are you ready for summer cooking?

wow, its been a while blog world! we're still around. things have been a little crazy lately. so blogging has gone to the wayside. sorry readers! 

hello?

do i have readers left?

probably not. 

ok, here's something new to casadelray. a photog/cooking post! yippee! 

i love, love, {LOVE!} to cook. if i had the time & money & the patience, i'd love to go to culinary school just so i could gain all that culinary knowledge. the Food Network, & various cooking magazines are my culinary school :)

so with the warm weather we've had & with the summer coming up {hopefully soon} i was in the mood for  a light dinner, something summer-y.

the menu:

strawberry, feta, spinach & arugula salad with a strawberry vinaigrette.

rosemary, thyme & dijon marinated chicken on a bed of couscous & pears. 

first up: the vinaigrette

i started with my mortar & pestle, thinking it'll do quite nicely to mash up the strawberries needed.  it was much too lumpy for my liking. then tossed 'em in my food processor. should've started there first. 

dump in 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

stream in 3 tablespoons olive oil while whisking 

{& try to take a photo while doing so. its rather difficult}

now its ready to be drizzled over a lovely bed of greens.

mmmmm. so yummy & summer-y.

now on to the marinade for the chicken.

chop fresh rosemary & thyme. 

{not entirely sure how much i used. i just eyeballed it till i thought there was enough.}

zest of one lemon

juice of 1 lemon

grab your favorite dijon. mine happens to be a gift from a friend from a lovely little country across the pond. its a true delight.

2 heaping tablespoons of dijon

salt & pepper to taste

let the chicken soak up all those wonderful flavors

toss the little clucks on the grill, which i was going to do until it started down pouring. 

grill pan will do in a pinch.

plate up!

make a bed of couscous, then grilled chicken, & top with pears.

keep the couscous company with that strawberry goodness.

mmmmm. yum!

i am so ready for some more summer cooking! bring on the weather.

um, hello, sun?

please come back out!


so what did you think of this cooking post? shall i do more or were you bored to tears?
thoughts?