Margherita Pizza

This is a quick, easy pizza that's also really pretty and great for entertaining. Oh yeah, it tastes really good too! :)









1 pizza dough (the kind you find at the grocery store near the canned biscuits works or you can make your own)
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced
fresh mozzarella cheese
fresh basil, sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced thin
3 tbsp pizza sauce
olive oil
salt and pepper

Place pizza dough on stone and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes. Spread pizza sauce very sparingly over pizza. (This step is not necessary if you don't have any) Sprinkle garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella evenly over pizza dough. You can use small mozzarella pearls like I used or you can use slices, whatever you like and the look you're going for. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Bake for around 10 minutes at 400 degrees. When the pizza comes out of the oven, add basil, sliced or left whole and drizzle with olive oil. Enjoy!!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

It's that time of year. Though cooler weather is always welcomed with much excitement at our home, unfortunately, sickness seems to accompany our wintry friend far too often. My kids and husband have been sick with colds and flu already. In each situation, the common request in our home has been for this recipe. It is great on a cold winter day. It is perfect for that little pick-me-up when someone is not feeling their best. I would eat it in a box with a fox any day of the year :) What ever excuse you can come up with, this meal is going to be a treat! This is just one of those little recipes you can keep in your back pocket to pull out for any occasion.



5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
half an onion, peeled
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
2 bay leaves
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced carrots
2 cups egg noodles
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 white wine (it's good with Sherry too)
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

Put chicken breasts, onion, garlic, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, bouillon cubes, and lemon zest in a large pot and fill with water 3/4 full. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes - 1 hour or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken, onion, and bay leaves and set aside. Chop chicken and save to add at the end. Add chopped celery and cook for about 8-10 minutes. Then add your sliced carrots and cook another 5-8 minutes. Add the egg noodles and cook according to package (usually around 5 minutes is what I do so they do not overcook throughout the rest of the process). Slowly add your chopped chicken in, and then add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, white wine, and fresh parsley. Heat through for about 1 minute then turn off heat. Enjoy your yummy soup with a loaf of warm, crusty bread!

Chicken with Almonds

This is a great little dish that is a favorite at my home. My mom gets the credit for this one and I was enjoying it at an early age. Now that I have a family of my own, it has become a favorite once again. If you are not a fan of almonds, simply don't add them to the dish. It will still be amazing.




6-8 chicken breasts
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup of diced onion
3 Tbsp. All Purpose Flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup Sherry
2 tsp. dried tarragon
salt and pepper to taste
1cup sour cream
4 Tbsp. slivered almonds (opt)

Salt and pepper chicken
Brown chicken in oil and remove
Saute onions in same pan
Stir in flour
Slowly add sherry and chicken broth
When liquid begins to simmer, remove chicken to skillet
Add tarragon, salt and pepper
Cook covered on low for approximately 45 minutes
Stir in sour cream and heat; do not boil
Garnish with slivered almonds

I like to serve this with white rice