For Austin I. (BS ’01, MIS ’02) and Athena Webb Hammer (’02), food is a family affair. Both began
cooking young. As a high schooler, Austin would cook gigantic family breakfasts on Saturdays that “would take up a third of our table with all the plates and bowls.” When the couple met in a BYU singles ward and began dating, they started cooking meals for each other. The first thing Austin cooked for Athena was lemon chicken, while her first offering was cheese-stuffed mushrooms. This cemented their love of cooking for life.
The Hammers quickly graduated from following recipes to creating their own. Athena says their five children were basically raised in the kitchen: “They can all cook.” Here is one Hammer family classic.
Tuscan Chicken
Unable to find good Italian food in Utah County, Athena came up with this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 c. chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
- 16 oz. baby spinach
- 1/2 c. heavy cream
- 1 oz. freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish
- 2 oz. goat cheese
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and oregano. Cook chicken in oil until golden and no longer pink, about 8 minutes per side. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Deglaze skillet with chicken broth and lemon juice. Add and melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until tomatoes begin to burst. Add mushrooms and spinach and cook until spinach begins to wilt.
Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, and goat cheese. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and cook until heated through.
Serve with lemon wedges and extra Parmesan, if desired. Can be served over pasta or rice or with a side of bread.
