Chicken, Broccoli, and Pasta

This is a creation my mother and I came up with when I was in high school. It has been a family favorite ever since! My husband requests this at least once or twice a month. He even wanted this as his birthday dinner!

Step 1: Start a large pot of water - allow it to come to a boil.

Step 2: While waiting for the boiling water, cut up 3 broccoli (crowns if you don't like the stalk parts) - Steam for about 8-10 minutes or until just about done. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: While the broccoli is cooking, cut up ~1 lb chicken breasts into bite size pieces. In either a bowl or a large ziplock bag, add 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, a few good shakes of garlic powder, a little less garlic salt, a few good shakes of lemon pepper, and a little shake of salt and pepper. Combine together and coat chicken.

Step 3: In a large saute pan (you want a deep one!), add veggie oil just until it coats the pan and a few "swirls" of extra virgin olive oil. Add a few cloves of garlic, minced. Set on medium-high.

Step 4: The water should be boiling by now. Add a box of pasta - we prefer the Barilla cellentani or gemilli but whatever you like!

Step 5: When the garlic is bubbling, add the chicken and cook through. We prefer it crispy but my mother likes it just cooked. When the chicken is done to your satisfaction, add the broccoli into the pan (thus the reason you want a big saute pan) and mix up. Turn the heat down to low and let the broccoli "re-heat through" ...

Step 6: When the pasta is cooked to your liking, drain and mix with chicken and broccoli in a big bowl.

Step 7: Optional: add mozzarella cheese!

Yum. And once you've got the routine going, it is easily ready in less than 30 minutes!