Pennewithchickensundriedtomatoesandpinenuts Recipes

PENNE CHICKEN WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. , In a large bowl, combine the Alfredo sauce, chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms, green onions and pepper. Drain pasta; stir into chicken mixture. Spoon into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. , Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until heated through. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Freeze Option: Before baking, cover and freeze casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly.

PENNE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Meanwhile, pluck the basil leaves from the stems (you should have about 2 cups leaves). Wash the leaves in a large bowl of cold water and dry in a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels. Smash and peel the garlic.
• Put the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the processor running, gradually add the olive oil and process until the pesto is smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large bowl and stir in the cheese. Season with the salt and some pepper.
• Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the penne and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and save about 1/4 cup pasta cooking water. Add the pasta to the bowl. Use tongs and toss with enough of the cooking water so the pesto coats the pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
• Upgrades: a. Make the pesto creamy by adding 1/4 cup ricotta cheese when processing the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. This is great with tortellini or ravioli. b. Top dressed pesto pasta with 1/2 pound diced large or halved small fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), 3 medium tomatoes cut in large chunks, and 1/2 cup pitted black olives, (we like kalamata for this), roughly chopped. c. Add cooked 1 to 2 cups chicken or shrimp.
• Twists on Pesto: In place of basil, try the following combination: 1 cup parsley, 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves. Substitute walnuts for the pine nuts

PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Warm 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until chicken is cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels.
• Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Then stir in asparagus, garlic, and a pinch more garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover, and steam until the asparagus is just tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet, and warm through.
• Stir chicken mixture into pasta, and mix well. Let sit about 5 minutes. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, stir again, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

BAKED PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Butter two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta, and return to pot.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Halve each piece lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
• In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Off heat, gradually stir in provolone and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes; sprinkle each with 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

GREEK PENNE AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large pot with boiling salted water cook penne pasta until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat melt butter, add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add chopped chicken and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium- low. Drain and chop artichoke hearts and add them, chopped tomato, feta cheese, fresh parsley, lemon juice, dried oregano, and drained penne pasta to the large skillet. Cook until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and ground black pepper. Serve warm.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cut the sun-dried tomatoes into thin stripes. Keep the oil.
• Heat wok or large skillet. Add 1 tablespoons of the kept oil.
• Fry meat in 2-3 portions. Add more oil if necessary.
• Add fried meat to the wok again.
• Add garlic, tomatoes and cream. Cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Add cooked penne and basil and mix. Leave on stove until penne are warm.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve in bowls and top with roasted pine nuts.

SPINACH AND PINE NUTS WITH PENNE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add penne and boil for 10 minutes or according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a heavy 12-inch skillet heat butter and olive oil until foamy. Add pine nuts and saute, stirring continuously until they turn golden. Add garlic and saute for a minute to release the aroma. Add spinach in two batches if you must and toss together just until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Add a tablespoon or so of water to get spinach steaming. Drain pasta and serve in bowl. Toss with wilted spinach and garnish with port soaked currants.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, PROSCIUTTO, ARTICHOKE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 30 minutes (while cooking sauce).
• Drain, and slice into thin strips.
• Prepare sauce by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium/low heat. Add garlic and cook slowly until it just starts to brown. Add the prosciutto & shrimp and turn heat to high. Saute till meat is crisp and shrimp are browned. Spoon out shrimp; and add the Marsala and cook until sauce reduces by half. Add ingredients up to (including) cayenne pepper. Whisk until smooth, simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
• Add the cooked shrimp, chicken, artichokes and sun dried tomatoes to the sauce. Stir to combine.
• Preheat oven to 500º. Pour into a 9 x 13 dish (or other very large shallow dish). Sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, sour cream and pesto. Drain pasta. Add pasta and chicken to Parmesan mixture; toss to coat.

PASTA WITH CHICKEN, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, GORGONZOLA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil reserved from tomatoes in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to skillet and sauté until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate and cool; do not clean skillet. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta; transfer to large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon tomato oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; sauté until tender, about 1 minute. Add sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, basil, broth, cheese and prosciutto to skillet and bring to boil.
• Add sauce to pasta and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with pine nuts and serve.

PENNE WITH GARLICKY TOMATOES AND SALMON

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water 1 minute less than per package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain. In a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter.
• Add garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and wine; bring to a boil. Cook until tomatoes burst and liquid is slightly reduced, 6 to 7 minutes. Season fish with salt and pepper; nestle into skillet. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until just opaque, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer fish to a plate.
• Add pasta, cheese, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter to skillet with tomatoes; stir over low heat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a sauce. Season to taste. Serve with fish, parsley, and more red-pepper flakes.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES AND TWO CHEESES

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, dried basil and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer and mixture thickens to chunky sauce and is reduced to 6 cups, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
• Return pasta to same pot. Toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Pour sauce over and toss to blend. Mix in Havarti cheese. Transfer pasta to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with olives, then Parmesan.
• Bake until pasta is heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with basil.