Simple Weeknight dinner

Last night, none of us got home until 9 - I'd been at yoga, Wright at work, and Mike picking up the Top 10 Under 10 (see below!). Alas, a no-hassle but comforting dinner was in order.

Wright and I picked up some chicken cutlets to make chicken piccata - the thin, flavorful chicken would be the perfect remedy to a long day. We also grabbed some green beans and tomatoes, as well as some cheese - we'd need a cheese plate to nibble at while we got dinner ready, of course.

We got roma tomatoes and simply cut them in half, took out the core and seeds, drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper, and threw in the oven. We put them in at about 325 degrees, I don't know, maybe for an hour. Until everything else was ready! Tomatoes like this will continue to gain flavor as you cook them, so they are even better if you do 200 degrees for 3 or 4 hours, but we obviously did not have that time. And they were still melt in your mouth. The green beans were blanched and tossed with butter, salt and pepper. Crunchy and delicious.

Perhaps you can tell already that we were cooking together. Hot vegetables, but green. And multiple pots used.

For the chicken, we pounded it to be as this as possible, and sauteed it in butter and olive oil. After removing the chicken (and placing under tinfoil on the oven to keep warm), we made a simple sauce in the pan. First, saute a clove of minced garlic (add more olive oil if necessary), then pour in about 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of white wine. Stir around and allow it to reduce for a few minutes, picking up the flavor from the bottom of the pan. Squeeze the juice of two lemons and add thin lemon slices as well. Let simmer for, oh, about 5 minutes. Until it has really reduced and you are really hungry. Throw the chicken back in the pan to douse with the sauce and ensure a hot meal.



Add parsley, lemon zest, and other garnishments to make this feel like a fancy gig. Pour extra sauce all over chicken, and serve with the remainder of the white wine. Easy and delicious. Feel free to take cheesy photographs like the above.