Cheesy Zucchini & Chicken Enchiladas

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I haven’t been cooking at all the last 5 weeks due to having a total knee replacement. During that time my better half, Teresa, cooked for all of us. Unfortunately during that same time period our beloved father Joseph passed away at the age of 94. Teresa, Jack, my husband Gary, and my son Jason flew back to NY but I couldn’t travel. My amazing friends came to my rescue by preparing the ice machine for my knee, letting the dog out, bringing lunch, dinners, and most of all, emotional support. I am so very grateful to have them in my life. As I was looking through some of my stacks and stacks of recipes, I came across this recipe from Food Network for Cheesy Zucchini and Chicken ‘Enchiladas’. Since I’m now able to do more & more each day I decided to try cooking this fairly quick & delicious-looking dinner. The key is using rotisserie chicken already cooked. Just shred it up! The step that takes the longest is shaving the zucchini ribbons but it’s worth the effort for this low-carb, satisfying meal. My family loved it.

Cheesy Zucchini & Chicken Enchiladas

Tasty low-carb enchiladas.
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Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 (3 enchiladas each)
Calories: 371kcal
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • Y shaped vegetable peeler
  • 2-3 quart baking dish

Ingredients 

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 scallions, sliced (white & green parts separated)
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (discard skin)
  • 1.5 cups salsa (not chunky)
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (divided in half)
  • 3-4 medium zucchini
  • dash chipotle hot sauce, plus more for serving
  • 2 tbsp sour cream (can be used as garnish when serving)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a large skillet heat the oil on medium heat.
  • Add the white scallion slices & garlic. Cook, stirring often until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle in the chili powder and cook, stirring until the scallions are coated and the oil is brick red, about a minute. Remove from heat and stir in chicken, 1/2 cup salsa & 1/2 cup cheese. Set aside.
  • Cut ends off zucchini. Halve the zucchini lengthwise and arrange cut-side down on a clean work surface. Use a Y-shaped vegetable peeler to shave off ribbons the entire length of each zucchini half and as wide as possible (the first few may be too skinny & can be discarded). Make 36 ribbons in total.
  • Lay out 3 ribbons, slightly overlapping to make a rectangle (ribbons are your 'tortilla'). Place about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down along one of the short ends of the zucchini tortilla then roll up to enclose the filling.
  • Place into an ungreased baking dish, seam side down. Repeat step 6 then arrange them in the baking dish. Top with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with a dash of hot sauce then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
  • Bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is hot for about 25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes. Top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of green scallions

Notes

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen

Nutrition

Serving: 3enchiladas | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 1314mg | Potassium: 1085mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1695IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 413mg | Iron: 2mg

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Using a Y-shaped peeler, make 36 ribbons, discarding the skinny ones
Shredded chicken with chili powder & cheese
Overlap 3 ribbons & place meat on one end then roll up
Place rolled zucchini enchiladas into a 2-3 qt baking dish
Top with remaining salsa, cheese & hot sauce then bake 25 minutes until cheese melts & filling is hot
Sprinkle with green scallion slices
Serve: Can be topped with a dollop of sour cream

Sylvia Pearce’s Spicy Dry Rub for Chicken

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A few weeks ago Jack & I were visiting family in Cary, NC, to celebrate my great-grandson’s 5th birthday.  Julian was excited to show me how he swims in the big community pool so, off we went. After sunscreen, earplugs & swim arms, he was ready to have fun. All the while I was a little distracted by the amazing aroma of grilling taking place to my right at one of the grill stations nearby. I could see chicken and steak on the grill which made my mouth start watering. I had to investigate! I then had the pleasure of meeting Dwayne & Sylvia Pearce. Dwayne is the Grill Master but quickly confessed that it’s his wife Sylvia’s homemade rub that makes the food delicious. It was very evident to me that Dwayne was enjoying every moment at the grill in spite of the 90º temperature outside. Their generosity extended to me a sampling of their chicken drumsticks and I was hooked! The chicken was grilled to perfection, full of spicy flavor, and very moist. Like many accomplished cooks, Sylvia uses a little of this and a little of that until the taste is just the way they like it. Thanks so much to Sylvia & Dwayne for sharing your good nature, spice rub ingredients, and chicken with me. I love it!

