Macaroni Rosa (ala Bucca)

The Blackham Bunch loves Bucca di Deppo. We have several fond memories of eating out there. And Grayson's FAVORITE dish is Macaroni Rosa (which they actually took off the menu, but they will still make it for you if you ask). Anyway, I decided to see if I could find the recipe online (what can't you find online these days?) and try a home version ... it's been a hit (with Grayson and Landon anyway, the rest of the Blackham Bunch tends to take after Mom and her finicky eating habits).

1 plum tomato
1 tablespoon onion
1 teaspoon fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
salt and pepper

6 tablespoons olive oil
8 oz b/s chicken breast/tenders
8 oz white mushrooms (sliced)
16 oz marinara sauce
6 oz heavy cream
1 1/2 cup broccoli tops
1 pound  pasta (we like the spiral cellantini, like Bucca uses)
2/3 cup grated Romano cheese

• Dice tomato, onion and basil. Combine with garlic, salt and pepper and oil in a small bowl and let stand at room temperature for one hour.
• Cut chicken into small pieces. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, saute chicken and mushrooms in oil until chicken is cooked through (about 7 minutes). Add marinara sauce and cream. Continue cooking until mixture is reduced by a third (about 10 minutes). Add reserved tomato-onion mixture and continue cooking for 3 minutes.
• While chicken/mushrooms are cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli tops during the final 2-3 minutes. Drain.
• Toss cooked pasta/broccoli with the marinara sauce mixture. Sprinkle Romano cheese throughout and on top. Spoon onto a large platter (it makes a LOT) and serve hot.

This does make quite a bit ... I take half, stick it in a casserole dish and put it in the freezer. When the boys are ready for Rosa again, I simply pull it out and stick it in the oven until warm.  The boys like the extras as leftovers too.

The original recipe calls for frozen peas, but my boys said "no peas please" ... Grayson also likes the addition of some Italian sausage (but Landon likes just chicken) ... so I sometimes cook up a little sausage and add it to hubby's macaroni mix.