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Foodie Friday – One Pot Chicken Alfredo With Spinach and Mushrooms

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One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

I’ve done posts and tutorials on my homemade alfredo sauce many times, but I have never talked about my easy One Pot Chicken Alfredo.  Being a mom of three very active and hungry boys pasta is probably a favorite in our house…. whole wheat pasta, regular pasta, macaroni, rigatoni, penne, spaghetti… you name it – we love it.  While I love to cook and take pride in my recipes and meals, I would be lying if I didn’t experiment from time to time to try making an already fast meal – even faster.  Today I bring to you my One Pot Chicken Alfredo with Spinach and Mushrooms.

This meal will take you from pan to table in 30 minutes or less and what I love so much about it is everything will cook in just one pan or pot.  Pair this recipe with your favorite side dish, salad or in our case – the boys just wanted a cheese biscuit.  Want to know how I created this super easy dish…?

Let’s Get Started…

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Start with your chicken.  I used boneless skinless chicken thighs because they were readily available and on sale.  You can use chicken breasts which is what I usually use.  Brown the chicken or cook them on medium high heat until the chicken is cooked.  I saute the chicken in coconut oil (extra virgin olive oil works too) and I also add in some minced garlic and sometimes chopped or minced onions.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Since we are using chicken thighs instead of breasts, your pot will naturally develop it’s own chicken stock.  Pour out the stock if you wish or you can flavor this one and use to complete the dish.  I sprinkle in some dried parsley, dried basil (or fresh basil if you wish – but that goes in with the veggies), garlic salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and oregano.  What ever seasoning you wish to add – this is the time to do it.  Turn your pot down to medium and let your stock develop it’s flavors… I usually leave it for about 2 minutes.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

While your stock is developing flavors with your chicken, now is the time to prep your vegetables.  This is my favorite part because you choose what you want to add.  Mushrooms and spinach is a popular choice in our house.  This is also the time I would choose to prep my fresh basil as it will go into the pot the same time as the vegetables.  A few favorites of mine that you can also add in the pot would be… cherry tomatoes or sundried tomatoes, olives, kale, asparagus, broccoli – pretty much any of your favorite veggies that you think will go well with alfredo sauce.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

With the chicken and the stock at the bottom of your pot or pan, add in your pasta of choice (dry of course), spinach, mushrooms and other vegetables you are planning to have in your alfredo.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Add water to your pot so that it covers your ingredients and bring up to a boil – I usually will turn the heat up a bit back to medium high and will leave the pot boiling for about 5 minutes and then lower to medium heat the rest of the time.  Total cook time to cook your pasta will vary but usually that is the time you will cook what you have in the pot.  This specific organic pasta takes nine minutes to al dente – so that is how long I cooked everything for.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Once the pasta is cooked to the right al dente, I then drain the pot of excess liquid though usually you will only be removing about a cup or so of liquid since the pasta will soak up quite a bit of it as it cooks.  Turn your pot down to low heat.

Add in your heavy cream.  With a large pot as I have here I usually use about one cup of heavy cream to 1 1/2 cups.  I also season with a little nutmeg and then add 2 cups of shredded Parmesan cheese.  While on low heat I will stir and combine all of the ingredients until they are well coated with the heavy cream.  The cream will also start to thicken.  This will take just about 2 minutes, so do not leave unattended. Turn your fire down to simmer or the lowest possible heat and get ready to serve.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo Recipe

 

And dinner is served!  Like I mentioned before serve this up with your favorite salad or veggie sides.  My sons love to eat pasta along side pizza or sometimes the simplest way is to bake a few biscuits and put that on the plate with the pasta.  From start to finish including prep time, you should have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes or less.

I hope you enjoy this really easy recipe and if you try it – definitely let me know.  Happy Eating!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lbs Chicken breasts or boneless skinless thighs
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 box or package of pasta – your choice (uncooked)
  • 1 – 2 cups of spinach
  • 1 – 2 cups of mushrooms
  • 1-2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • seasoning / herbs to taste

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Easy Zucchini Pasta Featuring Priority Chef

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I will be the first person to admit, and the last… that I’m addicted to pasta.  Since I was a young girl, I have been addicted to Italian cooking and along with that came my obsession with pasta.  But, as much as it is a comfort food for me I know that too much of it is just not good for my body (or my weight), so I try to substitute my pasta with different choices.  I use a variety of ingredients to create my pasta dishes and here’s one that I would like to share with you.

zucchini pasta

 

I LOVE Veggie Pasta… and I’m not talking about the pasta being flavored with vegetables but still using traditional “pasta” ingredients.  When I say veggie pasta, I mean actually using vegetables (like zucchini) to create pasta like (like spaghetti shaped) veggies that you lightly saute.  Now, if you are not a veggie eater… this way of eating may actually convert you.  It’s simple and I use vegetables like Butternut Squash, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, carrots, cucumbers and so much more… but my absolute favorites are Zucchini, Yellow Squash/Yellow Zucchini and Butternut Squash.  Sauteed quickly in garlic salt, pepper and a little coconut oil and you have a treat that will even trick the kids into eating their veggies.  The veggie pasta is slightly crunchy and satisfies texture you want in food but it also tastes great, has awesome health benefits and easy to make.  So keep on reading for an easy zucchini pasta recipe.

