Monday, June 20, 2011

Who doesn't love pasta? Cajun Chicken & Sausage Penne

If you love Italian and Cajun food like us, you will truly enjoy this mix of the two! We put this delicious dish together for a special client this weekend and you know we had to save some for ourselves. Bon Appetit! 


 Ingredients:
      
        Serves 2 to 4 people
  • 4 ounces penne pasta
  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 8 ounces of smoked turkey sausage( sliced into small circles)
  • 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves of chopped garlic
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 4 fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup of dry white wine
  • ½ cup of chopped spinach
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Place the chicken, sausage and the Cajun seasoning in a plastic bag. Shake to coat. In a large skillet over medium heat add butter and garlic saute until translucent then add the chicken and sausage ,saute,until almost tender (7 to 10 minutes).
Add the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, mushrooms, spinach and green onion. Saute and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat. ( If the pan is getting dry add another pat of butter  or tbsp of olive oil)

Add the cream, wine,  salt, and ground black pepper. Heat through. Add the cooked penne, toss and heat through.  Pull one chicken breast  out with a fork and cut open slightly to ensure it is fully cooked( Their shouldn't be any red). Chicken should be cooked to internal temperature of 165 degrees . If fully done sprinkle whole dish with grated Parmesan cheese and serve





Chicken seasoned and browning with fresh garlic!

We love veggies!( mushrooms, peppers, and spinach)

Alfredo sauce!

Finished product! Hungry yet?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Summer = Good People, Good Food, & GOOD TIMES!

Growing up a child of the 70's in the mid-west their was nothing like the excitement I felt when SUMMER FINALLY ARRIVED! Almost 7 months of snow and cold weather was enough to drive the sane towards insanity.

Summer hit, school was out and the days seemed to last forever. The family BBQ's  and soul music still linger in my mind. One moment in particular was when I would get in Marilyn Louise's ( My Mother) Gremlin ( Yes the name of a Car made in the 70's) and she would turn on the radio. One song that came on in the summer of 79 that still takes me back to those days was 'Good Times" by Chic! 

I didn't appreciate it then, but looking back those were really "Good Times". Riding shot gun with Mom's windows down on our way to one of my Auntie's summer BBQ you couldn't tell me then their was  anything better!

Enjoy the summer and this family potato salad recipe along with music and images from those days!



                          
Aunt Bessie May’s Potato salad recipe
(Serves about 10-15 people)

5 lbs. potatoes
1 doz. eggs                                            
1/2 c. mustard                             
Salt and pepper to taste
4 lg. onions(finely diced)
1 sm. jar sweet pickle relish
1 c. mayonnaise


Boil potatoes until tender, cut into bite size. Boil eggs, cut into small pieces. Mix the potatoes, eggs, onions, mustard, sweet pickle relish and mayonnaise together, salt and pepper to taste. Additional mustard and mayonnaise can be added for a moister texture. To bring out the flavor, chill overnight.



Mom
                                                         
     
The Gremlin