Simmered Tuscan Chicken

Tonight, we had a meal you might expect to see in fall or winter, simmered Tuscan chicken over spaghetti, green salad, and bread. The days & evenings have been much cooler than you'd expect in June in Ohio, though, & it was a nice comfort dish. It was very easy and required nothing I didn't already have in the house.

Simmered Tuscan Chicken

1 lb. chicken (I used breast, but thighs would be good, too)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. olive oil
9 small red potatoes, diced
1 green pepper, diced
Jar of spaghetti sauce (I like Newman's Own)
1 can green beans (I had French-cut on hand; fresh would be even better, about a pound, washed & trimmed)
A handful snipped basil (or a healthy pinch of the dried variety)
Salt & pepper

Sauté chicken & garlic in oil until browned. Add potatoes & green pepper. Cook about 5 minutes. Add everything else, bring to a boil, cover & simmer 1/2 hour-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over pasta.

Homemade Jalapeño Tartar Sauce

Tonight, we got in late from going to our oldest's high school graduation in Pennsylvania. I hadn't gone to the grocery, so I resorted to what I had in the house already. We had Van de Kamp's frozen fish fillets with homemade jalapeño tartar sauce, corn on the cob, & boiled red potatoes with butter, chives, & fresh dill.

For the tartar sauce, I mixed half a cup of mayonnaise with half a jalapeño (minced), a heaping tablespoon of pickle relish, a handful of chives (snipped), a handful of dill (likewise), and a spoonful of capers.