Quick and Easy Portuguese Chicken and Pasta

Lately my wife and I have been making better efforts to cook more.

With our busy schedules and taking care of an active 17-month old, finding the time can be tough.

Since I love to grill, I thought I would share an easy to follow nutrient-packed recipe that will take no more than 20 minutes to prep and cook.

By the way, this recipe was inspired by my neighbor Tina who taught me how to make her famous Portuguese chicken. I took some liberties and added my own spin to it. Hey, isn't that what cooking is all about anyway?

If you have any questions please let me know.

Buen provecho!

Portuguese Chicken w/ Pasta and Veggies

Ingredients:

• 2-4 Chicken breasts
• 1 cup of frozen green beans or your favorite frozen veggies
  
• 1/2 chopped onion
  
• Whole wheat pasta of your choice
  
• Pesto sauce or spaghetti sauce
  
• 1/4 cup Honey Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 3 garlic cloves - minced
  
• 1/4 cup White wine vinegar or if you can find Portuguese vinegar, even better
  
• 2 table spoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• 2 table spoons low sodium soy sauce
  

Instructions:
Before you begin cooking you will want to marinade the chicken for at least 1 hour. To make the marinade mix together the honey dijon mustard, bbq sauce, garlic, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. I would recommend playing with the amounts until you find a flavor that you really like.

1. Start by boiling the water for the pasta. Once it comes to a boil add the pasta.
2. While the pasta is cooking put the chicken on the grill.
3. While the chicken is grilling, mix together the frozen green beans and onion in a frying pan. Add 2 table spoons of water and the soy sauce. Cook over a medium heat. You want to make sure the onions end up nice and soft.
4. Once your pasta has finished mix in enough pesto sauce to your liking. By this time the chicken would have finished grilling.

If you time everything just right the pasta, veggies and chicken will finish around the same time so your food will be nice and hot.

Try these variations:

• Spaghetti sauce instead of pesto
  
• Substitute the pasta for a sweet potato
  
• Mix in diced red peppers with the onion and green beans
  
• Asparagus - grilled
  

I would love to hear your comments.