Inspired Cinnamon Chicken

If you’re a thirty-something or older woman (like me), chances are you loved the television show “Little House on the Prairie.”

Don’t tell me you didn’t yearn to have Charles Ingalls as a “Pa.” Was there anything that man wouldn’t do for his children?  Remember when he searched for Half-Pint in the mountains after she ran away and he found her and held her and cried?  Or when Mary went blind and she screamed in her bed and he went up to the loft and he held her and cried?  And that one time he insisted Albert was his son and adopted him and he held him and cried?  I still look upon him as more of a father figure than a sexy husband even though… mind blowing moment ahead… I’m probably at or over his age when the show started.  I can’t help it.  He’s Pa!

Now on the other hand… Almanzo Wilder.  That is a manly man built for lustful daydreams!  I think that’s why I’ve always had a thing for dirty blondes.

There was nothing Laura wouldn’t do to catch Almanzo’s notice and she finally did!  But not before he went on a date with her nemesis Nellie Olsen. Wicked Nellie even got Laura to cook for them, remember the meal?

Yep! Cinnamon Chicken.

Of course, Laura used cayenne pepper in place of cinnamon, which ruined the date night along with the meal!

So here is my Cinnamon Chicken recipe, lovingly inspired by Little House on the Prairie.  This meal serves two, à la date night, but it’s easy to double, triple, or more as needed.

Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups dry rotini noodles
1 tbsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ cup red wine
½ jar marinara sauce

Here’s how you do it:

Cook noodles according to packaging and set aside.  Stir in 1 tbsp of olive oil to keep cooked noodles from sticking.

Mix cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper together. Sprinkle seasonings on each side of the chicken evenly.

 

 

Using a non-stick pan or a pan coated with cooking spray, heat the chicken between low and medium. Add a small amount of water to pan as needed so chicken does not burn.

When top of chicken begins to cook, flip chicken, cover pan with lid and continue cooking until chicken reaches 165°, or when you’re able to cut into the meat and find clear juices with no trace of pink.  Set chicken aside.

Return pan to burner, set to low-medium heat and add wine.  As the wine heats, use a spatula to whisk it to combine any spices left from the chicken.

 

 

Stir in marinara and cook until it begins to bubble.

Time to serve this delicious meal!  Plate noodles, top with chicken and sauce.

Pair with a side salad and feel inspired to have a glass of wine!

Enjoy!

Get the printable here -> Cinammon Chicken Recipe