Greek Chicken & Macaroni (Pastitsatha)

1 T. olive oil    

4 large chicken breasts

3 large onions    

3 chopped garlic cloves

2 lbs. tomato pieces (2 cans)    

1 cup red wine

1 T. wine vinegar    

3 whole cloves

2 bay leaves    

¼ tsp. ground cloves

Pinch cinnamon    

Pinch paprika

1 lb. elbow macaroni    

Salt & Pepper

¼ cup Parmesan cheese    

Directions:  Cut chicken into small pieces.  In a large pot, heat oil and brown 

chicken. Remove chicken and set aside.  Add chopped onions and minced garlic to 

oil in pot.  Cook until tender.  Add 1 2/3 cup water, tomatoes, wine, vinegar, cloves, 

bayleaves, paprika and cinnamon.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Add chicken, 

cover and simmer about 45 minutes.

In a separate pot, boil macaroni.  Drain.  Stir macaroni into the sauce and simmer, 

uncovered, for about five minutes.  Remove bay leaves.  Serve with grated Parmesan 

cheese.

Comment:  Spices can be adjusted to taste. This dish tastes even better as a leftover.  

The flavors work through the dish after being refrigerated.  Good cold or hot.

Shrimp Pasta

1 lb. large shrimp    

1 cup white wine

1 tsp. Salt    

3 gloves chopped garlic

1 tsp. crushed red pepper    

¼ tsp. dried oregano

3 T. olive oil    

3 T. chopped parsley

1 medium onion ~ sliced    

3 T. chopped basil

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes    

Angel Hair pasta

Directions:  Put shrimp in bowl with salt and red pepper.  Sit for 20 minutes. Heat 

oil, med/high, add shrimp and saute until cooked.  Set shrimp aside.  Add onion and 

olive oil to skillet – saute.  Add tomatoes wine, garlic and oregano.  Simmer until 

sauce thickens.  Add shrimp back in, mix all together.  Add parsley and basil.  Put 

over angel hair pasta.

Comment:  It is a little spicy, so for less spice, omit the red pepper.

Chicken Penne Casserole

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

½ cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped red pepper

½ cup chopped green pepper

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. parsley flakes

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 T. oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 ½ cups uncooked penne pasta

14 ½ oz. diced tomatoes, undrained

3 T. tomato paste

¾ cup chicken broth

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup grated Romano or parmesan cheese

Directions:  In a large sauce pan with oil, sauté chicken, onion, peppers and 

seasonings until the chicken is no longer pink.  Add garlic and cook one minute 

longer.  Cook penne pasta according to package directions.  

Meanwhile, mix tomato paste and diced tomatoes.  Add tomato mixture to chicken 

mixture.  Stir in chicken broth.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for 

10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.  

Drain pasta.  Toss with chicken mixture.  Spoon half the mixture into a greased 2 

quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with half the cheeses.  Repeat layers.  Cover.  Bake at 

350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer.

Comment:  Also works well with left over chicken or with chicken pulled from roast 

chicken.

Becky’s Lasagna

2 lb. ground beef

18 oz. tomato paste

2 T. basil

¼ cup red wine

Garlic Powder, to taste

1 tsp. salt

2 one-lb. cans tomatoes

Water

1 lb. lasagna noodles

1 large container large-curd cottage cheese (may use Ricotta cheese or combination of two cheeses)

2 eggs

1 tsp. pepper

½ cup Parmesan cheese

2 T. parsley flakes

2 lbs. Mozzarella cheese

Directions:  Use very large lasagna pan.  Combine tomato paste, tomatoes, wine, basil, salt, and garlic powder in pot.  Simmer.  Add water if appears too thick. Brown the ground beef.  Cook the noodles.  In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.Make the lasagna.  Put a small amount of sauce on bottom of greased lasagna pan.  

Then layer as follows: 

• 1/3 noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, mozzarella cheese.
• 1/3 noodles, hamburger, sauce, mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 noodles, sauce

Make a tent of foil (I wrap the entire pan in foil to catch the sauce that steams out).  Bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  Open foil.  Add top layer of mozzarella cheese.  Close foil.  Bake 10 more minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  If you do not let it stand, it will not firm up enough to cut pieces.

Comment:  This is half of Becky Sensky’s original recipe.  It is delicious, and still a large batch.

Spaghetti Pie

6 oz. Spaghetti (3 cups cooked)

1 lb. fresh sausage or ground beef

2 T. margarine

2 eggs, beaten

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

½ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 cup Ricotta cheese

Directions:  Cook spaghetti.  Drain.  Stir margarine in to hot spaghetti, then add eggs 

and Parmesan.  Form spaghetti mixture into a “crust” in a greased, large pie plate.  

Spread Ricotta cheese.

In skillet, brown meat.  Drain fat.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and heat through.  Turn 

meat mixture into spaghetti crust.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Sprinkle with Mozzarella; bake until melted, about 5 minutes.

Comment:  Use Ragu thick sauce.  Feel free to add favorites like mushrooms, 

peppers, onions.