Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What'd you have for dinner tonight?


Here's what we had and it was YUM-O. Kenny doesn't like blue cheese so we used Parmesan and Pepper jack...but I think blue would be better.

Cobb Pasta Toss

Ingredients
* 3 pints grape or cherry tomatoes
* 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 6 slices bacon
* 1 pound whole wheat penne pasta
* 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
* 2 avocados, pitted and diced
* 1 lemon
* 2 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
* A few dashes of hot sauce
* 4-5 scallions, thinly sliced on the bias
* 1 cup blue cheese crumbles
* 1/4 cup fresh basil (about a handful), chopped
* 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley (about a handful), chopped

Preparation

Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF. Place a large pot of salted water over high heat to boil.

Scatter the tomatoes onto a baking sheet and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons EVOO and some salt and pepper. Toss lightly to coat and roast the tomatoes in the hot oven until they burst open and are tender, about 12-15 minutes.

Place the bacon on a broiler pan and transfer to the oven along with the tomatoes. Cook until crispy, about 15 minutes.

While the tomatoes and bacon are in the oven, drop the pasta in the boiling water and cook to al dente, according to package directions. When the pasta is ready, reserve a large mug of the starchy cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot it was cooked in.

While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large skillet with one turn of the pan of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon, then add the chicken and sauté until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, scoop the avocado flesh into a small bowl and squeeze the juice of the lemon over it, tossing to coat.

When the chicken is finished cooking, add the garlic to the pan, cook for 1 minute, then sprinkle in a few dashes of hot sauce and toss to coat.

In a large serving bowl, mash the cooked tomatoes together with the scallions, then add the reserved pasta water and pasta.

Top the pasta and tomatoes with the chicken, then crumble the cooked bacon over it and toss with the avocado, blue cheese, basil and parsley.

1 comment:

Braden and Heather said...

Hi Megan! I am so glad you told me about your birth story website! You do an amazing job! Braden and I are definitly interested, but there will be no need for special treatment for us :) thankyou for the sweet offer though! I will give you a call soon!!