Yes, very cute. I am actually proposing pasta with cherry tomatoes to be more exact. Use a combination of white and whole wheat noodles if needed. To save time, use chicken cooked with Sweetheart Chicken recipe. (See TIME SAVER directions below.)
Ingredients:
1 pint(s) cherry tomato(es)
2 garlic clove(s) -- or 3, crushed
1 tbsp capers -- *next to olives in store
1 bunch cauliflower -- (See Prep Work to cut) or broccoli
1 bunch asparagus -- first trim bottom; then 1" pieces
1/4 cup(s) olive oil
1 lb(s) angel hair pasta
1 tsp oregano
1/4 cup(s) black olives -- chopped, or kalamata
1/3 cup(s) Romano or parmesan cheese -- grated, or part feta
1 lb(s) cooked chicken -- See TIME SAVER below*
Directions
Prep Work: Cut cauliflower and asparagus. Cut cauliflower floret stems into 2-3 smaller pieces and the flower part into 1/2” pieces as well. Store together with asparagus. Cook noodles.
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay tomatoes, garlic, drained and chopped capers, cauliflower (or broccoli) and asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper all over. Toss to coat all sides of veggies.
2. Bake 35-40 minutes without stirring. Tomatoes should be slightly “wrinkled”.
3. Boil enough water and 1 tbsp. salt in large pot; add noodles and boil until al dente. (See package for cooking times.) Drain noodles, rinse, return to pot and toss generously with olive oil; then salt and pepper to taste.
4. When vegetables are done, scrape from tray to noodle pot with spatula and toss all with oregano and olives. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Romano or parmesan cheese and sliced chicken on top.
*TIME SAVER- Double the amount of marinade you blend for the Spicy Spanish Chicken and use it to marinate split chicken breasts for this recipe; one breast with bones for each person.
*ANTIOXIDANT POWER- When tomatoes were cooked in increments of 2, 15, and 30 minutes in a study,“the research revealed that the beneficial trans-lycopene (powerful antioxidant) content of the cooked tomatoes increased by 54, 171 and 164 per cent respectively.” http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Tomatoes-cooked-better-than-raw
VEGGIE POWER: I always throw in another vegetable to use up something in the refrigerator. Last time I diced 5 Italian squash and roasted them along with the other veggies.
