Creamy Grilled Chicken Piccata

Chicken
Juice of 1 lemon (3Tbsp)
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp basil or oregano
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Pasta
2 cups dried Penne pasta
2 Tbsp butter
Juice of 2 lemons (6 Tbsp)
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup half and half (or heavy cream)
2 tsp dried basil
2 Tbsp capers
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese



Chicken
Combine first 6 ingredients and mix well.  Place chicken in a zip lock bag and pour marinade over chicken.  Marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (Overnight marinade may intensify the flavor but is optional. I cooked mine right after mixing.)  When ready, grill until done.  Allow chicken to rest for a few minutes and then slice into strips to serve over pasta.

Pasta
While chicken is grilling.  Cook pasta according to directions (10-12 minutes).  Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain.  In same sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat.  Whisk in garlic and lemon juice.  Pour in half and half and whisk until hot.  Add some salt and pepper to taste.  Add the Parmesan cheese, basil and capers, and heat until cheese is melted.  Check the consistency of the sauce and add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if necessary.  Toss in pasta.

Serve in pasta bowls with grilled chicken on top.  Sprinkle with more Parmesan if desired.

Week of Workouts - HAPPY Friday

How To Pull Off The Perfect Marriage Proposal

Spring is a popular time for weddings, so we thought this might spark more proposals as well. Don't forget to insure that ring along with things you may purchase like a home and cars. Also, you may want to find out if insuring your wedding would be the right choice for you. For some, bad weather or other unforeseeable events could mean a venue deposit gone to waste.

Erie Insurance makes a purchase, one with history.

Have you ever wanted to know just what really was going on with that little building across from Erie Insurance's headquarters?  Well, we've got the information you're looking for.

A January 23rd news story by the Achievement Center clues us in on the fact that they will be expanding (great news!) and therefore sold their building to Erie Insurance for $1.5 million.

Why is this interesting, you may ask?

"Constructed in 1910, the building, known at that time as the C.F. Adams Building, was purchased by Erie Insurance in 1938 to serve as its Home Office location. The company sold it to the Achievement Center, formerly the Erie County Crippled Children’s Society, in the mid-1950s. Erie Insurance views the transaction as beneficial to the Achievement Center and its clients, to the greater Erie community, and to the company. 

“We believe in the good work the Achievement Center is doing and want to support its expansion efforts,” said Chip Dufala, executive vice president of Services for Erie Insurance. “We view this as an opportunity to invest in the Bayfront neighborhood and add to the Home Office campus, reclaiming an important part of Erie Insurance history.” 

The Achievement Center has expanded to become the northwest region’s largest community-based provider of early intervention, physical rehabilitation, autism spectrum, ADHD, and children’s mental/behavioral health services. The agency must acquire other space in Erie in order to keep up with the demand for services for children with special needs. By its purchase of the East Sixth Street Achievement Center facility, Erie Insurance has made it possible for the agency to pursue a new headquarters that will improve and expand our services to local children. 

The Achievement Center provides therapeutic services to nearly 4,300 children annually with physical disabilities, developmental delays, emotional/behavioral problems, ADHD and autism spectrum disorders in Erie, Crawford, Forest, Warren, PA, and Chautauqua, NY counties."

Two-A-Days Workout... The Easier Way

Don't let yourself be the person who always has a reason as to why they can't workout today.  If you start today, and stick with it, you will see results.  Just remember, results take time but it will be worth it.  If it were easy, every one would be fit :)

Find 2 times throughout the day to squeeze in these exercises, whether it's before work, after work, before bed, or on your lunch break.

Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Salad Dressing

Italian Dressing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian spices
• 1 teaspoon salt
• black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 envelopes Good Seasons Italian Dressing, prepared per directions on envelope with white distilled vinegar

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until combined, about 30 seconds.
2. Pour into small bowl and cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Stir before serving.
4. **Don’t forget, add your 2 prepared recipes of Italian Dressing from the envelopes (I used Good Seasonings brand) to this.  Yes, it makes a good amount of dressing.  Halve the recipe or put it in the fridge, you’ll drink it later.

Week of Workouts - Thursday