Creamy Fettuccine with Chicken and Spinach Casserole

Nothing beats a good casserole!

They are great if you are cooking for a crowd.

They are great if you want leftovers.

They are perfect for one dish meals.
Oh, and I mustn't forget the church pot luck dinner!

My only problem with the Casserole is that I don't have enough good recipes to pick from.

If you have a good one...I would be OHHHH so grateful if you would share it.

This is my favorite Casserole Recipe.

Even though I am a household of two...

I make a big batch.

Its perfect right out of the oven, but its even better the next day!

To my hubby,  Its a plate licker.

Its called, Creamy Fettuccine with Chicken and Spinach.

you will need...

1 lb. Boneless Chicken Breast

1 stick of Butter

20 oz of Spinach, chopped

1 lb. can of Peeled Tomato's, chopped

1 16 oz. container of Heavy Cream

1/2 tsp. of Nutmeg
Salt and Pepper

1 lb Fettuccine, al dente

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

Cut chicken into bite size chunks.

Somewhere along the line, I learned that it is much easier to cut chicken (and other meats, especially when I need to cut them very thin) when it is still mostly frozen.

If you are using fresh spinach, wash it well and coarsely chop it.
I have always used fresh spinach.  Recently I tried frozen because it is so much cheaper and found that in this recipe, I can not tell the difference.

I do not skimp on the tomato's though.

Don't drain the tomato's.

Any peeled tomato will work fine.

These ones are saucy and that just enhances the casserole sauce.

If your tomato's have basil leaves, remove them.

Chop and squish up the tomato's.

Start a large pot of salted water for the Fettuccine (or pasta of your choice).

In a large frying pan melt the butter.

Add the chicken and saute until cooked through. 

When Chicken is cooked through, remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add Spinach, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Cook until wilted and warmed through.

Add Tomato's and cream.

bring to a boil.

Cook for one minute, stirring.

Remove from heat.

Cook and drain pasta.

Add pasta to Spinach Mixture with Chicken and Parmesan Cheese.

Mix thoroughly and evenly.  Add to casserole dish.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes.

Remove cover and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbling all through.

Remove from oven and allow to sit for ten minutes or so.

Serve.

I have been making this casserole for years and years.

I have never had an unhappy customer!

ENJOY!

Like I said before... Feel free to pass your favorite casserole my way.

Oh, I would love it so!

PEACE!

Using up a head of Cauliflower

I have been working on using more of what I have on hand rather than deciding what I want to eat and then shopping for it.
I will waste less and spend less both of which are important!
A few days before Thanksgiving I sent Tim to the store for some Cauliflower.
I told him to get two heads because they are usually so small.
This time they were HUGE so I really only needed one.
So, what to do with this extra head of Cauliflower????

I broke it up into the flowerette's (sort of bite size ones) and then steamed it for maybe??? 7 minutes until crisp/tender. NOT SOFT.
With half of it I made a Cauliflower Gratin which was really yummy. 
With the rest I did...

 THIS.

 2 Tbsp Olive Oil,
 8 cloves of Garlic sliced thin,
 1/2 tsp? Red Pepper Flakes,
 1/2 head of steamed Cauliflower,
 1 large Tomato seeded and chopped,
 1/4 cup chopped fresh Basil,
 1 can of (drained and washed) Cannellini Beans,
 Bow Tie Pasta
 Parmesan Cheese,
 Salt and pepper.

 I sauteed the garlic and pepper flakes with the cauliflower until garlic was soft and Cauliflower was warmed through. 
Added the Tomato, Basil and Beans,
Cooked the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water I drained it and then added it to the cauliflower mixture.
I tossed it around and added a little of the pasta water.
Served it in a big bowl topped with Parmesan Cheese.

GOOD, healthy and works great as a leftover.
I just had a big bowl of it now and its a few days old.

I have made similar dishes in the past, but what I liked so much about this (other than the taste) was that I used up the Cauliflower and the Tomato because I was worried about them both going bad. I didn't want to throw them away. Food, especially those two items are expensive!

I wasn't really sure what to do with them at first. I just gave it a little thought. I like all of those flavors and threw in the beans for the nutrition. My hubby was not crazy about the idea of beans but what is great about him is he will eat anything.  He is very good about encouraging me to try something new. If it comes out bad he eats it anyway without complaining and if it comes out great he grunts and yum's all the time he is eating it...
and then licks the plate.
Rude, maybe... BUT I LOVE IT!
I love to cook for him.
On this one he licked the plate :)