Butter Basil Pesto Chicken with Garlic Gravy and Cherry Tomatoes

A whole chicken is the BEST way

to cook chicken in my opinion. All the juice and good fat stays in tact and gives it wonderful flavor! This never disappoints. And it's super simple  

Rub and whole chicken down with 1/2 stick of organic butter and 1/4 cup basil pesto. I like to save a little for basting mid way through. 

Basil Pesto

1 1/2 cups fresh basil

2 fresh garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tbsp pine nuts

Himalayan salt and pepper to taste

Pulse in food processor till smooth. 

Garlic Gravy with Cherry Tomatoes

1/2 stick organic butter

4 fresh garlic cloves finely minced

2 1/2 cups chicken stock

2 tbsp whole wheat flour

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

2 cups cherry tomatoes

1. Sauté garlic in butter. 

2. Stir in flour

3. Slowly wisk in stock. Bring to a boil and simmer on low till it thickens and gravy forms, stirring frequently. 

4. Add tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes. 

5. Top with basil and serve immediately with zucchini noodles or noodles of choice. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

 

Butter Basil Pesto Chicken with Garlic Gravy and Cherry Tomatoes

Cooking a whole chicken is in my opinion the BEST way to make one! All the juices stay in tack, full of the good fat and you get to utilize the WHOLE thing! Probably one of the most econimcal too!


Rub down a whole organic free range chicken with 1/2 stick of organic butter and 1/4 cup basil pesto. 


Basil Pesto


1 1/2 cup fresh basil
2 fresh garlic cloves
3 Tbsp pine nuts
1/4 cup olive oil
Himalyn salt and pepper to taste


Pulse in food processor till smooth


Garlic Gravy with Cherry Tomatoes


1/2 stick organic butter
4 fresh garlic cloves finely minced
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp. whole wheat flour
1/4 cup fresh basil
2 cups cherry tomatoes


1.  Warm butter and garlic. 
2.  Sprinkle in flour.  Stiring well. 
3.  Slowly pour in stock.  Wisking continuously.  Bring to a boil.
4.  Simmer on low till gravy is formed.
5.  Add tomatoes and simmer for about 5 more minutes.
6.  Sprinkle with shredded basil and serve immedialy with zucchini noodles or noodle of choice.  Top with freshly grated parmeasean cheese.

White Chicken Lasgna

I am part Italian. 

Totally kidding. But I so love Italian food so I will claim to be. I am a mut, so  maybe there is some in my genes somewhere. 

1 pkg whole wheat no bake Lasgna noodles

2 cooked organic chicken breasts shredded (I used some leftover that was grilled)

1 32 oz container of ricotta cheese

2 free range eggs 

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1/2 stick organic butter

2 fresh garlic cloves minced

2 1/2 cups milk (I used raw goats milk. You could use half and half)

2 tbsp whole wheat flour

8 oz fresh sliced mushrooms

1 pkg fresh baby spinach chopped

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves chopped

1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese

1. Melt butter in sauce pan with garlic. Add milk and salt and bring to a boil. Watching carefully, so you don't scorch. Whisk in flour slowly till you reach a sauce like consistency. Depending on milk it may take more or less flour. 

2. Mix together ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and eggs. 

3. Grease dish and spread just a little ricotta cheese mixture on the bottom. Then noodles, spinach, basil, mushrooms, chicken, and little 
mixture and drizzle with sauce. Repeat till all noodles are gone. Top with sauce and cover and bake at 350 till bubbly. Uncover and top with mozzarella cheese and bake additional 5-10 minutes till melted. 

Basil Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I love when my basil plants get big enough that I don't mind cutting a bunch of so off. Basil is by far my favorite summer herb.

Basil pesto gets made quite often around here. Mix 1 1/2 cups of fresh basil. 2 fresh garlic cloves. 3 tbsp pine nuts. 1/4 cup olive oil and Himalayan salt and pepper to taste in a food processor. I don't add cheese to mine because I like to freeze individual servings... and cheese does not do well frozen.

Basil Pesto and Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Pound free range chicken breast with a meat mallet. Stuff with ricotta (or cream cheese or mix of both) with about 1/2 tbsp basil pesto. Fold together with tooth picks and brush with olive oil mixed with Himalayan salt, dried basil and dried oregano. Grill or bake.

(Served on top of zucchini noodles sautéed with a little more basil pesto and fresh bruschetta.)

Fudgesicles

Fudgesicles. Ice cream truck. Dirty mouth. Is there anything better? Yes.....making them and ALWAYS having them on hard when the craving strikes and knowing the ingredients.

1/4 cup organic semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup organic plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk...
1 tbsp local honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Melt chips on stovetop.
2. Stir in all other ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour into Popsicle molds and freeze till ready.

Makes about 4 depending on size of molds.

Pizza dough

This pizza dough fits all qualifications for a easy dinner. And it makes 2 pizzas, so freeze one and eat one now! 

4 cups whole wheat flour

1 tbsp yeast

1 tsp Himalayan salt

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups warm water

Extra flour for rolling and sticking

1. Mix flour, yeast and salt in mixer with paddle attachment.

2. Slowly add water, oil and honey till dough become ball like. 

3. Sprinkle with flour and cover and allow to sit and rise about 30 minutes. 

4. Knock down and allow to rise another 20 minutes.

5. On a generously floured surface, roll dough out. 

6. Top with topping of choice. 

(This was one boys pizza of turkey pepperoni and chicken Italian sausage. And girls pizza with mozzarella cheese, leftover grilled chicken, tomatoes, calamata olives, sautéed onion and mushrooms with fresh garlic. Cooked then topped with mixed greens, fresh basil and drizzled with balsamic vinegar)

Peach Salsa

2 cups diced cherry tomatoes

6 peaches peeled and diced

1 seeded and chopped jalapeño

1 tbsp local honey

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Juice of 1 lime

Himalayan salt to taste

Mix and chill before served 

Top grilled chicken or fish with salsa. This was cilantro, coconut, lime cauliflower rice with grilled chicken.