Sylvia Pearce's Spicy Dry Rub for Chicken

A quick & easy homemade spicy dry rub.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 chicken pieces
Calories:
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • Small mixing bowl or plastic zip-lock bag
  • Measuring spoons

Ingredients 

  • 3 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp sweet or smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp Adobe seasoning
  • 1 packet Sazon seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp jerk seasoning (if using jerk in a jar, omit the brown sugar)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cayene pepper
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the above ingredients and blend well.
  • Using paper towels, pat dry your chicken, then generously rub the spicy dry rub on both sides.
  • Heat your grill to medium-high then lightly oil the grates.
  • Place the chicken on the grill and grill for about 10 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees for dark meat or 160 degrees for white meat.
  • Rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Spicy Dry Rub Ingredients
Delicious!
Sylvia & Dwayne Pearce

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Sylvia Pearce’s Spicy Dry Rub for Chicken

Published on by Twiins in the KitchenLeave a comment
 

A few weeks ago Jack & I were visiting family in Cary, NC, to celebrate my great-grandson’s 5th birthday.  Julian was excited to show me how he swims in the big community pool so, off we went. After sunscreen, earplugs & swim arms, he was ready to have fun. All the while I was a little distracted by the amazing aroma of grilling taking place to my right at one of the grill stations nearby. I could see chicken and steak on the grill which made my mouth start watering. I had to investigate! I then had the pleasure of meeting Dwayne & Sylvia Pearce. Dwayne is the Grill Master but quickly confessed that it’s his wife Sylvia’s homemade rub that makes the food delicious. It was very evident to me that Dwayne was enjoying every moment at the grill in spite of the 90º temperature outside. Their generosity extended to me a sampling of their chicken drumsticks and I was hooked! The chicken was grilled to perfection, full of spicy flavor, and very moist. Like many accomplished cooks, Sylvia uses a little of this and a little of that until the taste is just the way they like it. Thanks so much to Sylvia & Dwayne for sharing your good nature, spice rub ingredients, and chicken with me. I love it!

Sylvia Pearce's Spicy Dry Rub for Chicken

A quick & easy homemade spicy dry rub.
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No ratings yet
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 chicken pieces
Calories:
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • Small mixing bowl or plastic zip-lock bag
  • Measuring spoons

Ingredients 

  • 3 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp sweet or smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp Adobe seasoning
  • 1 packet Sazon seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp jerk seasoning (if using jerk in a jar, omit the brown sugar)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cayene pepper
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the above ingredients and blend well.
  • Using paper towels, pat dry your chicken, then generously rub the spicy dry rub on both sides.
  • Heat your grill to medium-high then lightly oil the grates.
  • Place the chicken on the grill and grill for about 10 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees for dark meat or 160 degrees for white meat.
  • Rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Spicy Dry Rub Ingredients
Delicious!
Sylvia & Dwayne Pearce

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Twiins Family Favorite Sunday Pasta & Meat Sauce Dinner

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As children, we knew it was Sunday just by waking to the aromas permeating throughout the house! The onions & garlic sauteing, the browning of the sausages, pork pieces, braciole, and meatballs. On the counter were the cans of tomatoes waiting to be added to bring together our family’s Sunday meat sauce…brings back the best childhood memories of our family’s ritual of making the Sunday sauce or gravy as our Neopolitan Mom and Grandma Florence called it.

It was a time for the whole family to sit down together, enjoy delicious food while catching up with everyone’s life, and we always laughed a lot. With some of us moving to different parts of the country we miss that weekly gathering. To this day, we still make our sauce the very same way. Like any family favorites, we think ours is the Best! So when family members come to visit we recreate those special Sunday dinners and we all just love being together again.

