I know I’ve been scarce lately. The week before last I was struck down with some kind of horrible stomach virus. I diddn’t eat anything for 5 days! Needless to say. There wasn’t much cooking OR blogging going on. I’m just getting to feeling completely like myself again this week. So, pardon my little leave of absence. I’m back, and looking forward to the changing of the seasons! While I love summertime, I think I am more of a fall/winter kind of gal when it comes down to it.

I just can’t believe that September is already upon us. Christmas will be here before we know it! We said goodbye to summer proper on Sunday. I know it’s not officially fall yet, but to me September = fall.We went to the beach and spent all afternoon. Ran into some friends there, and camped out next to them. It was wonderful! We swam and enjoyed the sun for hours. Because of the remnants of Hurricane Bill, there were great waves. We had a blast! Even Andrew, who has been hesitant about the ocean thusfar, was enjoying being in the water. And, he’s learned that the sand isn’t good to eat. Which, is a relief. Anyways, we came home and I made a quick dinner. It actually wasn’t this shrimp alfredo (it was taco salad), but it could have easily been. You could also easily substitute chicken breast, scallops, or even steak. I’ve made alfredo with crab too, but that’s another post!

Shrimp Alfredo

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

1 lb fettuccine

1 1/2 cups alfredo sauce (recipe follows)

fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss shrimp with lemon pepper seasoning and olive oil. Add to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. Or, until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from skillet and place in a small bowl. Cover with foil and set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and place back in the pot. Toss pasta with alfredo sauce to coat. Place shrimp on top of pasta, and top with chopped parsley.

Alfredo Sauce

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup heavy cream

1 tbsp flour

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and cook, whisking occasionally, for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream. Cook, over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. About 5 minutes. Take off heat, and whisk in the Parmesan cheese.

This was my first recipe to try with Barefoot Bloggers. I love Ina Garten. She can come off a bit pretentious. But, her recipes are always wonderful. I could look at her cookbooks all day long. The photographs of the food and table settings are always just stunning.

At any rate, we really enjoyed the pasta salad. I must admit, it isn’t something I would have picked out on my own to try. But, I’m glad this recipe was chosen this month because it truly is a keeper!

Mix in a chopped grilled chicken breast, a can of tuna, or even a bit of salami and it’s a great summer dinner. Or, it keeps well for a few days to eat for lunch through out the week.

Ina’s Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

1 lb dried pasta
Kosher salt
Olive oil
1 pound ripe tomatoes, medium-diced
3/4 cup good black olives, such as kalamata, pitted and diced
1 pound whole milk mozzarella, medium-diced
6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 cup packed basil leaves, julienned

For the dressing:
5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 tablespoons good olive oil
1 garlic clove, diced
1 teaspoon capers, drained
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.

Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil, and toss well.

Source: Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Family Style

This is one of my favorite dishes, so I think it’s only proper that it be my first post.  With as often as I make it, it seems we never tire of it. It’s quick enough to whip up on a weeknight, yet elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. You can use dry marsala wine, but if you do, omit the lemon.

Laura’s Chicken Marsala

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
kosher salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 slices of bacon, chopped
2 cups white or cremini mushrooms
2 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tbsp.)
1 tbsp. minced shallot
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1  cup Marsala wine (sweet)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 lemon, juiced
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley leaves

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, place large heatproof dinner plate on oven rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees.  Meanwhile, pound the chicken breasts to a 1/2 inch thickness in between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Pat chicken breasts dry. Place flour in shallow baking dish or pie plate. Season both sides of chicken cutlets with salt and pepper. Working one piece at a time, coat both sides of chicken breasts with flour. Shake to remove excess flour, and set aside.

Heat oil in 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until very hot (you can hold your hand 2 inches above pan surface for 3 to 4 seconds), about 3 minutes.  Place floured cutlets in single layer in skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, flip cutlets and cook on second side until golden brown and meat feels firm when pressed with finger, about 4 minutes longer.  Transfer chicken to heated plate and return plate to oven to keep warm.

Return skillet to low heat and add bacon; saute, stirring occasionally and scraping pan bottom to loosen browned bits until bacon is brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Add mushrooms and increase heat to medium-high; saute, stirring occasionally and scraping pan bottom, until liquid released by mushrooms evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and shallot and saute for 1 minute. Add tomato paste, and cook until paste begins to brown, about 1 minute.  Add marsala and chicken stock, and increase heat to high.  Scrape browned bits from pan bottom, and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is slightly syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Off heat, add lemon juice and any accumulated juices from chicken in the oven; whisk in butter 1 tablespoon at a time.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in parsley. Return chicken breasts to pan and simmer in sauce for a few minutes.

Great served with pasta and a green salad or veggie.