Easy Meals

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is having a themed Works for Me Wednesday - Five Ingredients of Less. I wanted to weigh in to share a few of my favorites. I love when I have a recipe that is super easy and also really yummy.

Here are a couple that I hope you enjoy.

Cavatappi with Sausage and Tomotoes
This recipe was passed down to my from my friend Dawn who originally got it from our friend Tricia - just giving credit, where credit is due!

1 box of cavatappi pasta (I never can find it so I use other varieties - I like gemelli)
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed (I'm sure you could be healthier and use the turkey variety)
2 cans diced tomatoes, Italian style which is seasoned with garlic, basil and oregano (you could always use regular tomatoes and add your own seasonings, but that takes away from the easiness of it)
1 cup of cream (you can use heavy or light - I prefer light)
1/4 cup white wine (cooking wine works if that's what you have).

Cook pasta according to directions. Cook sausage in a large pan and then drain the grease. Add the tomatoes, cream and wine and cook until heated. Then add the pasta and stir it all up.

Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Salad - Pittsburgh Style!
I grew up in Central PA and this is the only type of chicken/steak salad that I had. Moving to the Philadelphia area after college made me realize that this type of salad was a regional thing and if I wanted one like home, I had to make it myself. It might sound weird, but trust me - it's yummy!

Salad ingredients - whatever you like - I use basic stuff for this, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and maybe carrots and red onion, basically whatever we have.
Chicken breasts/tenderloins
Bag of frozen french fries - crinkle cut, steak cut, shoestring - your choice!
Cheese - again, your preference, I typically use cheddar.
Your favorite dressing - for this type of salad I use Italian.

*Preheat your oven and bake the french fries according to the package directions - usually about 20 minutes, so plan accordingly.
*Grab your George Foreman, salt and pepper your chicken and toss it on the hot grill (or use your outdoor one).
*Assemble the salad ingredients and then portion out into individual serving bowls or plates. This is a dinner salad so if you are using a measly little cereal bowl, there probably won't be enough room.
*When chicken is done, slice it up and place it on top of the salad. I would say that one good sized chicken breast is enough for two servings.
*Place hot crunchy (please cook them long enough so they aren't all mushy in the middle still) french fries on top of the chicken and quickly pile the cheese on so it gets nice and melty.
*Add the dressing of your choice and enjoy!

Let me know if you try any of these recipes. I'd love to hear if you like them. I may add a few more throughout the day, so check back in! In the meantime, head over to Rocks in my Dryer for more easy recipes.