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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Meals and Memories


Lest you think all the meals are a hit (8 and above). We had Lemon Couscous Chicken this week and it only rated a 7.5 so no-go for posting.

This week’s picture is an actual shot right before consumption (it appears there is some doubt that my meals are turning out like the magazine photos—and I was so proud of myself for downloading).

So here’s the modification of The South Beach Diet’s Chicken-Pistachio Salad transformed into …

Chicken Pistachio

½ cup shelled pistachio nuts, finely chopped (this really does need to be done a rough chop will not cut it)

½ + ¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon + 1 pinch freshly ground pepper (okay, to taste. I like more pepper)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

½ cup sliced sweet white onion

Preheat the oven to 375°. Mix the nuts in a medium to large size plate with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Press the chicken into the nuts. Heat the oil in a skillet (1-2 minutes) and cook the coated breasts 2 minutes per side (use a medium hot skillet). Place the breasts in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes (I sprayed a little canola oil on the pan for quick release).

Increase the heat to medium high and add the sliced onion into the skillet with the “crumbs” and little bit of remaining oil already in the skillet. Cook until the onion is browned about 3 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Dressing (for the accompanying salad)

1 teaspoon grated sweet onion (don’t use a micro-planer—it won’t work)

½ large ripe avocado, pitted and peeled

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

2 tablespoons water

I served a salad of mixed greens, the other half of the avocado sliced and a few of our “yellow pear” tomatoes. Dress the greens (this means add the salad dressing just to the lettuce and toss) and then place the avocado and tomato on top.

Additionally we had a crusty whole-wheat bread that had been warmed in the oven.

About a 45 minute prep and cook time.

Rating: 8.5, Coco – “this was very good.” We all agreed the salad needed something. After discussion agreed asaigo cheese added to the greens, maybe 3 tablespoons would add the missing punch that was needed. I think using an entire avocado and slicing an additional avocado would have been helpful, too. (The original recipe calls for 1 avocado—go figure.)

There is some dressing left over and it will serve as a sandwich spread for during the week.

Note: we also served olive oil (with herbs) for the bread. Tonight we added some balsamic vinegar—yum. Special was remembering that Andrew had purchased this vinegar in the airport in Madrid hoping to have a small bottle of wine. There might have been 2 bottles of vinegar for me but alas, the opened one minus a swallow was discarded before boarding the plane home. J

2 comments:

Leah said...

The original photography makes the post more approachable and tasty.

Anonymous said...

I have seen your food first hand, and would never have doubted that yours looks just as good...but Leah is right, it does make it more approchable! I am proud of you for downloading too. Pete