Food for thought...

OK...I have a new found respect for food stylists and photographers like Ryannan at

Sotto il Monte....and well...

Just plain ole foodies like Jain from Once in a Blue Moon and Rachel from coconut and lime.

Recently I was asked to submit a recipe

and photos for a new

online magazine, Ofifteen.cool magazine...check em' out!

Sure....no problem. I cook. Actually I love to cook.

That, apparently is one part of the problem.

I don't measure. So trying to recreate and guesstimate amounts for a real live recipe

was a bigger challenge, that I have no doubt I fumbled.

I mean, is it copacetic to say a bunch of that and a handful of this??

And pictures...are you kidding??

Do you know how hard it is to get pictures of little pieces of chicken breast cooking in a pan

to look appealing?? Hmmmmm? I was NOT born with that gene...yet people do it time and time again. And beautifully. I bow to them.

Like I said. I have major gold star respect for these peeps now.

Thankfully, they only used a couple of the pics in their article...

But because I love you...and because I believe in full disclosure...

I give you the whole shebang....with pics of cooking chicken breast, to boot.

...for your viewing pleasure.

Pasta Parma Rosa...

Or as my 13 year old calls it pink chicken...

So...Here I am trying to make the raw chicken fit in with the other cast of characters

She's just not as photogenic...raw or cooked.

but we still love her.
It is important that chicken that will be in a recipe have good self esteem.

notice the scallions and tomato picked right from our friends garden.

They grow real veggies...In abundance. We, apparently, grow squirrels who eat veggies.

and cream from said friends cow, Bessie.

naw...just kiddin about the cream...it's straight from a box marked heavy cream

OK...the cooking chicken part. Raw breast (or you can choose thighs)

sliced across the grain and sauteed in some olive oil (you could add a bit of butter to make it brown a bit more, too)

Chop an onion...or maybe 1/2. you could add some chopped garlic too...

and this ladies and gent is where I go off that slippery slope

of a little of this, or try some of that...and all the sudden we are making

chicken pot pies instead of parma rosa.

Remove the sauteed and beautifully cooked chicken to a separate plate,
and in the same oil add the onion...saute until it sweats and browns a bit.
Then add Ole Bessie's cream (about a pint...maybe less). Let it bubble and cook
(medium high heat) until it reduces to half of its amount and thickens.

sneak in some fresh ground pepper...some salt....
oh...and some vodka. A splash (maybe 2TBSP)...it'll really bubble now.
let it work it's magic.


Now....add that can of diced tomatoes that was waiting patiently.
...I won't even mention that they could be fresh chopped, or sun dried or even some
jarred tomato sauce...


Throw in a handful of grated Parmesan cheese. Then look at it, taste it
and add more...then some more vodka...then some more pepper...
see?

Chop those fresh scallions
the tomato is just hanging out making sure they are chopped
perfectly



cook some tortellini
my kids always called them tortellini bellybuttons...or maybe that was me.
I love to use the fresh kind...but in lieu of paying $6 bucks for a tiny
container of it I grabbed some dried tortellini. It was not half bad...for half price.
But, here I go, you could use any pasta you have around.
I personally like the squiggly ones that hold the sauce...just so.

I usually put the pasta on a big white tray...pour the chicken in it's lovely pink sauce
over top...then add a teensy bit more parm.
then scatter those fresh scallions all over.
Ta da.


Then, dig in, and that's where the pictures go downhill again...
fast
and that is where I really appreciate those food stylists.




It is tasty, though.
Try it...I dare ya.