Olive Garden’s Venetian Apricot Chicken Sunday, Jun 8 2008 

Ingredients

1 bunch asparagus (remove bottom inch of stems)
½ pound broccoli florets
1 tablesppon extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Chopped parsley to garnish

Apricot Sauce
½ cup chicken stock (broth)
½ cup apricot preserves
Salt and pepper to taste

Tomato Mixture
½ pound roma tomatoes, cut into 1” pieces
6 basil leaves, cut into 1/2” pieces
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
Salt to taste

Garlic Herb Seasoning
3 teaspoon garlic pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

Combine garlic herb seasoning ingredients in a small mixing bowl and set aside. Blend chicken stock and apricot preserves in a sauce pan. Add salt & pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Combine tomatoes, basil, garlic pepper and salt in a separate mixing bowl and set aside. Blanch asparagus and broccoli for 1 minute in a pot of salted boiling water. Transfer immediately to ice bath to stop cooking. Coat sauté pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil. While keeping ingredients separated in pan, heat cooled asparagus, broccoli and tomato mixture and until hot. Do not overcook. Grill chicken until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Place grilled chicken on a platter next to hot broccoli and asparagus. Sprinkle garlic herb seasoning on broccoli. Pour tomato mixture on top of vegetables. Top chicken breasts with apricot sauce and garnish with chopped parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

Spiced Apricot Sauce Sunday, Jun 8 2008 

Ingredients

1½ cups Smucker’s Apricot Preserves
½ cup water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

In heavy saucepan, combine preserves and water. Bring to a boil and simmer five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Serve either hot or cold, or use as a glaze for ham or roast pork.

Makes about two cups.