Chicken Spinocolli Casserole

I love this casserole dish. Made with some of my favorite things: chicken, spinach and roma tomatoes. Even my kids like the casserole. I serve this with a side of Basil Pesto Penne Pasta. I have included both recipes: casserole and penne pasta.

Chicken Spinocoli Casserole

3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces (about 1")
4 T. butter
1 c. chopped fresh spinach
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
1 bunch fresh broccoli, chopped
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 package feta cheese, crumbled
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1. Melt butter in saute pan, add chicken and cook until no longer pink.
2. Pour chicken into cooking sprayed casserole dish.
3. Add and toss all other ingredients. Sprinkle 1 c. mozzarella cheese over top of mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes (uncovered), or until cheese melts.

Creamy Basil Pesto Penne Pasta

1 container Basil Pesto Sauce (fresh sauce)
3 T. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. - 1 c. heavy cream
1 package Penne Pasta (I use Barilla)

1. Place pesto sauce into saute pan (or saucepan), on medium heat and add fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
2. Whisk in heavy cream. For creamier sauce, add to the 1 c. side, keep sauce warm on lowest setting.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions.
4. Place pasta into pan with sauce, stir.

Place penne pasta with sauce onto plates, add chicken casserole, garnish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Double the Fun Brownies

These are the sort of brownies that kids dream about. Three favorites all rolled into one bar. Tiny M&M's; brownies and blondies. Mmmmmm ... My tip for all bar cookies is this: always line your baking pan with cooking sprayed foil. After removing the bars from the oven, allow to cool for about 10 minutes; then lift the entire packet from the baking pan. The bars are easier to cut than trying to dish them out of the baking pan.

Double the Fun Brownies Makes 24 bars

1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour, divided (2 1/4 c. and 1/4 c.)
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T. butter or margarine, melted
1 c. M&M mini baking bits, divided (1/2 c. and 1/2 c.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Measure out enough foil to fit a 13 x 9" baking dish. Lightly spray with cooking spray, set aside.
2. In large bowl, cream 3/4 c. butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl, combine 2 1/4 c. flour, baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Divide batter in half.
4. Blend together cocoa powder and melted butter; stir into one half of the dough.
5. Spread cocoa dough evenly into prepared baking pan.
6. Stir remaining 1/4 c. flour and 1/2 c. baking bits into remaining dough; spread evenly over cocoa dough in pan.
7. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. of baking bits.
8. Bake 25 - 30 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from sides of baking dish / foil.
9. Cool for 10 minutes in pan. Remove foil packet and continue to cool on baking wire rack.

Nana's Banana Bread

My friend from high school Kathy was looking for a Banana Bread Recipe and although she wanted one with only a few ingredients, I had to share this. It is the BEST recipe for Banana Bread.

Nana's Banana Bread

5 T. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar (I use light brown sugar)
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. mashed, very ripe bananas (I use 3 medium sized)
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 c. heavy cream (I use 1/2 and 1/2 if I don't have the cream)
1/3 c. chopped walnuts (optional, I don't use them).

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of a 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer set on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar and brown sugar; beat well. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla extract; beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed 30 seconds.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts (if using them) to batter; mix well.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
5. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter or jam.

Chicken Soup with Gnocchi

I was having lunch with my Mom at Olive Garden the other afternoon. One of my all time favorite lunches is "Soup, Salad and Breadsticks" at O.G. My Mom and I went through the soup bite by delicious bite trying to come up with the ingredients. I think we came up with a pretty good recipe here. I am going to use my mortar and pestel to grind down the herbs. Gnocchi (for those who don't already know) is a delicious little Italian Potato Dumpling. I have a pretty good recipe (from my friend Patty B.) but I have to admit that tonight I am using (gasp!); frozen Gnocchi. My apologizes to all my Italian American friends. Enjoy.










Chicken Soup with Gnocchi



1 chicken cut up (cooked and meat shredded or chopped)

1/2 c. butter

3/4 c. celery (chopped fine)

3/4 c. onion (chopped fine)

1/2 c. carrots (grated or chopped fine)

1 1/2 t. garlic (minced)

1/3 c. flour

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

4 c. chicken broth

3/4 c. fresh spinach (julienne chopped)

16 oz. Gnocchi

1/2 t. dried rosemary

1/4 t. black pepper

1/4 t. white pepper

1/4 t. tarragon



1. Melt butter in a stock pot.

2. Add onions, celery, carrots and garlic; saute until soft.

3. Add flour; mix well. Cook 3-4 minutes; stirring frequently.

4. Add cream and chicken broth; mix well. Cook until thick and boiling.

5. Reduce heat, add chicken, spinach, gnocchi and remaining herbs and seasonings.

6. Cover; cook on low 8 - 10 minutes until gnocchi are tender.

Breakfast Casserole

I was craving this casserole this morning, but didn't two of the ingredients (sausage and cheddar cheese). I made blueberry pancakes instead, but I am going to make this casserole this week sometime, place 1/2 into 8 x 8 pan and 1/2 into another 8x8 pan into the freezer. Everyone at our house loves this casserole.

Breakfast Casserole

8 eggs; beaten

1 # pork sausage

6 slices bread, cubed

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 t. dry mustard

1 t. salt

2 c. milk

1. Cook sausage; drain well.

2. Into a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Mix; making sure all the sausage and bread is being covered by the egg/milk mixture.

3. Pour into a 9 x 13" baking dish that has been sprayed with a non-stick baking spray.

4. Place into a 350 degree preheated oven; bake for 1 hour.