Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

 

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie *****

I’m joining Jain in her bi-monthly edible book review at Food for Thought, where in her words, pages from your book magically mix with the kitchen and your camera. Books, Food & Photos, my three favorite things all in one place!

 

Sometimes there is nothing more satisfying than sitting down with a mug of tea and some light-hearted  Chick Lit. Yes, it can be predictable…but sometimes it’s just comforting to expect the happily ever after.  This is one of my favorites, a Jennifer Crusie book, and one that doesn’t disappoint.  Unlike with Jodi Picoult or Nicholas Sparks, it’s nice to know that no tissues or antidepressants  are required.

   A likable main character, Minn Dobbs, full-figured, curvy and round (very identifiable!), is struggling with her body image and men in general. An upcoming family wedding has her swearing off carbs and counting fat grams. Lots of wacky secondary characters, as well as dysfunctional  family members round out the story and make this an entertaining, quick read.

An interlude with donuts  threatens to sabotage her efforts to fit in her bridesmaid’s dress…

 

 

as well as a new found love of Chicken Marsala…

 Her attempts to recreate if without fat or flour fail dismally but eventually she succumbs to olive oil and butter as well as the realization that a few carbs never hurt anyone.

Chicken Marsala, courtesy of Tyler Florence

• 4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)

• All-purpose flour, for dredging

• Kosher salt  and freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced

• 8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved

• 1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.

Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don’t fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.

Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.