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Today is the last day of March. Besides the fact that we’re about to be 1/4 of the way through 2014 and it feels as if it just began yesterday, we got SNOW yesterday. SNOW. Like the cold, white stuff that falls from the sky in the WINTER. Last time I checked, we were well into Spring. I know, you have such little sympathy for me :P
On another note, I bought a Kindle. Yup, I did it. It just seemed like the best investment. I went back and forth with the whole Nook, iPad mini, and Kindle dealio but I only wanted a device strictly for reading and no interruptions so iPad mini was definitely out of the picture so then Nook vs. Kindle. Well, I already am a devoted Amazon Prime member and B&N doesn’t seem like they’re doing too well sooo Kindle it was! Plus, 85% of you vouched for a Kindle Paperwhite. Oh, the best part was that it was on sale for $20 off at Best Buy so win-win all-around! And with that new purchase, I finished the Divergent series with Allegiant and basically bawled my eyes out in my office. I don’t understand why everyone thought that was a bad book or that it had a bad ending. I thought it was wonderful!
Do you get super attached to characters in books that you read (especially trilogies for me) that after you finish the series, you feel kinda empty inside? I wasn’t exactly bawling because of the ending or the events, but moreso for the fact that an amazing series has ended and now I have to find something else to replace it and I don’t want to because I loved the characters so much. Yeah, I’m totally crazy, aren’t I? I told myself I can’t read another dystopian trilogy for a while. I need time to mourn the end of the Divergent series (see? I’m totally crazy). I tried to find a happy/chick-lit book but all the ones I want to read, I’m saving for the plane ride, so I think I’m going to go all dark and suspenseful and read Gone Girl. I bought it last year and never started it because of SO many people saying how horribly it ended. I hate bad endings and I hate when there’s no closure so it kind of shyed me away from reading it. I heard that the author (Gillian Flynn) is re-writing the ending for the movie that’s coming out later this year because of how controversial it was. So anyway, I’ve started it and so far, it’s pretty engrossing. Like, I can’t put it down. I foresee myself finishing it this week, for sure. Have you read it? Thoughts?
Alright so, despite weather woes, it’s asparagus season! What better than to roast them and throw them into a creamy penne casserole bake? This could totally be a vegetarian dish but I figured Jason would appreciate a bit of protein so I threw in some cubed chicken breasts but you can certainly omit it. I really like panko and Parmesan so I generously covered the top of the casserole with way too much but it was nice to have it dispersed throughout each bite of this dish. Haha, it did make it annoying, though, to scoop out the pasta. The panko went everywhere since it was such a heaping amount! Just don’t go as crazy as I did ;)
Anyway, grab the recipe below for this very Spring-y dish! Easy to put together and it makes a lot so you’ll have some delicious leftovers to look forward to!
Roasted Asparagus and Chicken Penne Bake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large bunches of asparagus, tough ends chopped off
- ⅛ cup (29 ml) olive oil
- 2 cups (225 g) penne pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) whole milk, or whatever % milk you like to use
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the topping
- 1 ½ cups (90 g) panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) butter, melted
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F (204 °C)
- On a large baking sheet (you'll likely need two) lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, place asparagus into a single layer and drizzle olive oil over the asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. I would say about 1/2 tsp. of each on each sheet.2 large bunches of asparagus, 1/8 cup (29 ml) olive oil
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Once cool, cut asparagus into equal thirds.
- Turn down oven temperature to 350 °F (177 °C)
- While asparagus is roasting, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta. You want to slightly undercook the pasta because you’ll finish cooking it in the oven.2 cups (225 g) penne pasta
- In a large pot, brown the cubes of chicken with 1 tbsp. of olive oil over medium high heat, but don’t cook them all the way through. Remove from pot then add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn the heat down to medium then add in the milk and whisk in the flour. Let mixture thicken, about 3 minutes, then add the chicken back in along with the pasta and roasted asparagus. Toss the mixture together to coat all the ingredients with the creamy sauce, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from heat and pour into a large 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.2 boneless, 1 medium onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) whole milk, 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour, Salt and pepper
- In a small bowl, toss panko and parmesan cheese with melted butter. Sprinkle generously on top of the casserole.1 1/2 cups (90 g) panko breadcrumbs, 3 tablespoons (42 g) butter, 1/2 cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until pasta and chicken has been thoroughly cooked through and mixture is bubbling.
- Serve immediately.
- Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
I seriously cannot believe you have snow, that is utter madness! On another note, love my kindle reader, but have yet to read Gone Girl. I just finished Wonder, a book I never would have picked, but I really liked it. Isn’t it crazy how it could be snowing but it’s asparagus season, I think Spring is drunk.
LOL “I think Spring is drunk” cracked me up!!
Looks absolutely perfect. I’m so excited for asparagus season!
Hi, well I really want to make your recipe but I am responding to your question about Gone Girl. I LOVED that book. I know people say it’s dark and such, but it’s wonderfully written with a NEW plot idea. As an author, I am often disappointed with books because the characters aren’t developed enough or it feels like the author is slapping in the ending. This book is not like that. It’s a fantastic read.
P.S. I just finished Gillian’s “Sharp Objects” also dark, but well written.
Lorena Bathey
I’m glad to hear you’ve read other Gillian Flynn books because I think Sharp Objects is next on my reading list :) I really love how she writes and as weird as this sounds, the darkness of her books appeal to me! Thanks for letting me know, Lorena!
This dish looks so amazing I only wish I didn’t already have plans for dinner tonight…that might have to change. Not that the food didn’t look good enough, those plates are absolutely gorgeous. Love them and this recipe. Thanks for all you do!
Aw thanks so much, Lindsey :)
I read Gone Girl. It is interesting for sure. I wouldn’t say the ending is controversial but it is a little disturbing. Wonder how the movie will differ. Hope to hear what you think.
I’ll be sure to keep you posted. I’m almost done!
I know exactly what you are talking about when a series ends and you miss the characters. I STILL feel that way about Harry Potter, truth.
Asparagus is one of my all time fave veggies, so I would gobble this right up! Glad you added that mandatory crunchy cheesy topping too :)
Ugh. The snow need to go. It’s snowing now and I pretty much just want to cry and scream. HA!
This pasta is the perfect dinner! Need it tonight!
Oh mammma!!!!! I want to dig into these face first!!
At least snow makes a cozy day of reading (and eating a boatload of pasta) a little more acceptable, right? ;) Although I’d much rather be laying outside reading and eating pasta..ha. Divergent is next on my list!
We had snow yesterday, too. I just stood at the window, looking out with a horrified look on my face. Where is spring?!
This penne bake looks like a great way to encourage spring to show up!