spring break and SCP

Corey is home for spring break!  Yeah!!

I picked up my girl and her friend, Angela, from Union Station Monday afternoon.  This is a picture from last month but you get  the idea of it all.  Isn't she lovely?

Anyway, it is SO nice to have her home!! And now her friend Michelle is here, too, so the male/female energy is finally - and fleetingly - balanced.  It's just so nice to see this woman.

She started texting me with menu requests last week.  Here are the requests:

Fish Tacos
Pulled Pork
Linguine with clam sauce
Slimy Chicken Pasta.

The last is not an official recipe name, of course.  It's Chicken Piccata Pasta Toss, c/o Rachael Ray. But Dylan dubbed it slimy chicken pasta years ago and it's a family favorite so last night that's what we ate.

 Take a couple breasts of chicken (about 1-1/2 lbs) and cut them into tenders.  salt & pepper them liberally.  Heat a  tablespoon of oil in a skillet on med/high and cook tenders until golden, about 5 minutes

 Cook up a point of ziti or penne, drain

 When the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet and put in serving bowl.

 don't you love these ingredients more than life itself?  well, at least a lot?

 Add another tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter, heat up.

 Add about 2 cloves chopped garlic and 2 small chopped onions.  The recipe calls for shallots (2 chopped) but I didn't have any and the show must go on, right?  Cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes on med/high heat.

 Crack out your favorite lemon juicer and juice up a couple lemons

 Meanwhile, back at the skillet, when the onions are soft and lovely, add 2 Tbsp flour and stir for two minutes, making a lovely thick roux-type situation.

 Then the magic happens.  Add 1/2 cup of  white wine and stir for a minute, till liquid is a bit reduced.

 Whisk in the juice of 1 lemon and  1/2 cup chicken broth

 Stir in 3 Tbsp capers and 1/2 cup chopped parsley

 Add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated back into the pan, stir to incorporate and let it simmer a couple minutes so the chicken heats back up. 

 Pour it over the pasta, stir, add a little more broth or lemon juice if it seems to need it.  I always do.  Let it sit a bit so the flavors mix. 

 And there you have it!!

Chicken Piccata Pasta Toss

 Corey and Angela

These girls really appreciate a home cooked meal. And fruit.

Dylan and  Noah.  Noah is channeling his inner zoolander.

See you next week, y'all!