Dual Julienne vegetable peeler

 

I have several types of utensils and tools to create my julienne style veggie pasta.  When using an item to create your yummy pasta, you want to make sure that it is sharp and easy to use.  Priority Chef offers a great Dual Julienne and Vegetable Peeler and I use both sides to create my pasta from my favorite squash type veggies.  They julienne side is used to create skinny spaghetti like pasta with your vegetables while the peeler side makes larger cuts of vegetables which I like to use to create vegetarian lasagna.  Because the peeler side will peel your vegetables a little wider, it makes the perfect sized peels that are similar in width to that of lasagna noodles and is perfect for creating just that.

Dual Julienne vegetable peeler

 

Since I’m a busy mom, I’m all about getting things done and accomplished quickly and efficiently so for me, a dual ended anything that allows me to use the item in more than one way without searching through countless utensil drawers for another one is a great idea.  The Priority Chef Dual Julienne and Vegetable Peeler retails for $19.95 which is a pretty darn good deal considering you are getting a product that works and works well.

Dual Julienne vegetable peeler

 

I love that this tool has two sides and while I mostly use it on my vegetables to make veggie pasta, I love how easy the vegetable peeler side glides through cheese blocks, making it a much more affordable alternative to buying already shredded cheese in the store.  I save a bit of money by buying block cheese and shredding it myself.  I can easily use either side to create the size of cheese shreds I want to use.  The options are endless, honestly.

Dual Julienne vegetable peeler

 

Like with any tool or utensil used in the kitchen, there definitely is a learning curve to using this product.  But after just a few tries, I got it instantly and it is a breeze.  Like with any peeler or julienne cutter, you can expect the clean up to be a challenge, but I found it to be a breeze when I used my scrub brush… just a little swipe of the brush and it was clean and ready to use again.

zucchini pasta

 

So, like I said previously – creating your zucchini or veggie pasta is simple.  I preferred to use the julienne side this time around and just ran it down the length of the vegetable.  As you can see if easily sliced through the vegetable creating nice spaghetti sized strips of zucchini that are ready to be cooked for your meal.

Dual Julienne vegetable peeler

 

Take a skillet or wok, frying pan or whatever works for you and turn it on medium.  Add a little coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil if you have that on hand and when the oil has been heated, add your zucchini shreds.  Season your pasta with salt, pepper and what ever other ingredients you would like (fresh herbs or dried herbs are always a favorite in our house).  Serve alone, with your favorite protein or meats or pour (or toss) some homemade (or jarred) tomato sauce / pasta sauce and you’re ready to go.  This simple little add on is a favorite of my children and mine and we do enjoy it in our house so I know that as simple as it is – you’ll enjoy it too.  No more waiting for your water to boil, this is actually faster than you think.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Foodie Friday – Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

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Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

My homemade Mac and Cheese recipe is delish and this dish is a popular one in our household and famous at family gatherings and parties.  My boys absolutely love it and they also love that it is a great side dish for some of their favorite proteins and dishes.  I have posted my Mac & Cheese recipe before in the past and figured I would share it again for all of you.  This particular dish is a staple in most households and is an American favorite.  I have tasted a lot of different versions of Mac and Cheese – from the West to the East Coast and I love how everyone brings their little twists to a very basic dish.  Here is one version of my Mac & Cheese Recipe (I have a few others I like to use as well) and I hope you enjoy it.  It’s quick and simple and a great dish to get on the table for a great home-cooked meal.

