Tag: Italian Recipes

Easy Pesto Chicken Casserole 😋😋

Published on by Twiins in the Kitchen3 Comments

If you’re always searching for a new, quick, and easy chicken recipe then this is for you! Not only is it delicious but we hit the Trifecta with it being, Keto-friendly, Low Carb and Gluten-free…did we say delicious? We can’t emphasize enough how delicious this meal is. If homemade pesto is not your thing then by all means use a good store-bought brand.  Today Barbara harvested her first batch of basil and so it was a given it would be tonight’s dinner! Everyone loved it and there were no leftovers…

Easy Pesto Chicken Casserole 😋😋

Easy & delicious chicken casserole that's low carb, Keto-friendly, and gluten-free.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 283kcal
Author: Twiins in the Kitchen®

Equipment

  • 1 Grill/Fry Pan
  • 1 Large Casserole dish
  • 1 Medium mixing bowl

Ingredients 

  • 8 thin chicken cutlets pound lightly if too thick
  • 1 cup pesto Homemade or store bought
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano Locatelli
  • salt, pepper & Italian seasoning to season chicken, both sides
  • salt, pepper & Italian seasoning to add to ricotta mixture, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°
  • Season both sides of chicken with salt, pepper & Italian seasoning.
  • In a medium-size bowl, mix togther ricotta, grated pecorino romano, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Set bowl aside.
  • Using a very hot griddle or fry pan, sear each cutlet on both sides. No more than a minute on each side.
  • Place several spoonfuls of pesto to coat the bottom of the casserole dish.
  • Place the seared chicken cutlets on top of the pesto.
  • Spoon the ricotta mixture over the chicken, spreading evenly to cover. Top the ricotta mixture with spoonfuls of pesto. Sprinkle mozzarella on top and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until bubbly and chicken cutlets are cooked through.
  • Serve with a side salad or a vegetable of your choice. If you're not concerned with eating low carb or following a keto diet, serve with your favorite pasta & crusty bread. Enjoy

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 567mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 977IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 322mg | 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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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.

Mediterranean-Style Cod Over Couscous

Published on by Twiins in the Kitchen2 Comments

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.

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.
Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @twiins_in_the_kitchen or tag #twiinsinthekitchen
@cookingwithtwiinsinthekitchenMention @cookingwithtwiinsinthekitchen
Check out our YouTube Videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFE_9i4ZkY96NT1s4IAaKaw

Spaghetti Squash Beef Lasagna – Twiins Style – Gluten-Free

Published on by Twiins in the KitchenLeave a comment

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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