Chicken Pesto Stir Fry

I made chicken pesto stir fry this week for dinner and thought I'd share the recipe.  This dish is a big hit at our house, and it's the meal I make every year for my sister on her birthday.  We like it served over pasta with a nice bread to go along with it. 

Chicken Pesto Stir Fry

Ingredients:
3-4 Chicken Breasts
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion
2 Green Peppers
2 Zucchinis
3/4 cup Pesto (I like to use my homemade pesto -recipe here)
1/4 cup Chicken Broth

1.  Cut chicken into 1.5 inch chunks and cook in the Olive Oil in a skillet over medium heat until chicken is cooked through (about ten minutes -- cut a few pieces in half to check the middle of them to be sure they are cooked).  Stir frequently.

2.  While chicken is cooking boil water for pasta if you are serving over pasta and cut the veggies.  I like them cut into bite-sized chunks. 

3.  When chicken is cooked through remove from pan.  Add veggies to pan and if you need a bit more oil add that too.  Stirring frequently, cook the veggies for about 5-10 minutes, until they are cooked to your liking (some people like them crisp, some like them mushy...just do taste tests until they are good!).

4.  Add the chicken, pesto and chicken broth to the veggies in the skillet and cook for just a few minutes more, until everything is heated and the sauce thickens just a bit. 

5.  Drain pasta when it is finished cooking according to directions on package, grate some fresh parmesan, and then put your dish all together.  Pasta topped with chicken pesto stir fry with parm sprinkled on top.  YUM!

fall...

gorgeous leaves & dreary rainy days

a few more shares of veggies from our friendly neighborhood csa 

the last of the sunflowers from the backyard

simmering soup...a dinnertime fave during the cooler months

backyard farm party

this past weekend we went to a party at my cousin's house.  my cousin anna, her husband steve and their adorable son robin started their own csa this summer called rains & sun backyard farm.  i immediately signed up, because i thought it would be great to get fresh organic produce all summer long and into the fall, and i also love to support small business ventures!  i'm so glad we signed up.  it's been a great addition to our meals this summer.  i signed up for a half share, so i get my produce every other week.  i pick the produce up at my aunt & uncle's house, so i get an added bonus of getting to visit with aunt rita & robin (who hangs out at her house on mondays).  i have been very pleased with the amount of food we've gotten each time, and they have quite a variety.  my favorites have been the sugar snap peas, the salad mixes and the edamame.  they have more veggies than fruits, but i'm ok with that, because our family needs to be eating more veggies!  the best thing for me about being a part of a csa is that i'm receiving items i probably wouldn't buy, so i have been challenged to try new dishes, find new recipes and experiment.  the other great thing is that the kids are trying new veggies.  three of my four children are very picky eaters, so you can imagine my excitement when they all ate okra for dinner one night!  we talk alot about farming, healthy foods, and trying new things.  it's been a great learning & culinary experience for all of us. 

anyway, back to the party...we went to their home on saturday and spent the evening running amongst the rows of the garden, playing croquet, catching up with family & friends, playing ball with grandma, and of course there was a delicious spread of food to eat! 

henry loved all the fresh fruit & veggies..especially the salsa!

my favorite farmers

dinner

henry tried to play baseball instead of croquet

grandma and sam

onions! 

oven fried okra

last week in our CSA from Rains & Sun Backyard Farm we got a bunch of okra.  since i'm on a healthy eating kick, i felt like pan fried okra wouldn't be the best option.  i did a little research, and came up with a great way to make the okra taste yummy like fried okra, but without all the (messy & unhealthy) frying.  if you love okra, you should try this method.  using jiff corn bread mix makes it a bit sweet, and all four of my kids ate it!  score one for mama!

by the way, i think okra is a pretty veggie...it looks like little flowers when you chop it up!

oven fried okra

you need:  okra, jiff corn muffin mix, water & PAM
how to:  slice okra in 1/2 inch slices (discard ends).  dip slices in water and then coat with corn muffin mix.  place coated okra on a cookie sheet sprayed with PAM.  bake at 400 degrees until golden & crisp (20-30 minutes). 

watering...

...the flowers, the vegetables & the children

in the garden with ella