The Way To Her Heart...

 

This may seem like a bit of a break away from what I have been doing so far on this website. 

Well... not really.  

I'll explain.

Do you know what your spouse's love language is?  If you don't know what that means, please see http://www.5lovelanguages.com/ 

One of my wife's love languages is acts of service—and, more specifically, when I surprise her with a nice dinner.  Last night she said, "I am SO glad that you know how to cook!"

I discovered many years ago that one of the ways to my wife's heart is through her tummy and taste buds. 

Making a fast, healthy and delicious dinner need not be difficult or expensive.  The recipe I am sharing was done as a spontaneous experiment really.  At our house we call it "Pantry Perfection."  That is, out of necessity, you make a meal using whatever you have on hand in the pantry, or fridge.  In this case, I had some chicken breasts, a bottle of balsamic vinegar salad dressing, and some spinach salad leaves.

This recipe can be enhanced if you marinate the chicken for up to 12 hours, but I didn't have much time, and the entire meal took only 45 minutes to prepare. It's simple, inexpensive, healthy and delicious! 

This dish is so easy to make, a newlywed husband (or bachelor *hint, hint*) can make it.

Mark's Roasted Balsamic Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Sauce

2 cups Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing

1/2 cup red wine (I prefer Merlot)

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup red onion, finely minced

3 cloves of garlic, pressed or finely minced

2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt (to taste)

1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper

1/4 teaspoon season all

*1/4 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and pour into a large ziplock bag or Tupperware container along with the chicken breasts. Coat well.

Marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, and up to 12 hours. However, if you are in a hurry, marinate for 15 minutes and then bake.

Pour this mixture into an oven-safe baking dish and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes in a 375 degree pre-heated oven.  *Don't overcook!  Leave uncovered for the first 10 minutes, then loosely cover with aluminum foil.

Garnish with fresh parsley if you like, and serve warm with a spinach salad and your favorite vinaigrette dressing.  This is great if you slice the chicken and spoon some of the extra sauce over it.

If you're not on a diet, this dish goes very well with rice, pasta or oven roasted red potatoes.

Serves up to 4 people.

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It just so happens that I started a 90 day fitness challenge with my daughter and a good friend last night, so I wanted to kick it off with a healthy and delicious 'lean and green' meal.  Honestly, I didn't miss the rice, potatoes or pasta at all.

What this all boils down to (pun intended) is, what most blesses your spouse's heart? 

Again, for my wife, being surprised with a yummy dinner is high on her Love Languages list.  This is an act of service...an act of love. 

Unconditional love.

Get to know what your spouse's love languages are, and then bless their socks off!

As Jesus said,

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.