Cheesey chicken pasta bake

So Tuesday night, I used up the last of the chicken from the Sunday roast by mixing it with some cheese and pasta.  That it pretty much it.  It seems a bit silly to even write a recipe out but here I go anyway...

You will need:

- Large sauce pan
- Dessert spoon 
- Oven proof dish
- Cheese grater

- Pasta (whatever shape you fancy although I think 'technically' Fusilli is used for cheese sauces)
- Cream cheese/cheese spread
- Cheddar/Parmesan*
- Green pesto
- Frozen peas
- Left over chicken (would also work with ham or tuna)

Yet again I find myself with a variety of ingredients so you can make this meal a little bit different every time.  Mine turned out to be a '3 cheese pasta bake' purely because I had a bit of goats cheese in the fridge that needed using and it melted nicely through the pasta in the oven.  If you have some you could use Mozzarella.

*Again, it seems like I am indulging in an expensive item by having a hard Italian cheese in the fridge.  I justify it by the fact that I HATE the horrible stuff you buy pre-grated in a pot. Seriously - it smells like feet.  Also it is something that I use a lot but sparingly which means it lasts a long time and really adds something to a meal.

What to do:

1.  Cook your pasta shapes as per the instructions on the packet.  (Alternatively, seeing as it will be baked as well, take off the heat whilst it still has a little bit of 'bite' to it so it doesn't go all squishy)  Whilst it is cooking, cut up the chicken into bite size pieces
2.  Add the frozen peas just as it is done and then drain off the water holding a few tablespoons back to start off the sauce.
3.  Stir a whole packet of cream cheese through the pasta and add the chicken.
4.  Crumble up a soft cheese such as goats cheese or Mozzarella (optional) and stir in.
5.  Put the pasta into the oven proof dish and cover with grated cheese.  Pop into a pre heated oven (Gas 6/180C) for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted and crispy in places.

Done.  You could add some jalapeños or cracked black pepper for a bit of flavour.  I kept mine fairly unadventurous as it was for the littleys as well but it was by no means bland.  This made enough for daughter No.1 and my other half to have for their pack up the next day as well!