Harrell's Haven : Spring For a Really Good Salad!

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a Pampered Chef party for a friend of mine at the school we work at. Because I LOVE to cook so much and there are so many different recipes I want to make for our staff, I was unsure of what the food item should be. Although our school does have a stove, I didn't want to make something that had to be fully cooked there. I wanted to bring something that I could pre-cook at home. I started looking through the Pampered Chef Spring Season's Best Catalog and this recipe IMMEDIATELY caught my eye. It looked so fresh and simple to prepare.

I like to sample all my food before serving it, so I tasted the chicken I had prepared and it was sooooo very delicious. I knew the rest of the dish would be equally tasty. This is a beautiful, bright, and quick meal that the whole family will enjoy.

With school coming to a end and summer approaching, I have been looking for meals that will not take me long to prepare. This week my meal plan will be geared to quick, but delicious recipes. Have a great week cooking, baking, and/or crocking!

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Skillet

Ingredients:

1/4 of a 16oz loaf of soft Italian bread

3 tbsp canola oil (divided)

2 tbsp Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic Rub (or you can use garlic and herb seasoning)

1lb of boneless skinless chicken breast (or you can use chicken tenderloins)

2 1/2 cups of water

Season all and garlic powder

8oz uncooked rotini pasta

2 oz of Parmesan cheese (divided)

You can make your own dressing or just buy your favorite brand of Caesar dressing

Dressing ingredients:

1 1/4 cups of Greek yogurt or sour cream

1 tbsp of Dijon mustard

1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

2 romaine lettuce hearts (or a bag of romaine lettuce)

Directions:

1. Cut bread into 1-in cubes and place in a micro-cooker. Add 2 tbsp of the oil and 1/2 tbsp of the rub. Toss to coat bread cubes. Microwave, uncovered on HIGH 2-4 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until crisp. Set aside croutons for topping.

2. Dice chicken into 1 inch pieces. In a small bowl, mix chicken and 1 tbsp of rub, garlic powder, and season all until coated. Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil over medium high heat for 1-3 minutes.

3. Add chicken to skillet and cook 4-6 minutes stirring occasionally or until lightly browned. Remove chicken from skillet to a bowl.

4. Boil your water in a separate pot. Cook pasta according to package directions. When pasta is done, drain water and set aside.

5. Tear lettuce into bite size pieces (or just use a bag). In the skillet, add chicken, pasta, croutons, and grated cheese. Then either add in store bought dressing or the homemade dressing. DO NOT PUT TOO MUCH; you do not want soggy salad. Toss well and then serve!

6. Directions for homemade dressing: In a bowl, add Parmesan , yogurt/sour cream, mustard, Worcestershire, and rub. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready for it.