Thursday, March 7, 2013

Warm Chicken and Lemon Pasta




From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a great recipe to have on file when growling stomachs and a nagging clock demand a quick, yet substantial supper. This pasta takes about 20 minutes to prepare and it uses ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. Better still, thanks in no small part to the fresh lemon and tomatoes that are used in its preparation, it is remarkably light and can trick the palate into thinking that spring has  pushed back winter winds and their accompanying waves of snow. This is an ever-so-slight adaption of another recipe that I found, here, on the Mazola recipe site. I made it for our dinner tonight in an impossible kitchen. The Silver Fox and I retired an old friend today. Our 20 year old Buick has moved on to that great junkyard in the sky and we decided to test her replacement with a maiden voyage to the coast. The trip was planned to include an overnight stay at Loon Lake where said kitchen may be found. The cabin sits directly on the shore of the glass-like lake and the scenery from its porch and windows at this time of year is achingly beautiful. Were it not for the loons and occasional gusts that rile the fallen leaves, you could almost hear the stillness. We've stayed here before and the cabin is lovely, but because it was designed for outdoor cooking, the kitchen is a nightmare. While I don't have to rub sticks to make fire, it does not invite displays of culinary daring do. Whatever you make here must be simple or you'll starve to death. At any rate, if this warm lemon pasta can be made in the kitchen at Loon Lake, it can be made anywhere and I hope you'll do that very thing. Here's the recipe.

Warm Chicken Lemon Pasta...from the kitchen of one Perfect Bite courtesy of Mazola

Ingredients:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel (1 large OR 2 medium lemons)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 pound cooked pasta (penne, radiatore or cavatappi)
2 cups halved, fresh grape OR cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Lemon wedges for garnish

Directions:
1) Combine olive oil, lemon peel, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
2) Pat chicken dry using paper towels. Cut into 1-inch cubes and place in a bowl. Pour half of lemon mixture over chicken, reserving remaining lemon mixture.
3) Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken mixture and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from heat and add to cooked pasta. Stir in tomatoes, fresh basil and remaining lemon oil mixture. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately. Yield: 6 generous servings.







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25 comments :

Unknown said...

Yum, this is my kind of meal. I am definitely printing this off. I make one, but not sure of our difference and your's looks amazing!Thanks

Ginny Hartzler said...

Beautiful and light!

Anonymous said...

Una pasta deliziosa,brava!!!! :-)
Kisses

Barbara said...

What a lovely, quick supper, Mary. Chicken and lemon are wonderful together and the tomato addition makes it complete.
Have a lovely weekend, dear friend!

pam said...

Perfect for any kind of kitchen!

Tanna said...

You have me daydreaming of Loon Lake and this beautiful pasta dish!! Enjoy your adventure in the new "friend". ;) blessings ~ tanna

Prema said...

wow so tempting Mary,sure will give a try...

Unknown said...

Sorry the kitchen leaves much to be desired, but the pasta.... well that seems to make up for for it! This is definitely my kind of pasta dish.. simple, light and delicious!

June said...

This looks perfect for whipping up in an impossible kitchen. Sounds like a trip to Loon Lake is the perfect way to break in a new set of wheels. It is so beautiful!

From the Kitchen said...

I like to think of you at "Loon Lake" puttering around an impossible kitchen. A nice distraction after "dismissing" an old Buick "friend".

Best,
Bonnie

Kim said...

Actually, we ate some pastas quite like these yesterday. And it was so great! Yours are colorful, I love it!

Barbara F. said...

Oh Mary, another fab dish. Love all the elements joining to make it delicious. Have to make this. xo

France@beyondthepeel said...

Wonderfully fresh and light (and simple!) dishes are essential for anyone, even if they don't have a loon lake in there future:) Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe that any kitchen and anyone for that matter can make.

Anonymous said...

Sounds delic and easy ! and with ingredients i always have on hand !

Diane said...

I love your pasta dishes they always sound so much better than mine! I will definitely get N to try this as he is the pasta cook in this house. Thanks Diane

Pam said...

There's just something about having a cabin at Loon Lake that appeals to me. A glass of wine, this pasta and a lake view. Perfect!

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

Oh my, that sounds delicious!

teresa said...

oooh, this sounds so fresh and bright, i love it!

Daniela Grimburg said...

This pasta looks so pretty and inviting!
And it seems very easy to prepare too.
Great recipe, thank you Mary.

Unknown said...

I love the fresh look of this dish, so colorful and bright and so healthy!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I can never have enough 20 minute meals. This will be perfect on a night my son has a baseball game.

A Sunflower Life said...

My favorite kind of recipe...delicious, simple and quick! Can't wait to give it a go.

Big Dude said...

The cabin cooking adventure, the setting and the meal all sound very good. I'm off to see where Loon Lake might be.

We Are Not Martha said...

I love dinners like this and especially love the fresh tomatoes!!

Sues

David said...

Mary, Great looking pasta entree! Chicken and pasta...among my favorites...plus you've added just the ingredients to kick it up a notch. Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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