My Madison Bistro

I’ve often said that if I had a choice, fettuccine alfredo would make an appearance at my last meal. When made with good quality butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano, the flavor is other-worldly, the texture smooth and luxurious.

But I had many disappointments on the path to the right recipe.

My first attempt involved a recipe by an Italian-American chef on a US cooking network. That particular recipe included cream and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Cream and acid. I raised an eyebrow but pushed forward, determined to whisk through the curdling to a fresher-tasting fettuccine alfredo.

I took one bite and proceeded to dump my dinner in the trash. (Thank goodness in those days I still used a less expensive Parmesan, or I would have cried all the way to bank.) If I had planned on making pasta swimming in a lemon-cream sauce, I would have been happy. But to get that dish when you’re expecting fettuccine alfredo was a travesty.

So I tried again, this time without the lemon. The flavor was better, but the pasta seemed to be swimming in cream more than anything. I sold that cookbook and continued my search.

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This may possibly be my new favorite quick dinner. It’s definitely faster than takeout Chinese, and in this case, I happen to like this version of cashew chicken better – there’s no giant chunks of celery, and there are LOTS of cashews!

I can also attest that the leftovers were great – sure the cashews softened a bit, but the meal tasted just as good. And, unlike leftover Chinese food, it didn’t upset my stomach.

Of course, because dinner was so easy, I had to figure out another way to pull off a klutzy moment.

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Tags: cashews, chicken, chinese food, everyday food

This meal is not difficult to cook. On the contrary, if you know how to saute a few boneless, skinless chicken breasts, this meal is downright easy.

However…

The first time I try to time the cooking for dishes I’m making for the first (and sometimes the second) time, I get a little frazzled. Invariably, something takes longer than I think it will, and my whole plan goes to hell in a handbasket.

Chicken and rice. A simple dinner, no?

Okay then, chicken with a roasted pepper cream sauce and green poblano rice. Still pretty easy. It should be stress-free. And yet, I ended up a little frazzled.

Continue reading “Chicken with Poblano Cream”

Tags: chicken, everyday food, Onions, poblano

Spring, where are you?!?!?!

Yesterday we were supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow. Instead, we received more than 5.

At times, spring seems to be on its way, but then winter has to rear its ugly head again, just to remind us that it’s still here for awhile.

So I pretend. I make a bright green smoothie for breakfast – it says spring more than winter, don’t you think? If I can’t look outside to see green, at least I can look in my glass.

Continue reading “Green Smoothie”

Tags: cottage cheese, spinach, strawberries, yogurt