A Toss Together, Last Minute Meal That Turned into a "Keeper"

Happy Wednesday Morning, Everyone!

I made a Pasta dish last night that Bob & I enjoyed so much that we're calling it a keeper.  I even wrote down what I did so I'll be able to make it again sometime soon!   I call it:

Perfect Pasta with Creamy Chicken Sauce

Cook & Drain 1/2 a pound of Rigatoni (or similar shaped) Pasta.  Set aside and keep warm.

In a large glass measuring cup, mix 2 teaspoons of Penzeys Spices Chicken Soup Base and Seasoning in 2 cups of very hot water.  Blend until the soup base is disolved and mixed into the water.  Set aside.

Melt 3 teaspoons of butter in a large saute pan and mix in 3 teaspoons of flour until blended and bubby.  Whisk in the Chicken Soup Base mixture until silky smooth over low to medium heat.  Add in 1/2 to one cup of Milk to the Soup Base mixture and warm through but do NOT boil.

Spoon the Creamy Chicken Sauce over the Rigatoni and attack!

 

Doesn't that sound yummers?  It was just the right amount of Pasta and Sauce and neither Bob nor I had that stuffed tummy feeling you don't want in the heat of the Summertime.

So...what are YOUR "Toss Together Turned Into Keeper" meals you've created during the hideous humidity of the Summer?

Krissy~~~    

Happy Wednesday Krissy!

 

This sounds great but...what is....

bobswife:

Penzeys Spices Chicken Soup Base and Seasoning

and where can I find it?  If I can't find it, what do you think would be a good replacement?

Sorry 'bout that, Sue...I just presumed everyone was aware of Penzeys Spices...something I shouldn't do is presume!

In any case, the Chicken Base & Seasoning is from www.penzeys.com and it's delicious!  I think a good alternate, however, would be to use your favorite Chicken Broth.

Hope you're staying cool & comfy this morning!

Krissy~~~ 

 

Krissy, this sounds right up me and DD's alley.  I would like to find some things, get away from the Lipton's prepackage. Just a few questions, please?

 

What is Penskys chicken spices? Can you get that at Walmart or Kroger maybe? Is it in a shaker packaging?

 

And, the butter, do you use real butter?

 

Is it salty? I hate the prepackaged, it is too salty.

 

TIA.

Sounds good,but then again, I'm a pasta-holic.

 

You should send your recipe to Penzeys.  They have a cookbook and cooking magazine where they publish recipes.

Oh, wait, I just read further about the spicess.......

My newest toss together is Macaroni n cheese with ground beef and some drained canned tomatoes.

 I brown a full pound of ground beef (could use ground turkey for lower fat option) and save the extra.  Then I used half a can of canned tomatoes and saved the other half.  Two meals in two weeks and it's super simple.  Hubby loves it and it's great for kids too.  Next time I think I'll throw in some mushrooms...mmmm.

So the Penzeys Chicken Soup base and seasoning is just mainly a chicken broth with seasonings?

 

We usually get the College Inn Chicken broth, with herbs, then I add a abit of Italian seasoning too. Would that do?

 

We usually get the College Inn Chicken broth, with herbs, then I add a abit of Italian seasoning too. Would that do?

Sure would, CatMint. 

 

ChinChilla...Your Toss-Together sounds good & good for you as well!

Sounds good,but then again, I'm a pasta-holic.

Dody

I don't think I could ever give up my Pasta.  I have, though, reduced the amount I eat *and* I buy the Whole Grain and/or Wheat Pasta rather than the now evil and icky, bad "regular" pasta.  Truth to tell, I can't tell a difference between the 2 types other than the Wheat pasta doesn't tend to have the stickiness of the non-Wheat pasta.

Krissy~~~

Sounds like a good one to try,thanks Bobswife. The other night I was a little lazy so took uncooked orzo,sliced leeks,minced green pepper,frozen peas,cubed left over chicken,parmesian cheese and mixed them together. Put them in a deep casserole dish and added three cups chicken broth, a little cream and covered it and steamed it in the oven for about 45 minutes. Than uncovered and but italian bread crumbs on top baked for another few minutes. For a quickie it was very tasty with a salad and garlic bread. I love doing these quickie unplanned meals.

Your quickie, unplanned meal sounds quite tasty, PurseGlove. In fact, I'll have to give that a try and soon!

That does sound yummy.

 

You could even add seom microwaved brocolli tops and sliced up leftover chicken if you wanted a change.

I throw thiis in a crock pot and its so easy and so good:

 

A package of potatoes from box of Scalloped Potatoes

Frozen veggies (Your choice)

Ham, chicken, pork chop etc. (1 of your meat choice)

add the package of Seasoned  Cream Sauce Mix

1/2 cup of milk

1 cup of water

onions, mushrooms (optional)

Pats of butter

salt and pepper to taste

 

set crock pot on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours...I think I like this also because its so easy to experiment with...If it sounds good try it..

 

 Krissy, I bet it was great!!! sounds really good!! I could do that toss in a pint of my newly canned chicken and feed the guys easy and cheap!!!  Thank you!!

Sue, I buy the chicken base at Costco, bet that would work....

Kozy, that wounds pretty good too!!!! anything that is easy I love!!!