Pleased to Meet You Chicken Pesto Pasta

I am so thrilled you are here and to begin sharing my recipes and life with you! As you may have guessed from the title of my Blog, or learned from my homepage intro- I am also a Realtor. Meeting new people is the name of the game in Real Estate, and what better way than through one of my favorite things-food! In fact, it was one of my brokerage-mates, Andy Lengsas (another amazing Northern Atlanta Realtor, awesome home cook, and friend) who gave me the inspiration for this Blog- thanks Andy, would you consider guest posting a recipe?! Cooking has been a passion of mine since childhood and I’ve always toyed with ideas for a cookbook, and before Andy, my baby cousin has goaded me to write a food blog for years. So here goes nothing, I hope you enjoy and that you stay a while.

So onto the good stuff- the food! This recipe is inspired by an old episode of Rachael Ray when she had Travis Stork on as a guest. Um, he’s a doctor and so this is a health food! Don’t believe me, watch the original clip here https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rachaelrayshow.com/recipe/13297_Dr_Travis_Stork_Pesto_Pasta_with_Spinach_Asparagus_and_Cherry_Tomatoes%3famp Ok, so I may have cheated with the pre-made pesto, skipped the spinach, and added a bit more salt. To each their own, I find recipes to only be a suggestion anyway!

To start, gather your ingredients.

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Chop the woody ends off of the asparagus and cut into 1-1/2” pieces (this does not need to be exact). Put a pot of water onto boil (cover with a lid to speed up the process- it’s science), once the water has begun to boil add a healthy amount of salt to water and cook pasta two minutes shy of package directions, drain and set aside. I am using whole grain pasta because I’m healthy, like Travis, but you could use any type of short cut pasta you prefer. Put about a tablespoon of olive oil in the sauté pan, (I used garlic olive oil because yum) season chicken with salt and pepper (or if you’re awesome like me and have Trader Joe’s Garlic Salt use that, and put it on everything) and brown. When chicken is almost cooked through add the chopped asparagus.

Season asparagus and saute with chicken until asparagus is softened and then add in grape tomatoes, season again.

Cover pan with a lid and cook on low until tomatoes burst. Meanwhile, coat cooked pasta with pesto (I used a pre-made option, also from Trader Joe’s- side note- this pesto is phenomenal on their frozen Reduced Fat Mac n Cheese, you’re welcome). You could also choose to make a fresh pesto with basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a food processor. Stir coated pasta into the cooked chicken, asparagus, and tomatoes. The pan will still be hot so this is why you cooked the pasta two minutes shy as it will continue to cook. In my kitchen over cooked eggs and pasta are unacceptable and you should be 100% shamed if you did it. Voila! You have made a delicious and healthy pasta dish everyone will like.

You can see me cook this dish live on my Facebook or Instagram page (links at the top and bottom of the page). Comment below if you try, I would love to know how you like it! Feel free to share with all of your friends, family, neighbors, dentists, podiatrists, dog walkers…you get it!!

Recipe:

Servings: 4-6

Cook Time: 25 ish Minutes

1. 1lb chicken breast

2. 1 bunch asparagus

3. 1 pint grape tomatoes (if using cherry cut in half)

4. 8 oz whole wheat penne

5. 3-4 oz pesto (pre-made or from scratch)

6. 1 Tbsp Olive oil

7. Salt & Pepper to taste

Cut the chicken and into bite sized pieces. Chop the woody ends off of the asparagus and cut into 1-1/2” pieces. Put a pot of water onto boil, once the water has begun to boil add a healthy amount of salt to the pasta water and cook pasta two minutes shy of package directions, drain and set aside. Put about a tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan, season chicken with salt and pepper and brown. When chicken is almost cooked through add the chopped asparagus. Season asparagus and saute with chicken until asparagus is softened and then add in grape tomatoes, season again.

Cover pan with a lid and cook on low until tomatoes burst. Meanwhile, coat cooked pasta with pesto. Stir coated pasta into the cooked chicken, asparagus, and tomatoes. Plate and enjoy!