The night started with the intention to make some pesto from the basil I brought home from the CSA. Here’s the delicious dish that ended up on our plates:

Tomato Pesto Chicken Pasta

1 lb ground chicken

olive oil

salt and pepper

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

2 tbsp pine nuts

1 tomato

2 cloves garlic

1 tbsp tomato paste

Cook the chicken in a skillet with a drizzle of olive oil until almost cooked through. While this is cooking, place basil, pine nuts, garlic and about 2 tbsp oil in the food processor. Process finely. Add this to the chicken with one chopped tomato and add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in tomato paste. If it looks a little dry, drizzle a little more olive oil. Serve over pasta of your choice. Cheese optional!

We really enjoyed this. We had Swiss chard and some grapes to round out the meal. Filling, light and yummy!

The night started with the intention to make some pesto from the basil I brought home from the CSA. Here’s the delicious dish that ended up on our plates: Tomato Pesto Chicken Pasta 1 lb ground chicken olive oil salt and pepper 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp pine nuts 1 tomato 2 … Read more →

I love surprising my readers with what can be made in parchment. So today I have another fun idea for you – tortellini. And I made this one in my toaster oven since my oven is broken and waiting for a part. This recipe feeds two.

9 oz refrigerated fresh tortellini

1/4 cup frozen peas

salt and pepper to taste

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces

1/4 tsp Italian seasonings or basil

1/4 cup pesto sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp chicken broth

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Place the tortellini on a piece of parchment (see Technique page for instructions). Spread the peas on top. Add the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Drop dollops of the pesto over the food. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, chicken broth, and olive oil. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese. Using a fork, gently mix and toss the ingredients together a bit so you no longer see large clumps of pesto. Fold the parchment and bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

This was delicious and super cute in the packet. You can swap out lots of different ingredients in this one – try ham or cooked Italian sausage instead of the chicken. Instead of the peas, you could use spinach, broccoli, or mushrooms.

The tortellini cooks perfectly and all the flavors are sealed in, making this dish fresh tasting and vibrant.

I love surprising my readers with what can be made in parchment. So today I have another fun idea for you – tortellini. And I made this one in my toaster oven since my oven is broken and waiting for a part. This recipe feeds two. 9 oz refrigerated fresh tortellini 1/4 cup frozen peas … Read more →