Chicken Au Gratin

This is a fun recipe that turned out being super tasty. It comes from an old cookbook I found at an antique store called Cooking with Love and Paprika. Paprika is one of my favorites things to cook with, so of course I snatched the book up! This recipe is for 2 servings.












Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lets gather some ingredients. You will need chicken breasts, onion, butter, marsala wine, potatoes, peas, eggs, cream and parmesan cheese.




Chop up the potatoes.




Get them in a pan with some water and boil them for about 20 minutes or until soft and mashable.




While the potatoes cook mince the onion with a box grater. This helps you to get the onion flavor without having to bite down on an onion. I have never thought to do this before.




Chop up the chicken.




Defrost the peas under warm water in a strainer.




Get the onion, chicken, butter and wine in a pan and cook for about 20 minutes.




Add in the peas and now it is time to assemble this dish.




Mash up the potatoes. I just used a spoon.




Whisk the egg and cream together.




Put the chicken and pea mixture in first.




Top with the potatoes.




Pour the yummy egg and cream mixture over the top of it all. I am getting hungry for this again as I type this entry! Put the cheese on the top, pop it in the oven for 15-20 minutes and you will be ready for this great comfort food dish.




It looks so perfect!




This was so good and a great way to treat yourself after a long week.

Happenings in the Dining Alone house

We are pretty much settled in at the new house, we just need to get some more furniture.

But we do have our priorities in this household and we purchase things in the order of importance...


So of course we got this before the furniture. Actually, my Mother In Law has worked for Dillards for years and got us this from her housewares department for an amazing price. It is the Margaritaville DM1000 Frozen Concoction Maker I would definitely recommend them but I don't think I would ever pay full price for one.

Our new house is conveniently located right in the middle of MANY thrift stores. It has been great going out hunting for treasures every weekend.


I have found lots of good books.

And of course...




Lots of great Pyrex.


I even got shoes that look NOTHING like anything I have ever bought. I am trying to get out of my usual comfort zone and buy more colorful and fun things. I tend to be a plain black tshirt kind of person.

One of the most dangerous discoveries since moving to the new house is the grocery store just up the street sells individual serving cakes...


They are SO good, but I can usually make one last a week if I behave.

I will wrap up with another wonderful thing from my Mother In Law. Seriously, I have the best MIL in the world...


She had 2 of these unopened in her garage, again, Dillard's Deals. She is the best, I can't wait to use this!

I hope you are all well and staying cool, it seems like it is hot everywhere these days, not just in Arizona.

Garlicky Tortellini Soup

This is another recipe I clipped from some magazine. I really need to get better about noting where the recipes came from, but my guess from the font on this one is Taste of Home magazine. The name drew me right in... Garlicky. Don't know if that is a real word at all, but I love it.












You will need some cheese tortellinis, spinach, parmesan cheese, canned tomoatoes, broth, butter, basil and LOTS of garlic. MMM Garlicky and Yay Pyrex!




Chop up the basil.




Chop up all of that gorgeous garlic. That is really all you have to do for prep except open the can of tomatoes.




Get some butter in a dutch oven or soup pot over medium high heat.




Add in all the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Try not to swoon as you smell it cooking.




Add in the broth, this is Turkey broth I made myself. Bring it up to a boil.




Throw in the pasta and cook half way according to the directions on the package. It will depend on if you are using frozen, fresh, dried, etc. Season with salt and pepper as well.




Add in the tomatoes and reduce the heat so it is simmering. Let it simmer until the pasta is cooked to your liking.




Add in the heap of spinach and the basil. Do not be alarmed it will reduce down in moments.




Taste for seasoning and adjust as you see fit.




This soup was a garlic lovers dream come true. If you used vegetable broth you could make this for your vegetarian garlic lover as well. I made the whole recipe of this and froze some for later, it was just as good defrosted and reheated.