So if you’re not on Facebook, this post doesn’t really relate to you. Sorry for not being sorry. You have made the conscious decision to not be part of the biggest social media tool in the world. Actually, I don’t know if that’s true. I hear MySpace is making a comeback. Ok, I don’t know if that is true either. Well, yes I do, it’s not. But seriously, Facebook runs this world. And if you’re out, it’s probably because you have more of a life than the rest of us. Good for you. You make me proud. I like you.
Back to the point though. I have a problem with Facebook sometimes. Nothing crazy, just a bit of a tiff. What’s up with being able to ‘like’ pictures, ‘like’ statuses, ‘like videos’. You can even ‘LIKE’ YOUR OWN STATUS? This issue needs to be addressed. Of course you like your own status you idiot. YOU wrote it. YOU thought it. If you don’t think your own status is incredibly witty and humorous, then you’re probably failing at life. I think all my statuses are effing badass. No one else does, but at least I’m getting a giggle out of it. God, sometimes I seriously think I’m so clever. I’m a mess.
My whole point though, I think people ‘like’ other people’s statuses because it’s easier than commenting. That’s just rude. I ‘like’ people’s comments all the damn time, but that because I AM rude. Ok, just kidding. I’m really just lazy. I’m going to stop doing that though. It’s just inconsiderate. So if your status includes “OMG I totally have a Tebowner right now!” since I can’t specifically ‘dislike’ your stupid post about sports, I will comment on it. That was just a big commitment, and let’s be honest, I probably won’t follow through. But I’ll try. Like with my wod buddy Jake. I’m sure he’ll have some annoying sports update to talk about this weekend via FB, so I will post a comment back to be extremely considerate. I care. Ummmm why am I even talking about this? This is dumb.
So I’ve noticed something…I have a lot more women followers than men. What’s up with that? Dudes can’t relate to my brazilian waxes? That’s dumb. And selfish. Or do you guys just not comment? Come on now. I like dudes. They don’t really like me, but I like them! I keep singing this song, but with dudes as the replacer for girls. Sing it saying dudes. Do it bro.
I am so thankful for waterproof band-aids. Seriously though. Band-aid improvements blow my mind. I literally don’t know how I’m going to get this one off my skin. It’s become one with me. Yes, I cut myself shaving. Yes, I’m like an awkward prepubescent acne ridden child who is obviously having to relearn how to shave after 10+ years. I hate hair. Not on dudes. I’m down with that.
Speaking of dudes with hair, Jason has started his “pick of the week.” He was suppose to write a review about this meal, but he’s lazy. F*ckin’ guy. He did say this was his pick of the week though. He liked it more than the hash. But he never tried the maple macadamia nut butter…let’s be realistic, that never made it to the gym. It didn’t even make it a day in my house. Jesus Juli.
Chicken and Butternut Squash Pesto
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 1x
Ingredients
- 1–1.5lbs chicken breast*
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and chopped
- 2/3 cups blanched almonds (or regular will do)
- 1–1.5 cups basil
- 1/2–1 cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Now time to make your pesto. So throw your almonds in the food processor turn on until you get a mealy powder.
- Then add your basil leaves and turn your food processor back on.
- Mix the two ingredients together, and while the food processor is still running, drop in your garlic cloves then slowly begin to add your olive oil to help combine.
- Then add your lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper. Taste to see if you need to add a little extra of anything else.
- Now pull out a large baking dish, 9×13 would do well but smaller is ok too. Add your chopped butternut squash, chicken breasts, then pour your almond pesto over it. Mix around a bit with the spoon to help coat all sides of the food.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through* and butternut squash is tender. Use the “poke with a fork” test to check.
Notes
Depending how thick your chicken breasts are and how long you want this food to be baking, you may need to chop them thinner. I used super thick chicken breasts so the cooking time was longer than I would personally like if I was ready to dig in asap.
Amazing!! I just made this for dinner and it was easy and delish! Thank you for the best recipes that use real food.
This was AMAZING 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner. It was really delicious. We ate the whole dish. Even my kids loved it and they are a hard bunch to please. Thanks!!!!
SO for the basil leaves, I’m assuming you want FRESH Basil leaves, not 2 cups of ground basil from the spices section…
#learned the hard/expensive way :-/
I have a butternut squash in my kitchen, but I have never prepared one before. To make this recipe do I need to do anything to the squash prior to chopping it up?
I was starting to get hungry waiting for clarification so I googled “butternut squash peel chop.” I found some handy directions, but since I was hungry, I kind of skimmed over them. Said something about how a rubber mallet would make it easier to chop the squash. I don’t have a rubber mallet, but I do have a small sledge hammer, and that made pretty quick work of the squash. I also don’t have a food processor, but I do have a sledge hammer. The almonds were more chunks than a “mealy powder.” The hammer was less effective on the basil. I didn’t really want to take the time to pick the leaves off the basil plant so I just threw the whole thing in there. I would not recommend this if you grow your basil in potting soil like I do. The pesto didn’t end up looking like restaurant quality, but I’m sure paleolithic man could empathize with me on this one. The hardest part was waiting 35 minutes to eat it. All in all very tasty. I think next time I’ll use a sharp knife and a blender instead, though. I’d post a picture but my camera hasn’t worked since I tried to sledge-expedite it’s powerup sequence.
Thanks for the great butternut squish recipe.
Michael, I haven’t laughed so hard at a post in awhile!!
P.S.: thanks for he heads up against using a sledgehammer…guess I’ll go out mine back outside and use a food processor instead. Lol!!
sooo….definitely bought the basil for this and then left it at the checkout counter. didn’t realize until 2 days later when the oven was already on and almonds chopped up, with the basil nowhere to be found. needless to say, i was not amused. so i said f* – it! and threw in a cup of cilantro 🙂
it was awesome!! So if anyone is reading this and has a vat of cilantro in their fridge but no basil – you can still make it!
I still look forward to making it the right way 🙂
I love this recipe and usually end up making it at least 1 every other month. I recently had my father-in-law visit and he is more of a “meat and potato” kind of guy, which is great because we are too. However, pesto and butternut squash didn’t seem to get his tummy rumbling like it does mine. I decided I had to think of a way to “man up” this amazing dish…then it hit me. What is the one ingredient that can be added to anything to make it better? What is the number one ingredient that probably 99% of men drool over?….Bacon.
I had bacon from a local butcher, it’s smoked, not cured, so I think it can be considered paleo? If not, I don’t care, I’m not giving up bacon.
Anyways…I cut up bacon into width ways into thick strips, cooked them in a pan, but not until it was crispy, because it still had to sit in the oven, but basically until it was cooked but still very flexible. Placed the bacon strips on top, along with sliced almonds.
The men loved it. Manly Chicken Butternut Squash Pesto. I’m sure this has already been done, but thought I’d share, because bacon should always be shared.
Wow, that pesto sauce is absolutely amazing!!!!!
Hi! I just made this tonight and it was amazing! Next thing I’m going to make is your spaghetti pizza pie. I’m new to the blog world and just came across your blog the other day when someone posted about this recipe. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on all these delicious recipes this whole time. Now it’s time to play catch up!
Fabulous!