Having various learning disabilities, it is difficult for me to follow directions and measure ingredients from recipes. I’m still learning and getting use to using a stove and an oven properly and safely. This week, I wanted to share an easy and delicious summer grilled chicken dish you can serve for a wonderful luncheon with your friends or to prepare a special dinner for yourself. I’ve learned to prepare this dish on my own, even with my limited skills in the kitchen…. and you can too! I find that preparing and cooking meals is a great way to relax, de-stress, and it keeps my mind active. I hope you take the time out to prepare this dish. Enjoy this recipe my mother taught me how to make!
Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, and Green Beans & Asparagus (served cold for the summer):
• 1 medium cleaned and trimmed chicken breast (1 for each person if preparing for guests)
• 1 small to medium ripe tomato (beefsteak or any type of ripe tomato, use additional tomatoes if you are preparing for more than 2 people)
• 1 fresh or packaged mozzarella (make sure you check the expiration date if buying packaged)
• 7 or 8 washed and trimmed fresh green beans and/or fresh asparagus (cut in half or three pieces)
• 1 cup of Balsamic Vinegar (good for 2 chicken breasts, double the amount if you are preparing for more guests)
• ½ cup of Olive Oil (good for 2 chicken breasts, double the amount if you are preparing for more guests)
• Salt and Pepper to your taste
• Basil (either fresh cut up into very small pieces or a small amount of dried basil, around 1 teaspoon, double the amount if needed)
• Fresh garlic or garlic powder (either 1 clove diced or just a sprinkle of garlic powder, don’t use too much)
• In a mixing bowl add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and all dried ingredients. Stir and mix well and divide the amount. You will need half of the mixture later on for when you serve the chicken to your guests as a dressing drizzle on top of the chicken dish.
• In a baking dish pour half of the divided amount of the mixed wet and dried ingredients
• Place the cleaned and trimmed chicken breasts on top of the balsamic mixture
• Add the rest of the divided mixture on top
• Cover and refrigerate for 2-hours (turn after 1-hour)
• Grill the chicken breasts on a George Foreman Grill (or outside on your outdoor grill, I’m not ready to do this yet on an outdoor grill)
• Turn chicken after 3 or 4 minutes and continue to grill until no pink inside (just cut a small opening to look inside the middle of the chicken breast to check for no pink inside)
• Place on a dish and cool off the chicken until room temperature (you can also refrigerate until you are ready to assemble on the individual plates
1. Boil water in a medium to large sauce pan and then add the green beans and asparagus for just 2 minutes (to be crispy and not soft)
2. Drain the hot water and cool off the veggies in cold water when done. Then set aside until ready to assemble.
3. Slice the tomato into a medium thickness as well as the mozzarella cheese. Each chicken breast should have 1 slice of tomato and 1 slice of mozzarella cheese
4. Assemble on a dinner or a lunch plate in this order:
a. Chicken, tomato slice, mozzarella slice, cut crispy green beans and asparagus on top/sides
5. Drizzle the fresh divided half of the wet and dried ingredients on the top (DO NOT USE the mixture that you marinated the chicken in, you must throw that mixture out because it had raw chicken on it and you can get sick if you use it)
• As a side dish you can serve a lettuce salad or a wedge salad with either a Balsamic dressing or a dressing of your choice. If you like strawberries, walnuts, or pecans you can add that to the salad
Quick and Easy Dessert:
Buy packaged Lady Fingers or Pound Cake. Add fresh sliced strawberries, blueberries, or your choice of berries to the top of the Lady Fingers or sliced Pound Cake. Drizzle Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup on top (whipped cream optional). Or you can serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream on the top of the Pound Cake with chocolate syrup on top (whipped cream optional). Make sure you wash and dry all berries before using.
Suggested Beverages:
• Ice Tea, Lemonade, Soda, Water with sliced cucumber or a thin lemon slice (add ice to the glasses)
It is important to wash your hands and always sanitize kitchen countertops when preparing and handling raw chicken
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well