Basil Pesto Chicken Farfalle with Mushrooms and Chili

Finally my main course recipe is up! Sorry it took a while,but as promised see below the main course for my brothers birthday meal I created for him on the 17th July:

Ingredients to make this amazing pasta recipe:

Serves 5

• 2 Cloves of Garlic, Diced
• 1 Onion, Ruggedly Chopped
• Packet of Preferred Mushrooms, Sliced
• 1 Large Chili, Diced (optional)
• 1 Full Tub of Basil Pesto Paste (or alternatively make your own)
• Farfalle Pasta (Butterfly Pasta)
• 5 Skinless Chicken Fillets
• 1 Large Lemon
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper

First I boiled the kettle and prepared my Farfalle (butterfly pasta!). 

I sauteed my mushrooms, onions and garlic in a skillet until they were soft then I added in my red chili.

Draining my pasta out once done al dente, I added it to the skillet and tossed the ingredients all through before dolloping in an entire tub of basil pesto paste! (Usually I make my own pesto paste but I was on a tight budget unfortunately! To find my normal pesto recipe click on the link below:

http://www.bohemianmuses.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/almond-pesto-pasta-recipe.html )

I stirred everything through and warmed it on the stove, leaving it on low heat while I prepared my chicken strips. 

I love cooking chicken through with a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice... it just adds that extra tang! So I cooked through my chicken with some lemon juice, seasoning with salt and pepper as I went and also chucked in a few left over bits of chili that I didn't add to the skillet mix. 

Once the chicken was cooked through (take a chunk out and slice it open to make sure it's cooked inside), I dished up the pasta mix and topped it with the chicken strips on the side. 

Voila. Ready to serve and devour! 

The chili is completely optional by the way - I just LOVE spice but just that one red chili was really potent. It was about 12cm long though! Luckily the majority of my family likes chili too!

   

The mushrooms were my favorite bit, they were so juicy and and succulent! This whole dish was actually really good but extremely filling, especially as it came after a starter and was followed by a peppermint crisp dessert! We literally exploded. 

It's a very garlicky dish so just be warned - maybe you should add a box of breath mints to your shopping list for the next morning! Hahaha!

Granted I could have worked a little more on the presentation - but it was still delicious! And it's no secret that presentation isn't exactly my strong suit!

So there you go folks, another new recipe from yours truly. If you ever happen to make it I'd love to hear your feedback or if you have found any great recipes lately I'd love to experiment with them so get in touch by commenting below and I will find the time to get back to each and every one of you!

Hope you all had a marvelous weekend and have a good week ahead! I have only eight days left at the spa I currently work at and then I am back on my travels. 

So far this year alone I have been to over 10 countries, 15 towns and cities, four airplanes, six airports, 1 European Coach, countless tube's and tram's and a ferry from London to Paris... and in just a few short days I am continuing my journey to new places and adventures with amazing friends. 

Travel is life. 

♥