This new section of our blog is going to cover those ‘cheat nights’ we all need. My daughter (so far!) has only herself and her boyfriend to look after but I know what it’s like to have to feed a family quickly, cheaply and easily. And that often means cheating. It’s all very well to make up a sauce from scratch on a Sunday afternoon, it’s quite another on a Tuesday after ballet, before hurling and with nothing left in the fridge. Because having shopped on Saturday, they’ve eaten everything three days later. Sound familiar?
Raising four wilder beasts (at times) as I have, I know that all Moms have to learn how to cook up fast, nourishing and tasty meals, cheating when applicable. Cook in batches, freeze, store and not, not feel guilty. If you’re a Mom (hats off to them), who paint, play, cook, finger paint, go to all the meetings, you should be canonised. I have to admit, I worked all through the raising of our kids. Panda Dad worked shifts so he shared the minding, though not the cooking, washing or cleaning the skid tracks off the toilet seat…. He was the cool Dad; I was the mad cow shouting at them and him. He once hid the girls in a B&Q kitchen cabinet display. Roaring laughing while I was screaming for Security. They never made a sodding sound!!
Oh happy memories, now that they are long past! Anyway, back to the recipe – this section is going to cover those evenings when you have to cook the minute you get in the door, kids screaming, husband hungry, and you have taken the long way from work to the Crèche (we’ve all done it, those few minutes in the car ALONE before you pick up the darlings are sometimes better than a Gin & Tonic! Well, let’s not push that…) This recipe is for Chicken Mozzarella Pasta Bake, ready in 40 mins and takes only minutes to prepare.
- 3 or 4 Chicken fillets (300g) + 125g Mozzarella sliced (Aldi bag of grated Mozzarella)
- Mushrooms, peppers or sweet corn if the kids prefer. Whatever veg you think they will eat.
- 225g Pasta spirals + 1 Pkt Coleman’s Chicken Mozzarella pasta bake
- 70mls single cream or in my case, milk + 500ml Water
- Pinch of black pepper, paprika, garlic & mixed herbs.
When I use products like packets, jars etc., I always add my own spices, veg and anything I think will enhance the dish. OK, so it makes me feel better, I am enhancing a quick dish, not cheating too much…
- Pre-heat oven to 180C. Cook the pasta until al dente.
- Chop, slice, or dice the fillets and fry gently until cooked through. Add vegetables at the end, just to soften slightly.
- Mix Coleman’s packet with water and milk/cream, add to chicken, veg, herbs / spices and pasta in large lasagne dish. Top with grated Mozarrella and cook in the oven for approximately 35-40 minutes, until topping is bubbly and brown and delicious.