As much as this mama is an avid cook and self-proclaimed foodie, there are times when even mom a la mode needs a little help from her friends to get a healthy meal on the table. And it’s on those nights that I’ve found the following pantry and freezer staples to do the trick:
Mom a la Mode’s Pollo Marinara con Carciofi©
(Chicken Marinara with Artichokes)
Don’t let the fancy Italian name fool you. This is one of those semi-homemade meals, utilizing — yes, a jarred marinara sauce — that is super healthy, super easy and a breeze to clean up if you decide to bake the chicken in foil. And utilizing only five ingredients? Winner, winner – chicken dinner!
Ingredients:
1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 jar Giada Marinara Sauce with Artichokes (available exclusively at Target)
2 cloves garlic, smashed
Fresh Ground Pepper and Sea Salt for Taste
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cooking Spray for pan
Steps:
Spray roasting pan with Cooking Spray. Simply slice a package of boneless chicken breast so that you have approximately 3-4 pieces per breast. Arrange in a roasting pan, taking care not to overlap (use two pans if needed.) Smash 2 cloves of garlic and toss into roasting pan. Sprinkle with sea salt and coarse black pepper and drizzle with EVOO. Bake for 10-15 minutes (depending upon the thickness/thinness of your chicken) at 350 – they should be white and opaque. Pour a jar of the Giada Marinara with Artichokes over the chicken and bake uncovered for another 7-10 minutes so that the sauce is hot and bubbling.
Serve over your choice of starch:
-whole wheat pasta
-brown or white rice
-polenta
About the Author:
Lisa Pisano is a local northern New Jersey mom and the creator and editorial director of mom a la mode, a blog "where foodie intersects with fashionista, is blended with a heaping heartful of wife/mommy, and served with a cherry on top." momalamode.net aims to entertain, inspire, connect and share with other mommies and folks out there through a delightful mix of content, serving up tasty bytes including sweet anecdotes from her life as a new mom and saucy recipes from her kitchen, complemented by style & pop culture commentary, some special guest contributors and more.
About the Author:
Lisa Pisano is a local northern New Jersey mom and the creator and editorial director of mom a la mode, a blog "where foodie intersects with fashionista, is blended with a heaping heartful of wife/mommy, and served with a cherry on top." momalamode.net aims to entertain, inspire, connect and share with other mommies and folks out there through a delightful mix of content, serving up tasty bytes including sweet anecdotes from her life as a new mom and saucy recipes from her kitchen, complemented by style & pop culture commentary, some special guest contributors and more.
