Spicy, Smoky Chipotle Mac & Cheese {w/ recipes}

hi guys! happy Friday! If you have not yet entered the GIVEAWAY, you can do so here. All you need to do is comment with your entry and I will be picking a winner next Wednesday.

So, today is a very special day. Today, is my sweet husband's birthday. We are celebrating with dinner tonight at the Melting Pot. I've never been before, but I've heard that it's amazing. I'm ready to chow down and have my first real fondue experience. Mmmm... cheesy!

Speaking of cheese, this spicy chipotle mac & cheese is pretty amazing. It's got a kick, that's for sure. It's a really simple recipe, and surprising healthy. At least, it's healthy for macaroni and cheese. In fact the original recipe came from Cooking Light. I adjusted the recipe quite a bit though, given my opposition to bell peppers and onions. But the end result is pretty tasty if I can say so myself. It's also husband approved.

Cajun Chicken Pasta {w/ recipes}

happy friday! you've made it. now go out and celebrate. or stay in and make this delicious cajun pasta.

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Steven made this dinner the other night. If you've never tried Cajun pasta - it's a fun one. Our friend Zac introduced us to the concept a few years ago. Zac is a fun character- a Texan, who calls his sweet wife " darlin' " and gets louder when he's excited about something. His recipe is very good, but when we were making this dinner the other night we didn't have everything we needed, so we decided to improvise.

Steven found a recipe online and we adapted it to our own tastes and what happened to be in our pantry. I had some spicy red peppers on hand from my neighbor's garden and some fresh tomatoes from mine.

Cajun Chicken Pasta {serves 2-4}
adapted from All Recipes

4 ounces linguine pasta

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast,
    cut into bite sized pieces
1 large Polish sausage
1 tomato
2-3 small red peppers

2 t Cajun seasoning

2 T butter

1 c heavy cream 

1/4 t dried basil

1/4 t lemon pepper

1/4 t salt

1/8 t garlic powder

1/8 t ground black pepper

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook pasta to al dente, according to instructions on package.
2. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning and saute in butter
3. Add peppers and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat.
4. Add the cream, basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper, cooking on low for a few minutes. Add the cooked linguine and gently add the tomatoes. Once heated through sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and serve.