Farfalle With Chicken Porcini Mushroom And Swiss Chard Recipes

FARFALLE DEL MONDO

Steps:

• Pound the chicken breasts to even thickness with a meat mallet to cook evenly. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Sprinkle southwest seasoning on both sides of chicken. Lightly coat with olive oil. Grill chicken over coals with mesquite or hickory chips added. (In metal tray if using a gas grill). Rotate chicken a quarter turn after a few minutes to add grill marks. Turn chicken over after about 5 to 7 minutes and grill the other side the same way. When chicken is done (moist and tender) take off the grill and let rest.
• Bring a large pot of slightly salted water to a boil for the pasta. Add pasta and cook until it is al dente. Keep cooked pasta covered and warm in a slight bit of its water. In a small, ungreased frying pan, toast pine nuts until they are golden brown. Key - Do NOT burn the pine nuts or the entire dish will taste bitter. Cut the outer covering (rind) off the brie. Throw away the rind and set the cheese aside. Heat a large frying pan to medium-high heat and add all of the olive oil. After 30 seconds or so add the tomato, garlic, parsley/cilantro and basil. Let this saute for about 1 minute. Key - have all of the ingredients ready and next to the stove because this sauce works fast! Add the brie and toasted pine nuts. Toss or slowly stir over low heat for two minutes or until the cheese is completely incorporated into the sauce. You should have a medium thick sauce with a beautifully rich pink color with splashes of green. Drain the remaining water off the pasta in a colander. Place a nice portion of pasta on a decorative plate. Chop the chicken breasts on a bias and place on top of the pasta. Ladle a fair amount of the brie sauce over the chicken and pasta.

FARRO WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Place the farro in a bowl, and pour on enough hot water to cover by an inch. Let soak while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Drain.
• Place the dried mushrooms in a large Pyrex measuring cup or bowl, and pour in 2 cups boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes.
• Drain the mushrooms through a strainer set over a bowl and lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse in several changes of water to remove grit. Chop coarsely if the pieces are large and set aside. Add the broth from the mushrooms to the stock. You should have 6 cups (add water if necessary). Place in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Season with salt to taste.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about three minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften and sweat. Add salt to taste, the garlic and rosemary. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are tender, about five minutes. Add the farro and reconstituted dried mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the grains of farro are separate and beginning to crackle, about two minutes. Stir in the wine and cook, stirring until the wine has been absorbed. Add all but about 1 cup of the stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 50 minutes or until the farro is tender; some of the grains will be beginning to splay. Remove the lid, and stir vigorously from time to time. Taste and adjust seasoning. There should be some liquid remaining in the pot but not too much. If the farro is submerged in stock, raise the heat and cook until there is just enough to moisten the grains, like a sauce. If there is not, stir in the remaining stock. If not serving right away, cover and let stand. Just before serving, bring back to a simmer, add the Parmesan, parsley and pepper, and stir together. Remove from the heat and serve.