for days when thinking is just too hard

Dear Kristin,

Life has become much too complex. If you want to watch television in our house, you are required to use three different remotes. One is for sound, one is for picture, and the third - well I'm sure it's there so that I unknowingly take a selfie, capturing that look of utter confusion on my face and saving it for all posterity. The laundry is out to get me also. My washer has at least 17 different settings; normal, heavy duty, hand-wash and super stinky to name just a few. How many of these settings do I use? Two. Oh, and we just got a new treadmill. I'm still trying to figure out how to get it off of the "Mount Kilimanjaro" incline level. Yes, technology is out to get me.

Every once in a while I have to step back to simpler times. Heck, sometimes I even give up my Kindle and read an actual physical book! There are days when having the option to change font size on an e-book is just much too much for me to handle.

Admitting that it is probably not a good idea to take on any particularly daunting culinary challenges on these techno-meltdown days, I've come up with a really simple slow-cooker solution to technology overload. I won't pretend that it's good for you. It's not. However, this super easy slow cooker recipe allows me to serve something that is comforting and tasty even when operating a measuring cup is above my capabilities. Oh - and it involves bacon - nothing can go wrong when bacon is involved!

Creamy chicken with peas and bacon

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
4 Tblsp. butter, melted
salt and pepper
1 packet dry ranch salad dressing mix
6 oz. cream cheese, cut into small pieces
2 c. frozen peas
6 slices bacon, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour melted butter over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle contents of salad dressing mix over the chicken. Pour cream of chicken soup over the top. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Remove chicken from slow cooker and raise temperature to high. Add cream cheese to slow cooker and stir occasionally until all cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Add frozen peas. Continue cooking on high until thoroughly heated. Return chicken to the slow cooker and cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes on high. *

Remove chicken from slow cooker and top with a generous amount of sauce and cooked bacon pieces.

*At this point you could also shred the chicken and return it to the slow cooker and heat through. The chicken goodness could then be poured over biscuits for a really simple chicken & biscuits type of meal.

changes

Dear Kristin,

The one thing we can always count on in life is change, or as I like to look at it - plot twists!
We're looking forward to coming to see you in your new digs - so many new things to explore! Speaking of exploring, with the price of beef so high, we are exploring new ways to cook chicken. (That was probably one of the worst segues I've come up with yet - sorry!) This recipe is based on one I found in the March 2014 issue of Cooking Light. The original recipe called for using pancetta - as you did in your penne vodka, but finding pancetta too "cosmo" for us, I comfy-fied the recipe a bit by subbing in bacon. This is really quick and easy - makes a great weeknight dinner with some roasted potatoes and a salad.

chicken with peas and bacon

1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into 1" pieces
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 c. chicken stock
2 Tbsp. mascarpone cheese
2 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. all purpose flour
1 c. frozen peas, thawed

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan & swirl to coat. Add garlic & saute for 2 minutes, stirring frequently - be careful not to burn it. Remove garlic from pan. Add bacon to pan and saute until it just begins to crisp - about 4 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon & add to reserved garlic.

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Saute in the same skillet (there should be about 2 Tbsp. bacon fat left in the pan) until nicely browned - about 4 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan. De-glaze pan with wine, and cook until wine is almost evaporated (about 3 minutes). Return chicken to the pan. Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes or until chicken tests done. Remove chicken from the pan.

Add mascarpone cheese to the pan and whisk until smooth. Make a slurry with the flour and water and add to the pan. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in reserved bacon and garlic and the peas. Heat until peas are heated through. Serve sauce over chicken.

change

Dear Mom,

I have made those delightful little buns of pleasure before...  Hmmm... That does not sound like something one typically admits in a food blog.  Speaking of delightful buns, did you hear that George Clooney is officially off the market?  It is true, the perpetual bachelor and man of our dreams is engaged.  Oh well, times are a changin'.  I've made quite the significant change in my life as well: the hubs and I moved to a new city! Tarrytown, NY specifically, about 40 minutes north of NYC by train.  I'm quite excited, the hubs got a promotion (so proud of him) and they wanted him back at headquarters so I decided to leave my job and join him (like I really had a choice).

