Meatless Monday ~ Spinach Alfredo Linguine

The Mr. and I have decided to have one meatless meal a week, saving money and hopefully eating healthier.  Hence the name Meatless Monday!  I came across this recipe and of course tweaked it to our taste and what I had in my kitchen (for example, I didn't have "frozen creamed spinach" so I used "frozen chopped spinach" and added some Philly Cooking Cream).  Here's the delicious result.  You've gotta try it!!


Spinach Alfredo Linguine (Blessed Girl Style!)
Printable Recipe
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
1 Tbsp. chopped garlic
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 Tbsp. Philadelphia Cooking Cream- Italian Cheese and Herb flavor (Had some, wanted to use it!)
1 tsp. dried basil
1 (15 oz.) jar of alfredo sauce (I used Bertolli "Four Cheese Rosa")
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
8 oz. whole grain linguine
olive oil

Directions:
1. In a large pan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil (add garlic after onions have been in the pan a bit).
2. Add basil, pepper, spinach, and cooking cream.  Combine and let warm for a couple of minutes.
3. Add in alfredo sauce and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Simmer on low heat while you cook the noodles.
4. Serve spinach alfredo over cooked noodles, top with the rest of the Parmesan and enjoy!

Honey B's Romantic Artichoke Chicken

As many of you know...and for those that don't...our first anniversary was this past Sunday.  First let me say that I am one blessed girl boy!!  God has allowed me to spend my life with such a wonderful woman who shows me her love everyday.  So, one thing I like to do to repay that p.d.a. is to cook special dinners on special days.  So...

For my first post ever on my sweet wife's little corner of the web I'm going to show you what I cooked for our first anniversary dinner!

I pondered and moored over what to cook for my wife.  I know she loves mushrooms.  I know she loves artichokes.  And I know she loves handbags!  (Ok, I know that has nothing to do with anything...but she really does.)

So with all the things I know about her, and a few of the things I think I know, I made us Honey B's Romantic Artichoke Chicken (printable version here).

For this recipe you will need:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 14 oz. can marinated, quartered artichokes
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (I used about 1 1/2 cups!)
• 1 cup chicken broth

Directions:

Put oil and butter in a deep skillet over medium heat.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste.  Brown the chicken in the skillet about 5 minutes each side.  Do not let the chicken cook all the way through...but mostly.

While the chicken is browning chop your whole mushroom into slices.  I prefer thicker slices because the mushrooms cook down a lot and we both love that 'shroom flava!  Also, we like the baby bellas for this kind of recipe.  They're a meatier mushroom and a lot more flavor than the plane ol' white mushrooms.

Here's something I've learned when I about found myself with nine fingers.  Slice with the top down and slice on two sides of the stem first.  This gives the mushroom more stability when slicing then...and when your dealing with really sharp knives stability is good.

Now...make sure you have all ten fingers.  If you do then drain your artichokes.  Make sure you drain the extra juice into a bowl for use later.

(If by chance you are now down to nine fingers I would highly suggest you find your way to a hospital.  You can drain the artichokes when you get back!)

Your chicken should be good and browned by now on both sides.  Take those out of the skillet and set them aside.  Put your mushrooms and your artichokes into the skillet and let the 'shrooms brown.

After the mushrooms are good and brown throw in those drained juices you set aside, a cup of chicken broth, and that almost done chicken.  Give it a good little stir and let all that goodness simmer on medium/low for about 20 minutes (until the chicken is done through and through).

Now, for the romantic part!  Place the chicken on a the plate with artichokes and mushrooms all over the top...and don't be stingy with the toppings.  Put a little greenery on the side, light a couple of candles, and put in some nice music and you have a romantic dinner for your first anniversary.  

God blessed me with a wonderful woman who is so good to me.  Doing these kinds of things for her to show her how special she is only a small part compared to how special she really is.  I love you *blessed girl* forever and always!

Love,

Your Honey B.