Chicken Alfredo Bake

from the kitchen of Dee & Denise

1 lb (16oz) Penne Pasta

4 Tbsp Margerine or Butter

1 Onion, diced

3 Chicken Breats, cubed

2 cloves of garlic or garlic powder

basil

rosemary

salt

pepper

3 1.25 oz packs of Alfredo Sauce Mix or 1 bottle of Alfredo Sauce

2 1/4 cups of milk (if using packs of Alfredo Sauce Mix)

1/2 can diced tomatoes or 1 large fresh tomato

bread crumbs

grated cheese

Cook pasta, drain and put into a 9"x13" pan. Sauté onion and chicken in margerine or butter. Add garlic, basil, rosemary, salt, pepper to taste. Stir in dry Alfredo Sauce Mix and slowly add milk (or instead stir in Alfredo Sauce). Pour chicken/alfredo sauce mixture over the penne pasta in pan. Spoon diced tomatoes on sauce mixture. Sprinkle bread crumbs lightly over the top of pasta. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top. Bake 350º for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and pasta has been slightly browned on top.

Preperation Time: 40 min.

Serves: 8

Olive Garden's Alfredo Sauce

1 1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup imported Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup imported Romano cheese, grated

6 egg yolks from fresh jumbo eggs

Salt and black pepper to taste

Heat milk and cream in a heavy bottom saucepan until it begins to simmer. Turn off heat. Slowly whip in cheese, then remove from heat. Place egg yolks in a separate bowl and slowly whip in a portion of the hot milk and cream mixture. Slowly add egg yolk mixture back into remaining cream mixture. Place back on very low heat and continually stir until simmering. Take sauce off heat so it thickens. (This will increase temperature of egg yolks, known as tempering). Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Serves: 4

Okay, so it's not exactly healthy, but man it's good! Especially with chicken and broccoli. Everything in moderation.

Creamy White Sauce

from the kitchen of Dee & Denise Kaufman

1 lb pasta or 3 cups of rice (uncooked)
4 Tbsp flour
4 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
garlic, basil, bouillon, etc. to taste
2 cups of milk
1 can of tuna or 1/2 lb of chicken

Optional: grilled onions, brocholi, bell peppers, roasted red peppers, corn, mushrooms, carrots, cheese, hardboiled eggs

Cook pasta or rice. In a separate pan, melt butter or margarine and add flour and salt. Cook until bubbly. Add milk slowly and cook until thick and smooth. Add tuna or chicken and any other desired ingredients (makes 3 cups of white sauce). Serve over pasta or rice.

This also makes a great gravy. Smooth and creamy.

Preparation time: 20 min
Serves: 6-8

We usually make this with grilled onions, brocholi and corn, and the boys love it and always ask for more! Feel free to experiment.

Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry

from the kitchen of Jenn Graves


This is my family's favorite meal. Becca loves it! We put it on our menu every month.

Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:25 min
Makes:4 servings, 2 cups each

8 oz. angel hair pasta, uncooked
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. each: ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper
1/3 cup chopped Dry Roasted Peanuts

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 min. of the pasta cooking time.

Meanwhile, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 to 8 min. or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper; cook 1 min., stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta mixture; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly; sprinkle with the peanuts.

Substitute whatever vegetables you have on hand, such as snow peas, sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots or chopped red onions, for the broccoli. Our favorite is green beans. Cabbage is good too.

Sausage Penne Pasta

from the kitchen of Dee & Denise Kaufman

1/2 lb. penne pasta
1/3 cup olive oil (as needed)
2 large sausages
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 onion
1 Tbsp beef bullion
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 can diced tomatoes (8oz)
1 can pineapple chunks (optional or is it?)

Bring water to boil in a large pot. Slice sausages, dice bell peppers and onion into large chunks. Once water is brought to a boil, cook pasta until done al dente. In a separate large sauce pan, heat oil and sautee sausage, onion and bell peppers until tender. Mix in beef bullion, salt, black pepper, garlic, basil and chili powder. Add diced tomatoes (and pineapple chunks) and heat. Drain pasta and add to vegetable mix.

Preperation time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4

To kick things off... here is a favorite that's sure to please! ENJOY!