Italian Green Bean Chicken Pasta

Do you have really bad days?  I don't know why I am even bothering to ask because of course we all have really bad days.  Well my yesterday was really bad.  I guess I was due.  

I don't have much to post so I will leave you with this pasta dish I made quite some time ago.  It has lots of fresh basil and reminded me of spring.  

Here is to better days.

Italian Green Bean Chicken Pasta

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 5 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh basil
• 5 ounces fresh green beans - rinsed, trimmed and steamed

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute until aromatic oils are released, then add chicken and cook through until no longer pink.

Stir in tomatoes and basil and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes. Finally, stir in steamed beans and serve.

Cook pasta according to directions on box. Combine with chicken mix.

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Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Muffins

I have been craving muffins lately.  Morning, noon and night I want to have a snack of a muffin.  I have raided the freezer for any extras from previous baking adventures and now they are all gone.

It was dinner time but I didn't really want the lamb chops Mr. J was frying up, so naturally I did want any other woman would do when she wants something.  I made some muffins.  Yep, much to the dismay of Mr. J I got right in his way and started mixing the ingredients together.   Of course, I wanted to have it all ready for when dinner was done cooking because...

1. The oven was already preheated.
2. The timing would be perfect for dessert.

Makes perfect sense to me.  I didn't wait too long to satisfy my craving once they came out of the oven.  I may have even been in too much of a rush because the larger ones were just a bit underdone.
 

Just sweet enough to call them dessert, but not too sweet that you cannot have two right in a row.  Or one for breakfast the next day.

Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Muffins

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

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Ingredients (12 muffins)

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup frozen raspberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 12 cup muffin tin with liners.

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in chocolate chips.

Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture.

Fold in raspberries.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.

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March Foodzie Box and WIAW

This month when the choices came around we were both struck by the Brooklyn box option.  First of all it had a bit of savory and a bit of sweet.   I could have my chocolate and Mr. J could have the peanuts.

There is a ton of local artisan food producers in Brooklyn nowadays. I really want to drive down someday soon and spend some time exploring.  

Until then though we have our box…

“The King” bar by Liddabit Sweet

Soft peanut butter nougat, banana ganache and brown sugar butter cookie all get enrobed in milk chocolate.  Seriously the best candy bar ever. 

Beer Truffles by Nanu Chocolates

A self taught chocolatier, these chocolates combine single origin cocoa and craft beer in a surprising blend that highlights the sweetness and bitterness of both. I couldn't taste the beer but these were some really good chocolates.

Organic Dried Mangoes by Peeled Snacks

They may be dried by these chewy slices burst with the bright, zingy taste of mango plucked fresh from the tree.  These taste just like fruit leather and besides the candy bar were my favorite.

Red Onion Rosemary Crackers by Z Crackers

Artisan pizza makers started making crackers from their dough, and never looked back.  These play well with cheeses and meats or stand on their own.

Bacon Fat Old Bay Peanuts by Ovenly

Bacon makes everything better.  The smoky flavor of bacon fat underlies the slow-burning heat of Old Bay seasonings on these addictive nuts.

Farmhand’s Choice Granola by Early Bird Granola

Organic grains and nuts meet olive oil in this granola that is unbelievably light and crisp.  A tough of salt makes it imminently snackable.

I hit the greens this week. I guess it took me all month to get my act together with the "goes green" portion.

The day started with coffee and green monster smoothie.  I think this is my favorite way to start off the day.  Add a big glass of water and I am good to go.

I happened to be in Michigan for a brief trip to Michigan State University.  A bit of a bummer that they got out of the basketball tournament this weekend, the excitement was no longer on campus. 

I had some cravings for some soup and salad and we hit up the Olive Garden.  Unlimited soup, salad and bread sticks hit the spot.  I missed a photo of the bread stick.  Funny how much saltier this food is. I was thirsty the rest of the day. Still good but only every so often do I indulge. 

Dinner was pizza takeout of my favorite spinach and ricotta.  Yum! I had two smaller slices that in the end added up to one gigantic slice.  

There you go green at every single meal :)