Sunday, July 15, 2012

Oneal Creamy Pasta

1 box of pasta cooked according to directions
1 container of small tomatoes (cherry or any variety that you prefer)
1/4 cup of half and half
2 oz cream cheese
4 tsp of basil
1 TBL butter
olive oil
Steamed vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus
Feta cheese

Heat oil in saute' pan
Add tomatoes and cook; mashing them as they cook for about 5 minutes.
Add butter and melt.
Add cream, basil, and cream cheese.  Cook until cream cheese melts.  Then cook for another 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add pasta and vegetables.  Gently mix until well combines.  Top with feta cheese.

This can be made many different ways to suit your tastes, or just add some variety.  For instance; substitute parmesan for feta, parsley for basil, or any other vegetable you like.

Coconut Lime Chicken and Rice

1 whole chicken - cut up
1 can coconut milk
1/2 half a bag of small carrots - chopped
2 celery stalks - chopped
1 medium onion - chopped
8 oz of mushrooms - sliced
2 cloves of garlic - minced
chicken broth
1 bunch cilantro - chopped
3 limes
2 TBL olive oil
1 cup white wine
2 cups of rice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in large pot over med high heat.  Brown chicken.  Remove chicken and add garlic and  all vegetables except mushrooms.  Cook over med high heat until translucent.  Add mushrooms.  Add wine and cook down about 5 minutes.  Add chicken back to pot and add chicken broth to just cover chicken.  Add coconut milk and zest and juice of 1 lime.  Turn heat to med low.  Cook until chicken is done.  Remove chicken from pot.  Allow to cool slightly.  Remove chicken from the bone and cut into bite-sized pieces.  Add back to the pot.  Add juice and zest of another lime.  Add rice and last lime zest and juice.  Turn heat back up to med high. Cook and stir occasionally, until rice is done.  Turn heat off and add cilantro; stir.  Add salt and pepper during cooking as desired.