Welcome back to the kitchen! Let’s try something new that might make you work a little harder for your meal. This time, let’s make chicken Caesar salad with pasta instead of croutons.

Here are the things you’ll need:

• Chicken
  • 1 tsp Salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1tsp garlic powder

• Oil

• Romaine lettuce
• Caesar sauce (I will not be making you make that)
• Farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta) or realistically, any bite-sized pasta you like
• Shredded parmesan cheese

Again, this is your reminder that you are working with raw chicken: keep in mind cross-contamination is a possibility.

First, let’s put the pasta to boil in a pot following the instructions on the box of how much water is needed per serving. In the pot of water, add salt and oil into the water. The salt allows for the pasta to gain flavor, and the oil ensures that the noodles do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Oil is completely optional, but it allows you to multitask without worrying about the pasta sticking to the bottom.

While the pasta is cooking, place the chicken in a glass bowl and season with the seasonings listed above. Remember, you can always add more seasoning at the end if there is not enough. Let that sit and marinate while you wash your hands with soap to avoid cross-contamination. After you have washed your hands, stir the pasta to ensure it has not stuck. Then, go wash your lettuce and begin to chop it into bite-sized pieces.

When your pasta is finished, drain it into a strainer and let it cool. While it is cooling, grab your marinated chicken and begin cooking in a skillet. Place enough oil in the pan to have a thin layer on the bottom, and cook the chicken until it is fully cooked. Tip: Cut at the thickest part to check that it is fully cooked through.

Now it is time to assemble the salad. First, place the pasta and salad together; by now, the pasta should have cooled enough. Then begin to cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces. Be careful, it will be hot! Now you have the option to combine it in the salad or place it on top of your own bowl. If you do the first option, then add the chicken now before adding the Caesar sauce. Add enough Caesar sauce to fully coat all the pieces. If you are going to place it on top, then add a little more Caesar sauce to coat more than just the lettuce and salad.

Finally, top with the parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Join us next time for the next cooking article on Oct. 4.