Grilled Roast Chicken with Rosemary & Lemon

I hope you have a local farmers market to go to, if not, take yourself to your favorite grocer! This recipe will serve 4 and takes about 30 minutes.

Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
6 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves stripped from stems
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon grill seasoning blend or coarse salt & black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Arrange chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Add garlic, rosemary, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon zest and grill seasoning or salt & pepper to the dish. Toss and coat the chicken with all ingredients, then place in oven. Roast 20 minutes. Add wine and lemon juice to the dish and combine with pan juices. Return to oven and turn oven off. Let stand 5 minutes longer, then remove chicken from the oven. Place baking dish on trivet and serve, spooning pan juices over the chicken pieces. Serve with

Roasted Asparagus
4 servings
About 20 minutes cooking time

Ingredients
1 pounds fresh asparagus
Extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt, plus extra for sprinkling
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and if they're thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 15-20 minutes, until tender but still crisp.
***when fixing the asparagus any other time, preheat the oven to 400degrees and roast about 25-30 minutes.

Serve the chicken and asparagus with roasted potatoes (put in a separate baking dish and start before the chicken goes in) or couscous (usually found in the pasta and/or international aisle). Couscous takes about 5 minutes to cook.

Happy eating,
Elizabeth

Respect for Chickens Day

Finally, the Broadway St. Farmers Market opens tomorrow with new hours (10:30 - 4:00pm). This day marks the beginning of recipes based on seasonal items purchased at the market and staples in your pantry.

Shopping list:
1 lb. of asparagus
2 1/2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I use thighs)
1 lemon
fresh rosemary

Items in the pantry are ingredients that are staples for cooking.

Pantry:
extra virgin olive oil
grilled seasoning mix or
coarse black pepper/sea salt
dry white wine
chicken broth
head of garlic
couscous or potatoes

Check back tomorrow for a quick recipe!
Tschuss,
Elizabeth

Thursday, 17 June...Blah, Blah, Blah Day

Sometimes folks just go on and on about things that really doesn't amount to a hill of beans. You sort of go with it until you get some bad news, a loved one's just died, a child is missing, a husband has yet again beat the daylights out of the "love of his life".

I had decided that I wasn't going to the Farmers' Market today but realized it was probably just what I needed. I picked up some oatmeal raisin cookies from StoneGround Bakery (who ever said sugar is a natural high, is sooooo right!!).

I jumped at the opportunity to get a free 5 minute massage from Monica Of Excellence Salon & Spa (located at 114 South 9th St) and I feel ever so much better!!

Next on the list is flowers, $7 for a bunch that will light up your area for days to come.

Back at the shop I passed over a small piece of paper, trash really, but because I was so wrapped up in myself I ignored it. The third time going by I bent down and picked it up intending to throw it away. But it sort of looked familiar, red and white - a fortune perhaps??? So I unfolded it and read: Prepare today for the demands of tomorrow. Plan your move.

A sign from??? Everything happens for a reason, doesn't it? Sometimes we get it and other times we don't. We just have to be open to all the possibilities out there.
Today's Blah, Blah, Blah Day. Make today and every other day more than that.
Tschuss,
Elizabeth

Thursday, 3 June...National Rocky Road Day

I can't say that I like Rocky Road candy but I do like salmon and since Thursdays the Farmer's Market is open on Broadway I'm off to purchase some of the best salmon around from Rolf's Choice Alaskan Salmon. He gives tasting samples, I dare you to try and not be at least tempted to buy! I've decided to try one of his recipes:

Smoked Salmon Pasta
2 T. butter
olive oil
1 c. heavy cream
salt & pepper to taste
8 oz. smoked salmon (cut into 1" pieces)
1/2 c. chopped onion
zest & juice of 1 lemon
1 lb. cooked pasta (I'll use fettuccine) save a bit of the pasta water
1/2 c. chopped parsley

It's a rare recipe that I don't add garlic, so I'll saute 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic with the onion.

Combine a little olive oil with the butter in a pan. Saute garlic & onion until soft. Stir in cream, lemon zest & juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook 4-5 minutes on medium-low heat until slightly thickened, add salmon. Lightly stir to mix. Add the cooked pasta. If it's too thick add some of the pasta water. Add the chopped parsley.

A simple salad, wine and bread and this dish is ready to serve 4-6.
Tschuss,
Elizabeth

Thursday, 27 May...National Sunscreen Day

It maybe a bit premature for sunscreen but it's a nice day in Tacoma, the sun's shining AND the Farmer's Market is open on Broadway!

Today I picked up fresh spinach for dinner and decided to fix -
Bay Scallops with Spinach.

2 lbs. of fresh spinach,stemmed & washed
1 lb. bay scallops
3 large cloves of garlic
1/4 cup of white wine
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 t. olive oil
2 t. salt
1 t. of grated lemon zest
freshly ground pepper to taste

- Heat 1 T. of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat
- Add the garlic & lemon zest, cook for 20 seconds, stirring continuously
- Add the spinach, toss until wilted
- Drain off the liquid, season with 1 t. of salt & pepper. Keep warm
- Heat the remaining 1 t. olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallops, saute for 1 minute or until just cooked through.
- Remove the scallops, add the lemon juice and wine.
- Cook, scraping the bottom of the pan.
- Remove from the heat, toss in the scallops, season with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Serve by placing a mound of spinach in the middle of a plate and surround with scallops.

A loaf of bread (there are several bakeries at the market) and a nice bottle of wine (I recommend Abby's on Broadway - inside Sanford & Son Antiques)and you have a meal worthy of bragging about!
Tschuss,
Elizabeth

3 March - I want you to be Happy Day

I'm happy! Today I explored the 72nd/Portland St area.
My first stop - Thrift City,904 72nd St. E,the parking lot is filthy! What,you say, does that have to do with anything? We all know we shouldn't judge but first impressions? Life's an adventure so I'm going in! Oh boy, first glance inside, not filthy by any means but not too inviting. This shop is definitely for thrift shopper pros, ready to roll up their sleeves and wade in. Ladies, don't think about trying on anything in this store, the smallest, most dismal dressing room ever and it doesn't lock! Although the comments so far have been a bit negative, I found a 100%silk dress for $9, YES!

As I'm walking back to the car, I noticed a Taco Bus, Taqueria El Jacalito. I guess I was so fixated on the dirty parking lot that it didn't register on my brain - FOOD. I've already had lunch so I'll have to come back. A nice size menu, tacos listed at 99cents. The area around the Taco Bus is very clean.

Just down the street is Cappy's Produce,1232 72nd St.E. A farmer's market stand inside a converted store front. Fresh produce, great prices. I bought basil with roots attached, 2 for $2.99 and Yukon Gold Potatoes for 99cents lb. (these are the best potatoes, reminds me of the ones I ate while living in Germany).

Across the street is Goodwill. Today green tags were 99cents and purple was 50% off. I walked out with 3 wide belts, less than $3 and a beautiful maternity top that I'll take to my shop.

Time to go home!

I passed the Portland Street Nursery and it reminds me (again) that I need to start spring clean-up and set an appointment with the women of Serenity Gardens to give me some help with my yard. We can't know it all, so go to those that are experts in their field.
Tschuss