Chicken Spinach Feta Garlic Pasta

Don't you just love to find a meat on sale? It is one of my most favorite things, especially when it is something out of the ordinary. Ground beef is on sale or reduced for freshness all the time. Specialty meats such as steaks, grass fed meats, or farm raised chickens on the other hand, not so much. Chicken spinach feta brats, never as they are sold in few quantities and are regularly out of stock. So when I found these chicken spinach feta brats 25% off this morning, all other recipes went out the window as I knew just what meal I wanted: Penne Rigate with Chicken, Spinach, and Feta Cheese.

Modifications Made:

Obviously, the chicken breasts were replaced for the above mentioned brats which were heavily skillet fried adding a nice crunch to their skins before slicing into bite size circles. After adding one package of cremini mushrooms to saute along with the onion, the rest of the recipe was followed accordingly.

Scaled for Likability: Great

Such a simple meal, yet so satisfying in taste and texture. Feta could have been left out as the first picture shows, but the tanginess of the cheese pairs splendidly with the zip of the lemon and the earthiness of the mushrooms and spinach. What is even better about this dish, is the flexibility. Perfect is served piping hot with soft french bread on cold winter nights or, if mushrooms removed, refrigerated overnight and served refreshingly cold on hot summer days. There is absolutely nothing I would change to this recipe (besides my own already incorporated).

Papas a La Mexicana (Ranchera)

It is a crying shame that there are six hens and not a egg in sight. What am I supposed to do with homemade ranchero sauce? Thankfully with a few quick searches of the internet a recipe from my hometown newspaper was discovered: Papas Ranchera . Not once in the thirty years I lived in my hometown did I ever eat at a local food joint serving papas rancheras. No time like the present to remedy this cultural dish. Because this recipe is hidden behind a paywall (grrr...) I have included it here for you: Servings: 4-6 Ingredients: 1 pound potatoes, diced 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 large onion 1 1/2 medium tomatoes 3 jalapenos 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup juice from canned tomatoes Instructions: Fry potatoes in vegetable oil until lightly browned (about 4-6 minutes). Saute onions, tomatoes, jalapenos until soft. Add garlic powder and salt. Add tomato juice until vegetables are covered (may need to add water). Bring to a boil and then add po...

Better Than Campbell's Old Fashion Vegetable Soup

Went to the store with the hopes of gathering fresh produce for soup. With more than 45 people in line for two packages of any meat product and the produce section containing only avocado, orange, and most randomly, strawberries, I settled upon canned soup. Well not canned soup since that section was still void of food, too. Instead soup made from canned goods as the canned vegetable section had been mostly restocked. Soups like this 15 Minute Vegetable Soup are ideal in dire food situations such as current times. Modifications Made: Plain petite diced tomatoes omitted, frozen carrots instead of canned, green beans and corn undrained, peas omitted (gross, nasty little pods), one cup celery, three cups diced potatoes, one can tomato sauce, two beef and two pollo de tomate bouillon cubes, six cups water. Once onions were softened, carrots/celery/potatoes/juice of green beans and corn, sauce, bouillon cubes, water were added and allowed to simmer until carrots almos...

Cold Corn Bean Salsa

Nothing says junk food like chips and salsa, chips and cheese dip, chips and guacamole. Over the years I have perfected my salsa. It's good on tacos, on nachos, on enchiladas, and of course on chips. Just because I have the best salsa doesn't mean I don't like to try new salsa's like this Best Black Bean and Corn Salsa. Modifications Made: Shoepeg corn was replaced with one can of standard yellow corn with no salt added. Petite diced tomatoes were reduced by half. Italian dressing was swapped for half teaspoon comino, half teaspoon of chili powder, and two tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Salsa was made and let rest for two hours before eating. Scaled for Likability: Good Salsa this was not. Good it was however. It was too much for chips by themselves but was great served over a soft beef taco.

Eating Waffles

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