Fast & Fresh: Balsamic Glazed Green Beans

I have a perfect side dish as my newest "Fast & Fresh" entry.

My Balsamic Glazed Green Beans are the perfect seasonal side dish.  They compliment most every dish, and utilize fresh green beans, straight from the farmer's market (or grocery store!).  I recently made them with my Lemon Cilantro Chicken Scaloppini and they were great together.  


The fresh seasonal ingredients, minimal preparation, and quick cooking time qualify these as "Fast & Fresh"!


I adore this side dish, but I'm partial to green beans.  I'm sure that you and your families will enjoy this, and possibly become a favorite of your too!

Tell me, what is your favorite way to use green beans?


Balsamic Glazed Green Beans 


serves 4-6


3/4 lb fresh green beans
1 T. butter
3 T. shallots, minced
2 T. garlic, minced
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper


Blanch 3/4 lb. of fresh green beans in boiling water for 4-5 minutes, until tender crisp.  Remove from water.  While beans are cooking melt 1 T. butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add 3 T. minced shallots and 2 T. of minced garlic.  Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing to thicken slightly.  Add green beans and toss to coat.  Serve.

Lemon Cilantro Chicken Scaloppini

One of the wonderful benefits of living in California is it's unique cuisine.  A blend of fresh foods grown in the state along with a twist of regional flavor.


Such is today's dish.  A prime example of taking a basic, classic chicken scaloppini and incorporating regional flavors to turn it into a new, fresh dish.


Lemon Cilantro Chicken Scaloppini starts by making a basic chicken scaloppini, but adds spice with hot chili flakes, and citrusy flavors with lemon and cilantro.  It's just a beautiful combination of flavors.


This is an easy dish to make, and is perfect for a weeknight meal.  You only need several ingredients and most of which you probably have in your kitchen already.

Come join me in some of the flavors of California that I enjoy so much.


Kitchen Tip:  If you don't want to pound out your chicken breasts, try picking up chicken cutlets, or thin sliced breasts at the market.  They work wonderfully too!

Lemon Cilantro Chicken Scaloppini

serves 4


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
5 teaspoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2/3 cup fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon hot chile flakes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro


Rinse chicken breast and pat dry. Place halves between two sheets of plastic wrap; with a mallet or a rolling pin, gently pound chicken to an even 1/4 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.

Place flour in a shallow plate and add chicken turning to coat each side.  Shake off any excess flour.  

Add 4 teaspoons of oil to a large nonstick skillet that been heated over medium high heat.  Place chicken in pan and cook 4- 6 minutes until no longer pink.  Transfer to a platter and keep by tenting with foil.  If you need to cook in batches you can keep the chicken warm in a 200 degree oven.

Add remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil and garlic to hot pan used to cook chicken and stir over high heat until garlic is slightly limp, about 15 seconds. Add chicken broth, lemon peel, lemon juice, and chile flakes to pan.  Stir until mixture is boiling. Boil, stirring occasionally, until juices are slightly reduced, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then stir in fresh cilantro. Spoon sauce evenly over chicken. 


source: Sunset

Southern Sundays

Happy Southern Sundays!

I hope everyone had a great holiday.  I felt a little off since it was during the middle of the week, and had to go back to work the next day.  But I'm thinking I could get used to a schedule like that....I mean the weekend was here in no time!  Yippee!!

I think that going out to the Hollywood Bowl on a Friday night (which is not usual for us...) made the weekend seem longer as well.  But I'll take it!  So yesterday I posted a cute little take along dessert which I've sneaked in to this week's Southern Sundays party.  If you have a minute check out my post.  I just LOVE food in mason jars...it's my new thing.  We like to go on picnics and I'm always looking for great food that travels well.  So I'd love you to show my your great recipes for a crowd, or a picnic, or just summer items that celebrate the season.

Last week we had so many great entries, thanks for participating.  I just love looking at all the different recipes.  However, two entries were certainly adored!   I'm featuring those top two this week.

Congratulations of your featured entry!!

White Chocolate Strawberry Cordials

by Searching for Dessert

YUM!!

Cajun 4th of July Menu

by Marguerite of Cajun Delights

Wow!!! Love it all!

Please take a moment to go stop by the wonderful artists of these dishes and say 'Hi!".  They both have terrific sites and and soooo creative!

So let's party!  I can't wait to see what you all bring this week.

Guidelines:

Please become a follower by joining my site with Google Friends Connect in the right side bar.
Link back to your specific recipe and not to your main site.
Link back to Southern Sundays either in your post, or grab my Southern Sundays Button located in the right side bar.
Please visit a few of the links in the post and say hello to your fellow bloggers!
Enjoy, have fun, cook lots of food, and relish your Southern Sunday!