More often than not dinner needs to come in a flash.
This Honey Balsamic Angel Hair Pasta does just that!
Do you make a point to do things with friends?
I got to wondering about this question the other day as some friends and I were planning our next girl's night. We just recently set the first Friday of every month as girl's night. We did things with each other before but it was never a "set" thing. It was random and probably less than it should have been.
I was talking to an acquaintance at my son's school yesterday and mentioned "girl's night" in conversation and she looked at me like I had just grown horns out of my head. Like it was this foreign concept to have a set time with your girlfriends each month. She went on and on that between work, her family and other responsibilities she "didn't have time for that".
Please, please if you know me, do not ever let me utter those words.
Gosh, I relish my girl time. Sometimes it is what gets me through the week! Honestly, those few hours of no responsibilities {other than getting myself back home} is just what I need to feel rejuvenated.
So far we are doing random things - meeting for dinner, going to a movie, having a drink, but we are all anxiously awaiting warmer months when we can gather on the patio of one of our houses and just hang.
Maybe toss together a quick dish like this Honey Balsamic Angel Hair Pasta and crack open a bottle of wine. Getting together with friends doesn't have to be a big "ta-da". Heck, most of us are just happy to get out! If you are hesitant on getting together with friends when you think you're family needs you at home {trust me, I'm guilty of this} don't be, us mamas need a break too.
Your family WILL survive.
And you'll come back better for it.
What I love about this dish is that it would be perfect for your friends, perfect for just you at home and even perfect to serve to a crowd.
It is light, flavorful and down right tasty. If you want to cut out the pasta you can also serve this over rice, or remove the carbohydrate all together and eat the chicken and veggies on their own.
I don't say that often people.
But they taste that good.....so I'm saying it.
And start to finish this is made in under 30 minutes! I really, really want to say it is a 20 minute meal, but if you dilly dally a few minutes here or there, it is about a 24 minute meal....and well, that just doesn't have a good ring to it you know?
Here is my 24 Minute Honey Balsamic Angel Hair Pasta!
Doesn't work.
So give yourself thirty minutes and just know you'll be done before that with some minutes to spare. Call a friend or something. Plan that girl's night.
Honey Balsamic Angel Hair Pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 c. broccoli florets
2 c. diced mushrooms
1/4 c. Italian dressing
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
8 oz. angel hair pasta
1/4 c. fresh Parmesan cheese
2 t. salt
2 t. pepper
1 t. garlic powder
1 T. olive oil
1. In a dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Lay the chicken in the pot sprinkling in the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook, turning a few times until the chicken is cooked, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from the pan.
2. In a separate pot cook the angel hair pasta according to directions or just al dente.
3. Keeping the pan on medium high heat add in the Italian dressing. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the bits at the bottom of the pan, bringing the dressing to a boil.
4. Add in the honey, continuing to stir.
5. Add in the balsamic vinegar, continuing to stir, a minute or two until the mixture thickens a bit.
6. Toss in the broccoli and mushrooms coating with the sauce, bringing down the heat to low.
7. When the pasta is done, toss it into the dutch oven with the vegetables and sauce. Reserve a ladel of the starchy cooking water and also add to the pot.
8. Grate in the Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
9. Serve warm.
