Showing posts with label sundried tomatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sundried tomatoes. Show all posts

Monday, September 6, 2010

Pasta Salad from the Pantry

I have talked before about the importance of a well-stocked pantry. There are times when time is short and yet you must prepare dinner. Salads are easy and quick, but sometimes the family simply isn't in the mood... It's the end of the summer and we're pretty much all sandwiched out... Pasta is a pretty reliable palate-pleaser in the Entertaining House. I had some hot Italian sausage in the fridge that I needed to use up. But there was not much else... So I took to the pantry and loaded the tins into my arms and ended up making a fabulous, simple and delicious warm pasta salad. Perfect for a coolish night!



Ingredients:

1 can black small, pitted black olives -- I used about 3/4 of the can
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 small jar of small green pitted olives -- I used about half the jar
1 small jar of sun dried tomatoes, Julienned -- I used about 8
2 Tbs of the sun dried tomato oil
1 Can of artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
Olive oil, a good dose!
1/4 of an onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 package of Italian sausage -- or 4 links -- Chicken sausage is perfect in this as well. (Or cook the entire package and use the remaining half to place on home made pizza another night!)
1 1/2 Tbs Italian seasonings
Sea salt to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
1 lb of your favorite pasta (I use Barilla)

Directions:

Cook pasta in large saucepan per directions on the package
In a large saute pan cook sausage in batches. As sausage is cooked set aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
When pasta is done and cooked al dente drain and return to pan. Add a touch of olive oil to keep from sticking together. When the sausage has cooked put desired amount into pasta. The rest can be refrigerated for another day.
In the saute pan add 2 to 3 tbs of olive oil and cook garlic until lightly browned. Gently scrape out garlic and add to the pasta pot. Add onions to the saute pan and cook until translucent. Add the olives, chick peas, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, sun dried tomato oil, crushed red pepper, Italian seasonings, and sea salt. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes to marry the flavors.
When ready add to the pasta pot. Mix well. Serve immediately or as people are ready to eat. This dish is simple but packed with flavor that lends itself to tasting wonderfully whether hot or warm.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Chicken Stuffed with Sundried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese


I created this for Christopher who adores sun dried tomatoes... and goat cheese!

4 breasts halved and pounded thin
1 container of crumbled goat cheese
1 jar of diced sun dried tomatoes
4 tbs olive oil
2 tbs oil from sun dried tomatoes
1/8 cup (or more) of Italian Seasonings
Salt, Pepper and Garlic powder to taste

Pour some of the Italian seasonings on to a cutting board. Place chicken on the seasonings so that one side is well coated. On the other side add some of the cheese and a few pieces of the sun dried tomatoes. Gently roll chicken so that the herbs are on the outside. Using a toothpick secure one side of the chicken to the other.

Place chicken into a large saute pan filled with the oils. When the oils have heated sufficiently add the chicken and sprinkle with some garlic powder and some sea salt. Cook till browned, a minute or two and repeat until all sides are browned.

Place the browned chicken into a large, flat baking dish. Repeat above steps until the chicken is all well packed together.

Preheat oven to 350 and when ready place chicken inside for 20 minutes.

This recipe goes well with Garlic Green beans, or a salad or asparagus or peas.