Everyday Menus: Lemon Chicken

It feels like spring, even in the frozen North where I live. There's a gentle rain falling outside, melting all of the snow, and the air just feels different; less harsh, kind of soft. So this springlike everyday menu of chicken and pasta fits my mood today. The combination of chicken, fennel, garlic, lemon and grape tomatoes is colorful and flavorful. Serve it over hot cooked linguine. The breadsticks are super easy and really fun to make. And I love fresh spinach in salads; it is so tender and smooth, with a rich nutty taste. The strawberries add wonderful flavor and texture contrast and they look so pretty too. The ice cream dessert should be made ahead - and yes, it does taste just like fudgesicles!

Enjoy this almost-spring menu.

Everyday Menus: Chicken and Pasta

• Lemon Chicken
  This recipe reminds me of shrimp scampi; it uses the same flavor combination. It is creamy, smooth, and very satisfying.
• Soft Garlicky Breadsticks
  There's never enough garlic, in my opinion! These easy breadsticks are fun to make; let your kids help.
• Spinach Strawberry Salad
  You can use your favorite bottled dressing to make this beautiful recipe even easier. Poppy seed would be really good. I love the color combination of the dark spinach leaves and deep ruby strawberries; and it tastes great too!
• Fudgesicle Pie
  This easy dessert tastes just like old-fashioned fudgesicles. Top yours with a dollop of whipped cream and some M&M candies for a great treat.