Spring market

Some might find me a bit old fashioned, but yes, I like going to the market on the sunday morning. Sunday morning exists! But I recognize I'm never there early... and sometimes it makes things more difficult since my favorite vegetable producer might have sold out something I need...

So back to last week-end. As usual I was wandering along the market when I stopped at my usual fruit place. While I was choosing avocado and grapefruit, I saw nice baskets of strawberries and some asparagus... and I couldn't resist!

Back at home, I was wondering what to do with my asparagus when I remember a very good meal prepared by J. I didn't had the recipe but I decided to prepare my own chicken with asparagus.


Chicken & Asparagus (for 2)

- tagliatells (I used spagetti, but believe me tagliatel are better)
- 200g chicken breast
- 10-15 asparagus
- 2 tablespoon cream
- salt & pepper


Wash asparus and cut the bottom end. Cut them in 3 (so you have 2-3cm long sticks). Place in a microwave cooker with a little water (I used 1 tablespoon water). And cook it in the microwave for 3-5min. Keep it in microwave so it remains warm.

Cut the chicken in "1 bite" pieces. I prefer it grilled, so I cooked it in a pan without oil or butter until it takes a nice golden-brown color.

Cook the pasta (hope you know how to do!)

When pasta are cooked, placechicken and asparagus in a saucepan to warm them a bit, add the cream, salt and pepper. Add pasta and mix everything.

Serve!

Unfortunately I had no wine to drink with... but I'm pretty sure the nice muscadet we tasted during our "foody week-end" (see Lil's Blog for a description) might have been great !

As a dessert I had strawberries dipped in cream... but that's another story...

Ode to my microwave

Cooking without an oven is challenging... cooking without decent stove is too... so I become addicted to my microwave.
Sure I miss cakes, especially the chocolatey ones, and I cannot bake tarts, quiches or pies, but I can cook healthy things like vegetables...

Yesterday evening was one of those evening when you want to eat something good but are to lazzy to prepare something elaborated (yes it happens quite often to me!). In my fridge was a piece of fish (lieu noir) I was to late to prepare on the morning. I decided it should become a frill...yes I can do it without an oven thanks to my suister who offered me a silicon cooker that allows me to bake such things in the microwave!

Lieu noir en papillotte (per person)

- 1 fillet of fish
- 1 small zuchinni
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons of mustard
- salt, pepper
- herbs you like
- olive oil

Slice the zucchini and tomatoes (remove the tomato water)
Spread the mustard on both sides of the fillet.

In microwave, cook the vegetables for 2 min (max power) then add the fish (+ herbs) for 3 minutes. Remove the water and cook again for 2 minutes.

Add salt add pepper and a drop of olive oil... serve!

1st salad (of the summer)

Yesterday was a warm spring day in Paris : over 24°C in the afternoon. I went to the market for some vegetables and decided to prepare them in a salad. I had tomatoes, radish, zuchinis...
Based on a pasta recipe I tried last week for my birthday picnic, and with the ingredient I made my first salad of the summer (I know it's not summer right now, but as I've been sunbathing in the park and eating icecreams, let's pretend it is).

1st Salad (for 1):
- 1 tomato
- 1 small zucchini
- 1 small white onion
- 5-10 radishes (depending on their size)
- some feta
- some chicken (I took leftover of grilled chicken)
- cumin and curcuma
- cream
- balsamic vinegar

- Grate the zucchini, slice tomato, radich, feta and chicken, chop the onion.
- Stire cream, spices and vinegar
-Mixe all ingredients together