Easter is quickly approaching, and it’s a time to spend memorable moments with loved ones, color and hide Easter eggs for the kiddos, and prepare delicious and savory dishes for everyone to enjoy. If you’re looking for a new or non-traditional dish to add to your Easter day menu, a local mom/wife shares one of her favorite meals that her family also loves.
April Sexton is married to her best friend, Grant Sexton. The couple has been married for 13 years and has three children: Gage (22), Max (18), and Kate (12). After her son was born, April transitioned from her career as a court reporter to being a stay-at-home mom. Two years ago, she started working with Melissa Warnke Candles making candles and running their studio.
April fondly remembers having family dinners every night when she was growing up. Her mother taught her how to cook. April shares, “My mom is an amazing cook who learned from her mother. My mother was also a single mom who worked full time, so when I was 13 years old, she made me take one night a week to prepare a meal. I would call her after school, and over the phone, she would walk me through prepping the meal so we could cook it together when she got home from work.
When April got married, she realized the importance of the fellowship around the dinner table. Her inspiration stems from providing her family with the best nutrients to help them grow and remain healthy. She has become increasingly aware of the correlation between food and health.
“We are what we eat. Heart disease and Alzheimer’s run in my family, so I want to provide my family with nutrient-rich food to help fight diseases.”
The Sexton family plans to have family dinners at the table Sunday through Thursday. On Friday, they order in because it’s April’s night off from cooking. Taco Tuesday is a family favorite, quick and easy. Another favorite is chicken pasta, which April explains is a dish she made out of desperation one night, using her leftovers. It’s a family favorite in the Sexton household and on regular rotation.
April’s Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
Any pasta on hand
Onion
Garlic
Olive Oil
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Salt and Pepper
Bell Pepper
Tomatoes
Broccoli or Asparagus
Heavy Cream
Italian Seasonings
Directions:
- Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in a cast iron skillet.
- After the onion and garlic are soft, add boneless, skinless chicken. Season with salt and pepper. While that is cooking, dice bell pepper, tomatoes, and broccoli or asparagus.
- When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and cook the vegetables until soft.
- While the vegetables are cooking, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it back into the pot with the vegetables.
- Afterward, add the cooked pasta and a 1/4 cup of water from the cooked pasta to the vegetable and chicken mixture.
- Slowly add in heavy cream and Italian seasonings of your choice. Bring it to a boil (stirring constantly) for about 2-3 minutes.
- Finally, remove the dish from the heat and let it sit for several minutes until the sauce thickens. Let it cool, serve, and enjoy!
