Lindas Cucuzza Squash With Chicken And Pepperoni Recipes

AURORA'S CHICKEN PEPPERONI!

Steps:

• In a large deep ovenproof frying pan (*I used a heavy-bottomed stainless steel one), heat butter and oil over medium-high heat, stir to mix. When hot, sear pounded chicken breasts (that have been seasoned to taste on each side with salt and pepper) until lightly browned on each side. *I did this in two batches as not to overcrowd the pan. Remove to a plate or baking dish, cover, set aside.
• Remove pan from heat (do not drain oil and butter), add wine carefully, let steam subside and stir and scrape bottom of pan.
• Return pan to heat and lower to medium. Toss in onion, peppers, oregano, italian seasoning and garlic powder. Sauté for 5 minutes adding pepperoni during last minute, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Add all tomatoes, breaking up whole tomatoes with your hand as you add them, and rest of ingredients *except cheese and dried parsley. Stir well to mix, bring to a low boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring as needed, occasionally, making sure there's no sticking on the bottom of the pan.
• Nestle browned chicken breasts down into pan under the sauce making sure that they aren't overlapping.
• Pop into fully heated 350ºF oven and bake, uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and turn up to low broil.
• Top each piece of chicken with large handfuls of cheese using all of it. Sprinkle top with dried parsley, and pop back into oven and bake/broil until cheese has fully melted. Mine only took another 5 minutes. Watch carefully as all ovens behave differently.
• Remove from oven and top with fresh parsley sprigs when serving if desired.

LINDA'S CUCUZZA SQUASH WITH CHICKEN AND PEPPERONI

Steps:

• Saute onion in EVOO. Add garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add cucuzza and stir until tender. (about 5 minutes) Form hot spot and cook tomato paste. Add tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper and water. Stir and simmer about 10 minutes. Correct seasoning if necessary. Cook until thickness desired. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese and fresh torn basil. Enjoy!