Jealous of Roses

Long Chains of carbon accrue out of nothing more than air and sunshine. This is the simple pleasure of a vegetable garden. We've been fortunate enough to have a decent summer and I've been harvesting goodness to create joy of out thin air.

Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken

This has been a fan favourite for years; all based on the belief in doing as little as possible. Investing in a decent BBQ makes all the difference in the world as my Weber keeps flares to a minimum and eliminates hot spots.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, cut along the back and butterflied
1 bunch Rosemary
2 lemons
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat BBQ on medium low heat

Place the chicken backside down and cover BBQ for 30 minutes

Turn chicken over and cover BBQ for 15 minutes or until skin is crisp and juices run clear

Let chicken stand for 10 minutes before cutting up into pieces.

Roughly chop Rosemary leaves and spread over chicken. Pour juice of 1 lemon over top, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with lemon wedges.




Pesto

The basil was about to turn so I quickly hacked it out and made some pesto to freeze. The smell of fresh green basil lingered in the house for hours. This recipe is adapted from Marcella Hazan and can be served with a pound of pasta. I’ve always found her recipes the most straightforward and rewarding. I served my pesto with some bread as a bit of a pick me up.

Ingredients

2 cup basil leaves, fresh, tightly packed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts
3 cloves garlic
salt to taste

1/2 Cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons finely grated Romano cheese
3 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature

1 1/2 pounds Pasta (optional)

Directions

Wash basil in cold water and pat dry

Add the olive oil, garlic, salt and pine nuts to the blender run.

Add handfuls of basil, waiting until a smooth creamy consistency.

Transfer to a bowl, and mix in the two grated Cheeses by hand. Mix in softened butter.

Taste and adjust Salt.