Smashing Italian Chicken Pasta

So okay, so you may be thinking that I've got more recipes than anything else at the moment... but it's just because at the current moment it seems the only time I sit down to write is as I'm eating, lol.

So here's something I whipped up while needing motivation to complete a paper, and just used what was in the kitchen.

Smashing Italian Chicken Pasta
(Makes 2 servings)

6 ounces of boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons olive oil
Dash of black pepper
1/8 yellow or white onion
2 cups (dry) vegetable pasta (the swirly pasta in red, tan, and green)
1 cup favorite red pasta sauce (I use Classico Fire Roasted Tomato and Garlic and it's cheap)
1 small Roma tomato
1/2 cup shredded mozzerela cheese

1. Fill a medium sized pot with water and set to boil on high, cover for faster boiling.

2. Place chicken in microwave to defrost. Use defrost setting.

3. In a medium size sauce pan (with a lid for later) add olive oil. Add dash of black pepper to pan. Heat over medium heat on the stove top.

4. Chop onion into small chunks, no need to chop into dust or anything.

5. Once chicken is defrosted, cut into chunks and add to olive oil pan, making sure to stir occasionally so food does not stick.

4. As the water in the pasta pot comes to boil add pasta. Boil until al dente.

5. Make sure to stir olive oil/ chicken pan, turn the heat to low, and add 1 cup of your favorite red pasta sauce. Place lid on pan.

6. Drain pasta (USE CAUTION with STEAM) and add pasta to olive oil pan. Replace lid.

7. Cut up tomato and add to pan. Cover with lid for 5-7 minutes.

8. Remove lid stir away any excess water in the pan as steam, and serve.

9. Add a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese to the top of each serving! and Yay, Yummy!

Jalapeno Chicken Fajitas

So I decided that I should learn to cook more things, recipes that people actually eat. I've been known to combine mustard, blue cheese and tuna and spread on a tomato stacked on a cucumber and love it. Other think that's disgusting, and my breath smells awful.

So here's one of my latest attempts at leaving the tuna death combination behind (well, maybe) and cooking great food (however I cannot promise it won't be a little out of the ordinary). Although I had recipes for multiple chicken dishes that I'd try my own recipe tonight. To my surprise it actually turned out well; my last attempt at creating my own recipe made red beans and rice that looks more like refried beans and rice and tasted like bean paste :(

The taste is flavorful, yet not too spicy depending on the strength of the jalapenos and salsa. So here is the recipe; it's quick; easy; healthy; and cheap... What more could you ask for?

Jalapeno Chicken Fajitas
(makes 4 fajitas to serve 2 people)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon jalapeno juice (just use the juice from a jar of jalapenos)
Pepper
2 4-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 green bellpepper
1/4 yellow onion
4 6-inch whole grain tortillas
1 cup salsa (any kind will do, I used Great Value Brand Black Bean and White Corn Salsa)

1. Defrost chicken breasts and slice if the breast is very thick (over an inch).

2. In a medium to large sized skillet pour olive oil and jalapeno juice and heat. Heat until a drop of water dropped unto the pan sizzles. (CAUTION: Don't let the oil get too hot, be careful.)

3. Place chicken in skillet until cooked and golden on one side; then flip. (Chicken may stick a bit, that's okay.)

4. Wash and slice bell pepper and onion and place in skillet with chicken.

5. Note: a nice color should form on the bottom of the pan, feel free to slide around the chicken and vegetables to pick up that golden color. That's all great flavor in there!

6. After about 2 - 3 minutes, turn the hear low or off and cover with lid. This allows the vegetables to soften up a bit.

7. Warm up the tortillas, fill with chicken vegetables and a few tablespoons of salsa, roll, and enjoy!

I'll include a picture later, but for now I'll just let you know it tastes great!

Welcome!

If you've made your way here and decided to stay, thank you. My name's Brittany, my friends call me BK... growing up I was given the name, and still growing up it's stuck with me. I recently moved into the "real world" where work requires "business casual" and cooking dinner should be more than peanut butter ans strawberry preserves on wheat.

I've already begun wardrobe shopping, and I'm a sale-finder, deal getter; thinking that I can make anything I see cheaper than the sale price. (Note: I'm usually very wrong, lol) But I'll invite you to join me in multiple new attempts, clothes, my crazy hair, cooking, decorating, budgeting... and all those things we're supposed and I' like to master as "grown-ups."

A little life, a little failure, a little success, and quite possible a lot of God. Enjoy.

(Below is a Quick Tuna Sandwich!... tuna, apple chunks, bell pepper chunks, dijon mustard, and dab of mayo mixed up and served on whole grain bread... with the other half of the apple!)