Tuesday, October 02, 2007

LRK's Chicken Marsala



It's been about a month since the kids started school -- and extra-curricular activities -- again, I'm back to teaching, and Shane continues working at his new job. So life is suddenly busy.


A little over a year ago, we moved from Geneva to Canandaigua because -- damn, y'all* -- I needed to GET OUT of that town. And, Shane, after living and working there for 13 years -- the longest he's stayed in any one place in his entire life -- was ready for a change, too.


(I know lots of people love it. But it's way too small and insulated for me. It's the kind of town where you can buy a shirt in the morning and by that afternoon, everyone knows what color it is. And while it has lots of things going for it, it's not for me. )


The kids continue to go to school there as their mom lives there (did you catch a third reason?) and it was just easier to do so. When Shane worked in Geneva, he'd take the kids to school in the morning on his way to work (about a 20 minute commute) and then I'd pick them up in the afternoon. But now that Shane works in Rochester (which is in the opposite direction of the kids' school), I take & pick up the kids from school, so my time to do other things when I'm at home is reduced.


It doesn't sound like much, but being a livery driver can add up to 2 hours per day, which is 2 hours I don't have to do other stuff. Like grade papers, vacuum, mop, dust, do laundry and, oh yes, COOK. (Going to the gym and showering afterward, though, remains a priority -- I like being a dress size smaller, and would like to keep it that way. I also like smelling nice and showering accomplishes that.)


So it's not bad, but it's hectic. And I'm scrambling to find meals to cook that are delicious, satisfying, not fat-laden nor a billion calories, and come together quickly.


It's with this attitude that I threw together some Chicken Marsala last week, adapting a few recipes I'd found. Not only was it fast and simple to make, it hit the spot.


Now, if only the house would clean itself.



*As a born and bred New Yorker, I feel weird using that little phrase from south of the Mason-Dixon line. But as it's creeping into the general American vernacular , I guess I'll use it from time to time.


LRK's Chicken Marsala

Flour, salt & pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp butter, separated
1 lb chicken
1 lb sliced mushrooms (I used baby portabellas)
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
¾ cup. Marsala wine
2 Tbsp half-n-half

Lightlydredge cutlets in flour seasoned with salt and pepper.


Heat olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in pan to medium-high; add cutlets. Turn over when cutlet changes color one-quarter of way up and seared side is a golden brown. Flip and cook other side until browned. Transfer cutlets to clean plate and set aside.


Reduce heat to medium and add mushrooms, garlic and and a tablespoon of butter to pan, stirring occasionally, being careful the garlic doesn't burn. Cook about 3 min, until softened and browned. Stir in Marsala, stock, and half and half. Add cutlets; reduce heat to LOW.
Cook 6-7 min until cutlets are done (should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F). If sauce is thin, continue cooking so that it may reduce, or add a bit of cornstarch to thicken. Transfer cutlets to clean serving platter and serve with sauce.


3 comments:

Jennywenny said...

Something that I've just discovered that is making me so much happier to be in the car is talking books. I get them from the library, and find myself sitting in the car transfixed by the stories. So far I've listened to the english passengers, thunderbolt kid by bill bryson and I'm just starting on Lance Armstrong's autobiography.

Laura Rebecca said...

That is a really good idea. The last book on CD I listened to was Wigfield by Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert & Paul Dinello. It's like listening to a crazy radio play -- I loved it.

Right now, though, I'm just listening to a lot of WBER.

Dillon said...

very nice, i like how you abide by that motto.