Patchwork mind (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} phrogg) wrote,@ 2009-04-15 11:13:00 |
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The Plan
My date is set for Sunday, since we both work this weekend (me during the day, she at night).
So, here's the plan...
Dinner:
Salad: Romaine, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, ???,PROFIT!
Chicken with Rosemary and Capers, and Couscous with Yellow Squash:
the chicken:
4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
2/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons rinsed capers
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped parsley.
Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and saute, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on both sides(about 7 minutes). Remove chicken to a platter.
Over medium heat, add the onion, garlic, and rosemary to the pan. Cook, stirring, 1-2 minutes until the onion is wilted. (careful not to brown the garlic)
Add chicken broth and vinegar. Deglaze the pan by stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon.
Add capers and tomato paste and blend. Return chicken breasts and any juices on the plate back to the pan. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Turn the chicken once during this.
Stir in the parsley and serve.
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for the couscous:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 large clove of garlic, chopped fine.
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup dry couscous
1/4 cup cilantro
Heat the butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the squash, onion, and garlic. Stir over medium heat until onion wilts (2-3 mins)
Add the chicken stock and boil...add the couscous and blend well. cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff it and stir the cilantro in with a fork, and you're done!
Dessert:
Choca-Chino Cakes with Ganache
After Dinner:
Option A: Pool or Bowling. There is a bowling alley right by my place, might even be a nice night to walk there, if the weather goes the way it's been going. The pool hall's not far away, either, now that i remember that there's one over on the corner.
Option B: Movie & Popcorn. Chick-flicks and Stupid-funny movies are out, but movies that make you go "huh?" for a while are okay. I'm thinking Memento (if we're just wanting action and confusion), or The Jacket (which is a really interesting movie, if bizarre). If neither of those sound appealing to her, there's always The Dark Crystal. That's a fun movie, no matter how old you are. Barring that, i sit her down with my Book O' DVD's and say, "Pick."
My date is set for Sunday, since we both work this weekend (me during the day, she at night).
So, here's the plan...
Dinner:
Salad: Romaine, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, ???,
Chicken with Rosemary and Capers, and Couscous with Yellow Squash:
the chicken:
4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
2/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons rinsed capers
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped parsley.
Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and saute, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on both sides(about 7 minutes). Remove chicken to a platter.
Over medium heat, add the onion, garlic, and rosemary to the pan. Cook, stirring, 1-2 minutes until the onion is wilted. (careful not to brown the garlic)
Add chicken broth and vinegar. Deglaze the pan by stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon.
Add capers and tomato paste and blend. Return chicken breasts and any juices on the plate back to the pan. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Turn the chicken once during this.
Stir in the parsley and serve.
----------------------------------------
for the couscous:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 large clove of garlic, chopped fine.
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup dry couscous
1/4 cup cilantro
Heat the butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the squash, onion, and garlic. Stir over medium heat until onion wilts (2-3 mins)
Add the chicken stock and boil...add the couscous and blend well. cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff it and stir the cilantro in with a fork, and you're done!
Dessert:
Choca-Chino Cakes with Ganache
After Dinner:
Option A: Pool or Bowling. There is a bowling alley right by my place, might even be a nice night to walk there, if the weather goes the way it's been going. The pool hall's not far away, either, now that i remember that there's one over on the corner.
Option B: Movie & Popcorn. Chick-flicks and Stupid-funny movies are out, but movies that make you go "huh?" for a while are okay. I'm thinking Memento (if we're just wanting action and confusion), or The Jacket (which is a really interesting movie, if bizarre). If neither of those sound appealing to her, there's always The Dark Crystal. That's a fun movie, no matter how old you are. Barring that, i sit her down with my Book O' DVD's and say, "Pick."
