Saturday, April 5, 2014

Imagine

Sometimes it is just easy to imagine things. We have the potential of coming up with ideas that can change our lives but often are afraid to just let go and be creative. With that said, I think it is good for the soul to take some time and just write things down- what do you want to learn next? what will be your next adventure? what can you change in your personal life? It can be endless but that list can become a timeline of goals to be achieved. It is so easy to get caught in the daily routine that we forget that there are endless things out in the world to be explored. Getting lost in the world of possibilities can truly give you that extra push to get things done. Just let that sink in.. and give it a try- yes, it is that simple.



So here we go. Here is a quick simple recipe for when you have to feed masses.

Pasta with chicken a la whatever you have in the cabinet (true story)

What you need:

4 Lbs thawed chicken tenderloins, cut into bite size pieces
2 boxes of 12 Oz Rotini pasta
2 Jars of 24 Oz four cheese marinara sauce
1 Cup Pinot Grigio
1/2 C pecorino cheese
1/2 C parmesan cheese
Italian dry seasoning
Dry Oregano
Salt & Pepper
Butter
Evoo




How to make:

On a tray or large bowl sprinkle the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the chicken pieces until coated on all sides and set aside (make sure you dry the chicken with paper towels before doing so, getting rid of the excess water will prevent oil from jumping at you when they cook). On medium high heat, place 1 tbsp. of evoo and 1 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the chicken in batches- do not overcrowd otherwise the chicken will boil and do not start tossing the chicken, let it sit a couple minutes before turning it (this will make it nice and brown/crunchy). Remove and set aside to let it rest, repeat this process until all the chicken is cooked (add more evoo and butter as needed).
In a large pot with boiling water, put the pasta to cook on high heat.
Use the same skillet where the chicken was cooked for the sauce. Set on medium high heat, add a little more butter and scrape the bottom- these pieces of chicken will give the best flavor so do not get rid of them. Add the wine and let it cook a few minutes, then add the marinara sauce, stir for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients- oregano, both cheeses and a little more of the Italian seasoning. Lastly, add the chicken again making sure it is all covered by the sauce.
When the pasta is ready, combine with the chicken and the sauce.
Take a moment and taste- adjust seasoning as needed.
This can feed 20 people or 10 with large portions.

~Enjoy