Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Sautéed Mushrooms and Poached Chicken

Let's face it- it's hard to make brown food look delicious in a picture but that doesn't change the fact that this dish smells and tastes amazing. It's easy enough to make in this simple version and can also be spruced up by adding caramelized onion and/or pancetta.

Ingredients:

• ½ poached chicken breast
• 5 large crimini mushrooms
  
• 8 oz whole wheat spaghetti
• 3 garlic cloves (coarsely chopped)
  
• generous pinch of dried rosemary
• pinch of thyme
• splash of white wine
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

How to Poach a Chicken Breast:

1. Fill a frying pan about ¾ in deep with water
2. Place the chicken in the water and cover with a lid or upside down plate/shallow bowl
3. Cook over very low heat for 12 min (water may come to a simmer but not a boil)
4. Flip chicken breast over and cover
   
5. Turn off the heat and let chicken poach covered for 20 minutes

Directions for Sautéeing Mushrooms:

1. Slice and mushrooms into ¹⁄₈ in pieces
2. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan
3. Sautée mushrooms with garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper
4. Slice ½ of poached chicken breasts into ½ in pieces
5. Add the chicken to the pan when the mushrooms begin to brown and release their juices
6. Add a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan
7. Cook until the wine evaporates completely

Assembly:

1. Follow package directions to cook spaghetti
2. Drizzle cooked spaghetti with olive oil and season with salt and cracked pepper
3. Toss with mushrooms and chicken
4. Serve immediately
   

'Cause Some Days You Just Feel Lazy

Refrigerated or frozen raviolis/tortellinis, jarred sauce and sauteed green beans are quick, easy and delicious for those days when you don't have time or don't want to put in the effort to make a more complex meal.

Ingredients:

• one package of your favorite refrigerated or frozen raviolis/tortellinis
  
• a jar of marinara sauce
• green beans
• rosemary
• salt
• granulated garlic
• cayenne pepper
• white pepper
• olive oil
  

Directions for Green Beans:

1. Prepare green beans by breaking or cutting off the ends
2. Place a frying pan over medium heat and pour in just enough water to cover the bottom
3. Put the green beans in the frying pan and let the water come to a boil and steam the green beans just until they turn bright green
4. Pour out any excess water
5. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan
6. Salt and rosemary to taste
7. Sautee to preferred doneness

Directions for Sauce:

1. Pour sauce into a sauce pan and heat over low heat
2. Season with granulated garlic, rosemary, cayenne pepper and white pepper (or your own favorite seasonings) to taste
3. Bring to a boil stirring regularly

Follow package instructions for raviolis/tortellini