Chicken Scampi

My guys love scampi. I didn't have shrimp, but I did have chicken breasts in the freezer. It turned out delicious! 

1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
2-4 Chicken Breasts, cubed
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Chicken Broth (add a little corn starch if you want a thicker sauce)

Bring a large pot of salted water (with a drizzle of olive oil added) to a boil over high heat. Add the angel hair pasta, and cook until done; drain. 

Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder and fry in a little oil. Remove and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Once the onion is translucent, add the chicken and Parmesan. Cook and stir until heated through. Add in cooked pasta and toss. Add enough chicken broth to create a sauce as thick or thin as you want. Taste and adjust seasonings. 

Shrimp Scampi

My family doesn't always agree on what to have for supper, or how I fix shrimp for that matter. They do, however, all agree on Shrimp Scampi! 

1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 pounds shrimp
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Bring a large pot of salted water (with a drizzle of olive oil added) to a boil over high heat. Add the angel hair pasta, and cook until done; drain. Reserve the pasta water. 

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Once the mixture begins to bubble, stir in the shrimp. Cook and stir until heated through. Add in cooked pasta and toss. Add enough pasta water to create a sauce as thick or thin as you want. Taste and adjust seasonings. 

Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and add a salad and some garlic bread to serve.

Crab Scampi

Why crab scampi and not shrimp scampi? Mainly because it's what I had on hand. Keep in mind that crab is much sweeter than shrimp. You may want to add more lemon and pepper to balance out the sweetness of the crab. Either way, here you go...

1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 pounds crab meat
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Bring a large pot of salted water (with a drizzle of olive oil added) to a boil over high heat. Add the angel hair pasta, and cook until done; drain. Reserve the pasta water. 

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Once the mixture begins to bubble, stir in the crab. Cook and stir until heated through. Add in cooked pasta and toss. Add enough pasta water to create a sauce as thick or thin as you want. Taste and adjust seasonings. 

Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and add a salad and some garlic bread to serve.

Summer in the Kitchen Blog Party... Grilled Shrimp over Baby Spinach

My friend Laurie at http://foodslove.blogspot.com/2011/02/summer-in-kitchen-update.html challenged us foodies to break the winter blues and have a Summer in the Kitchen party yesterday. So, I went to the grocery store Friday and mulled around looking for some "summery" items... This is what I came up with to chase away the winter blues.

I marinated the shrimp in 1/2 of a prepared package of Garlic and Herb Salad Dressing, then grilled it on my stove top grill plate. I also grilled the corn on the cob. I tossed the baby spinach with the other half of the dressing and topped with grilled shrimp, soft boiled egg quarters, two strips of bacon and tomato. I finished it off with a side of corn and fresh pineapple. Actually, I finished it off after I took the picture :-)

Craig took his shrimp and made Shrimp Scampi: