I tend to always cook for an army and my boss reaps the rewards from this; I bring in leftovers whenever I can. One sunny Sunday afternoon, after previously marinating my chicken and while my husband was on the golf course, I decided to throw together the ingredients for a new recipe that I had been thinking of and serve it to my hubby that evening with a nice Bombay Sapphire Martini when he got home. The recipe is called Lemon Chicken & Asparagus Bundles. It has a nice presentation, it’s light and very easy to make. Dominic LOVED it!
On Monday morning I brought some in for “Mr. Cheese” to have for lunch. When I put it in front of him, he glanced at it and said, “Did you know that asparagus makes your pee smell funny?” Horrified that he would even know this little tidbit of information, I told him to stop making things up and taste the delectable bundle of chicken. I left his office and ran straight to my computer to Google this new and fascinating information. It happened to me all of the time but I had no idea what it was from… I eat this crisp green veggie at least twice a week! As I scanned through some of the sites that had come up I learned that he was once again correct… asparagus DOES make your pee smell funny!!! I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and was very grateful to my clever and oh-so-informative employer! I had thought there was something wrong with me and was procrastinating calling my doctor for fear of bad news!
He liked the chicken by the way but I try not to give him asparagus very often... it sends my mind to a place where I don't want to be!!!
Lemon Chicken & Asparagus Bundles
1 bottle of Honey Mustard Dressing
Juice of 1 Lemon
½ cup Dry White Wine
2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
(pounded or filleted very thin)
1 med. bunch of Asparagus
6 thick slices of Swiss cheese
Zest of 1 Lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Pour dressing, lemon juice and wine in a plastic re-sealable bag. Place chicken breasts in the mixture, squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag. Knead the bag with your hands to marry the ingredients and wake up the marinade then chill in the refrigerator overnight.
Trim the bottom of the asparagus stalks about an inch. Place stalks in a steamer or pot with just a little water & steam just until they become bright green in color. Drain them then run them under cold water to prevent further cooking. Set aside.
Remove chicken breasts from bag and shake of any excess marinade; discard the rest of the marinade. Lay the chicken flat on a large cutting board or clean work surface (yes; this will be a little messy). Top each breast with 1 slice of cheese then place 4 or 5 stalks of asparagus on the cheese at the end of each breast closest to you. Starting with that end, roll each piece of chicken & cheese tightly around the asparagus and secure with 2 or 3 toothpicks.
Preheat grill to a medium setting. Place chicken bundles seam side down on the grill and cover for about 5 minutes. Carefully turn them and cover for another 5 minutes. Check & make sure they don’t burn. Cook uncovered for another 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
Remove bundles from the grill & place on a cutting board. Let stand for at least 5 minutes. Carefully remove the toothpicks & slice into 1” pieces; revealing the asparagus & melted cheese inside. Arrange on a platter and top with the lemon zest, salt and pepper… ZING!!!
This entrée is pleasing to both the palate and the nose!!!
Enjoy!
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