Easy Dinner Recipes

While I love trying new recipes, I also have a few go-to recipes that I turn to. I’ve also enjoyed trying new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen, but sometimes we just want those easy dinner recipes that are tried-and-true. Today I wanted to share a few with you. There’s nothing fancy about these, but they do deliver a tasty meal.

• Quick Black Beans & Rice
• Spicy Cauliflower
• Pasta Fagioli
• Russian Chicken

Russian Chicken

• 1 Bottle of Russian Salad Dressing
• Apricot preserves
• Pack of Onion soup (dry)
• 4 – 6 boneless chicken breasts

Mix these three ingredients together. Put in a large glass baking dish. Add the chicken. Bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes. Serve over rice.

I added some asparagus for something green. Just put a little olive oil & Trader Joe’s seasoning & roasted in the oven.

Pasta Fagioli

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 medium celery stalk, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 15 oz can cannellini beans
• 15 oz can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 14 oz each cans fat-free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 2 cups of water
• kosher salt and pepper to taste
• 6 oz dry Ditalini pasta or other small pasta, GF pasta for gluten-free
• grated parmesan cheese for topping (optional

Instructions:

1. In a deep pot, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat.
2. Blend the cup of beans with one can of water in an electric blender until almost smooth. (I leave out a few whole beans for added texture in the final product.)
3. Add blended beans to pan then add the can of tomato sauce (I usually do a can of crushed tomatoes), celery, carrots, chicken broth, basil, bay leaf, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. (This last time I made it I actually used rosemary instead of the bay leave….still very tasty.)
4. Next, add 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
5. Finally, add pasta and cook uncovered until pasta is al dente, according to pasta directions.
6. Ladle soup into bowls and top with grated cheese (extra).

Sadly, I can’t take credit for this soup. I got the recipe from www.skinnytaste.com One of my favorite places to go to get recipes. You should check it out.

Happy Cooking!

Note: The big picture of the adorable kitchen is not mine sadly. It’s a cute shop in McKinney. I talk all about it here if you want to check it out.