Basil Balsamic Chicken

Delish Summer Dish

 

Caprese Pasta Salad

Classic Caprese flavors in pasta salad form.

YIELD: 6 servings

 

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

 

COOK TIME: 9 minutes {for the pasta}

 

TOTAL TIME: 30-35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups dried Orecchiette Pasta, cooked as directed on the package

1 pint Grape Tomatoes, quartered

1 container Fresh Mozzarella Pearls {or 1 ball fresh mozzarella, cubed small}

1 cup Fresh Basil, sliced into ribbons

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

FOR THE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:

2 Cloves of Fresh Garlic, squeezed through a garlic press

1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl squeeze two cloves of garlic through a garlic press. Pour in balsamic vinegar and whisk. Continue to whisk while slowly, pouring in the three tablespoons of olive oil in steady stream.

Cook orecchiette pasta according to package directions. Drain and then rinse with cold water. Add the cold pasta to a bowl along with the quartered tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls and basil ribbons.

Season with kosher salt and black pepper and drizzle with desired amount of the balsamic vinaigrette. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste preference before serving!

Blended Salad

Some days 

salads are better in the smooth form 

with a chicken breast on the side

Pesto Chicken Rotini

 ITS ANOTHER COLD BLIZZARDY DAY

and its calling for 

COMFORT FOOD

Comfort because it looks like SPRING is no where to be found

This is a variation of a recipe from a friend - 

 Most of my recipes you will find without exact 

measurements  - that is because we all have different tastes

I will give you the basics of a recipe and you can have fun with it from there - 

HAVE FUN with it 

FOR THE HEALTH of IT!!

Saute Chicken with a bit of olive oil - 

a fair bit of Basil Pesto -

 home made is best but there are some healthy jars of it out there

a bit of Sun dried Tomato Pesto

when its almost cooked throw in a good helping of 

sun dried tomatos and artichoke hearts

while this is cooking you can cook up a bit of pancetta or
farm fresh frozen bacon

and of course get your Rotini Noodles
(they make gluten free ones too) cooking

when the chicken is cooked thru 

throw in a bit of pancetta (that flavor goes a long ways)

When everything is done mix together in a large bowl 

with freshly grated parmesan and a bit of feta - 

Serve with your favorite Red Wine - 

THINK SPRING

Still here

Sorry I haven't been posting -  YIKES this weather is about to drive me into hibernation

28 degs today with a windchill of 12 - BRRRRRRR   

Let me tell you - 28 degs in April feels lots colder than 28 degs in February 

Last week I did alot of cooking at home - 

but it wasn't anything unique 

just some of my old standbys from this blog

and they were delicious!!

Found a new Blog to follow

This morning I am trying one of her recipes - Gluten Free Scones

Murray Wellness

They are pretty good - 

of course not as sweet and heavy as we are used to 

but the flavor is yum!