Smith Berry Barn

chicken broth

Chicken Pesto Pasta

September 20, 2017
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Print Recipe
This is an easy, delicious pasta dish that can be made even easier if the chicken is pre-cooked. Simply grill a few extra chicken breasts when it's convenient and keep in fridge until ready to use.
Servings Prep Time
4-6 servings 20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4-6 servings 20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Print Recipe
This is an easy, delicious pasta dish that can be made even easier if the chicken is pre-cooked. Simply grill a few extra chicken breasts when it's convenient and keep in fridge until ready to use.
Servings Prep Time
4-6 servings 20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4-6 servings 20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
  • 3 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
  • 16 ounces penne pasta
  • 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 handfuls fresh green beans
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half & half
  • salt & pepper (to taste)
  • Parmesan cheese (shredded as garnish)
Servings: servings
Instructions
To cook the chicken:
  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook on an outdoor grill (for best flavor) or an indoor grill pan. This should take about 10-12 minutes, depending on your method. Just be sure the chicken is done all the way through and the juices run clear.
  2. Once cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into bite size pieces and set aside to keep warm until ready to use.
To prepare the pasta:
  1. While the chicken is cooking, start a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta (this water will also be used to cook the beans).
  2. While the water is coming to a boil, rinse and prepare the veggies. Slice any large cherry tomatoes in half or quarters.
  3. Once the water has come to a boil, place the beans in the boiling water and blanch them for approximately 3-4 minutes. Once finished, use a slotted spoon to remove beans onto a cutting board and cut into 1" pieces.
  4. Drizzle 1-2 Tbsp olive oil into a saute pan on medium heat. Add beans and saute for approximately 5 minutes, or until they have started to become slightly golden brown on edges.
  5. Add sliced cherry tomatoes and saute for 1-2 minutes, until slightly softened.
  6. Add chicken pieces to veggie mixture and toss gently.
  7. Add chicken broth and pesto to veggie/chicken mixture and stir until evenly coated with sauce.
  8. Add half & half to sauce and incorporate. You may decide you need more or less half & half, depending upon your taste for creaminess.
To finish the pasta
  1. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. (S&P can be added to veggies while they are cooking)
  2. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Notes

You can make this recipe your own by using whatever veggies or other ingredients you have on hand. We often use diced zucchini and summer squash, along with the beans. You may also add olives and/or artichoke hearts for more flavor. ??Have fun with this basic, adaptable recipe!

Winter Squash Soup

October 12, 2016
Course
Winter Squash Soup
Print Recipe
We serve this hearty soup at our annual Heirloom Apple Festival and it gets rave reviews! Use any type of winter squash you would like, just vary the quantity, depending on the size of the squash.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1.5 hours 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1.5 hours 1 hour
Winter Squash Soup
Print Recipe
We serve this hearty soup at our annual Heirloom Apple Festival and it gets rave reviews! Use any type of winter squash you would like, just vary the quantity, depending on the size of the squash.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1.5 hours 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1.5 hours 1 hour
Ingredients
For the Squash
  • 4 each acorn squash (or 2 medium butternut or 1 hubbard or other large squash)
  • 2 each fresh pears (peeled, cored and quartered)
  • 1 each sweet onion (quartered)
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • salt and pepper to taste
For the Soup
  • 4 cups chicken broth (sub vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
  • 1/4 tsp ground red pepper
  • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Finish
  • 1-1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • fresh ground pepper (liberal or to taste)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Servings: servings
Instructions
To prepare squash
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds and place in 9"x13" baking dish with cut-side facing up. You may need more than one baking dish depending on the size of your squash. See notes below.
  3. Place onions and pears around squash, filling all the spaces in the baking dish.
  4. Drizzle with melted butter and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Bake in oven approximately 45 minutes, or until fork-tender.
  6. Remove from oven and allow to cool enough that you can handle the squash. Scoop the flesh of the squash, discarding the skins.
  7. Place all ingredients from baking dish(es) into large stockpot and proceed with making the soup.
To prepare soup
  1. Add all remaining ingredients to stock pot with the squash mixture.
  2. Heat on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to bubble.
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
  4. Remove soup from heat and puree the soup using an immersion blender. Puree until smooth (you may have a few onion pieces that won't puree...that's fine!)
To finish soup
  1. Add the heavy whipping cream, salt and liberal grindings of fresh pepper and stir to combine.
  2. Taste for seasonings and adjust if necessary.
Recipe Notes

We find that because of the varying sizes in squash, it's sometimes necessary to use more than one baking dish to roast the squash. ??Your baking dishes should be full but not too full, so if necessary, place ingredients into two dishes and place them side by side in your oven.

Also, the seasonings may need adjusting, due to the variations in the squash. ??Simply taste your soup and add more of each of the seasonings to taste. ??This soup comes out a little different each time we make it, but it's very forgiving!

Enjoy this soup with a crusty loaf of bread and a salad as a complete meal...or serve as an appetizer in small mugs at a holiday gathering.

If you end up with too much soup, place remaining soup in freezer containers and freeze for a later date! ??Enjoy!