Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti Squash

Yesterday felt like fall, and I wanted to make something warm and comforting. I had heard spaghetti squash could be a decent substitute for regular pasta, so I picked one up at the farmer's market. Turns out, it can be used as a tasty and healthy alternative to spaghetti. At least every now and then.

Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash, cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds with a spoon
2 chicken cutlets (or 1 breast butterflied and cut in half)
2 - 4 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced
28 oz. can san marzano tomatoes, crushed
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. fresh oregano
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil (plus some for tomato sauce and squash)
1/2 cup parmesan
1 tbsp. basil
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

Coat medium sauce pot with olive oil and heat over medium. Add onion and sprinkle with salt. (This helps to sweat the onion.) Cook until translucent and soft, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add san marzano tomatoes and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Depending on your tomatoes, the sauce might be bitter; if it's bitter, you can add a little sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450°. Sprinkle spaghetti squash with salt, pepper, and cup olive oil. Cook facing down on a baking sheet for 30 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool slightly and use fork to pull spaghetti squash away from skin.

While the squash is cooking, marinate chicken in 1/4 cup olive oil, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Let marinate for at least 20 minutes. Heat oven safe pan over medium high heat. Sear chicken for 2 minutes, flip and coat top of chicken with generous serving of sauce sauce, then top with
mozzarella, and parmesan. Bake at 450° for 3-5 minutes, until cheese begins to bubble and brown. Broil if necessary. Remove from pan, sprinkle with basil and extra parmesan and serve over spaghetti squash.

Pork Chops with Bourbon, Basil, and Sautéed Peaches

I went to the farmer's market this morning and bought some perfectly ripe Georgia peaches, fresh basil, and local pork chops. Add a little bourbon, and these ingredients transform into a quick and easy meal, using some of summer's freshest ingredients.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1 bone in pork chop, 1.5 inch thick
1 peach, pitted and sliced into 8 or 9 slices
1/2 tbsp. basil, cut into a chiffonade
2 tbsp. canola oil
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. bourbon
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

Pat pork chops with paper towels to dry. Sprinkle heavily with salt and pepper on both sides. Coat cast iron pan with canola oil and heat over medium high heat. When pan is very hot add the pork chop. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cook through, and remove from pan. Wipe pan clean. (I like to use some paper towels with tongs.) Lower heat to medium. Add butter and peaches. Cook for about 3 minutes. Peaches should be soft. Remove pan from heat and add bourbon. Using a torch or long match, wave in front of the pan. Allow the flames to die. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour peaches over the pork chop and finish by sprinkling the basil over the dish.