This week’s recipe proves that it’s not hard to whip up something yummy in the confines of your dorm. A meal doesn’t have to be entirely made from scratch in order for it to be delicious, and you don’t have to be an iron chef, either. You can take shortcuts by using partially cooked or pre-made ingredients, and then adding your own flavor. To make your own unique creation, you simply need to mix in elements that you personally like to a dish.
Pasta is a great way to do this. My Pesto Pasta calls for a pre-made jarred pesto – I do like to make my own pesto, but food processors aren’t allowed in the dorms -which allows you to pick your favorite brand and flavor of pesto. The other ingredients are all of my own preference, such as the walnuts, chicken and parmesan-romano cheese. The crushed red pepper flakes add a flavor kick to the dish, but can easily be left out if you don’t want the heat. It’s all about what you like, so take my recipe as a stepping stool to creating your own perfect pesto pasta. However, I highly recommend this blend of ingredients!
Pesto Pasta Kicked up a Notch
Ingredients:
1 pound of whole-wheat penne pasta (1/2 box)
1 teaspoon of salt
6 oz. package of Perdue Short-Cuts Carved Chicken Breast
½ cup of pre-made pesto sauce in a jar
crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
2-3 tbsp. of Parmesan-Romano cheese
Equipment:
Medium pot
Microwaveable dish
Directions:
1. Bring a pot with 4 quarts of water (filled ¾ of the way) to a boil. When boiling, add salt and then pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes depending on if you want it al dente (just cooked) or softer.
2.While pasta is cooking, place chicken on microwavable dish, cover with a paper towel and cook for 1 to 3 minutes until warm all the way through.
3. When pasta is cooked, drain all water from the pot. Add chicken, pesto, pinch of crush red pepper flakes, and walnuts. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed. You can add more pesto or less pesto depending on what your taste buds desire.
4. After distributing pasta to individual plates, sprinkle desired amount of cheese.
5. ENJOY!!
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