Pasta a la The Bugg

My 14 year old daughter known as Bugg is visiting from Houston for a few weeks.  I'm a firm believer in teaching children life skills from the moment they can reach the controls of the washing machine while standing on a step stool.  Manning a stove needs to wait until they are about 9 years old (with supervision).  We are leaving for a short vacation tomorrow morning so this week's trip to the store was unusually small and I had to forage in the freezer for meat.  She doesn't eat red meat so I had to choose between fish or chicken breast.  Chicken it is.

I asked her how she wanted it prepared without informing her she would be doing the heavy lifting as a Hallmark style warm hearted learning/bonding experience (cue the violins).  She asked for pasta in "some kind of sauce".  Well that narrows it down.  I surveyed what was left in the frig and came up with the following.  Don't be frightened - it's easier than it looks.  Other than me giving a few technique tips, The Bugg did this on her own.

Pasta al la The Bugg

1 box Penne Pasta (we used Dreamfields 13.5 oz - lower glycemic)
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into small cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 stick of butter
1 small white onion finely diced
5 cloves pressed garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro stems
1 medium tomato roughly diced (leave in seeds)
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese (I use El Mexicano brand which is softer and creamier)
1 tsp. Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp. salt for pasta water

Cook the pasta according to directions and drain.  You want it slightly al dente as it will cook for a bit more later.

Heat a large skillet on high until very hot.  Add olive oil.  Add chicken pieces and fry constantly stirring until all the pink color is gone.  Stir in Lawry's Seasoned Salt.  Cover and continue to cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.  Offer proof to your OCD child that the meat is cooked through by cutting piece in half.  Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer to the pot of cooling pasta.

Add butter to oil and watch child scream as it splatters a bit.  Heh.  This is more fun than it sounds.  Once butter is melted and combined with oil, add chopped onion.  Add garlic.  Add cilantro.  Cook until all is soft and add tomato.  Stir in milk and heat until bubbling.  Add cheese and stir until melted and combined to a smooth texture.  Add pepper and nutmeg.  Cook until slightly thickened.

Pour all of the sauce into the pasta pot and cook on low until the pasta has absorbed most of the sauce.

Turn off heat and let rest for about 5 minutes.  Serve and listen to the groans of pleasure from the recipients.

The Bugg sauteing while Todd finishes chopping the tomato 

because I nearly took off the end of my thumb in the process.