Monday, June 13, 2016

Tightrope Walker, Summer Dessert, Family News.

I said I had nothing to write the other day, but I forgot my tightrope walking friend. He was back the other day and now, Saturday, he is back again. The wind is a bit gusty for him today I would think. The rope is bouncing around anyway. I would certainly give him an A for effort. He keeps trying. He is still not using anything to help his balance though.

Friday afternoon, around 3 p.m. we left to go to Barrie's Asparagus Farm. Big mistake, we really got caught in traffic, more so on the way home. I had a few bags of asparagus to get for friends apart from myself. I also bought some rhubarb for me having decided to leave the frozen stuff where it is for later in the year. Then I spotted something for a Saturday dinner treat.



In case you can't read it, that's English Clotted Cream. For us these will be the first strawberries of the season. As I am planning to do Steak Diane, one of our favourites, it was a rich meal and turned out deliciously. As did the berries and cream.

We had some wonderful news this weekend. Granddaughter, Bethany, is about to finish drama
college and has been hired for her first professional job. She will be flying to Miami (from England) in August and doing several weeks rehearsal and then will be joining the Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas for a 10 month tour in the Caribbean playing the lead in the musical We Will Rock You. I also understand that Royal Caribbean conducted auditions in New York, Sydney and London, so that is an even bigger feather in her cap. As I keep telling everyone, these cruise ships, nowadays, look top heavy to me, so I am hoping there is plenty of ballast to keep them stable.

I know this is not an asparagus recipe, but it occurred to me that you could use asparagus in it either as well as the lettuce or instead.

Parmesan Chicken With Caesar Roasted Romaine
If you can't get 'em to love salad, try roasting your lettuce (and don't be surprised if you win over unlikely fans at the dinner table)


4 7-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, Pecorino, or Asiago cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 Tbs chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 garlic cloves, chopped, divided
2 large hearts of romaine, halved lengthwise
4 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained, chopped
1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Season chicken with salt and pepper; place on prepared sheet. Combine cheese, panko, 2 Tbsp. oil, parsley, and 1 garlic clove in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Pat panko mixture onto breasts. Roast chicken until crumbs begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes.

2. Drizzle romaine with 1 Tbsp. oil and sprinkle with remaining 1 chopped garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper. Remove sheet from oven; place romaine around chicken. Roast until chicken is cooked through and lettuce is browned at edges, about 5 minutes. Divide among plates. Top lettuce with anchovies; garnish with lemon wedges for squeezing over.

Servings: 4

Source: Bon Apétit

Have a great day
 

22 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - congratulations to Bethany ... good news .. while the chicken sounds good ... and I must get some more asparagus before the season closes next ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary. It is a wonderful chance for her. Our asparagus season doesn't close til July 1 usually, sometimes a day or two longer.

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  2. I'm surprised that tightrope guy doesn't at least use a pole. Congratulations to Bethany!!

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  3. One of these days that guy will learn to use a balancing pole.
    Your granddaughter is in for such an adventure.

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    1. I feel like rushing out there and telling him to use one Alex. Yes, I think so, imagine cruising in the Caribbean for 10 months although she does have to work of course.

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  4. Yum on that recipe! Congrats to the granddaughter on her achievements; that sounds like fun on the cruise, I know it will be work, but what an adventure!

    betty

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    1. I hope it will be fun Betty. Certainly hard work. Just hope she is not sea sick LOL. I know they have stabilizers but when there was a storm I still felt somewhat sick.

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  5. Interesting, that tight rope walking guy!
    Love the freshness of the season!
    Congrats to your granddaughter!

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    1. It is interesting Yolanda, but I do wish he would get himself a balance pole. He spends so long setting up the wire/rope or whatever. Yes, asparagus, berries, yum.

      Thanks.

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  6. The tightrope walker seems persistent and good for him! Great for your granddaughter who has accomplished a great deal. My hubby thinks the same thing as you do about the cruise ships but one of my dear friends works as a manager for CAA and has been on these cruise ships countless times. He said they are excellent in how they operate and in what they do. This is a true feather in her cap.

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    1. He is Birgit, just wish he would use a balance pole. It really is marvelous that she has got this job. Her dad said they interviewed thousands.

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  7. The first proper meal I ever mad for a boyfriend was Steak Dianne with strawberries and cream for dessert. He wasn't worth the effort in the end. I love the tangy sauce on Steak Dianne.

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    1. Well at least you enjoyed the meal Pinky. As I said, it is one of our favourites.

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  8. Congratulations to your granddaughter. How exciting!
    The clotted cream and fresh strawberries sound wondrous.

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    1. Thanks Sandra. We are so proud of her.

      It was, delicious.

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  9. That rope walker is crazy! I've never heard of roasted lettuce but you're giving me ideas.

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    1. I wouldn't call him crazy Susan. It sounds good doesn't it>

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  10. Congratulations to your granddaughter. That's quite an achievement.

    I think your tightrope walker deserves full marks for persistence. Aren't you tempted to put a notice on one of his preferred trees telling him that he would do better with a balance pole? I would be.

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    1. Thanks Helen.

      Yes he does. I have been tempted to go over there, but it's a bit of a walk though.

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  11. Congrats to your granddaughter. This is most exciting news.

    Clotted cream was one of those things that I meant to try back in the day but I let it slip from my memory. I hear wonderful things about it with strawberries. Yum.

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    1. It is, very exciting Ivy.

      Actually I was a little disappointed when I ate it the other day. I guess I was expecting something like I would get in the South West of England. It was similar, but not as good. I rather like plain yoghurt with sweetened berries.

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