In honor of our 4th anniversary (yes, you counted right-4 years 2.5 kids :), let’s start with one of my husband’s favorites:

Chicken Marsala over Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sauted Mushrooms and Pan Seared Asparagus. This is an easy, relatively fast and super yummy meal that not only your spouse will love, but your kids will enjoy as well…at least mine do.

Disclaimer: This is one of my more time-consuming recipes. I promise that most of what I make can be done in about 30 minutes.

~For a Family of Four~

Prep Time: About45 min (please note: Add 10 min for each child under 3 in your house :)

Food Stuffs:

4 Chicken Breasts butterflied (i.e. sliced along it’s side so that when you “open” it, it looks like butterfly wings)

Cooking Marsala Wine (Can be purchased at your local food store in the vinegar and oil section)

Olive oil

3 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour…it’s ok to omit this if you have Gluten allergies. You can use some of the mashed potatoes to thicken your broth.

1 pint Button or Portabella Mushrooms- Cleaned, stems on.

3 Tbsp butter (salted)

Cooking Sherry (this can be purchased at your local liquor store.  We use Taylor – a moderately sweet/dry Sherry)

1 Bunch Asparagus-rinsed, bottoms clipped about 1/2 inch and laid out to dry

5 to 8  med to large Yukon Gold Potatoes

1 stick of butter (salted)

Milk (I use skim)

“Go to the mattresses!”

Ok, so depending on the day, you may need to give yourself a little pep-talk.  My most repeated phrase of the day is “I can do anything for 15 minutes”.  Might sound odd – but really, whether you are enduring labor, struggling through a board meeting, sitting in traffic or just waiting in line for your morning cup of joe – you can, most of the time, handle about 15 minutes of anything.  If you’re like me and you love to cook, you should have no problem with this recipe.  If meal times send you into fits of irritation and nervous shakes, well then I suggest you take this 15 minutes at a time.  Imagine that you are at war.  As the all-wise Godfather would say, “Go to the mattresses”…Hunker down, dig deep…you get my drift.

First things first.  Clean, peel and dice potatoes (about 2in cubes).  Fill your pan with water about 2/3 of the way.  Salt your water (I recommend sea salt), about 1 tsp.  Set heat on med high, bring to boil.

If needed, this would be the perfect time to open a bottle of wine and regroup.  Unless, of course, you are like me and pregnant – yet again – then you should open a bottle of water.

Now that you are refreshed, it’s time to start the chicken.  Place frying pan on high heat.  Allow your pan time to heat thoroughly.  This will give your meat a quick sear, sealing in the juices and ensuring your chicken is moist and tender.  Once your pan is hot, add about 2 tbsp of olive oil.  Place chicken in the pan, sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, and a little garlic powder.  Allow chicken to cook 3 minutes, flip and repeat seasoning instructions. Cook for 3 minutes and remove from pan.  Set aside.

Whew! You’re half way there.  At this point, your potatoes should be boiling at a good rate, your chicken is half done and it’s a great time for a break!…Feeling better?  Good.  Let’s keep moving along.

Slice your mushrooms into quarters.  Set a saute pan on high heat.  Add butter.  Once the butter is melted,  reduce heat to med-low, add mushrooms.  Season with sea salt and allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Check your potatoes!  If they are “fall off the fork” tender, remove them from the heat and drain all the water off.  Dump them into your mixer.  I use the whisk attachment, but some people prefer the cookie wand.  At any rate – choose your weapon and turn your mixer to the lowest setting.  Add 1 stick of butter (look, it’s war people, not fairy fat-free land.  You can, of course, limit the butter.  But, I won’t be held responsible if your potatoes are not just the best thing you ever put in your mouth), salt and pepper to taste and 4 shakes of garlic powder (NOT garlic salt).  Once the butter is melted, slowly add milk: about 2/3 cup.  As I stated earlier, I use skim.  Not because I think whole milk is bad for you, simply because 2 of my family members have milk issues.  You can use any kind of milk you want…ok, well I’m not so sure Almond milk or goat’s milk would be awesome; but if you try it, let me know how that went for you.  After you get a nice creamy consistency to the potatoes, turn your mixer to high and let it go.

This would be the “Go to the mattresses” time.  Crack your knuckles and let’s go!  Remember your chicken?  Well, let’s get that finished.  Put your chicken pan back on the burner.  Turn heat to med high.  Once the pan is heated add 1/2 cup of cooking Marsala and the 3 Tbsp of flour.  Stir until all the lumps are gone.  Add the chicken back into the pan.  Flip the chicken pieces so that they get a nice coating of flour and wine.  As the pan heats, the broth will reduce and thicken.  Once this happens, your chicken is done.  DO NOT OVERCOOK YOUR CHICKEN!!!

Check your mushrooms.  If they are tender, add 1/3 cup of cooking sherry, stir and let cook for 2 min.  Remove from heat.

In a large skillet (frying pan), heat 2 Tbsp olive oil.  Place asparagus – all facing the same direction – in the pan.  Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper.  Cook for about 3 minutes on high heat or just until the outside starts to brown.  Remove from heat.

Tip: You should cook your asparagus and mushrooms as you are finishing up your chicken.  This will ensure that all your meal components come together at the same time…oh, and you can turn your mashed potatoes off…just in case you forgot :)

Ok, get your plates ready.  Place a generous scoop of mashed potatoes on a plate.  Place one piece of chicken on top.  Spoon mushrooms  and asparagus onto plate.  Sprinkle with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and serve with a nice red wine.  My husband prefers Chianti with this meal.  If you don’t like red wine, I would recommend a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.  Or for all us non-wine drinkers, water is always a good and healthful option.

If your kids are in bed, light a candle, scooch your chairs close, and enjoy…If your kids are joining you for your victory celebration, place a flash light in the middle of the table (it will save on fire damage costs) and dig in!