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Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients needed:

  • 8 oz box of elbow macaroni pasta (or your pasta of choice)
  • Garlic Powder and/or Garlic Salt to Taste
  • Onion Powder to taste
  • Sage, Basil, Oregano, Parsley – dried or fresh (add to your mixture according to your taste)
  • Ground Nutmeg – approximately 1/4 – 1/2 a teaspoon
  • 1 – 12oz can of Evaporated Milk (regular milk is okay, you can also substitute milk with Almond milk or coconut milk)
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup finely grated or shredded Parmesan Regiano
  • 1/4 cup 5 cheese blend or mexican cheese blend (this will add a little more richness and flavor but it is not required)
  • 6-8 strips of chopped Bacon (cooked bacon only)
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons sliced/chopped Chives or Green Onions for Garnish

Directions:

  • Boil salted water and follow directions on the Macaroni Pasta package.   Make sure to cook your macaroni to al dente.  Drain the macaroni and keep in the same pot and return to stove.
  • Add evaporated milk and allow the milk to warm up.
  • Add spices to the macaroni and stir in well so that there are no clumps.  Make sure it is combined and mixed in properly.  If you would like, you can also mix the spices together first and then add to the pasta to ensure that all spices are combined properly.
  • Once spices are combined nicely – add in your cheese a little at a time, I usually use a handful at a time.  Start with the Sharp Cheddar Cheese, stirring softly to ensure that you are not smashing the macaroni.  Next add in the Parmesan Cheese and then the Mozzarella Cheese.  Stir in Mexican blend cheese last.  Stir until melted and smooth.
  • Add chopped bacon (make sure it is cooked, I like to use Ready Bacon) and stir into your Mac & Cheese nicely.  If you prefer – turkey bacon works well too.
  • Serve up your macaroni and cheese with a sprinkle of chives or green onion on top for garnish and a little flavor and Enjoy!  Unfortunately I didn’t have chives when I created this particular mac and cheese (pictured above), so I left it out for garnish.

mac and cheese

Pictured above is another version of my Mac and Cheese with larger cuts of bacon strips and chives/green onion garnish.  I love the green onion or chive garnish because it is not only great for flavor and a little crunch, but it is also adds a gorgeous and vibrant green to the mix that makes the plating gorgeous.

Mac and Cheese

I love to use Bamboo utensils when working with pasta dishes (in this case, mac and cheese) because it allows you to stir heavily without heavy breakage of your noodles.  I love using Bamboo utensils because it is strong enough to hold up to the cooking you are doing (stronger than wood), but it’s easy to clean and the Moso Bamboo used in these utensils is a renewable eco-friendly source.  Not to mention – they are affordable.

Bamboo cooking utensils

The Bamboo Style’s Premium Bamboo 6 Piece Cooking Kitchen Utensil Gadget Set that I used to create this dish and many of my home-cooked meals includes: Spoon, Spatula, Fork, Slotted Spoon, Slotted Spatula, Single Hole Spoon.  This set is easy to wash, stuck on food comes off fairly easily with little to no effort and the price is very reasonable – on sale for $9.97 (retails for $19.97).  Made with a natural bamboo, you also don’t have to worry about dyes or colorants and the bamboo wood is stronger than maple and lighter than oak.  Because I use my bamboo utensils for a lot of my pasta dishes that have rich sauces or cheese, I love that these utensils do not scrape or scratch my pots/pans and the wood has good anti-bacterial properties.

I hope you enjoyed my Homemade Mac and Cheese recipe for this week’s Foodie Friday as well as a little look into the tools I use to make my foodie creations.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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POPSUGAR Must Have Box – April 2014

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Yay me!  I swear, I am always amazed with the perks that come with being a Blogger, but more so when I get to try out new and exciting things and realize how lucky I truly am.  I had the awesome opportunity to receive the April POPSUGAR Must-have Box and it was filled with goodies different from my normal that I’m used to receiving from other Subscription boxes.  Check out what I got and all the goodies inside.

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POPSUGAR Must-have April Box Check out my reveal video – watch the embedded video below or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

If you watched my reveal video – you can see that I am and was definitely excited to receive all the goodies in my April box.  It was filled with awesome Spring goodies to get me excited for the season and looking forward Summer.  Are you a Monthly Subscription junkie like me?  If so, the POPSUGAR Must-have box may just be a great fit for you.  It includes a variety of products from beauty, food, home, fitness and more and is just $39.95 each month with free shipping.  What I love about this box is that you receive FULL SIZED Products, many of which are Premium items.  Check out past Must-have boxes to see if this is something you may want to sign up for.  Interested in signing up for POPSUGAR’s awesome Must-have box… click here to check it all out.

Included in April’s box was a total of 6 items – I have them outlined for you as well as the price break down for your reference.

Blue Avocado (Eco) Shopper

THE BLUE AVOCADO (ECO) SHOPPER – retails for $25.00

This awesome little shopper was a joint effort between Lauren Conrad and BlueAvocado.  It is a collapsible tote (perfect for carrying groceries) and is made from upcycled plastic bottles.  It folds neatly into a wallet-sized pouch and fits perfectly into my purse.  This is awesome!  In Hawaii – on my island, stores no longer offer you plastic bags and many require you have your own shopping bag for groceries so I will make great use out of this.

