33. J’s Chicken Scampi

I didn’t really have a bachelorette party – Husband’s father, brother, and uncle wanted to take him out for a night of go-karting and eating hot wings. So that I’d have something to do, my future mother-in-law, her best friend J, and Husband’s grandmother all took me out for pedicures and a night of chatting and enjoying the beautiful scenery around their home. It wasn’t some kind of rager, but it bonded me to my mother-in-law’s best friend, J. She generously bought the bouquets for my wedding, which were insanely beautiful and somehow all the exact perfect shades for the wood of the barn and the green grass for the outdoor ceremony and the sunset over the mountains. She, like many others I met or got to know better because of marrying Husband, reminded me how honored I was to be joining the family, and how undeserved so much kindness really is.

Her recipe, written in her beautiful script, told me that I could make it ahead of time for an impressive dinner party food – I intend to make this one for a dinner party soon but I also wanted to test it out. I bought some panko breadcrumbs and used lemon juice from a bottle, but the recipe still turned out so flavorful, rich, yet light that I totally understood why it was a favorite for her. The wine and the olive oil combine to make a light sauce that infuses the lemon into the chicken. I made this alongside the one-pan pasta and it makes for a wonderful balance – a lot of veggies and pasta on the one side, a flavorful protein in the other.

I made the chicken in a pyrex dish with a plastic, tight-fitting lid, so I admit to having enjoyed mixing everything up before leaving it to marinade by shaking it a bunch. After that part, the whole thing is really quite marvelously simple. I recommend giving it a quick broil right at the end for browned breadcrumb topping, but make sure you watch it so it doesn’t burn – one or two minutes will do it.

J’s Chicken Scampi

3-4 chicken breasts cut in about 1 inch pieces

1 clove garlic

1 cup olive oil

½ cup white wine

parsley (a dried tablespoon or so)

salt and pepper
Combine this and then squeeze the juice of two lemons and let marinade a couple of hours. Take this mixture and put it in a baking dish and sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve over pasta. This is a great dish for company because it can be made ahead of time and is ready to go in the oven!

 

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