Serves 4
SHOPPING LIST
1 lb chicken breast (or whatever protein you'd like)
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 cups basil
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Ap and lemon bae
1 lb Cavatappi pasta
3 tbsps butter
1 diced shallot
1/2 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
1 lemon Red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS
Pesto Sauce
Grab a food processor, a blender, or anything of the sort and add in 1/2 cup of pine nuts and a healthy pinch of salt and blend until they form a powder-like consistency
Add in about 2 cloves of garlic and 2 cups of basil (make sure your blender/machine is off) If you cannot fit all the basil leaves, just blend and add as you go
Add in1/4 cup of good quality olive oil and 1/4 cup of fresh parmesan grated cheese and add all-purpose seasoning to taste and blend until smooth
Adjust the flavor to your preference. Depending on what you're making, you can adjust the consistency. For pasta I like it to be a little thicker so I add a little olive oil at a time until it's at my desired thickness.
Pasta Noodles
Bring water to a boil in a pot and add salt
Place your Cavatappi Noodles and cook until they reach your desired texture and set aside
Chicken Breast
Get about 1 pound of chicken breast ( 8 oz. a piece)
Season with my AP Seasoning and Lemon Bae or your preferred Cajun Seasoning.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
Preheat skillet to medium-high and add a few tbsp of avocado oil to coat the bottom of the skillet
Add the chicken breast (Iaying the meat away from you) and press down to get a good surface area to sear
Cook for about 2 min per side and baste in butter. Once its golden brown on both sides , transfer it to a small sheet pan and place it in the oven (DON'T TURN OFF YOUR STOVE)
Place the chicken breasts in the oven at 400 degrees until each breast has reached 165 degrees internally
Once they are done, let them rest on the counter
FINAL STEPS
Add 1 diced shallot or onions into the same skillet you seared your chicken and cook for about 1-2 min
Add in your diced or chopped cherry tomatoes (or sundried, your choice) and cook for 1 min
Add in freshly squeezed lemon juice and season with a healthy pinch of All Purpose Seasoning and cook until the tomatoes have softened.
While your chicken is resting Add your cavatappi noodles to the skillet and give it a toss with all of the ingredients and warm up the noodles
Once your noodles have warmed, kill the heat (turn your heat off) and add your pesto sauce
Top with a little bit of parmesan cheese and mix
Slice your chicken breast on a bias (at an angle) and add it to the top of your pasta
NOW YOU'RE LOOKIN' GOOD AND READY FOR YOUR #TRADEMARKMONEYSHOT