Tag: homemade tomato sauce
Chicken Parm with Broccoli Rabe Pesto
- 6-8 chicken tenders
Marinade
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper
Mix the ingredients in a small bowl and marinate the chicken tenders for 4-5 hours.
Breading
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 extra-large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt. On a third plate, combine the breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Coat the chicken tenders on both sides with the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and dredge both sides in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook 2 or 3 chicken tenders on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken tenders.
Lay the cooked chicken pieces in an ovenproof casserole. Ladle spoons of marinara sauce over all the chicken pieces. Add the shredded mozzarella on top and bake for 5-10 minutes in a 350 degrees oven until cheese is melted. Add some more sauce and keep aside.
Pesto
- 2 cups broccoli rabe leaves only, roughly chopped
- 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
Process the broccoli rabe and spinach leaves till smooth. While the processor is on, drizzle the olive oil into the pesto. Add the salt and keep aside.
1 pound pappardelle, cooked al dente with some pasta water saved.
Once the pasta is cooked, return it to the same pot with ½ cup pasta water. Add ½ cup broccoli rabe pesto and mix well. Adjust seasonings and serve with chicken tenders on top.
Leftover Scallops with Linguini
I love when I am able to reuse my leftovers in a completely different dish. In this case, I had made seared scallops with salsa verde the day before (check the previous recipe on the blog) and decided to use the scallops in another way. I always have fresh tomato sauce in the fridge- which can be used in a variety of ways. I used it as a pasta sauce and before I knew it, I had a delicious pasta dish! I served it with a nice big salad and some wine!
- Left over scallops
- 1 cup marinara sauce, preferably homemade
- 1 cup cooked linguini
Heat up the marinara sauce in a frying pan. Add the pasta and mix well. Add the scallops and heat through without over cooking them. Serve immediately.
Creamy Shrimp With Penne
- 1 to ½ pound penne, cooked al dente
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ cup clam juice
- 2 cups homemade tomato sauce or a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 pound medium shrimp, deveined and peeled
- Salt
Heat a wide saucepan with olive oil. Add the shallot, garlic and thyme and sauté on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the white wine and clam juice to deglaze. Bring to a boil and add the tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes. Lower the heat and add the half and half and shrimp. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes or till the shrimp are cooked. Add salt and cooked penne. Mix well and check for seasonings. Serve hot.
Lamb and Mushroom Pizza
I had a lot of leftover lamb from the other night. I divided the meat into two bags- one went into the freezer and one in the fridge. I plan on making a lamb ragu served on top of pasta or even better- polenta, in a few weeks.
The leftover meat in the fridge will be used for pizza.
We love making pizza at home- we usually do it on Friday evenings. I buy some dough from a local pizzeria. One ball of dough is good enough to make four to five individual pizzas.
As usual, I always have fresh tomato sauce in the fridge. I love using it for the pizzas- nothing like your own homemade, delicious sauce.
I made a quick topping with cremini mushrooms, chopped up lamb and some white truffle paste- the secret ingredient. It gives the dish a very rounded, complex flavor- one of my favorite things to add to pasta, etc.
The pizzas were delicious- especially because of the lamb and the truffle paste. Try this combination next time you are looking for a new topping for your pizza.
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Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes and Spinach
My daughter’s friend was coming over for dinner and I didn’t have anything to serve. I didn’t want to cook the boxed macaroni and cheese and so decided to make my own. There is nothing wrong with the boxed kind (especially the healthy ones) – I do make it once in a while but I try not to serve it very often.
The fact is it doesn’t take very long to make your own from scratch. I made the bechamel or white sauce quickly and added the shredded cheese. I boiled whole grain pasta on the side and added that to the mix. I had some homemade tomato sauce which I added as well. Now, in order to make it balance, I needed to come up with a vegetable. I always have frozen spinach in the freezer. I added some of that as well and put it all in an oven proof pan and baked it for about twenty minutes. Best of all- it was a one pot meal- yay!!!
The kids enjoyed it but did not appreciate me calling the pasta macaroni and cheese. They informed me anything with spinach and tomato sauce is not mac and cheese….
- ½ pound whole grain penne or elbow pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
- Salt
In a large frying pan heat the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or till soft. Add thyme and basil. Sprinkle the flour and sauté for a minute. Add the milk and whisk gently to remove lumps. Bring to a boil and simmer till thickened. Add cheese and mix well. Add the spinach and tomato sauce. Mix well and add salt. Add the cooked pasta and place in an oven proof container. Bake in a 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Bowtie Pasta with Spinach and Chicken
My daughter was having one of her play dates again and two of her friends were coming over and staying for dinner. My daughter loves having her friends over for dinner- “it is so much fun”, she always says. I usually remind her that I have to make something healthy and usually from scratch so it is quite a lot of work me me- but honestly, I enjoy it too. Especially because I get to try out different kid-friendly dishes and see their reactions.
For this particular dinner I needed to make something in advance since I was not going to be home. Our sitter would be giving them their meal. I had two chicken breast on the bone which I decided to roast with the skin on. I shredded the meat once it was nice and juicy after taking the skin off. I bought bowtie pasta to make things a little interesting. I bought baby spinach since I needed the meal to be made in one pot and it also had to be well balanced.
I cooked the pasta and mixed the shredded chicken and baby spinach in the sauce pan. I added some homemade tomato sauce to give the pasta additional yummy flavor. I transferred the pasta into an oven proof dish and mixed in and topped with some shredded mozzarella cheese.
It was simple and quick. Once I got home I was curious to know their reactions. I was told they were all skeptical at first since everything was mixed in together but once they tried it- they liked it. My daughter who is more used to eating such meals thought it was delicious.
Next time you have a dinner play date for your kids- try the bowtie pasta with spinach and chicken.
Sausage and Eggs Cooked in Marinara Sauce
I made this on a busy Sunday late morning/early afternoon. I picture this being made the day after a big holiday dinner- especially if you have a big crowd.
I cooked it for the three of us but it can be made for a big crowd.
I had leftover homemade tomato sauce. I have to say, after returning from Italy- I am incapable of opening a can of San Marzano tomatoes to make marinara sauce, instead I have to buy fresh tomatoes and go through the lengthy process of making it at home. The taste difference is unbelievable- anyway, so that is what I had in the fridge. I also had a pack of chicken sausages in the freezer. I thawed them, took the casing out and chopped them up.
I sauteed them and added the tomato sauce. I cracked a few eggs and covered the pan and in a few minutes, brunch was done. I had some bake your own baguettes from Trader Joes. I baked one of them and made a big green salad.
The brunch was delicious! So easy- and the possibilities are endless… You can add all sorts of meats, or shrimp to this- or make it Mexican and serve it with guacamole, etc.
Definitely make this – it’s great!
- 4 chicken sausage links, take the casing out and chop into small pieces
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 3 or 4 eggs
- Salt
- Pepper
In a wide frying pan, heat the olive oil. Add the sausage pieces and sauté on medium heat for 5-6 minutes or till golden brown. Add the tomato sauce and heat for a minute or two. Crack each egg distributing them evenly in the pan. Cook covered for 3-4 minutes depending on how cooked you want the eggs. Sprinkle the eggs with salt and pepper.
Serve with a hot baguette and green salad.
