Colder still because when the heat comes on, Pipadoodle/Pippin lies by the vent and sucks all the heat into his fur. I am someone who has dwelled in the land of make-believe for a lifetime. (Did I ever tell you I played "make-a-believe" with Grandma Gresio incessantly and it wasn't until I was in second grade that I found out that the phrase was "make-believe?" The wonder of accents.)
So I play "make-a-believe" in my kitchen. And in my kitchen it is warm. Which is what attracted me to My Carolina Kitchen's shrimp and scallops with mango salsa. Sam lives in North Carolina (read: warm!) And cooks a lot of lovely French dishes and others with "a tropical island touch."
I made it with shrimp because it was too cold to go out for scallops. Yes, if it was January - I'd be just fine with 20 degrees. However, it's not January.
The recipe bring tropical breezes, palm trees and all that is good and warm in the world. Find it here. You'll like the blog. I promise. I was so enamoured with the dish - I did think, "How can I make this Italian?" And better yet - how can I make this Italian without having to go out on the day it sleeted and snowed six more inches. (I'm not bitter, really.)
And looked at my lemon plums which have quickly become my new favorite love and the astonishing good raspberries I brought home and played. Come on, Italians have plum trees. Italians have berries...
Poached Chicken with Plum-Raspberry Salsa (serves 4)
- 4 ripe plums (yes, you may need to wait for summer but we have these lovely, tangy juice lemon plums in the store and so I used that), cut into small chunks (no need to peel)
- 1 pint raspberries
- 3 scallions, chopped
- a few tablespoons of chopped basil
- a few tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
- 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoon olive oil (to taste)
Poached Chicken
- 4 small chicken breasts, pounded thin
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
- Additional water to cover
Plum salsa: Combine ingedients and keep at room temperature (covered) up to 3 hours.
Poached Chicken:* Bring liquids to a boil and gently poach chicken till cooked (20-30 minutes). Spoon salsa over chicken and serve. *Alternative, spoon salsa over baked chicken, sauteed chicken, shrimp, tilapia - have fun!
It's not just spring - it's summer!
Italy alert: This is what I know: Rome for 4-5 days, Florence, Liguria. Up for grabs - what do you think? Modena, Bologna, Pisa, Pompeii? September. Looking for restaurants, small towns - my Italian is awful but I have found the Italians to be kind and I do not need "American-friendly." And grazie to those who have e-mailed with suggestions.`
If the weather gods are good it will be above freezing when next I post!
Eat. Live Be. for 2011 - Yes, I'm still there - I never can post at the proper day of the week. For March (all of March) I have been down .2 pounds. Not stellar - but not gaining. The snow day where I started with sausage soup at 9 a.m. and made my way though daughter's chocolate chip cookies probably did not encourage weight loss...
52 comments:
I could do that salsa with a little lettuce and call it a salad!
So wonderful that you're going to Italy. This salad looks so fresh and wonderful.
How funny, I was thinking salad too. Hoping it thaws soon over there.
-Gina-
What a wonderful summery salsa, love the plums and raspberries combo with the chicken! Wish it would be warm outside already!
Beautiful dish to have on a cold day! It's snowing here after we've had an 80 degree day already. Don't know what's up with that, but I think I need this dish to make things right with the world.
(Pippin has the right idea.)
What a wonderful meal, Cluadia. The colors in the salsa bring summer to the table. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Everytime I time I come to your posts, I get so hungry. This is such a great dish to make you think of warm weather.
Smiles.
I love "make-a-believe"!
If you have some extra time, I'd vote for San Gimignano which you could visit halfway between Rome and Florence. Beautiful!
I am with you on the weather - this morning when I let the dog out the temp was 25 degrees, but with the windchill felt like 17 - at the end of March!
Can't wait for grilling weather!
I enjoy Sam's blog and remember this recipe. This is a beautiful summer dish and it screams tropical weather :)...In my comment to Sam on this post, I mentioned that I grew up in South Florida. We were surrounded by mango and avocado trees.
Sending some Florida sunshine your way.
Velva
Such wonderful colors and flavors in your salsa...it says snow and cold, be gone!
We had a bit of snow last night, even though we had 75 degree weather all last week.Yuck.
Your trip sounds so exciting Claudia...I know you just can't wait!
Seriously, what is up with this cold? Selling tickets at the baseball game tonight was not my favorite thing ever. I am trying to decide what to bake for a competition and would really appreciate your vote if you don't mind stopping by my blog again:)
My dream trip is Italy used to be Hawaii, that happened, Italy oh my, what a pleasure to see where is all began.. Rome for me... Sicily for the hubby! I will diet and fit in your suit case? lol Love the salsa makes me want to listen to carribean music and party ... so full of gorgeous colors! What a future blog of Italy to look forward to! xo
This is my kind of salsa, fruity and full of flavor! You made it more exciting by throwing in some shrimp and chicken. Eat well and loose weight at the same time. What could be better!
I on the other hand am looking foward to winter - a tropical winter which is cool not cold but most of all dry and not a drop of rain in sight. Here it is constant tropical rain (read: torrential rain). I wish for you some warmer weather so you can enjoy my of your delicious salads!
I on the other hand am looking foward to winter - a tropical winter which is cool not cold but most of all dry and not a drop of rain in sight. Here it is constant tropical rain (read: torrential rain). I wish for you some warmer weather so you can enjoy my of your delicious salads!
What a glorious salsa, love the brilliant flavors here :)
That salsa would be divine on its own but with a meal it must be perfection.
Delightful recipe Claudia and I could eat it any time of year, cold or warm.
