Fresh Flowers, Grilled Chicken and Me…
Good Morning my dear readers and welcome to Summer…..and good eats!
I have to tell you that I really love going to the local Farmer’s Market and seeing all the fresh vegetables and fruit mounded on the wooden tables.
I always take my canvas bags and fill them to the brim with fresh flowers and veggies.
I especially love all the fresh flowers…so I have flowers all over my home.
Some are from my garden, some from the Farmer’s Market and some are from my supermarket. Note the fresh eucalyptus above the mirror and the dried hydrangeas in another white pitcher . Ohhhhh Wow!
Did I say I love fresh flowers? I call it my “pamper me with posies.”!
…right now I have some fresh purple lavender in a small white milk bottle sitting on the shelf by my master bathtub…it is calling my name later on tonight when I will take a glass of wine and sip it while immersed in a very hot bubble bath. Take me away Calgon! 🙂
But I digress…..
I also can’t resist the large red tomatoes and the fresh green asparagus, bright yellow lemons and forest green limes clustered in huge wooden bins at the Farmer’s Market. We are so lucky as we have a Farmer’s Market year round down here in Florida.
So the other day…after arriving home from one of my shopping sprees…I put my purchased flowers into one of my white pitchers to sort of watch over me while I prepared a chicken dinner.
The recipe is so simple.
Grilled Chicken and Asparagus either on your outside grill or a stove top grill pan.
The Fettuccine with home made Alfredo Sauce is like the icing on the cake. Yummy!
Picture this if you can….rich, creamy, homemade Alfredo sauce over Home made (or store bought) tender, hot noodles of your choice ….
and then you add the juicy grilled chicken, sliced to perfection and crisp green asparagus spears,
……then…add slices of tangy lemons for a garnish and there you have a one pot dish of goodness.
- 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
- 1 pound of fresh asparagus, rinsed and bottoms popped off at bottom joint
- Zest of one lemon
- Juice of two lemons
- 1 lemon sliced for garnish
- 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of minced fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/2 tablespoon of steak seasoning (I use Montreal Steak Seasoning)
- 1 pound of fettuccine pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 8 tablespoons of butter (1 stick)
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 3 oz of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- In a medium size bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and steak seasoning.
- Divide marinade set aside half to season asparagus just prior to grilling.
- Add chicken breast to remaining half of marinade and let marinate for about 20 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium high and grill chicken 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Toss asparagus with marinade and grill for about 5 minutes, just until tender.
- While chicken is grilling, cook pasta according to package direction.
- Once chicken is done cooking, set aside to rest while preparing pasta.
- In a small pot, heat butter and heavy cream together until hot, but not boiling.
- Working quickly, so the sauce is still very hot, remove sauce from heat and stir in a pinch of kosher salt, several turns of freshly ground pepper and Parmesan cheese.
- Whisk until cheese is melted.
- Pour Alfredo sauce over hot pasta, slice chicken and asparagus and serve over pasta.
- Garnish with lemon wedges.
ooooo you know how to make a girl jealous hehehe
Happy Anniversary to you and your lovely Captain.
Yes I loved that brunch, in fact it was one of my favourite experiences during my time with you.
You have so many lovely spots for eating out, what with the waterfront settings, dinner theater and mystery train. But a lovely simple supper with you, at home by your pool and the hidden hot tub must go to the top of my list.
Hugs from across the pond xx
thanks Ross…and you are right, I really do prefer the simplist supper by the pool and fortunately, we get to do that a lot. We are truly blessed.
Thanks for stopping by…
Hugs always xxx
That is just sooo spooky Kari. I actually cooked Pasta Alfredo last night! Went for slivers of truffle and a touch of truffle oil (per a Jamie Oliver recipe) – verdict… well daughter #1 and I enjoyed it but we wouldn’t cross the road for it… hehehe
Your chicken looked lovely and made me wish we had the weather to cook and eat al fresco (I’m back in my thermals and welly boots for puddle hopping again).
Hugs from across this pond xxx
Great minds think alike my friend….so sorry about the thermals and welly boots….as I sit by my pool with huge sunglasses, floppy hat and tall glass of iced tea which has a sprig of fresh mint from my herb garden! Oh, did I say that out loud? teehehehe! I couldn’t resist, you know I am onery. 🙂
Also, it is spooky, because today is the Captain and my anniversary and we went to Marker 92 for a leisurely breakfast at 7 am. There was a gently tropical breeze and we thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast watching the sail boats as they silently drifted out to open water.
You remember Marker 92 and the Sunday Brunch we had there I am sure. Sooooo your ears must have burned a bit because we talked about the wonderful brunch we all had and how beautiful it was there….I know you took lots of pics and I believe there was a group getting ready to go sailing…it seems like they all had on red shirts, as they gathered near the white cement balusters. Anyway, I remembered how much you enjoyed that brunch.
us
Sooooo we are now relaxing by the pool planning a quiet day… that may or may not end in the hot tub later on tonight…. sipping a glass of wine. 😉
Hugs always
xxxx
Looks delicious!!! Can I come over tonight for dinner??? 🙂 Love you!
Any time sweet girl….luv ya for stopping by. You’re the best!
Luv Gma