White Bean Chicken Pasta

You need a stove to cook a delicious pasta meal....they said.

You're going to have to eat out every night if you're going to live in a hotel......they said.

Well here is me defying what "they said". Now I never said this doesn't take extra planning and patience. But it CAN be done, my friends! I was told last week while explaining our current living situation,  "It's going to get old and expensive eating out every night!" I responded in shock, "Oh, we haven't been going out to eat. I'm cooking! I bought a hot plate!"

**Awkward stares......A what-plate?!**

I had never heard of a hot plate either. But it's serving me well so far! I obviously miss our gas stove... Our blender..... The Kitchen-aid food processor.  The dishwasher. But "kitchen, kitchen, on the wall (the kitchen is this room is literally a little station on the wall), what is the most prized possession of all????

The Garbage Disposal.

My God. How did I survive in a time without one?!?! My gag reflex is strongly stimulated when I finish washing dishes....and those chunks of soggy food are in that little plug. Blech!!Ack! Yuck!

So last night we were on our way home from a coffee shop. I was working on more never-ending paperwork for my travel assignment. Ryan was studying (he pretty much studies 24/7 with this school). As we passed Chipotle ....Ryan grinned at me, and said and trying to convince me, said "Babe, you don't have to cook. I know you just want to pick up food there and just go home and relax." But determined, I said, "No! I have chicken thawed, and a pantry full of food. I'm cooking tonight!"

And disappoint I did not. I threw together a recipe that may be one of my new favorites. The cool part is although I served this as a pasta last night. I had some of the leftovers for lunch, nixed the pasta, and put the meat and sauce on a bed of spinach -- and wallah - salad!

So here is my recipe! For any GF folks out there, I bet this would be really good over quinoa too!

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, marinated in a bag of EVOO & balsalmic vinegar
• 1 can 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1 can whole, crushed tomatoes
• 14 ounces Canelli/white beans
• 1 cup spinach (I used spinach, endive, chard, kale because that's what was in my "Power Greens" bag)
• 1/4 white onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• S & P to taste
• Basil 

1.  Marinate Chicken breasts in bag with EVOO & Balsalmic Vinegar for about 4 hours.
2. Cook chicken over medium heat. Once both sides are seared, add the onion and peppers.
3. Add in crushed tomatoes. Season dish with S, P, and Basil. 
4. Simmer on low, add in the white beans and tomato sauce.
5. Prior to removing, throw in the spinach. 
6. Once wilted/cooked - Serve over pasta. (I had to premake my pasta before cooking this, as I had only 1 burner to work with.) ;)

My only suggestion after this, is I bet it'd be really good with ground turkey instead of chicken. This was delicious, but I think that will be tried next time!

 Notice our lovely dining room table. Oh wait, that's the bed ;) 

Happy Monday!