Wow, Claudia! Your make-a-believe fruit salsa and chicken sound just dynamite. Certainly a real taste to bring summer on a plate. Your Italian plans sound superb!
that meal is a harbinger of spring -- so fresh and delcious looking! Now if only the sun would come out...Theresa
You did a wonderful job "Italianizing" Sam's recipe, Claudia! Golden plums sound like an excellent substitute for mangos in the salsa and I alwasy prefer shrimp to scallops.
It is so cold here today ..I have a feeling the weather will eventually go from cold to hot with no "warm and pleasant" in between.
My suggestion as to where else to go in Italy? Venice! It is the most magical place on earth ...no where else like it, anywhere.
Pippin must be dreaming something delicious and sweet :-))
Raspberry salsa...looks so fresh and tasty!
love Sams blog, and you describe her dishes so well sunny
thanks for coming down under with me
hugs
Rebecca
I spotted that recipe and also wanted to make, glad you made it your own, I cannot wait to see your post from your future trip!!
sweetlife
what colourful combination looks wonderful
I'm so jealous of your trip to Italy - sounds like your going to hit up a lot of places! I have mangos sitting in my fridge for salsa - we must be dreaming of warmer days - love your healthy and delicious creations!
That salsa sounds nice and fresh and good!
Gorgeous. Wow, I have been cruising the blogasphere for hours, and I am starving. Looks beautiful, and its healthy. It does make me wish for summer... this may extend the few days we have left, yep, its on the menu tonight. :)
I love the addition of raspberries! I loved your description of the land of "make-a-believe"! lol that is so cute.
So sorry about your cold temperatures. I just heard the weatherman say that this is the wettest March here since 1997. It's downright dreary. This salsa is so cheery...summer in a bowl! ;) Delicious!
Im coming to your house to play make believe and go to whatever tropic place you can take me with a meal like that. It looks so colorful and fun!
My kitty has taken to sleeping on the vents recently too. So adorable!
We're supposed to have a nor'easter here in Boston on Friday :( But this salad makes me feel all summery and happy! :)
SUes
first time here....wow...this salsa is so colorful n tempting !there r some wonderful flavors going in here...glad to follow ur space !
I enjoy Sam's blog too, always great recipes! All of the tropical salsas are so yummy! When I go to Italy, I have to go to Modena where my family lives and attempt to speak in my very tarnished Italian! Whatever you do, I know it will be awesome. My husband was in Minneapolis last week for a conference - - thank goodness for those skywalks! Cold has returned here too.
I do hope your weather warms up. I, too, am wondering what on earth has happened to spring.
I know Mr. ground hog saw his shadow...we should definitely be done with winter. Until spring decides to stick around, enjoying a tropical salad like this will help all forget about the cold weather outside!
Here in Montreal is still cold. Love the colorful salsa.
The weather only has a partial influence on what I make in my kitchen. My hormones do the rest. LOL
The variety of accents and prononciations of our English language can probably develop a whole new language. LOL
I still discover new ways to say something right as opposed to how I thought it was said.
Btw...very cute kitty ;o)
Alright...Italy trip...you need to go to Bologna (one of the Foodie capitals of Italy). Pisa, was a huge disappointment...not worth the detour in my opinion of course ;O)
Have a great weekend,
Claudia
Oh, this makes me want warm weather so badly. It's simply beautiful.
Love your kitty cozying up to the heat vent (as do my boys) and that mango salsa. With those raspberries in it, I can imagine myself enjoying it on a warm spring day (should spring ever decide to arrive)!
(And my dear Grandma Rose always inserted an "a" in between words all "a" the time!)
Awww what a cutie little Pippin is :) That salsa and chicken looks wonderful, I love it when poultry is combined with tropical fruit flavors. Soooo tasty!
What a sweet kitty and what a wonderful recipe. I'm sending warm thoughts your way. Thank you for sharing, my friend. After such a long and hard week, it is good to visit the blogs that I love. I hope you have a safe and happy weekend.
What a lovely, sunny happy salad, sounds like the perfect pickmeup for dreary weather.
This looks perfect for a picnic outside.. what beautiful colors!
I've been trying to make summer be here with summer foods, too - hope it's working better for you. That salad makes me want to pour a glass of rosado and put me feet up.
Bologna is a lovely city... We spent a very happy week there.
Claudia, I love the colors of the salsa, and the idea of serving with chicken, I love chicken with fruits...beautiful! Have a great week :-)
The spring salad is looking really inviting claudia, love the way you express your self and present the recipe ! Thanks for stopping by my space.
I like your "make-a-believe" and just got back from a week in Santa Barbara where I ate almost the same dish with a fruit salsa - but with shrimp and calamari. Planning a trip is so fun and full of possibilities - if you're going to Rome, why not take a short train ride (only an hour or so) to Orvieto - beautiful duomo, pottery to swoon over and etruscan museum. If you love history (and I know you do otherwise you wouldn't be going to Rome), take a side trip to Ostia Antica (subway ride) and see the ruins there - amazing. I have so many places, restaurants, etc. I could tell you about in the north, the south, the islands too, but don't know if you want to move about a lot or stay put in one region or area. I'm happy to offer suggestions offline so email me. I've probably been to Italy two dozen times or more, plus the year we lived there.
Sam has a super blog and this is a lovely summer recipe! It would make the coldest weather seem a bit brighter. :)
Your kitty has the right idea...very funny photo!
So exciting you're going to Italy!
Claudia, your berry salsa looks simply delicious & refreshing. Oh, is it summer now already? How wonderful. I'm sure there's more berries goodies coming up soon. Hope you're having a fabulous week ahead. Enjoy.
Blessings, Kristy
Wow your pictures are wonderful and that is a great recipe. can't wait to try it!
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