My favorite quick meal

First a winner recipe that takes a little more time, but is worth it sometimes, too.

Chicken Parmesan with a wonderful red sauce

Marinara Sauce:

1 T olive oil
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1 14 oz can tomato sauce
1 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
1 t dried basil
½ t dried oregano
½ t salt
Pepper to taste
sugar (white or brown) to taste (neutralizes the acidic tomatoes)-works wonders!

Heat oil over low heat, add the garlic, saute for about a 30 seconds (don’t let the garlic brown). Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and spices. Simmer for 20-30 minutes while preparing the chicken.

8 or so chicken tenders
1 ½ T olive oil
1 t dried rosemary
1t dried thyme
½ t salt
¼ t pepper

½ c mozzarella cheese
¼ c parmesan cheese

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Mix olive oil and seasonings. Brush one side of the tenders with the oil mixture. Place in hot pan, oil side down. Brush oil on the top of the tenders while they brown, then flip them. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on each side until done.

Heat the oven to 450. Pour the marinara sauce over the chicken . Top each tender with about a tablespoon of mozzarella and a teaspoon of parmesan cheese. Bake for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

I love this meal! We had this recipe for the first time the night we brought Guy home from the hospital thanks to my visiting teachers. Granted, everything tastes better than hospital food, but really, that meal was wonderful.

SIMPLIFIED

Now we always keep the canned tomatoes and sauce in the house, and I cook this meal sometimes as often as once a week. While simplifying, I made it healthier, too (cut out the chees). Usually now I just put the herbs that would go on the chicken (rosemary and thyme) in the red sauce. Then I grill the chicken, cut it up, and throw it into the sauce--used to top whole wheat pasta. It takes about 25 minutes to throw it all together (just about as long as it takes water to boil then cook the noodles). Enjoy!