- 1/4 pound (4 ounces/113g) dry bow tie pasta (Farfalle)
- 2 ounces (57g.) cheddar cheese, diced into small cubes
- 1/4 cup (12g) diced cooked ham
- 2 TBS diced red onions
- 3 TBS frozen peas, thawed
- 1/4 cup (60g) good quality mayonnaise
- 1 TBS sweet pickle relish (In the U.K. use Heinz sweet relish)
- 1/2 TBS sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
- Cook the pasta in a pot of lightly salted water until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain well. Rinse in cold water. Drain well again. Tip into a bowl. (Salted water helps to prevent the pasta from being too bland. Rinsing it well helps to remove any starch that might interfere with the integrity of the salad and prevent the pasta from sticking together. Rinsing in cold water also helps to cool down the pasta.)
- Add the thawed peas, diced cheese, diced ham, and chopped onion to the bowl with the pasta. Toss to combine. (You can thaw the peas by pouring some hot water over them in a colander and then draining them really well. Cut everything to small dice for easier eating. Mix well so that you don't get clumps of ingredients all clumped together.)
- Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as required. (Its important to make sure everything is evenly mixed.)
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss everything to coat well. (Again, it is important to ensure that all areas of the salad are coated with the dressing for the best flavor and texture.)
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour prior to serving. (This will help the flavors to develop even more.)

Bow Tie Pasta for two
Tangy, rich and creamy with plenty of cheddar, peas, ham and red onion for texture, taste and color. Everyone loves this. Quick and easy to make as well. A great last minute addition to any weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 1/4 pound (4 ounces/113g) dry bow tie pasta (Farfalle)
- 2 ounces (57g.) cheddar cheese, diced into small cubes
- 1/4 cup (12g) diced cooked ham
- 2 TBS diced red onions
- 3 TBS frozen peas, thawed
- 1/4 cup (60g) good quality mayonnaise
- 1 TBS sweet pickle relish (In the U.K. use Heinz sweet relish)
- 1/2 TBS sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a pot of lightly salted water until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain well. Rinse in cold water. Drain well again. Tip into a bowl.
- Add the thawed peas, diced cheese, diced ham, and chopped onion to the bowl with the pasta. Toss to combine.
- Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as required.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss everything to coat well.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour prior to serving.
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- 2 TBS butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 pound new potatoes, unpeeled and quartered into wedges
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 pound asparagus, washed trimmed and cut into pieces
- 4 tsp honey
- 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced (Plus additional wedges for squeezing, optional)
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Butter (2 TBS) Butter is used in two stages. One, it coats and flavors the potatoes and two, it helps to season the chicken. It adds a special richness and helps everything to brown nicely.
Salt & Black Pepper (½ tsp + ¼ tsp) This is divided between both the potatoes and the chicken, giving flavor to both.
Garlic Powder (¼ tsp) Fresh garlic can burn at high temperatures. Using garlic powder allows you to add flavour without that risk.
Sweet Paprika (¼ tsp) Paprika adds warm color and a soft, gentle sweetness, that is in no way overpowering.
New Potatoes (½ pound, unpeeled, quartered) New potatoes have a thin skin which crisps beautifully. Keeping them unpeeled adds a lovely texture to the dish and nice flavor. They take slightly longer than chicken to cook, so adding them early ensures a golden and tender finish with crisp edges.
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs (4) I recommend using thighs as they tend to stay juicier and are more apt to stay tender during roasting. I open them up to help them cook evenly and help them to absorb all the flavors well.
Asparagus (½ pound, trimmed and cut) Added in the last five minutes so it cooks quickly and stays bright, crisp‑tender, and vibrant.
Honey (4 tsp) Brushed over each chicken thigh to create a glossy, lightly caramelized finish. It balances the lemon’s acidity and pairs beautifully with thyme. Lemon and thyme are beautiful partners.
Lemon (½, thinly sliced) This adds a lovely bright flavour to the chicken. Placed on top it tends to melt down into the meat giving it even more flavor. I recommend serving extra wedges with the chicken when you serve your meal.
Fresh Thyme (a few sprigs) I love fresh herbs and the earthy flavor they bring to any dish. You can of course use dry thyme if you don't have fresh, but if you have it, I always recommend using fresh.
- Preheat the oven to 425*F/ 220*C/gas mark 7. Line a baking tray with sides with aluminum foil and spray the foil lightly with low fat cooking spray. (You could also use a sheet of baking parchment.)
- Melt 1 TBS of the butter in a bowl in the microwave. (This will take anywhere between 15 to 25 seconds. Don't burn the butter. Use a bowl large enough to hold your potatoes.)
