Chicken-Penne Florentine Bake

Total Time: 43 Mins

Prep: 25 Mins

Servings: 6 servings, 1 cup each

what you need

2 cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

2 Tbsp. flour

2 Tbsp. Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing

1 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained

1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese

make it

HEAT oven to 375ºF.

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, toss chicken with flour. Heat dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 3 min. or just until evenly browned. Add broth and Neufchatel; cook 3 min. or until Neufchatel is melted, stirring frequently. Stir in spinach.

DRAIN pasta. Add to chicken mixture; mix lightly. Spoon half into 2-qt. casserole; top with 1/2 cup mozzarella. Repeat layers; sprinkle with Parmesan.

BAKE 16 to 18 min. or until casserole is heated through and mozzarella is melted.

kitchen tips

SUBSTITUTE

Substitute large square Ziploc® VersaGlass™ Container* for the 2-qt. casserole. Cool any leftovers, then cover with lid and store in refrigerator up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months. When ready to serve, reheat (uncovered) in the microwave in same container until heated through. (If frozen, thaw in refrigerator before reheating.)

MAKE AHEAD

Pasta can be cooked ahead of time. Cook as directed on package, just until al dente. Rinse pasta, drain well and place in a resealable freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months. When ready to use, thaw pasta by running hot tap water over pasta; drain. Then, use as directed.

KEEPING IT SAFE

Cutting raw boneless chicken breasts into pieces is a slippery task. Make it safer and prevent the knife from slipping by cutting the chicken while it is partially frozen.

Perfect Zesty Chicken Tortilla Bake

what you need

1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing

1/2 cup flour

3 cups milk

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked, cut into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

16 flour tortillas (6 inch)

make it

HEAT oven to 375°F.

WHISK dressing and flour in medium saucepan until well blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened. Add 1 cup cheese; cook until melted, stirring constantly. Reserve 1 cup sauce.

STIR chicken, salsa and parsley into remaining sauce; spoon 1/3 cup down center of each tortilla. Roll up. Place 8 roll-ups, seam-sides down, in each of 2 (13x9-inch) baking dishes sprayed with cooking spray; top with reserved sauce and remaining cheese.

BAKE 25 min. or until heated through.

TACO BELL® and HOME ORIGINALS® are trademarks owned and licensed by Taco Bell Corp.

kitchen tips

HEALTHY LIVING

Save 60 calories and 7g of fat per serving by preparing with MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing, fat-free milk and 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese.

SUBSTITUTE

Prepare using 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese.

The Power of Just One Word

Am I obsessed with anything? Okay I admit…. I'm a quote person- I'm always looking for unique words of wisdom to describe my life or to gain that extra strength to get through something. A quote in my own words is an inspirational thought that enters your mind and never leaves- it is a group of words that leaves a lasting impressing in your life. If I were to write a book it would be full of quotes. (If you know me well, reading is something I don't usually do.) But if I see a book full of quotes, I will spend hours reading it over and over.

When they say “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I do not think that statement is all true. I think that we need to be careful of what we say and use our words wisely to build someone up rather to tear them down. The power of just one word can impact one’s life in many ways. It can break a sentence, a thought, or even an entire legacy. But in a different aspect it can give you the inspiration, encouragement, and help you realize your purpose in life.

We all go through things in life that is not easy at all. Would I take them back? Absolutely not! Those moments are the times that made me into who I am today. By being the best we can be and helping others to see their worth is priceless.

JELL-O Fruit and Cookie Dream

what you need

2 containers (6 oz. each) strawberry nonfat yogurt

1 pkg. (0.3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Sugar Free Gelatin

3/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping

1 cup each blueberries, raspberries and sliced fresh strawberries

6 OREO Cookies, chopped

make it

MIX yogurt and dry gelatin mix in medium bowl until well blended.

STIR in COOL WHIP.

LAYER yogurt mixture, berries and cookies in 6 dessert dishes.

kraft kitchens tips

CREATIVE LEFTOVERS

Use whatever cut-up fruit you have on hand. Try melon, pineapple, peaches or any of your favorite fruit.

SUBSTITUTE

Prepare using strawberry low-fat yogurt, COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping and Reduced Fat OREO Cookies.

Chocolate Mousse Torte

what you need

37 NILLA Wafers, divided

4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided

2 pkg. (3.9 oz. each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. cold milk, divided

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup fresh raspberries

1STAND 16 wafers around inside edge of 9-inch round pan lined with plastic wrap. Melt 3 chocolate squares as directed on package.

2BEAT pudding mixes and 2 cups milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP; pour into prepared pan

3

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and remaining milk with mixer until well blended. Stir in 1 cup of the remaining COOL WHIP; spread over pudding. Top with remaining wafers. Refrigerate 3 hours.

4

MEANWHILE, shave remaining chocolate square into curls. Invert torte onto plate; remove plastic wrap. Top torte with remaining COOL WHIP, berries and chocolate curls.

kitchens tips

SIZE-WISE

At 16 servings, this easy-to-make torte is a great choice to serve the crowd at your next special-occasion gathering.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS

Warm chocolate square by microwaving it, unwrapped, on HIGH for a few seconds or just until you can smudge the chocolate with your thumb. Hold the square steadily and draw a vegetable peeler slowly over flat bottom of square, allowing a thin layer of chocolate to curl as it is peeled off the bottom of the square to make long, delicate curls. Or to make shorter curls, use the same technique using the narrow side of the chocolate square.

HOW TO SOFTEN CREAM CHEESE

Place completely unwrapped package of cream cheese in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 10 sec. or just until softened. Add 15 sec. for each additional package of cream cheese.

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/chocolate-mousse-torte-114021.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20101214-_-1012

Penne Pasta Skillet

what you need:
1 lb. ground beef
1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
2 cups water
3 cups penne pasta, uncooked
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
make it

BROWN meat in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain.

ADD spaghetti sauce and water; mix well. Stir in pasta. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium heat 16 to 18 min. or until pasta is tender; stir.

TOP with cheese; cover. Cook 1 min. or until cheese is melted.

SERVING SUGGESTION:

Serve with a bagged salad tossed with KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade.

SPECIAL EXTRA:

Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley just before serving.

SUBSTITUTE:

Prepare using your favorite shape small pasta.

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/penne-pasta-skillet-112435.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20110510-_-1013

Just A Thought

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

More Recipes

Wow its been a long time. I have had less time to cook but have been finding a bunch of recipes to share. Here are a few of my favorites so far:


I made this one for my family and switched a few things around. Instead of putting the canned chicken I boiled my chicken then shredded it and sauteed it in a pan with fresh mushrooms and green onion.

White Chicken Noodle Casserole

1 (Costco size) white chicken
1 can small of cream of mushroom
1 cup corn
1 cup shredded cheese
2 cups uncooked salad noodles

Cook noodles and mix with other ingredients in casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese, salt & pepper. Cook @350 for 30 mins or until done


Chicken Enchiladas

2 cans (Costco size) white chicken
1 – 16 oz sour cream
1 can diced olives
1 can green chills
1 cup shredded cheese
1 package taco seasoning
Sauce is 1 can cream of chicken, 1 can cream of mushroom and 1 can of red enchilada sauce.

Mix all ingredients together and roll into tortillas. Put sauce on the bottom of the pan and then the rest over the top. Sprinkle cheese over top. Bake @ 350 for 35-40 mins