Harvest Pepper and Chicken Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips; cook and stir until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.

3. Reduce heat under skillet to medium; add onion, orange bell pepper, red bell pepper, garlic, dried basil, and red pepper flakes to skillet. Cook and stir until onions are translucent and peppers are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce; heat for about 2 minutes. Add chicken; cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Portion cooked pasta into bowls; spoon chicken and sauce mixture on top.

Cook's Notes:

To cut down on time, I often use jarred garlic that has already been minced. Pre-cooked chicken can also be used by the time-conscious chef and is generally found in the lunch meat section of the grocery store.

For extra health points, choose whole-wheat pasta.