Macaroni Grills Creamy Basil Pasta Dinner

So yes this is a food blog about what I cook and last night and made something from a box. Yes, you heard me correctly. Everyone makes food from a box. For me, this one is amazing! Pretty much better than Macaroni Grill. Yes, this is the first time I am making something from a box and it wont be the last! So here we go.

Grab a box of Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Pasta Dinner.

Everything is already in the box but you will need 2 Chicken Breast, Pesto, Butter, Heavy Cream or Milk, and of course water.
Inside the box you will find your pasta, seasoning, creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and grated cheese. 


Take your chicken and cut into thin slices and then cut the larger ones in half. Place them in the pan with a little olive oil and pesto. Adding the pesto gives the chicken a tasty new flavor. While the chicken is cooking at your water to a pot with a little olive oil (keeps the bubbles down so the water doesn't over flow from the pot) and butter. Once to a boil and your pasta for about 13 minutes. Be sure to check the pasta to make sure the it brakes up evenly.

Once the chicken is down at the sun-dried tomatoes, cream sauce, and heavy cream.

Check pasta, strain, and place in the pan with the sauce. And add grated cheese when ready to serve. 

When serving the pasta be sure to pick up some rolls.... soo goood with rolls!!!

And of course treat yourself to a nice glass of wine!

LOTSA LOVE, AILEEN

Chicken Tikka Masala

Yay! So I made Chicken Tikka Masala... for those of you who do not know what that is, here ya go. 

Chicken Tikka Masala is a curry dish or roasted chicken chunks (tikka) served in a rich-tasting red or orange-colored sauce. The sauce is usually creamy, lightly spiced and contains tomatoes. Or a simple way to tell you the best damn Indian food your will ever have in your entire life!! You usually eat the creamy savory sauce and chicken with Basmati rice and Nann which is a flat fluffy bread. Now time for the good stuff. Here is how to make it. 

Here is what you will need:

3 whole chicken breast

kosher salt

ground coriander

Cumin

1/2 cups plain yogurt or a nice thick coating 

6 tablespoons butter

1 whole large onion

4 garlic cloves

1 piece about 2 inches Fresh Ginger

1 can 28oz Diced Tomatoes

Sugar to taste

1- 1/2 cup heavy cream

2 cups Basmati rice

Start by seasoning the chicken breasts with some kosher salt. Next sprinkle them on both sides with some coriander and cumin. Then coat the chicken breasts completely with the plain yogurt. Set the chicken on a metal cooling rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and place it about 10-12 inches below a broiler for 8 minutes per side. Watch carefully so as not to totally char the chicken. It should have slightly blackened edges. Remove from oven. Check the chicken and make sure its cooked all the way through, if not put back in over and check every 5 mins. 

Next dice one large onion. In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Toss in the onions and sauté until they are slightly browned. As the onions cook, mince your garlic. Next, cut off the outer skin and mince or grate a 1 by 2 inch chunk of fresh ginger. Add the garlic and ginger to the onions. Also throw in about 1 tablespoon of salt. 

(Side Note: ginger is amazing with everything! Steaks, pasta, burgers, and more! Take the ginger and peel the whole thing and than freeze it. When you take it out it should be frozen and it makes it a million times easier to grad it.)

Next you are going to add about 3 tablespoons Garam Masala spice.(Or to taste because if you haven't tired the garam masala it smalls amazing and you should add more because the taste is just ah!) And if you like it hot, this is also when you will add your hot chili peppers. Serranos work well. Now you are going to add your can of diced tomatoes. Continue cooking and stirring, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze it. Add about 1 tablespoon sugar. Let this mixture simmer on medium for about 5 minutes.

To a rice cooker add 2 cups Basmati rice, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon Ground Turmeric and 4 cups water. Cover, turn on your rice cooker and walk away. If you do not have a rice cooker, cook your rice as usual but make sure that you use Basmati rice.

After the Tikka Masala sauce has had a chance to simmer for a little bit, add in the 1 ½ cups of heavy cream. Now, chop up your chicken breasts into chunks and stir them into the Tikka Masala sauce. A handful of chopped fresh cilantro is a nice addition if you like cilantro. Serve the rice with the Chicken Tikka Masala over top. Make sure to have some Nann bread handy, too.

For an awesome step by step with pictures see the amazing Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman!

Please enjoy the recipe! And be sure to check out The Pioneer Woman! 

And of course during this awesome even you have to treat yourself with a nice glass of wine!

LOTSA LOVE, AILEEN