Rating: 💋 💋 💋 😘
This past week I moved all of my things out of my apartment in Brooklyn. We had a good year there, filled with a lot of twists and turns, and I am so grateful to have had my sister by my side through it all. Here is one of the last meals I cooked there.
I cooked this dinner while wearing a sundress, chatting with Shannon, and listening to my 'California Dreaming' playlist, all of which is to say - it was a Friday night and I was in a fabulous mood. When Madonna's 'Ray of Light' came on, my serotonin surged so much I almost got dizzy. It transported me back to being an eight-year old, dancing in the sunbeams in my parent's kitchen and dreaming of moving to Hollywood and becoming a movie star when I grew up. I remember asking my Mom to borrow the Ray of Light CD, so nervous she would say no, and being absolutely thrilled to pieces when she said yes. What a great day! Fifteen years later and I am still dancing in the kitchen to Madonna, turning my dreams into plans, and cooking up a delicious dinner as well.
The chicken I made called for dry white wine, so I shared my Akiyoshi 2018 Chardonnay with the bird. The wine was perfectly dry for the chicken and perfectly crisp for me. Overall, I enjoyed this bottle; it was a great, neutral chardonnay with a nice light flavor for a summer night.
I love zucchini, I love tomatoes, and I love cheese. I found this vegetable recipe last fall and have been waiting all year for summer veg season so I could whip it up. At last, the time has come! I really wanted to make it with heirloom tomatoes, as they are my favorite, but the bottoms of the heirloom tomatoes at my grocery store were, um, milky. Regular cherry tomatoes it is! Grating cheese has become a favorite activity of mine, because it smells so heavenly and tastes so fresh, so I was very happy to grate some Parmesan for the veggie topping. I followed the recipe this time, but honestly, add more cheese than the recipe calls for if you want. I fully support the move and am considering doing so myself next time around. This dish was not quite a tian or ratatouille, but it was very similar, and therefore, good by nature. Pop this Zucchini-Tomato Bake into the oven and watch it work its magic.
From there, I went on to make the main dish - Lemon Chicken Piccata. I used chicken breasts because I prefer them to chicken thighs, and it did not affect cooking time or flavor at all. This recipe was so freaking easy. After searing the chicken breasts, I had them chill on a cutting board while brewing the sauce, then dunked the chicken back in. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Well, actually, I did not add the lemon slices in because I hate the pulp residue on my chicken - too bitter. The lemon juice added enough zesty freshness to the dish. Once coated in the sauce, the golden sear on the chicken was so beautiful. I could not wait to try it.
Meanwhile, I cooked some Carolina white rice in turmeric-seasoned water for my side. Rice is such a low-maintenance carb, I love it. Once done cooking, I fluffed the grains with fork, added a bit of salted butter and a sprinkle of pepper, and served it alongside the chicken and vegetables. It made such a colorful plate!
I do wish the zucchini was just a bit crispier, but it still tasted delicious and went perfectly with the hot, bursting tomatoes. The Parmesan totally sealed the deal on this veggie bake's winning trophy. The chicken picatta had a nice mix of briney capers and lemon butter, with a peppery finish. The buttery coating broke away to reveal sweet, tender meat. I was so pleased. The rice was a great side because it had just a hint of spice, so it did not dominate the plate, but had enough flavor to stand up as a strong pairing for the chicken and vegetables. It was a fun Friday meal, but it is so simple it would be perfect for a week night dinner as well.
After dinner, Shannon and I watched Unicorn Store, which is a nice watch for those of us who are still trying to make sense of our lives. If Shannon tells you I cried at the end, I didn't. There is no proof of such an occurrence.
We had a great year living together and I am so excited to see Shannon's new apartment.
Where to next?!
XX,
MK
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