Winter Dinners You Can Whip Up Quick

Here are 3 great Winter Dinner Recipes that you can whip up quick.

These meals will keep you warn through those cold winter days.

Crispy Chicken Cutlets

2 lbs chicken cutlets
Salt and pepper to taste
3-4 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1/3 – ½ cup grated Parmigiano cheese
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp poultry season
1 clove garlic
1 jar (3 ounces) pine nuts
2 tbsp lemon zest
2 eggs, beaten
Olive oil

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish and turn cutlets lightly in flour.

Combine breadcrumbs, cheese, red pepper flakes, poultry seasoning, garlic, pine nuts, and lemon zest in a food processor and pulse to evenly mix. Transfer the mixture to a plate. Beat eggs in a separate shallow dish.

Heat a thin layer of oil, just enough to coat the bottom of the pan, in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Coat cutlets in eggs, then bread and place in hot oil. Cook cutlets in a single layer until breading is evenly browned and juices run clear, 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate.

Vodka Cream Pasta

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup heavy cream
12 ounces pasta
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Boil water for your pasta.

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently sauté garlic and shallots for 3-5 minutes. Add vodka and stir. Reduce vodka by half, 2-3 minutes. Add chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble, then reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente.

Stir cream into vodka sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves.

Balsamic Pork Tenderloins

2 pork tenderloins (2 ¼ pounds total)
Balsamic vinegar (about 3 tbsp)
Olive oil
4 cloves garlic, cracked
2 tbsp Montreal seasoning or salt and pepper
4 sprigs each rosemary and thyme, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Trim silver skin off tenderloins. Place tenderloins on a non-stick cookie sheet with a rim. Coat tenderloins in balsamic vinegar, rubbing into the meat. Drizzle with olive oil to coat. Cut small slits into meat and place chunks of crack garlic in the meat. Combine steak seasoning or salt and pepper with rosemary and thyme and rub on the meat. Roast in hot oven 20-25 minutes. Let meat rest, then slice and serve.

These are just a few quick and hearty meals for the winter.

What are your favorite quick winter meal ideas?