 minutes, until nutty and crispy at edges.

Rachael Ray, 2007
Show: 30 Minute Meals
Episode: Holiday Cheer
Yield: 6 servings

Orange-Basil Chicken

1 1/2 lb. Chicken breasts
3 T. cornstarch, divided
1 (12 oz.) bag fresh broccoli florets
2 T. olive oil, divided
3/4 c. orange juice
5 T. lite soy sauce
1/4 c. honey
3 T. grated fresh ginger
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
1 t. grated orange rind
Hot Cooked Rice

1. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Toss with 2 T. cornstarch, and set aside.
2. Saute broccoli in 1 T. hot oil in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes; remove from skillet, and set aside.
3. Saute chicken pieces in remaining 1 T. oil in skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until done. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger and remaining 1 T. cornstarch. Add orange juice mixture and broccoli to chicken, and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Stir in basil and orange rind. Serve over hot cooked rice.

(also good adding 1/2 c. cashews to orange juice mixture)
From: Southern Living Cooking School-Summer 2006