Pan Roasted Chicken and Spring Vegetables

Hubby and I are avid TV watchers. Over the years, several of our favorites have come and gone. It is always with mixed emotions, when we sit down to a series finale – curiosity, sadness, happiness, intrigue and wonderment. Last Wednesday was no exception with another series finale.

If any of you were hooked for the last nine years on One Tree Hill, then you can relate. For the last nine years, we sat on the couch watching the characters develop, grow and learn many valueable life lessons. One Tree Hill was more than just a teen sensation; it was an inspirational show that shared many emotions and lessons.

The last scene in the series finale showed the group head to the high school auditorium for a basketball game with Nathan’s son, Jamie. Jamie has now been propelled to high school and followed his father’s love of basketball, while adorning a number 12 jersey – the same number his father wore. If you a follower of the show, this is pivotal.

The camera pans to all of the primary characters as they recite inspirational words that sum up the nine seasons. Thought I would share it with all of you, since most folks can relate to the message.

Nathan: One day you’re 17 and planning for someday. And then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.

Haley: We spend so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing but ambition is good. Chasing things with integrity is good. Dreaming.

Brooke: If you had a friend you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it. Do it. Don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.

Mouth: Make a wish and place in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want.

Millie: Do you have it? Good. Now go believe it to come true.

Quinn: You never know where the next miracle is going to come from.

Clay: The next memory. The next smile. The next wish come true.

Chase: But if you believe, it is right around the corner.

Julian: You open your heart and mind to the possibility of it. To the certainty of it.

Skills: You just might get the thing you are wishing for.

Julian: The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.

Brooke: So make your wish. Do you have it?

Nathan: Good. Now believe in it.

Haley: With all your heart.

One Tree Hill is now complete. A television chapter closed. Many lessons were taught and many characters we grew to love or despise had some finality attached to them. The good news is that fresh and innovative shows are consistently being created. With the hope of many more characters to fall in love with and new lessons to be learned.

Okay, now that you have endured my One Tree Hill fascination, onto the food portion of the program – I mean blog post. I have been inspired by leeks lately. The idea of creating a leek infused chicken broth to house pan roasted chicken intrigued me. Next I thought how I can highlight spring. With the addition of aromatic shitake mushrooms and English peas, it just rounded out this tasty dish. Just think of the possibilities – Salmon with roasted fennel or grilled prawns with the addition of tomatoes and roasted garlic. Enjoy!

Pan Roasted Chicken with Spring Vegetables
Serves 4

Chicken

2 Large boneless chicken breast, cut length wise
Salt and pepper
Flour
Olive oil

With each piece of chicken, lightly pound with a meat mallet to increase tenderness. Season with salt and pepper and lightly coat in flour. Repeat for all four pieces of chicken. In a large skillet, add about ¼ cup of olive oil and heat on medium high. Add chicken breasts and sear on each side for about one minute each. Add to an oven that is pre-heated to 350 degrees. Cook for about 10 to 11 minutes or until all the way cooked through.

Leek Broth

4 C. Chicken stock
2 C. Leeks, cleaned and sliced

Add chicken stock and leeks to a medium pot and heat on medium for about 10 minutes. Let sit for 30 minutes to infuse.

Vegetables

20 Shitake mushrooms, remove stem and cut into pieces
2 C. English peas
2 C. Snap peas
2 C. Grape tomatoes

In a sauce pan, add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and cook on medium high heat. Add the shitake mushrooms and cook until soft and fragrant. Remove from pan onto a small bowl.

Add the English peas, snap peas and tomatoes to the leek broth about 5 minutes before chicken is done cooking. Heat for about 4 to 5 minutes on medium.

Assemble

Let chicken rest for about 3 to 4 minutes. You can either serve whole or slice each breast before plating. I cut prior to adding to the plate. Use large bowls for each serving. Lay the chicken breast in the middle of the bowl and then ladle the vegetables evenly among the bowls along with the broth. Sprinkle the cooked shitake mushrooms over each bowl. You can add some parmesan cheese on top or sprinkle with chopped chives. Enjoy!