Spinach Chicken Salad

 Taste of Home Spinach Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

7 oz. spiral or elbow pasta, cooked

5 c. cubed cooked chicken (3 breasts)

2 c. green grape halves

1 c. snow peas

2 1/2 c. sliced celery

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

1 can mandarin oranges

2 c. packed torn spinach

1/2 large cucumber, sliced

3 green onions, sliced

Dressing:

1/2 c. canola oil

1/4. c sugar

2 Tbls. white wine vinegar

1 tsp. salt

1/2. tsp dried minced onion

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 Tbls. fresh parsley

Directions:

 

In a large bowl, combine the salad ingredients. . In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.

The oranges added in are Heid's addition.  I don't use this dressing.  I use Skinny Girl's Poppy seed dressing.  I also love to layer this salad to take to work. Start with 1/8 cup of dressing then layer in order of ingredients listed

Shrimp and Asparagus

Ingredients:

2 T. olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
2-3 cups asparagus1 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled
1 T. butter
1 T. flour
3/4 c. cooking sherry or wine
2 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 cube chicken bouillon
1 T. brown sugar

Directions:

Saute' asparagus in oil along with garlic and pepper flakes for about 5 minutes.  Then add in shrimp and cook till pink. Meanwhile use the last seven ingredients to make a sauce. Pour sauce over shrimp and asparagus. Serve over linguini, bowtie, or other pasta.

Pesto Chicken Pasta

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 lb chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, chopped
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained of most oil, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup basil pesto
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, and more
• 8 ounces penne pasta (use gluten free for gluten free version)
• fresh basil, chopped

Directions:  

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken (chopped up) with sun-dried tomatoes (chopped into smaller bites) to the skillet, sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Saute for about 1 minute on medium heat.
2. Add sliced mushrooms (add another 1 tablespoon olive oil if needed) and saute for about 2 more minutes (or a little bit more), until chicken is cooked through and mushrooms are softened.
3. Add garlic, pesto, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring to boil, immediately reduce to simmer and simmer, stirring until everything is well combined. Remove from heat. Taste, and add more salt, if needed.
4. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, reheat.
5. Top with chopped fresh basil.

Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

3 lg. carrots, cut small
3 sticks of celery, cut small
1/2 onion, chopped
8 c. chicken broth
2 large chicken breasts
1 c. frozen corn
wide egg noodles
salt & garlic pepper
bay leaf
8 oz. sliced mushrooms, optional

Directions:

Boil chopped veggies in broth while frying chicken pieces.  Add chicken pieces, corn, noodles,, salt, pepper and bay leaf.  Boil till noodles are almost done and add mushrooms.  Top with chopped green onions and serve with fresh baked rolls.