Simple Dinners Make them Smile

Menu: Pear and Pecan Salad

             Lemon-Oregano Roasted Chicken

             Asparagus

             Sauteed Spinach

             Sweet Potatoes

OK--This meal looks impressive but here are the directions.

1)Wash the sweet potatoes and throw them in the oven on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees for at least an hour

2)Wash and pat dry the chicken(bone in, skin on whatever pieces you want)  put in a baking dish with 1.5 to 2 inch sides, salt and pepper and dried oregano sprinkled on top put in oven at 400 degrees for 1hr10min(or with the sweet potatoes if you need to)

3)Wash asparagus, break off tough ends and put in microwave safe dish with water not quite covering it. Set it in the microwave but do not cook yet.

4)Salad-wash lettuce and leave to drain

5)Make salad dressing-olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic(mince 2 while you're at it, you need one for the spinach later) and a little dijon mustard.

WALK AWAY AND DON'T COME BACK FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES

Final Preparation
Check sweet potatoes, stick meat thermometer in biggest piece of chicken
Add pecans to oven to toast for 10 minutes
6)Heat 1-2 TBSP olive oil in skillet with sides, add 1 clove minced garlic and saute on medium until you can smell the garlic.  Add a whole bag of spinach, tossing until it completely wilts, turn off burner and cover.

7) Microwave asparagus about 6minutes.

8)Cut pear for salad, toss pear, pecans, and vinaigrette(go easy on this) 

9)Squeeze one fresh lemon over top of chicken just before serving.

It's done. 

Offer grated parmesan for the salad and butter and cinnamon for the sweet potatoes. 

Your family will think you worked all day.

Shopping list:

Chicken-bone in, skins on-whatever pieces your family likes

Sweet Potatoes-1 per person

Asparagus-Fresh, one bunch

Spinach-One bag

Lettuce-green leaf

One Pear
1/4 cup almonds
Olive Oil
White Balsamic Vinegar
Dijon Mustard
2 cloves garlic