Friday, June 5, 2009

Our favourite Chicken Pasta dish....

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Chicken Penne Pasta a la Joolz
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1 tblspn olive oil
500gms chicken breast (I use tenders), chopped small
1/2 brown onion, sliced thinly
1 clove garlic, crushed
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1 heaped teaspoon chicken stock powder dissolved in 3 tblspn water
10 sundried tomatoes, chopped finely
handful of mushrooms
large handful fresh baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1 carton of cream (you can use 'lite')
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon seeded wholegrain mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
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Cook penne pasta in boiling water until al dente.

 Meanwhile, heat oil in pan, fry off chicken, onion and garlic until chicken is browned. Pour in stock mixture then add in tomatoes, mushrooms and fry off for a minute or two on gentle heat. Add in carton of cream and mustards and honey and let it just come to the boil then reduce heat so it is just bubbling. Cook for 5 minutes to reduce the cream sauce slightly then add in spinach so that it wilts. Season with salt and cracked pepper to your taste.   Drain pasta and add to the sauce mixture.  Plate up and sprinkle a little parmesan cheese over.
Serve immediately. Enjoy!
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We have a RealFlame gas log fire which means we don't have to chop wood and have the mess of an open fire or slow combustion heater. We flick a switch and 'voila'! It does not produce the heat of a conventional wood fire but the ambience is lovely in our living room or 'good room' as we call it. Angus loves to sit by the fire, toasting his toes, watching the footy on a Saturday night. I love the fact that I don't have to have wood inside which might harbour a 'hunty' spider.
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Enjoy your Queen's Birthday Long Weekend. We have no netball tomorrow and I don't have much planned so will potter at this and that. I hope we get some more rain.
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Cheers - Joolz

5 comments:

  1. Hi Joolz,the pasta looks delish,we are big pasta fans here!We make our own,have you tried that yet?Its great fun and easy!I love the idea of a log fire without the mess..the only heating we have is the old Crown cooker in the kitchen!She goobles up the wood like you wouldnt believe and I curse the mess,but wouldnt have it any other way to be honest :0)Enjoy the weekend.Granny

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  2. Thanks Joolz for mentioning the Queen's Official Birthday. Can you believe it, here we are in England and I never heard any mention of it on the news even.

    This must be the coldest place on earth, apart from the poles so most people have all the bases covered! We have a super-efficient gas central heating boiler AND a gas fire. My sis has all of the above plus underfloor electric heating in the bathrooms. Keith, being a bit odd, would give his eye teeth for a 'real' fire that you have to chop wood for.

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  3. Well, I already copied and pasted that yummy sounding recipe and may make it tomorrow..thank you so much for sharing it, Joolz!

    The fire place looks beautiful, but seeing as it is sweltering hot here, it isn't real appealing!

    blessings,

    marcy

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  4. We also have reverse cycle air-conditioning which heats/cools the whole house. The fire is really just cosmetic.

    Joolz

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