So far, I'm in love with this little town!  It has an adorable little Main Street, USA type "downtown" anchored by a well-reviewed performing arts center.  There are a lot of restaurants, bars and coffee shops for us to check out, and we're surrounded by some really superb parks with lots of trails for us (including little Lola) to explore.  The best part is it is all within walking distance, including the train to the city if we ever get bored of this town.  Our new apartment has a FIVE-BURNER range, which I'm super excited about.  I've only set off the smoke detector twice...  Plus we have outdoor space for grilling and veggie growing.

Well, all that chit-chat about my new life has made me hungry!  For my first returning NY resident recipe I'm presenting you with a simple Penne Vodka.  With all the running around the hubs and I have been doing unpacking and prepping the place I needed something simple and satisfying.

penne vodka

8 slices pancetta, thinly deli sliced and chopped
extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup yellow or sweet onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup vodka
1 jar marinara sauce (any pasta sauce you like, preferably not too chunky)
crushed red pepper
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream.
12 oz. dried penne
salt and pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add about 2 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil and pancetta.  Cook over heat until crispy, remove with slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain.  In the same pan, add extra olive oil if needed and onion and garlic.  Cook over medium-high heat until slightly browned.  Lower the heat and add vodka, scraping up any browned bits.  Bring mixture to a simmer and allow the vodka to reduce by half.  Add the jarred marinara and stir in, warm sauce and add crushed red pepper to taste, lower heat to medium-low.

When the pasta is done, remove directly from water to sauce mixture, stir and continue to heat over medium-low heat.  Using a sieve or strainer, submerge the frozen peas in the boiling pasta water for 5 minutes or until defrosted and slightly done (you don't want mushy peas).  Add to sauce and pasta mixture.  Stir in cream, season to taste.  Serve with pancetta sprinkled on top.

dinner for one

Dear Mom,

Well, this is one of the few times that my nagging has paid off!  I'm a quite accomplished nagger, just ask my husband.  I have learned though, in the short time that we've been married, that nagging is really not an effective tactic for getting things accomplished, especially around the house.  I've tried to dial back the nagging and I find I'm a happier person.  Nothing is worse than asking someone to do something, repeatedly, only to have your requests ignored.  I think the male brain is actually hardwired to shut off his ears after listening to the female voice ask him to do something five times.  I can only assume that the number of times may decrease over the life of the marriage. 

I've also found that its easier not to nag someone when they are not around, and unfortunately John hasn't been around to nag lately.  He has started traveling for work again, we had a nice little holiday break where he was home, but duty calls and he's on the road again.  Usually when he's away I keep my dinners pretty simple and I try for healthy.  Although, I do hate to let anything in the fridge go bad.  Especially bacon.  So the other night I decided to use up the bacon and make a quick spaghetti carbonara for myself.  This recipe is super simple and relatively quick.  I made this for "one," but I'm a pretty big eater.  This would probably be great for two, if you did salad and bread with it.  If you just want to cut straight to the chase, then double the recipe and chow down!

spaghetti carbonara

whole wheat thin spaghetti (see my note about quantity below)
1/2 cup frozen peas
4 strips bacon (preferably thick-cut, applewood smoked, but any will do)
1-2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped fine
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup white wine (I like pinot grigio)
two eggs, beaten well
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Prepare the spaghetti according to package directions, while spaghetti is boiling make the sauce.

In a large skillet, crisp the bacon.  Remove from pan and pat with paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.  Dump out most of the bacon fat, reserving about a tablespoon in the pan.  Return pan to medium high heat, add the EVOO, onion, and garlic.  Saute until browned.  Add the white wine, scraping up all the browned bits, and bring to a simmer.

Microwave the frozen peas, with a little water, until partially cooked (a minute or two on high should do it).

When the pasta is done, using tongs, place pasta directly into skillet with onion/garlic mixture.  Toss to combine.  Return pan to medium to medium low heat.  Slowly pour the beaten eggs, in a thin stream, into the pasta mixture tossing with tongs the entire time.  (You may not need all of the eggs, just enough to get a creamy, saucey consistency.) 

Finish by tossing in the peas, bacon and parmesan cheese.

cosmo's notes: I have absolutely no idea how to measure dry pasta.  When I made this as a single serving for myself I eyeballed maybe about a stack of pasta about an inch in diameter.  Hopefully, you've made pasta enough that you know how much you need for one to two servings.