Twiins Family Favorite Sunday Meat Sauce & Pasta Dinner

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Italian Sausages, Pork Country Ribs & Meatballs with Pasta
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Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 4 hours
Servings: 8
Calories:
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • 8-qt stockpot, or larger
  • 12" frying pan for meatballs, or larger
  • large bowl to mix meatball mixture
  • small bowl to soak bread for meatballs
  • Large platter to serve meat
  • Large Pasta Bowl

Ingredients 

  • 3 (28 oz cans) San Marzano Whole Tomatoes
  • 1 (24.5 oz jar) Mutti Tomato Puree
  • 2 (6 oz cans) Hunt's Tomato Paste with basil, garlic & oregano
  • 2 Tablespoons EVOO
  • 1 large Onion, diced
  • 12 large Garlic cloves, minced the more the better
  • 1 lb. Italian Hot Sausage links about 5 links
  • 1 lb. Italian Sweet Sausage links about 5 links
  • 4 Country Ribs
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 4-5 Fresh Basil Leaves
  • 36 Meatballs see The Best Napoletana Meatballs recipe
  • 1 loaf Italian Bread warmed
  • Pecorino Romano Cheese optional
  • Whole Milk Ricotta optional
  • Fresh Basil Leaves chopped or ribbons for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Add a drizzle of EVOO to 8 qt stock pot and brown all sausages & ribs (it may take 2 batches to complete).
  • Once browned, remove meat and place in a deep bowl. Set aside.
  • Add 2 Tablespoons EVOO to the already hot remaining oil & fond in the stockpot (fond is all the wonderful browned pieces of meat that stick to the bottom of the pot). Once the EVOO is hot enough, add diced onion & saute on medium-low heat until they start to carmelize.
  • Add the minced garlic, fresh basil leaves, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, and stir. Saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add the 2 cans of Hunt's tomato paste. Mix well and cook for about 1 minute. Add the San Marzano Whole Tomatoes. Break up the tomatoes with a fork. The tomatoes will cook down after 4 hours. Add the bottle of Mutti tomato puree then combine well.
  • Add the sausages and country ribs to the sauce and stir well. Continue cooking sauce on a low simmer for 3-4 hours until ribs and sausages are very tender or start to fall apart.
  • Prepare the meatball mixture (The Best Napoletana Meatballs recipe). Shape mixture into 1 ½-inch round meatballs (or whatever size you prefer). In a large frying pan pour in enough canola oil to a depth of 1/2-inch. Heat the oil until hot. Add the meatballs and brown on both sides on medium heat. Remove and place in a bowl until 20 minutes before the sauce is done. Don't worry if there are too many meatballs for one dinner. They can be cooked and frozen for another meal or make some delicious meatball parm heroes the next day.
  • 20 minutes before the sauce is done, add the meatballs and stir gently. Continue on a low simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Once you add the meatballs to the sauce, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a good amount of salt to the boiling water, then add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
  • In the meantime, remove all the meat from the saucepot once the meatballs have simmered for 20 minutes in the sauce. Place in a large bowl or platter. After cooking the sauce for 4 hours (or more) the whole tomatoes break down however you can use an immersion blender to smooth it out if you don't like tiny pieces of tomato in your sauce.
  • Drain the pasta and pour a ladle or two of the sauce on top. Place pasta in a large, deep bowl. Portion out the pasta on individual plates with a meatball, sausage, or piece of rib meat (or all three!)
  • In our family, we top each plate with a dollop of whole milk ricotta, grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and some chopped fresh basil leaves.  Serve with warmed crusty sesame seed Italian bread & butter.

Notes

Brown sausages & country ribs
Caramelize onions, add minced garlic, dried oregano, saute then add tomato paste & blend well
Add fresh basil leaves
Simmer for 4 hours
Fry meatballs and add to the sauce for the last 20 minutes of simmering
The last 20 minutes of simmering with the meatballs
Remove meat to large bowl or platter
Enjoy!

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Mediterranean-Style Cod Over Couscous

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After making this delicious dinner many, many times we decided to add some Kalamata olives for a little extra color. What a wonderful addition!  Not only did it add color but the olives added a little brininess to the Mediterranean flavor! Below is the original posting now with the addition of the olives. See Notes below for Gluten-free options.

