Friday, August 29, 2008

Foil Packets by Chez Dishman

3-4 chicken breasts or chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)
1 jar of sundried tomato pesto (you won't use even half of it, but it keeps for a long time in the fridge, so you can make this dish again before it has gone bad!)
4 oz. of shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
fresh green vegetables of your choice (I usually prefer squash and zucchini, but asparagus, broccoli and leeks are also great to use; I use 1 squash and 1 zucchini)
olive oil
aluminum foil

Tear off of piece of aluminum foil that is roughly 20 by 20 inches wide. Place one chicken breast or thigh in the center of it, drizzle a little bit of olive oil on top, salt and pepper to taste, and rub some of the fresh minced garlic on it. Then place the sliced or cut vegetables of your choice next to it and salt and pepper it as well. Put 2 tablespoons of the sundried tomato pesto on top of the chicken and then add mozzarella cheese on top (however much you like:)) and wrap it up. Make sure no wholes are present....that way the chicken and veggies will cook in more moisture and be tastier. Repeat this with every individual chicken breast or thigh you want to make. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the foil packet for about 25 minutes or until done.

This dish goes well with some long grain rice, a salad and some bread.

Tip: You can use any meat you want and substitute it with a marinade instead of using sundried tomato pesto and then add the veggies as well with garlic, salt and pepper.