Ummmmm, I love chicken

Even though  I haven`t been posting recipes lately, doesn`t mean we haven`t been eating well.  Chicken is on the menu most nights as we do not eat red meat. I am always looking for new and differnt ways to serve it. I find the internet a great source for recipes.

When using boneless chicken breast, I find one breast makes two servings, especially if you are adding cheese to the dish.

Here`s a few of the chicken meals I have prepared lately.

Braised chicken thighs, which is a variation of this recipe.  I used grated carrots in place of the mushrooms, frozen spinach in place of fresh.  Mighty tasty, wonderfully cheap dish.

Chicken pork lettuce. The only variation I made on this recipe, was to serve it over a bed of chopped lettuce, rather than making lettuce rolls.  Definitely a make again recipe.  No need to order take out with meals like this. Take a few minutes to check out Yes, we cook!

Cindy`s Cajun chicken – this idea is from a co-worker.  Cut one large boneless skinless chicken breast into chunks.  Sprinkle with cajun spice.  Cook in a bit of olive oil.  Remove from pan, keep warm.  In the pan toss onions, red peppers, celery, green peppers and mushrooms.  Saute.  Add chicken back into pan, sprinkle with more spice if desired.   Brush a pita lightly with mayonnaise,  sprinkle lightly with grated cheese, and chopped lettuce.   Add chicken vegetable mixture.  Eat with a fork, as you don`t want to miss a bit.

Snow Day

According to my DH,  shoveling out from this storm is as bad as  shoveling sh*t.   He was  raised on a farm, so he knows his sh*t.  The snow is wet, heavy and difficult to move.  For the past hour he has been out in the yard shoveling as the snow is too heavy for the snow blower.  He punctuates his labour  with short breaks to bring me the status of the storm.   Everything is covered with a thin layer of ice, topped with a thick layer of snow, and we are not out of the woods yet.   Parts of the province are without power, and might be so until 6:00 o`clock tonight.  The storm will combine with a another storm front tomorrow, so we will have nasty weather until Tuesday.

While my DH is out in the cold, wet, snow I am indoor fondling fabric.  I intend to spend the rest of the day sewing, with brief intervals of cooking.  Sounds fair to me.

Today`s menu will be made from recipes I found on the web. Chili and southwestern drop biscuits from Yes, we cook!  for lunch.    Saturday nights` dinner and a movie will be baked egg rolls from Under a Blue and Moon and our all time favourite carrot and pork dumplings from Retorte, and chicken and pork lettuce wraps, thanks again to Yes, we cook!

So if you`re hungry come on over, my DH should have the driveway shoveled by then.

I love a bargain

During the summer months, I spend Saturday mornings going to yard sales.  Best selling books from 2 years ago I buy at the Great Canadian Dollars store for $3.00.  When I finish reading these, I trade them at Reads in Fredericton towards other books.   Most of my clothing comes from Value Village or other type of reassigned clothing stores.  I shop for the best price and rarely buy anything that has not been discounted.  Groceries shopping is no exception.    Today was an exceptionally  good discount day at the local Sobeys, including 10x the Air mile points on orders over $50.00.

I am a big fan of the Europe`s Best Frozen Fruit and vegetables line, especially the frozen raspberries.   This past summer I found coupons for $2.00 off a bag of frozen fruit.   This morning I came across a coupon for a free bag of vegetables with every purchase of two bags of frozen fruit.   Not only did I get a bag of vegetables free, I also received $2.00 off each bag of fruit I purchased.  For a total of $12.00, I purchased $27.00 in frozen fruits and vegetables.   I prefer fresh fruit and vegetables, but during the cold months of winter frozen taste better than  produce trucked in from California.  Besides deep dish berry pie or Pavlova will help warm these dark winter days.

Easy Sunday Dinner – Orzo with chicken

As I spent most of Sunday sewing, this recipe was the perfect dinner to make on a busy day. What I enjoy about this recipe, besides the taste  is the versatility.   Instead of fresh,  I used Europe`s Best Chef`s Spinach.

In place of canned tomatoes, I added whole tomatoes from the freezer which I froze this fall.  After a quick blanching in hot water, the tomato skin slipped off easily.   All I had to do was roughly chop the tomatoes.    I omitted the chicken altogether.

Marinated pork tenderloin, along with a pepper mushroom stir fry completed the meal.  It took me longer to cut the veggies for the stir fry, then it took for the main dish to cook.

If you want a vegan dish, omit the chicken.  Shrimp would be a good substitute.  This would also be a great pot luck dish.   Enjoy!

Quite the night

Snow, rain, freezing rain, hurricane force wind and one hell of a fire.  Last night we stayed up until 2:00 a.m. due to the storm.  At once point a large shingle flew off our roof and later we were without power for 45 minute.  Over 48,000 homes in the province lost power last night.

Luckily we have a propane fireplace which does not depend on electricity plus we have a generator.   A local landmark however was not as fortunate.   The Opera House burned to the ground last evening in the midst of the storm.

