Lemon Chicken & Green Beans

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a small pot of salted water to boiling on high. Slice into 1-inch-thick rounds. Small dice the potatoes. Peel and mince the garlic. Snap off and discard the stem ends of the green beans; slice in half lengthwise. Using a peeler, remove the yellow rind of the lemon, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter and deseed the lemon.

Place the squash and potatoes on a sheet pan, keeping them separate. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single, even layer. Top the seasoned squash with the garlic and all but a big pinch of the cheese. Roast, rotating the sheet pan halfway through, 20 to 22 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven.

While the vegetables roast, fill a medium bowl with ice water and set aside. Add the green beans to the pot of boiling water and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until bright green and slightly softened. Drain thoroughly and transfer to the bowl of ice water; let stand until the green beans are completely cool. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.

While the green beans cool, pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken, skin sides down; cook 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, and set aside in a warm place.

While the vegetables continue to roast, add the butter and flour to the pan of reserved fond. Cook on medium, stirring frequently and scraping up any fond from the bottom of the pan, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Add the lemon zest, the juice of all 4 lemon wedges and ½ cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Add the blanched green beans and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the green beans are thoroughly coated and heated through. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Divide the roasted vegetables and finished green beans (leaving the sauce in the pan) between 2 plates. Top with the cooked chicken and a few spoonfuls of the pan sauce. Garnish with the remaining cheese. Enjoy!