Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Autumn
As you know, dear reader, I am a fall/winter addict.
Yes, yes. Those of you in the Washington area will be all up in my grille insisting I stop such blasphemous talk. Basically the last two summer have been a complete wash save a few days. Which I am happy as a clam about. But still...I yearn, for the fall, for the crunch of leaves, for the chill of winter. And so, as I have been dreaming, I also have been thinking...about winter stews, about generally cooking and hibernating and I cannot wait. And thus began the search for winter "stick to your ribs" recipes. Just check this out. (of course I wanted to pot a scrumptious looking food photo with it, but wouldn't you know it, this was posted with RAW CHICKEN BREASTS. Come-on dudes at http://www.grit.com/food/recipes/chicken-stew-recipe-zkcz12zsie.aspx . I like your easy recipes, but you gotta update your photo. I am imagining this served with some crusty bread, heavily buttered and perhaps I am wearing sexy flannel owl or cowboy print PJs. Sigh
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, divided
2 sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 pound cooked smoked sausage, such as kielbasa, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 bunch (about 1/2 pound) collard greens, rough-chopped into 2-inch pieces
Hot sauce
In large bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken and toss gently to coat.
In 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes, or until golden brown, turning occasionally. Transfer chicken to plate.
Add remaining oil to pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until translucent and just beginning to brown.
Increase heat to high. Add chicken broth and 3/4 cup water. Scrape up any browned bits. Return chicken to pot, and add sweet potatoes and smoked sausage. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Make paste with remaining flour and remaining water.
Uncover pot and whisk in paste. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 to 6 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, potatoes are tender, and liquid has thickened.
Stir in collard leaves and simmer for additional 2 minutes. Serve immediately, with hot sauce on the side. Yields 4 servings.
Yes, yes. Those of you in the Washington area will be all up in my grille insisting I stop such blasphemous talk. Basically the last two summer have been a complete wash save a few days. Which I am happy as a clam about. But still...I yearn, for the fall, for the crunch of leaves, for the chill of winter. And so, as I have been dreaming, I also have been thinking...about winter stews, about generally cooking and hibernating and I cannot wait. And thus began the search for winter "stick to your ribs" recipes. Just check this out. (of course I wanted to pot a scrumptious looking food photo with it, but wouldn't you know it, this was posted with RAW CHICKEN BREASTS. Come-on dudes at http://www.grit.com/food/recipes/chicken-stew-recipe-zkcz12zsie.aspx . I like your easy recipes, but you gotta update your photo. I am imagining this served with some crusty bread, heavily buttered and perhaps I am wearing sexy flannel owl or cowboy print PJs. Sigh
Southern-Style Chicken Stew Recipe
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, divided
2 sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 pound cooked smoked sausage, such as kielbasa, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 bunch (about 1/2 pound) collard greens, rough-chopped into 2-inch pieces
Hot sauce
In large bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken and toss gently to coat.
In 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes, or until golden brown, turning occasionally. Transfer chicken to plate.
Add remaining oil to pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until translucent and just beginning to brown.
Increase heat to high. Add chicken broth and 3/4 cup water. Scrape up any browned bits. Return chicken to pot, and add sweet potatoes and smoked sausage. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Make paste with remaining flour and remaining water.
Uncover pot and whisk in paste. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 to 6 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, potatoes are tender, and liquid has thickened.
Stir in collard leaves and simmer for additional 2 minutes. Serve immediately, with hot sauce on the side. Yields 4 servings.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Argghhh
At work today, its Saturday. Im feeling very stange today - no sleep last night apart from a new minutes here and there and yesterday was spent in bed all day with a migrane.
I really wish I was with my family - they are at an Instagram meet down in Seattle. We are all IG addicts in our family and so it should be an uber fun day.
I really wish I was with my family - they are at an Instagram meet down in Seattle. We are all IG addicts in our family and so it should be an uber fun day.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
First letter home
So we rushed home with news of a letter from our boy.... Only to find no letter. Still, maybe even better was our super secret password to get us into the base on graduation day with the date for graduation - September 14 th. I can't wait to see him and hug him. Only 50 days to go.
An address....at last
exactly one week and one day after he left, my future sailors ship and address is now available!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Hello friends. Happy July
What a totally exhausting month this has been. Between parties and graduation and birthdays and Elliott shipping out... I feel like I need an escape. Obviously I really want a physical holiday to somewhere wonderfully serene ... So instead I'm taking a mental escape to art. It's amazing how it lifts my spirits.
I'm not sure if you are familiar with Brave Girls Club? I'm starting the soul restoration art class in August 7th and I will be making regular posts of the associated work. If you are interested in looking at this you can access it by selecting the page up above. Course, typical me, I couldn't wait for a few weeks so I have already started the journal
I'm not sure if you are familiar with Brave Girls Club? I'm starting the soul restoration art class in August 7th and I will be making regular posts of the associated work. If you are interested in looking at this you can access it by selecting the page up above. Course, typical me, I couldn't wait for a few weeks so I have already started the journal
I think this is the perfect title page - a reminder to myself to seek for beauty AND it's my current favorite song. I was humming it yesterday and Deanna was quite surprised when she recognized it "Hey! That's a worship song"..... It is, and not usually on the iPod playlist but I just think this is such a gorgeous song. Let me know what you think.
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