- Add your potatoes to the melted butter along with the 1/4 tsp each of the salt & pepper, the garlic powder and paprika. Coat them in the mixture. (I just give them a stir around with my hand, making sure to get it everywhere.)
- Spread out on the baking sheet, skin sides down, in a single layer. Roast in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. (This ensures a nice and crispy potato.)
- Melt the remaining butter in the same bowl in the microwave. (Less washing up. Again, it will only take between 15 to 25 seconds.)
- Add the chicken pieces, along with the remaining salt and pepper. (Give them a good stir to coat in the butter.)
- Lay them out amongst the potatoes, opening up the chicken. (I like to make sure my chicken is well trimmed of any fat.)
- Spread 1 tsp of honey over each piece of chicken. Top each with a sprig of thyme. Top with a lemon slice. Scatter any remaining thyme over the vegetables. (You can just drizzle the honey on with a spoon and spread it out with the back of the spoon.)
- Roast for a further 20 to 25 minutes, adding the asparagus cuts for the last five minutes or so, until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a fork in the thickest part, and the asparagus is cooked. (You can add the asparagus sooner if you wish. I like mine to be crispy tender.)
- Divide the chicken and vegetables between two heated dinner plates and serve with a wedge of lemon for squeezing, if desired.
This is a complete meal in and of itself. You could add a tossed salad or some crusty bread for mopping up all of those delicious juices if you wanted to.
Choose the right pan size A half‑sheet pan (about 13x18 inches) gives ingredients room to spread out so they roast instead of steam. Do not crowd your pan. Crowding causes the dish to steam rather than roast.
Line your pan for easy cleanup I like to line my pans for easier clean up. You can use either parchment or foil. If you have any type of sticky marinade, this is a life savor. No fuss. No muss. Easy cleanup.
Use high heat for great colour Roasting at a higher temperature will give you a much nicer color, additional crispness to vegetables or meats where this is wanted.
Start with ingredients that take longest Time everything and place onto the baking sheet by placing the ingredients which will take the longest to cook on first and quicker cooking ingredients later on in the cooking process. This way everything will finish cooking at the same time.
Don’t skip the oil or butter You may be tempted to leave out any oil or butter, but don't. Even a light coating can help your ingredients to crisp up and will help to prevent sticking. If you have added seasonings, it also helps to carry the flavor all over.
Season in layers Season the vegetables, season the meat, and finish with a sprinkle of salt and pepper before serving. Layered seasoning = deeper flavour. Don't be tempted to flavor everything all together at once.
Use fresh herbs wisely Hardy herbs like thyme or rosemary can roast right on the pan. Delicate herbs like parsley or basil should be added after cooking for brightness.
Add a finishing touch A squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of balsamic, or a scattering of fresh herbs can transform a simple sheet‑pan supper into something special. I am a fan of Balsamic vinegars. They are real flavor boosters when used in the right proportions.
Let the pan rest for a few minutes Resting helps juices settle and makes serving easier — especially with chicken or pork.
Experiment with combinations Sheet‑pan cooking is wonderfully flexible. Mix and match proteins, vegetables, and seasonings to create endless variations.
Simple Lemon & Herb Chicken
I love sheet pan dinners. Not only are they fairly simple to create and delicious, but they are pretty much no fuss no muss with very little clean up afterwards, especially if you line your baking sheet with aluminium foil.
Ingredients
- 2 TBS butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 pound new potatoes, unpeeled and quartered into wedges
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 pound asparagus, washed trimmed and cut into pieces
- 4 tsp honey
- 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced (Plus additional wedges for squeezing, optional)
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425*F/ 220*C/gas mark 7. Line a baking tray with sides with aluminum foil and spray the foil lightly with low fat cooking spray.
- Melt 1 TBS of the butter in a bowl in the microwave.
- Add your potatoes to the melted butter along with the 1/4 tsp each of the salt & pepper, the garlic powder and paprika. Coat them in the mixture.
- Spread out on the baking sheet, skin sides down, in a single layer. Roast in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Melt the remaining butter in the same bowl in the microwave.
- Add the chicken pieces, along with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Lay them out amongst the potatoes, opening up the chicken.
- Spread 1 tsp of honey over each piece of chicken. Top each with a sprig of thyme. Top with a lemon slice. Scatter any remaining thyme over the vegetables.
- Roast for a further 20 to 25 minutes, adding the asparagus cuts for the last five minutes or so, until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a fork in the thickest part, and the asparagus is cooked.
- Divide the chicken and vegetables between two heated dinner plates and serve with a wedge of lemon for squeezing, if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.











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