While relaxing on my front porch after repotting some plants today, Teresa pulled up with some cod for tonight’s dinner. Cod is one of those fish that takes on the flavor of whatever you season it with making a Mediterranean-style dinner absolutely delicious. We were wondering what we had on hand to make with it and I found a half-full jar of pearl couscous! We had some grape tomatoes, plenty of garlic, onions, & feta cheese, along with a garden full of fresh herbs. We set about making dinner. We’ve said this before and it’s very true…some of the best dinners we make are thrown together with what we have on hand. This dinner turned out fabulous…we were counting on leftovers but NONE were to be had!

 

Mediterranean-Style Cod over Couscous

While relaxing on my front porch after repotting some plants today, Teresa pulled up with some cod for tonight's dinner. Cod is one of those fish that takes on the flavor of whatever you season it with making a Mediterranean-style dinner absolutely delicious. We were wondering what we had on hand to make with it and I found a half-full jar of pearl couscous! We had some grape tomatoes, plenty of garlic, onions, & feta cheese, along with a garden full of fresh herbs. We set about making dinner. We've said this before and it's very true...some of the best dinners we make are thrown together with what we have on hand. This dinner turned out fabulous...we were counting on leftovers but NONE were to be had!😋❤️
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 553kcal
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • Large deep skillet with cover
  • Large rimmed baking sheet
  • Large skillet with cover

Ingredients 

  • 2½ pounds fresh cod fillets
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • garlic powder to sprinkle lightly over fish
  • 1 sprig fresh greek oregano chopped (approximately 1 Tablespoon)
  • 2- pint cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 6-8 large cloves of garlic peeled and left whole
  • EVOO to drizzle over fish and tomatoes & garlic
  • 3 ounces Kalamata Olives pitted & cut in half
  • 1¾ cups pearl couscous also known as Israeli couscous
  • 2¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 large sweet onion roughly chopped
  • 6-8 large cloves garlic peeled & minced
  • 10 oz fresh baby spinach a few large handfuls
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 6 ounces Feta cheese we use President's Chunk

Instructions

  • In a large skillet add the Israeli/pearl couscous to a dry, hot skillet. Gently stir to prevent burning. After a few minutes, the couscous will start to brown.  Do not burn. Not all the couscous will brown & that's ok.
  • Add the chicken stock, cover, lower heat, and simmer about 15-18 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside.
  • In a large, deep skillet, saute the onions until they start to caramelize then add garlic & cook another minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
  • Add the cooked onions, garlic, & spinach to the couscous. Stir well. Cover and set aside until fish is done.
  • Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Turn oven to broil. Once hot, reduce the oven temperature to 425º.
  • Wash tomatoes then coat them along with the whole cloves of garlic (skin on) with 1-2 Tablespoons of EVOO. Sprinkle with salt. Combine well. Place on a lined baking sheet.
  • Place baking sheet on the top oven rack and bake for 15-20 minutes at  425ºF, until tomatoes blister & garlic is soft.
  • Remove from the oven when done. Using a fork or a wooden spoon, smash the garlic. Take half the tomatoes plus the juice and garlic then add to couscous, mixing well.
  • Just before serving, crumble & add the Feta cheese & Kalamata olives to the couscous and combine.
  • Using the same rimmed baking sheet, drizzle EVOO and arrange the pieces of cod on the sheet. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt & pepper, chopped fresh greek oregano. Drizzle lightly with EVOO and place on center rack of 425º oven.
  • Cook 10-16 minutes, depending on the thickness of cod until it's opaque & flakes.
  • To serve, place cooked couscous mixture on a serving platter and top with fish fillets. Sprinkle with remaining blistered tomatoes & garlic. Garnish with sprigs of fresh oregano or thyme.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Use any white fish of your choice including, shrimp, lobster, and/or scallops in place of cod.
Dried oregano or thyme may be used in place of fresh. For every 1 Tablespoon of fresh herbs use 1 tsp dried.
To make this recipe Gluten-Free use GF pearl couscous, GF small pasta, or rice in place of regular pearl couscous.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 553kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 106.5mg | Sodium: 1874mg | Potassium: 1679mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5459IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 4mg

