Alex's Day Off

Alex is making a special birthday dinner for a really good friend. She wants to food to be simple, but filled with flavor. So, she's taking something she eats all the time at home and dresses it up in an evening gown so that it can come to the party too. For her, that's a chicken. A tangy marinated chicken marsala, coasted in breadcrumbs and butter, then baked crispy in the oven. To go with the chicken, a beet pasta tossed with a bright vinaigrette and colorful scallions. So tasty and beautiful. For dessert, Alex bakes a bright lemon cake and coats it in gloppy chocolate frosting.