Monthly Archives: January 2019

I really thought this was going to be an easy one.

It was the first workday of the year and my bosses were still on vacation, so I ducked out of the office early to partake in the yearly event we all know and look forward to with bated breath. Say it with me: ENDIVE SEASON. The kids all clamor for endives! “Mommy, have the endives come into season yet?” “Not yet, my sweet, but the winter’s bitter greens will be on shelves shortly if you wish your very hardest!” An all-too familiar scene played out in homes across the country this time of year. (The internet tells me endives are actually available year-round due to the magic of capitalism, but true endive-heads know endive season can only be found within your heart.)

Years ago, I made Gwyneth’s Chicken Milanese, but only made one of the four “special” recipes she includes as toppings (back then, we ran out of paper towels and I ended up patting my chicken breasts dry with toilet paper, which I now see was FORESHADOWING). Since one of the recipes features endives, and the other three incorporate relatively easy-to-find ingredients year round (a Gwyneth rarity!), I figured I’d hop on the endive season madness sweeping the nation and would finally knock out all five(!) recipes that make up Chicken Milanese: Four Very Special Ways. And, for good measure, I’d tackle her Endive Salad as well. AND, because I’m psychotic, I’d throw in a simple pasta recipe from Melissa Clark’s “Dinner,” quickly becoming my favorite cookbook of all time. (We’ll talk more about this later, but you should know that Melissa Clark is perfect.) Continue reading →