FYI wanted to find out if Rachael Ray’s “30 Minute Meals” could actually be prepared in half an hour. We browsed Ray’s Web site and found a dish that looked delicious and tempting. We took it upon ourselves to make her signature “Chicken, Peppers and Onion with Linguine” within our allotted time frame.

Since we are poor college students, we set out with $20 in our pocket but only ended up spending $10.40 at the grocery store. Luckily, FYI had a few of the ingredients on hand.

So with the timer set at 30 minutes and with a photographer nearby, we began our quest.

As time rushed by, chunks of onions, peppers and chicken were tossed throughout the kitchen. With only minutes remaining, we added the final touches. By the time we had plated our masterpiece of pasta and chicken, there was still more than two minutes left – proving even a couple of students can do the 30 minute challenge. Not only was our meal quick and easy to prepare, it was also delicious.

Ray’s recipes are ideal for busy college students who want to try something new. Don’t be intimidated by a long list of ingredients, most of them can be found in any kitchen. For more recipes, check out one of Ray’s many Web sites.

The Recipe

Click here to link to the recipe FYI tested out.

Salt

1 pound linguine

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 3 turns of the pan

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 2 lemons)

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 to 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 Cubanelle pepper (mild, long light-green pepper), seeded and thinly sliced

1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 large sweet onion, quartered and thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine (eyeball it)

1/2 cup chicken broth

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for tossing, and to pass around the table

Ray’s Regs

According to the “Every Day with Rachael Ray” Web site, every kitchen should be equipped with these basic necessities:

In the cupboard:

• garlic
• onions>
• potatoes
• extra-virgin olive oil
• vinegar
• dried pasta
• rice
• flour
• granulated sugar
• brown sugar
• peanut butter

In the spice rack:

• salt
• black pepper
• chili powder
• ground cinnamon
• In the freezer:
• frozen berries
• frozen vegetables
• In the fridge:
• milk
• butter
• eggs
• parmesan cheese
• ketchup
• mayonnaise
• mustard
• soy sauce
• bacon