Too Faced Natural Eyes

TOO FACED NATURAL EYES PALETTE – retails for $36.00

I was beyond excited to hear that this product was in other people’s boxes and certainly could not wait to get my hands on it.  I have been eyeing this palette for a while and being a huge Too Faced addict, I was jumping for joy inside.  This palette is perfect for the gal who loves a natural look.  It includes nine different shades and the color range is perfect for every age and every skin tone.  Included is a glamour guide (like most Too Faced palettes) that you can use to create looks or be inspired and the shades included are a combination of matte, satin and shimmer.  I’m seriously diggin’ this!

POPSUGAR Must-have April Box

GRAPHIC IMAGE POCKET NOTES – retails for $20.00

This awesome little notebook is sweet, stylish and a great size to throw into the purse.  Made with silver edges, acid-free paper and a flexible cover with the words “Run the World” on the cover – I am surely inspired to keep blog posts and more in this notebook that fits perfectly in the pocket or in my purse for on the go inspiration.

CALDREA ROSE WATER DRIFTWOOD HAND SOAP – retails for $10.50

Who doesn’t need hand soap?  As a mom of three boys, we have hand soap everywhere in the house and I’m always on the hunt for new scents that I love.   This hand soap has  a combination of floral aromas that have a light but great scent.  The soap is gentle but hardworking and free of any harmful chemicals.

POPSUGAR Must-have April Box

FRESH PASTRY STAND TOTALLY AWESOME TEA TOWEL SET – retails for $18.00

Seriously… how “Awesome” is it to display something that says “totally awesome” in your kitchen.  Since nothing but awesome grinds come from my kitchen (yes, I’m bragging – lol), I was very excited to get something like this.  The Awesome tea towel set is such a fresh take on a cute design and I love the bright and bold colors that is so fun for Spring and Summer.  They are handmade from a water-based ink and completely lint-free (woohoo!).  I am looking forward to having fun with these.

NATUREBOX POPSUGAR MUST HAVE MIX – retails for $5.00

Hello goodies and snacks!  Let me first say that I am in love with how awesome these taste but I won’t go into any details since I’ll be doing a full post on my blog all about these goodies in the future.  NatureBox teamed up with Lisa Sugar to design this custom snack mix especially for POPSUGAR Must Have.  NO artificial flavors, NO artificial colors, NO corn syrup and NO hydrogenated oils.  They include a bunch of my favorite snack treats like almonds, soybeans, corn and cranberries – a satisfying crunch for any die hard snacker.  I am seriously addicted to these.

My Thoughts Overall…

Overall – I’m definitely impressed with the April POPSUGAR Must Have box.  It includes a variety of items I know I will get great use out and each product offers great quality.  So let me break it all down for you with regard to how much product you are receiving and the amount you pay.

You pay $39.95 each month for this box.  This month I received a total value of $114.50 worth of products.  I got over $70 additional worth of products and I think it was well worth it.  If you are looking for a monthly subscription box that offers you a variety of products from beauty and home to fitness, health and food – then this definitely may be the box for you.  Click here to sign up or to learn more about the box itself and to check out what past boxes looked like: http://popsu.gr/sCKU  And if you sign up – be sure to stop on by and let me know what you think of your first box.

Have you tried POPSUGAR Must Have box before or have you been interested in trying it out?  What do you think of my April box, is it worth the $39.95?  Thank you so much for your time in reading my post.  Wishing you all a wonderful week!

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Dinner Diaries – Tonight’s Food Porn: Homemade Alfredo, Chicken and more

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12.13.13 - homemade alfredo, chicken, bowtie pasta, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, asparagus and a drizzle of truffle oil

 

Everyone and anyone who knows me knows that I am a pasta and Italian food addict.  I absolutely love love love to make things from scratch (if I had my way I would make Pasta from scratch too) and my homemade Alfredo is definitely a winner.  I take the homemade alfredo and toss the pasta and all the extras with the sauce so that it is not a heavy liquid type sauce.  It blends nicely with all the goodies and you are eating something fulfilling but not too heavy.

Tonight’s dinner included homemade alfredo tossed with bow tie pasta, chicken and mushrooms.  I then plated the pasta and topped it with steamed asparagus and sundried tomatoes.  For an extra bit of yum I added a very light drizzle of truffle oil.  The truffle oil is already an overpowering addition so a little goes a long way… a small tiny bit of drizzle and you are good to go.

I do have a recipe for this on my older YouTube Channel as well as the blog post on my old host.  I will transfer that recipe here so you have it to refer to.  It’s super easy to make and it will be just awesome for anyone looking for some homemade pasta comfort food.

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