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Clear Soup with Mushrooms & Scallions

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Clear Soup with Mushrooms & Scallions

A delicious clear onion broth with mushrooms & scallions. Just like your favorite Sushi or Hibachi restaurant.
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Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 61kcal
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • 8 quart stockpot

Ingredients 

  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 large sweet onions cut into 12 wedges
  • 2 large carrots cut in chunks
  • 4-5 large garlic cloves smashed
  • 3 inch piece fresh ginger sliced
  • 4-5 whole scallions (green onions) sliced thin (green & white parts)
  • 10-12 Baby Bella mushrooms sliced very thin
  • salt to taste
  • French's fried onion pieces

Instructions

  • Heat a large 8 quart stock pot until water makes a "pish" sound. The pot is then hot enough to add the sesame oil.
  • When the sesame oil is hot enough it will show striations on the bottom surface. Add the onion wedges, ginger slices and carrot chunks until all surfaces are lightly charred. Add the garlic and cook additional 1 minute but don't burn.
  • Add the chicken, beef broths and water. Bring to a boil then simmer on low for about an hour.
  • Use a strainer to remove the vegetables and toss them or use elsewhere; however, they will be very soft.
  • Serve into individual soup bowls with a ladle or two of hot broth. Add some thinly sliced mushroms and scallions. Top with a few fried onions and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 61kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1069mg | Potassium: 385mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Please note: Although the Nutritional Facts are provided, we are not nutritionists and therefore cannot verify the accuracy of these calculations. Please verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Spaghetti Squash Beef Lasagna – Twiins Style – Gluten-Free

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Spaghetti Squash Beef Lasagna - Twiins Style - Gluten-Free

  • Servings: 8-10
  • Difficulty: Easy

You will not believe this healthy lasagna is as satisfying as the traditional one made with lasagna noodles, but it definitely is! It is filled with a blend of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, basil & is layered with ground beef as well as our homemade tomato sauce. You build the layers just like traditional lasagna only replace the noodles with cooked & seasoned spaghetti squash & topped with sliced mozzarella. This dish has it all...can be made ahead, freezer friendly and perfect for a crowd. Our family loves it and so will yours. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 2 med to large spaghetti squash (cut lengthwise and seeded)
  • light drizzle of EVOO over each half of the squash before seasoning & baking.
  • dried oregano to sprinkle over squash before baking
  • salt & pepper to sprinkle over squash before baking
  • garlic powder to sprinkle over squash before baking
  • 2 lbs. ground beef (85/15 or leaner)
  • 1/2  onion, diced
  • 4-6 large cloves garlic, smashed
  • 32 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 3/4 cup grated Locatelli cheese (Pecorino Romano)
  • 16 ounces whole milk mozzarella, shredded or leave some slices for top layer
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 2-3 cups prepared tomato sauce

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
    2. Cut spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise & remove seeds.
    3. Lightly drizzle each half with EVOO then season with salt, pepper, dried oregano & garlic powder (the more the tastier). Place each half face down onto foiled baking sheet and bake until soft when touched (about 30-40 minutes)
    4. While the squash is baking, heat a large skillet. When the pan is hot add the ground beef and brown. Add the smashed garlic and onions and cook until softened.
    5. Drain fat and set aside in a medium bowl.
    6. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, half the shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, salt & pepper and 1 tsp garlic powder. Mix well then add chopped basil. combine and set aside.
    7. Removed the squash from the oven when soft and let cool. Once cool use 2 forks to shred it then add to a colander to drain excess liquid. Set aside until ready to layer your lasagna.
    8. Lower oven temperature to 350ºF.
    9. In a lasagna pan or casserole dish, place a light layering of tomato sauce. Take enough forkfuls of shredded squash and place on top of sauce. Spready evenly. Sprinkle with some grated Pecorino Romano.
    10. Layer half of the ricotta mixture and spread evenly.
    11. Layer with cooked ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with grated Pecorino Romano.
    12. Add tomato sauce to cover lightly. Sprinkle with grated Pecorino Romano.
    13. Repeat for the second layer and top with remaining shredded or sliced mozzarella.
    14. Sprinkle with Locatelli cheese, then a try light drizzle of EVOO on top.
    15. Bake about 30 minutes or until cheese melts.
    16. Best served with a nice Italian salad on the side.

