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Weekend Dinner | Lemon Chicken Breasts + Tuscan Beans

6 Sep 2017 Home, Recipes

(images and recipes adapted from Barefoot Contessa)

This weekend Brian and I decided to have a few friends over last minute. We thought we were going to be away but we decided not to go and it was so great that a few of our nearest and dearest were around to have over for dinner! Because I didn’t have much time to plan, I brought out my trusty Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That? (literally best cookbook ever, I highly recommend). The lemon chicken is SO easy and I adapted her recipe to include thighs, not breasts because I couldn’t find any with the skin on in the store. The thighs turned out SO good, and I personally think they have more flavor. I made the beans as a side instead of a starch to change things up a bit. The only thing I was missing was a green, asparagus or brussel sprouts would have been perfect but I ran out of time, and my friends are low maintenance so 👭

Tuscan White Beans

Here is what you need:

  • 1 lb. of dried white cannelleni beans
  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 4 cups chopped fennel, stalks, fronds, and core removed (2 large)
  • 2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
  • 1 cup chicken stock (homemade if possible)
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Here is what you do:

  • Night before, soak the beans in a large bowl with water to cover by at least 2 inches. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Next day, drain the beans, rinse them well, and place in a large stockpot.
  • Add twice as much water as you have beans, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes, until the beans are tender.(Skim off foam that accumulates)
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the fennel and carrots and sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  • Drain the beans and add them to the vegetables.
  • Add the chicken stock, sage, rosemary, salt, and pepper, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes, until creamy.
  • Stir in the Pecorino, season to taste, and serve hot.

*Don’t add salt or anything acidic to the beans while they boil; it will make the skins tough!

Lemon Chicken Breasts

Here is what you need:

  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 boneless chicken thighs, skin on (6-8 ounces each)
  • 1 lemon

Here is what you do:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  • Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add garlic, and cook for 1 minute but don’t allow the garlic to brown.
  • Off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 x 12-inch baking dish.
  • Pat the chicken breasts dry, place them skin side up over the sauce.
  • Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Cut the lemon into 8 wedges and tuck it around the chicken pieces.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done and lightly browned.
  • If chicken isn’t browned enough, put it under the broiler for 2 minutes.
  • Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil for about 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with pan juices.

Have fun and good luck!!!

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We’re currently in Phase 1 of our Costa Rican ad We’re currently in Phase 1 of our Costa Rican adventure. This is the two week decompression period where we train our bodies and minds to slow down (this is more for me than anyone else), and let me tell you, I’m lapping it up.  We’re spending all day outside at the beach, going to bed early, eating lots of fresh fruit and healthy foods, swimming in the ocean, I’m working out and meditating in the mornings, and having fun together. For someone who is usually always in high gear, this part is my gift to myself 🐚 

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I’m letting us get pampered for this phase, and it feels really good. 

Thanks for coming along, I hope your year is off to an amazing start! Is there anything specific you’d like me to share about while we’re in this phase? I was thinking about sharing my morning workouts and meditations, but let me know!
Recently, I downloaded the Melissa Wood health app Recently, I downloaded the Melissa Wood health app @melissawoodtepperberg @melissawoodhealth and so far I’m loving the workouts. I try and do one every morning. They’re super quick so sometimes I do two. I like that they are gentle but hard. They incorporate a lots of yoga, pilates, breathing, stretching, balancing and all that good stuff. You can see from the videos I’m pretty shaky in the first couple clips, that balance is tough but I’m building up my strength, I can feel it 💪🏻

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    @purejoyhome

    We’re currently in Phase 1 of our Costa Rican ad We’re currently in Phase 1 of our Costa Rican adventure. This is the two week decompression period where we train our bodies and minds to slow down (this is more for me than anyone else), and let me tell you, I’m lapping it up.  We’re spending all day outside at the beach, going to bed early, eating lots of fresh fruit and healthy foods, swimming in the ocean, I’m working out and meditating in the mornings, and having fun together. For someone who is usually always in high gear, this part is my gift to myself 🐚 

We are staying at a beautiful place in papagayo with @exclusiveresorts and it feels very luxurious and restorative. 

The kids are already thriving. Being together 24/7 comes with its arguments and fights but they are learning how to just be with each other and with their crazy little brother. They’re helping a lot with him, learning a little Spanish, surfing, writing in their journals, and meeting kids from all over the world who are staying here as well. 

I’m letting us get pampered for this phase, and it feels really good. 

Thanks for coming along, I hope your year is off to an amazing start! Is there anything specific you’d like me to share about while we’re in this phase? I was thinking about sharing my morning workouts and meditations, but let me know!
    Recently, I downloaded the Melissa Wood health app Recently, I downloaded the Melissa Wood health app @melissawoodtepperberg @melissawoodhealth and so far I’m loving the workouts. I try and do one every morning. They’re super quick so sometimes I do two. I like that they are gentle but hard. They incorporate a lots of yoga, pilates, breathing, stretching, balancing and all that good stuff. You can see from the videos I’m pretty shaky in the first couple clips, that balance is tough but I’m building up my strength, I can feel it 💪🏻
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