Did They Eat It?: Grilled Chicken With Shells II

This is a repeat, because you may have noticed, I haven't been cooking very much for my family. I don't know why exactly other than I've been feeling uninspired. Possibly because I keep thinking we could eat for 6 months on $10 and a shit-ton of ramen noodles. I could tell the kids this is practice for college. Or we could eat beans out of the can, cooked over an open flame, just like the hobos!

Logan and I have been talking about having a Recession Party where everyone comes wearing a barrel. Or maybe dressed as a traveling hobo, or in a burlap sack. We'd serve beans and Spam and everyone would drink moonshine from a ceramic jug.

The problem is this is Detroit and the threat of job loss is like a black cloud over your head and YOU KNOW we'd plan that party and Logan would be laid off that day....just to add to the atmosphere.

Anyway I made this again because we really love it and I think it's pretty to look at. Also, I wondered if there would be a change in the kid's reaction to this dish.

This is a Martha Stewart recipe, you can find it here.

Here's what you need. Chicken, grape tomatoes, parmesan, mozzerella, pasta (not shown: salt, pepper and a bit of butter)

Start by boiling your water for pasta. Do everything else while the pasta cooks.

Season your chicken with the salt and pepper.

Grill the chicken (you can do this in advance but I never have that much forethought), set aside to cool a bit.

Cut the tomatoes in half. Keep your hands away from the knife blade because your husband thinks you're a bumbling moron who can't cut without taking her fingers off.

I use the chopper thingie to take care of the parsley. Mostly because I don't want giant trees of parsley in my dish and that's what happens when I chop it with a knife. Also Logan stands over me waiting for me to accidentally slice my head off.

Here it is before.

Here it is after.

I take what I need and put the rest, well wrapped in the freezer. I'm not sure you're supposed to do this but I figure it's better than dried!

Chop the mozzerella into squares.

I like to have everything ready to go once the pasta is done cooking. The recipe says to reserve a bit of the pasta water so you can add it to everything if the finished product is a little dry. I forgot to do that and it worked out just fine.

Here's everything in the pot waiting to be mixed together.

Here's the final product.

Did They Eat It?

Logan: Loves.
Max: Loves.
Melissa: Loves.
Maddie: Still complaining about it containing everything she likes, BUT NOT MIXED TOGETHER.

*Don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a Sandisk Slot Radio. The contest ends at 12am EST Friday 6/12/09

Comments

[The Bug]

Wow - that looks delicious & easy. I'll have to pass it along to my hubby - he's the cook. Although, really, I think I could manage to make this myself. As long as he wasn't around to watch me chop the tomatoes...

[ella]

Ooh yum! I'm making that this weekend. I'd make it tonight accept it's momma's night out.

[Stephanie Pietrzak]

I'm picky, and this looks delish! Hoping to try this tonight.

[Abby]

Oh, this sounds SO good. If three out of four in YOUR family love it, that is saying a lot!

[FunnyGal KAT]

I made this after the first time you wrote about it and I can verify that it's delicious. I found it to be a little bland, but the Pretend Husband and I have a knack-- and the pantry-- for being able to spice up any dish. It's the perfect summer dish.

[MelissaS]

What'd you do? I probably won't be able to use your advice (Pickersons Will Revolt) but maybe....

[Deanna]

You could use basil instead of parsley and have a great little caprese pasta.

[MG]

You might like this site: cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com. Not all of it will be to your kiddoes' liking, but it's a fun site to read either way.

[Kimberly*]

We buy our chicken from Costco and I always hit a chicken wall. So I'm always looking for new chicken recipes. And this one has noodles. NOODLES! Thank you!

[Karin]

That looks delicious - and even moreso because I would also serve it in Fiesta dishes! I bet it would really pop in a red bowl!

[Dayna]

Sounds like dinner! I think I might need some mozzarella though. Awesome.

[Tiki]

My husband might actually eat this!! It doesn't have intimidating vegetables (he only eats tomatoes and potatoes) and has his favorite ingredient cheese! I've gotta give it a try.

[Leta]

My kid would totally eat everything in this BUT NOT MIXED TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

[silver]

When I chop fresh herbs, I put it in a glass measuring cup and snip away at them with kitchen sheers until it is chopped down to the size I want. The measuring cup is way easier for me than hauling out an appliance (and then cleaning it).

[Lori]

I love the comments as to who eats the meal.
you may want to try to cut the tomatoes with a serated (sp??) knife -- Logan may not be as scared since it's easier for tomatoes...

[Nancy]

Sounds great... will give it a try. I especially like the knife instructions as I manage to cut myself at least once a month with my ultra sharp knives.

[Maggie]

Looks yummy, but you might want to use the flat italian parsley instead--the curly kind isn't typically used in cooking!!

[Joanne]

Ugh, curly leaf parsley. Try flat leaf next time, it's got a better flavor, easier to chop up, and no tree bits. Last time I made potato salad, I forgot to pick up parsley, so I sent hubby to get some while I peeled potatoes. He brought home curly leaf, and I asked him what he brought home. That's garnish for me! That stuff is hard to chop! On another note, to make the curly stuff last longer and look prettier when you freeze it, rinse curly stuff well, chop it up, then put it in a clean kitchen towel, rinse in towel then twist and wring the towel wrapped parsley. It will last for up to weeks in fridge. I learned this from a chef's knife class I took a couple of months ago.

[Larissa]

I've been staving off pasta for months to decrease my carb intake, but this looks tasty - and EASY - so I might have to break down and try it.:)

[Lena]

Always looking for yet ANOTHER way to eat chicken and pasta since, you know, it's always on sale.

I will so be with virtually partying wearing a barrel. I know Michigan is worse than So. CA, but it's hard to imagine. Everybody knows someone or is someone who's getting laid off. This morning I accidentally used my debit card at Starbucks for $2.90. I came home and Chris said "I hope you enjoyed your $40 latte". Because it came with a $35 overdraft fee.

But, I do have a shitload of chicken breasts. So, thanks for that.

[Jessica]

I just heart you, Melissa. You're good people.

[Bailey]

glad you didn't chop a finger or your head off while you made it!

[Chelsea Robinson]

looks yummy and sooo easy to do...i'll have to try it in the next week or so...thanks!!

[Sara]

That might just be diner tonight...

[hippittee]

I'm with jessica -- <3 u!

If I counted that correctly, she's comment #21

[Kelly]

Made this last night and tonight I had the leftovers cold. Delicious and light.

[Tracy]

I made this last night. I marinated the chicken in Italian dressing before grilling and added garlic salt, but it was still a little on the bland side. But good enough to serve again! My own Mrs. Pickerson made a face at the tomatoes, but enjoyed the rest. I'm going to throw in some pesto next time. And make sure my mozzarella is not a moldy lump that has to be thrown away (sob).

[libby]

Various incarnations of this recipe make regular appearances in my repertoire. It is a good one. One thing I do differently is skip the butter, and saute garlic in olive oil. If you use a garlic press and saute low and slow the garlic is almost invisible. Also I either throw the tomatoes in with the garlic or on the grill with the chicken- it really boosts their flavor, in my opinion.

[Jen]

Looks tasty! Just a helpful tip on cutting the tomatos- if you use two old cottage cheese lids(or some other type of plactic lid like that), and put the grape tomatoes between them, you can cut through them all at one cut. Ta-Da! Works for grapes and olives too.