    Note: May be substituted with ‘Beyond Beef Crumbles’ in place of ground beef for a meatless meal.

    Enjoy!
    Once cooled, shred squash into large bowl
    Brown smashed garlic and ground beef
    Once cooked, drain excess liquid
    Lightly drizzle EVOO then spread small amount of tomato sauce to lightly cover bottom of casserole dish
    Spread layer of squash over sauce
    Combine ricotta and seasonings in a bowl
    Mix well
    Layer ricotta mixture on top of squash
    Sprinkle half the meat mixture over ricotta mixture
    Sprinkle with grated cheese then top with tomato sauce and spread
    Repeat for the 2nd layer
    Add 2nd layer of ricotta
    Add 2nd layer of ground beef
    Add final layer of tomato sauce and top with sliced mozzarella cheese and spinkle with grated cheese & a drizzle of EVOO



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    Creamy Chicken Florentine with Garlic & Mushrooms – Twiins Style

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    Creamy Chicken Florentine with Garlic & Mushrooms - Twiins Style

    • Servings: 6
    • Difficulty: Easy

    Our family went wild over this meal! They loved it so much not a morsel was left, not even a single strand of linguine! This amazing dinner is a quick and easy, one-skillet meal that you'll have on the table in less than 30 minutes. Your family or guests will think you slaved all day in the kitchen just for them. It's a win-win for sure. Using pre-sliced gourmet blends of mushrooms makes preparation a snap. The silky smooth creamy sauce will have your family requesting it every week. Buon Appetito!

    Ingredients

    • 4 boneless chicken thighs, skinless
    • 8 chicken tenders
    • 2-4 Tablespoons EVOO
    • salt & pepper (season chicken)
    • garlic powder (season chicken)
    • 12 ounces fresh sliced gourmet blend mushrooms (shitake, oyster, & baby Bella)
    • 6 Tablespoons butter
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1½ Tablespoons flour (we used Gluten-free)
    • 3/4 cups chicken broth
    • 1¼ cups half & half
    • 3/4 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
    • 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
    • 1/2 tsp dried tarragon
    • 10-20 ounces fresh baby spinach (use a minimum of 10-oz)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/4 tsp black pepper
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • Reserve 1 cup cooked pasta water

        Directions

      1. If you are serving over pasta now is the time to fill your pot with water & bring it to a boil, then add salt to the water.
      2.  Season both sides of chicken pieces with salt, pepper, & garlic powder to taste.
      3. In a large skillet heat the EVOO on medium heat. Add the chicken thighs and brown on both sides until the chicken is cooked and no longer pink. Remove from skillet & set aside.  Add the chicken tenderloins and brown on both sides until no longer pink. Remove from skillet & add to plate of cooked chicken thighs.
      4. Add mushrooms to skillet & cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir several times. Remove from skillet & set aside.
      5. Melt the butter in the skillet add minced garlic & tarragon. Saute for 1 minute.
      6. Using a whisk add the flour to the skillet & whisk continuously until starts to thicken.
      7. Add chicken broth,  half & half, & both grated cheeses. Stir well.
      8. Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted & sauce thickens.
      9. Add back the mushrooms & all chicken, cover & low simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
      10. Remove chicken to a platter.  Don’t drain the pasta…using a pasta ladle or tongs simply scoop all the pasta from the pot of water into the sauce & mix well. If needed add an additional 1/4 – 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce.
      11. Serve or over your favorite pasta with a side salad.  Buon Appetito!

      Note: Chicken cutlets may be used in place of tenders & thighs.

      Chicken Tenders
      Chicken Thighs
      Buon Appetito!

       

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