Today the forecast is for 20 to 60 cm of more snow.  I plan to spend the day cooking, baking Leftover Christmas muffins (the recipe is on our family blog Never Trust a Skinny Cook)  reading and quilting.  Ironically enough, the fabric I am sewing with is titled,  It Spring Yet?  In the middle of this two day noreaster,  spring seems a long ways away.

Another round of eating

At 4:00 p.m. this afternoon the usual cast of characters will gather at our home for pot luck to celebrate the end of the year.  To prevent a repeat of the great Christmas leftovers, we planned this evenings menu with a bit more care.  I am responsible for the appetizers ( cooked shrimp with homemade seafood sauce,  artichoke dip)  and dessert (profiteroles and a fruit tray with cream cheese fruit dip).   A pot of beans with gravy will round off my contribution.

The neighbours will be toting barbecue ribs, salad, basmati rice and the domino game.

Another rousing night which will wrap up no later than 9:30.  By 10:00 we will all be in our own homes fast asleep.  As in previous years, we trust the New Year will arrive without us being witnesses.   So where ever you are, or what ever way you are celebrating, have a safe and Happy New Year Eve.

A good time was had by all

How do you top an evening of Mixed Nuts and Chinese food.  Easy! Decide to cook a dish for Christmas dinner that is complicated especially one you have never attempted before.   When I read Retorte Solstice Dinner entry I knew I had to try the spiral cut, sausage-stuffed, bacon latticed pork loin roast.   On Christmas morning as I lay in bed sipping my tea I questioned my own sanity.  The stuffing I prepared on Christmas Eve.  Of course I deviated from her recipe.  I used Cajun spice instead of chipotle, omitted the cheese and used dried cranberries soaked in maple syrup.    Often when I am up for a new adventure my DH becomes the voice of reasoning.  Put me and a sharp knife in the same room and one of us will be rushed to the hospital for  stitches.  As we did not know which doctor was working at the Emergency room Christmas Day, DH suggested he spiral cut the pork.

With a newly sharpened knife the cutting was incredibly easy.  His basket weaving ability shone through and made the bacon lattice seem simple.  Within 30 minutes the roast was cut, stuffed, tied, latticed, in the oven, the entire work surface sterilized and the knives scalded with hot water.

I made two gluten free desserts, Pumpkin Filling (once again thanks to Retorte) which I served as a mousse without the crust and Raspberry Layered Dessert with a cornflake crust.  As we were doing potluck with the neighbours, I cooked mashed turnips with carrots, and a side of steamed Brussels sprouts.   The neighbours arrived with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, chicken biryani, mixed vegetables in a cheese sauce, trays of sweet and a gluten free trifle.

The entire day was peaceful and unhurried.  DH sat the dinner table with our Christmas china immediately after breakfast.   I can handle any cooking disaster as long as the table is set.  Telephone calls from my children, my sister Wanda, my brother, Julia arrival to spend the night and a call to our cousin San were really the highlight of our day.  To me that is what Christmas is all about, being with the ones you love.

It is beginning to look a bit like Christmas

Outside it was minus 12 but inside the house was warm and toasty.  We spent a quiet day at home, with friends visiting for brunch.  The main course could not have been any easier, and very tasty.  A crust-less quiche is always a hit.  A tossed salad and a pot of home made soup from my friend J completed the meal.

I also baked gluten free bread from a mix.  Although the texture was not what I expected, the taste was very good.  Gluten free or whole wheat, nothing warms the house like the smell of baked bread.

My DH spent the rest of the afternoon putting up the indoor Christmas lights.  Our home has 22 windows.  I find a simple candelabra looks best.  What do you think?

Comfort food for a cold day

The temperature did not get up pass minus 14 degrees today.  Combined with blustery winds this was one mean cold day.  To heat my soul and my home on winter days I like to bake dinner in the oven.   For years I’ve made dry garlic spareribs using store bought sauce.  But no more!  When I found this recipe on the Internet, I could not believe how easy the sauce was to make, and at a fraction of the cost of bottled sauce.   The ribs were on sale this week for $1.47 a pound.   The total cost of the ribs including sauce was $6.00.   The sides included coleslaw, mashed potatoes and sliced carrots.

Honey Garlic Spareribs

• 4 pounds pork spareribs, cut in serving-size pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• salt
• garlic powder
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced

Preparation:

Season spareribs with salt, garlic powder, and pepper; arrange in a 13×9x2-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 325° for one hour, or until tender; drain off all liquid. In a saucepan, combine honey, vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Drizzle honey mixture over spareribs and bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes, basting frequently. Pork spareribs recipe serves 4.

There’s snow in them there hills

Batten down the hatches and dig out the shovels. There is one hell of a snow storm headed our way. Instead of making a pot of soup before this storm, I’m living on the wild side and making bacon! Bacon Sloppy Joes that is.   This tasty recipe is even better on day two.   I serve these with oven baked home fries, coleslaw and canned peas.  Comfort food at it’s best.    Happy Snow Day!

Bacon Sloppy Joes