PPN: Chicken Casserole

It amazes me just how many ways you can create pasta dishes.  Case in point, this week is number 245 for Presto Pasta Night - and hosted by its lovely creator Ruth over at Once Upon A Feast.

5 wonderful years she's been doing this - I give her a lot of credit! - and it's still going strong.  I love to see what creations everyone comes up with every week.  Another reason to look forward to Fridays.  :)

This week I thought I was going simple, but, um, it didn't turn out that way.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that when I was cooking dinner I was helping Adrienne clean out her hermit crab enclosure, or maybe it was just that I'm not used to multitasking during dinner anymore.  Whatever the cause, I have to say it was a huge success.

I just started browsing on Pinterest.  If you don't know what that is, well, I think it's as big a time waster as Facebook - probably even more-so.  People "pin" pictures they've found of things and you get to look through and see what everyone has found around the web.  It's a great idea in concept - just you can start looking and when you look up a half hour has gone by without even noticing.  They have different categories and my favorites, of course, are food and crafts.

This was pinned over there and then linked back (eventually) to the original recipe on Martha Stewart's website (here).  I went and tried to find the link on Pinterest, but I can't seem to find it <figures> but since I based this on Martha's recipe, we'll leave it at that and if I can find it later I'll come back and edit this post.

It was a little blander than we like so after it was on the plate I added some Cajun seasoning to mine - just to spice it up a bit (then the kids followed suit).  But it's good as is as well - just all depends upon your taste buds.  I served it with a spinach strawberry salad (dressed with a little bit of store bought poppy seed dressing) and everyone raved about the salad as well.  All in all not the healthiest of dishes I'll make in 2012, but one that I'll have to make again.

Penne Chicken Casserole

• Non stick cooking spray
• 1 pound penne rigate
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 10 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• rotisserie chicken breast meat, chopped (save the legs and thighs for something else)
• 6 sun dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups milk (I used 1/2 whole milk and half skim milk)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 cups shredded provolone and mozzarella mix
• 1/3 cup grated Romono

1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray two 1 1/2-quart baking dishes with non stick cooking spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 2 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta, and return to pot.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high.  Saute mushrooms and onions until soft.  Add in the chicken and sun dried tomatoes and set aside.
3. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Add flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer, whisking frequently until the sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and gradually add the Provolone/Mozzarella and half of the Romono cheese.  Stir to melt.
4. Add the chicken/mushroom mixture and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes; sprinkle with cup Parmesan.
5. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

What's your favorite pasta dish?

Comments

[Ruth]

Definitely a comforting start to a very cold week here! Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights and wishing you a stress free (even if you have to multitask) year.

[paula]

I just got introduced to Pinterest and I'm trying to get into it but it depresses me. There is just so much awesome, slick-looking stuff on there. I feel like a schlub when I see what the rest of the world is creating. It's overwhelming.

[Alisha]

Thanks, Ruth! I hope you have the same!

Paula ... what depresses me the most is how good most of the photographs are. I have some good photos on my blog but for the most part they're not awe inspiring. But, I'll strive for what makes me happy I guess. You're right about all the awesome stuff out there - I just take it that at least it's not all coming from one place. LOL

[paula]

It seems like everyone is suddenly a photographer these days. I guess digital photography has made it that easy. I do the best I can and at least I'm getting more natural light these days but I started my blog because I love food, cooking and cookbooks. I really have no interest in photography. I love it when I get a good shot but I'm doing real cooking in real time - I'm not a food stylist or photographer. I think some people get that - I found a bunch of things from my blog on pinterest so I know people read the recipe and look beyond the amateur pics.