I Was Leery Of Watercress, But Bought It Anyway...

That was some darn good chicken!
(and the salad wasn't bad either)

Look, if you have read anything I have written on this blog, it is well established that new food makes me nervous.  I was all for the Grilled Cheesy Chicken Breasts with Prosciutto part of this recipe, it was the fact they pigeon holed me into the side item that made me nervous.  AND...Watercress Apricot Salad....can I substitute, oh I don't know....lettuce?

I went to the grocery store with my "new food" mentality.  If they don't have the item or if it's cost inhibitive, I'm making my own substitution.  Lettuce or spinach is right in my budget and food I have tried before...  Unfortunately, watercress was like a dollar for a bunch.  I was almost mad about it.  Manhandling the watercress.  I stuck it in the bag and went to the check out.  The lady looked at me when the watercress (in all it's gloating glory) rolled up on the conveyor belt and said, "what is that?".  You know...I don't even know what the heck a watercress is, but I did know that was watercress.  Stupid watercress, is what I wanted to say, but I managed a shrug of my shoulders and a "watercress?".    She looked at me and then at it...and did a nod and went into her magic book of skew numbers.  I was, fingers crossed, she wouldn't be able to find it, because if the check out girl doesn't know what that bunch of green stuff is, I probably don't want to eat it, because that means no one is eating it.  "Oh! Here it is!"  Worst four words in the English language.  And it was cheaper than it was marked in the produce aisle.  Stupid watercress.

Everything went very smoothly with the recipe.  It was, in fact, a 30 minute supper.  Everyone sat down at dinner and everyone went straight for the chicken.  I waited...holding my breath as everyone moved to try the "salad".  Funnily enough, no one hated it.  In fact, they ate it all.  So, I tried the stupid watercress.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.  It was kind of peppery, but since the apricots were sweet and the dressing had honey in it....it was actually really, and I hate to admit it....good.

The Ingredients
(I had to substitute the cheese for Fontina
and made a small version of the salad)

What's not to love about a
pocket of cheese?

Watercress and Apricot Salad
(I had some left over Fontina and
put it into the salad)

Hot off the grill...
only one cheese pocket leaked.

Cook's Country Aug/Sept 2012