Pasta with Pesto and Roasted Chicken for Taste & Create

Pasta With Pesto and Roasted Chicken

This event is one that I try not to miss each and every month. It is the brainchild of Nicole (aka Myamii) over at For the Love of Food . She is a young mom from the States who has been living in Germany for the past 5 years. I love to visit her site for all the delicious recipes as well as tidbits on how to get more traffic to our own blogs. She even has an on-line store with wonderful kitchen gadgets and gourmet foods. If you haven't had the chance to visit please take the time...you will be glad you did.



The premise of the Taste and Create event is simple... we are paired with another blogger... we choose a recipe from their extensive posts...we prepare the dish and then... blog about it. I love this event because I am able to showcase someone else's blog, a favourite dish or just rave about a blogging friend. The blogosphere is filled with delicious recipes that are piling up waiting for me to try. It's time to get some of them out from the blogosphere and into my kitchen!!!! Taste and Create allows me to to do just that each and every month!!! What could be better!

This month I am paired with 2 fellow bloggers for the event. The first of these talented bloggers is Katie at her blog One Little Corner of the World . She is a teacher blogging from the States... in Illinois to be exact. I was very pleased to be paired with Katie... we have such similar taste in food. I loved all of her recipes so if you haven't had a chance to visit yet please do!!!! She represents her little corner of the world very well!!!!! You can find her original pasta recipe here .

The only change I made with this pasta dish was to barbecue the marinated chicken and I also added grilled peppers since it is summer and I happened to have some on hand. Another time I would like to add some grilled veggies such as zucchini, onions, eggplant, etc. that are marinated also to make it a full meal deal. My veggie friends could even leave the chicken out and have a delicious meal as well.

The pesto had a refreshing flavour that matched perfectly with the grilled chicken. I loved the slightly garlic flavour of the pesto. This dish made for a perfect lunch with a slice of garlic toast.

**Pasta with Pesto and Roasted Chicken**

( From The Food Network)

Pesto Sauce

2 hefty bunches of basil
1/2 cup pine nuts or 3/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
Juice of one small lemon
2 cloves garlic, peeled
Kosher salt
About 20 grinds freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Place all ingredients with 1/2 cup oil in blender and blend. Gradually drizzle in remaining 1/4 cup oil until pesto is thick and smooth.

Chicken (Katie's own concoction)

1 -1/2 pounds chicken breasts
1/3 cup olive oil
2 -1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
Pasta of your choice ( ziti, shells, something that will hold the pesto)

Cut chicken into strips and place in large bowl with olive oil and seasoning. Coat chicken with mixture and place on sheet pan. Roast in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Set aside.

Cook desired pasta type. Katiesays, "I prefer a pasta that holds the sauce, like shells or ziti, per package directions. Drain and put back in pot. Combine pasta, pesto, and chicken in pot - stir gently. The hot pasta will warm up the sauce and the chicken."

Serve immediately.

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