Warm, sunny and a MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN recipe

Good morning Augusta

This morning we have clouds and sun with a high of 79°F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight we’ll have partly cloudy skies, becoming cloudy overnight. Low around 55°F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

The readings from my weather instruments are:

The Dew Point is  52.2°F, the humidity is 61%, and the outdoor temp is 66.4°F.

The wind direction is   West Southwest between 0.1 MPH and 0.2 MPH.

The Relative pressure is 29.93, the Absolute pressure is 29.72 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.

The UV rating is 1 out of 16, Sunrise is 4:54 a.m. Sunset is 8:25 p.m., Moonrise is 9:14 a.m., Moonset is 11:49 p.m. and the moon phase is waxing crescent being 19% illuminated.

The RAW METAR readings from Augusta’s airport are:

METAR KAUG 171053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 16/11 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01560111

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 Kilometers with clear skies.

We didn’t receive any rain here over the past 24 hours.

Space weather for today is:

The Solar flux is 72, the solar wind speed is 305 MPH and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.

You must try this Mediterranean chicken dish.  It isn’t your mother’s chicken dinner by any means. Enjoy.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND ORZO

4 servings

1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1¼ lbs)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 1/3 cups uncooked orzo or Rosa marina pasta

1 can (14½ oz) fat-free chicken broth

½ cup water

1 tbsp chopped fresh or 1 tsp

dried rosemary leaves

½ tsp salt

2 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into fourths, then cut crosswise into slices (1 ½ cups)

3 roma (plum) tomatoes, cut into fourths and sliced (1½ cups)

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (2 oz) if desired

Sliced ripe olives, if desired

Heat oil in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil about 10 minutes, turning once, until brown. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.  Mix garlic, pasta, broth and water in skillet. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese and olives. Add chicken. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring once, until bell pepper is crisp-tender and pasta is tender. Sprinkle with feta cheese and olives.  If your family prefers, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over this skillet instead of using feta cheese and omit the olives.  Quickly completethis meal with warmed purchased focaccia bread and fresh pears or clusters of red grapes.