Chicken Lemon Pasta

Confession: This is not your mother's spaghetti night.

We all need a few secret recipes up our sleeves that look and taste impressive but take little time and ingredients to create. Chicken Lemon Pasta is a nice alternative for a traditional spaghetti night, and it can be on the dinner table in 20 minutes.

CHICKEN LEMON PASTA

3-4 chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thick
1 lb. angel hair pasta
1/2 c. reserved cooking liquid
2 lemons (zest and juice)
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place chicken breasts between two sheets of wax paper. Use meat mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides with garlic salt and pepper, and cook in the oven for 10 minutes. Cook pasta according to package and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Combine pasta and reserved liquid with the zest of two lemons, then slice half of one lemon. After the first 10 minutes, flip chicken and top with lemon slices then continue to cook for 10 minutes. Combine juice of remaining lemons into pasta mixture along with butter, EVOO and garlic salt and pepper to taste.  

Tip: It tastes just a good as a cold salad for the next day's lunch!

Creamed Corn

Confession: It's worth every last calorie.

A while back I promised you the most amazing creamed corn recipe. It comes from Paula Deen, and this one's a keeper. Do you have a family celebration, potluck or holiday meal coming up? Turn up the volume on a traditional side dish with this recipe, and don't forget to use the sweet corn and chopped onions you stocked your freezer with after reading Freeze! It's easy meal prep time.

CREAMED CORN
Makes 8 servings

1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 (16 oz) package frozen niblet corn, thawed
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (*I just use black pepper.)
1-1/2 tablespoons quick-cooking grits
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook for 4 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in corn, cream, salt and peppers; bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Add grits, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Do you have a birthday, anniversary or special family celebration coming up? Are you short on time and maybe even ambition but want to make an impressive dessert? Cue Paula Deen (and her butter) to the rescue!

The name pretty much says it all: Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake. The recipe is simple, but the outcome is elegant and delicious. I made this for my last birthday and it was a hit. One tip: with strawberry puree incorporated in the batter, it doesn't keep as long as other cakes. If you have a crowd with a collective sweet tooth, though, you won't have trouble finishing it in a few settings!

Frozen fruits are a great way to stretch a buck and enjoy the tastes of summer year round. Click here for more ways to put your frozen strawberries to good (and yummy!) use.

Penne with Vodka Sauce

As late September sets in, so does the crisp, cool autumn air. A great way to keep warm is with a hearty meal, like Giada De Laurentiis's Penne with Vodka Sauce. If you don't keep alcohol in your home, this one's probably not for you, but it's so easy anyone can prepare it.

It's hearty enough that you don't even notice it's a vegetarian recipe, and the shopping list for this meal certainly won't break the bank. My husband and I don't care for vodka as a drink, but I always have a bottle on hand because this is one of our favorite recipes.

Head's up: when Giada says let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes, she means the full 20 minutes. This allows enough time for the alcohol to cook out to make it a family friendly meal. Let's just say the first time I prepared this recipe I jumped the gun on the simmer time and we were feeling quite simmered ourselves after suppertime. If you're still concerned about alcohol as an ingredient, just set aside some plain marinara sauce for your kiddos. There's no reason Mom and Dad have to skimp on a little decadence.

Food Network has many great recipes for a side dish to accompany your meal. Still not warm after your Penne with Vodka Sauce? One of these Hot Chocolate recipes might do the trick!