Friday, September 30, 2011

Chicken Marsala Two Ways

When Bryan and I were living alone I would adapt my menus to fit what we both like and don't like.  I like mushrooms - he doesn't.  He likes squash - I do not!!  This meant that we did not have things like these veggies in our diet.  Fast forward to today and now my son, his wife and kids live with us!!  Score for me!!  Andrew likes mushrooms.  Amber likes squash.  A match made in heaven right?  Works for me and frankly that's all that counts since I'm the chef!!

For dinner tonight was Chicken Marsala.  I love marsala - like wanna rub it all over my hands and lick them clean!! I very rarely make it because Bryan doesn't like mushrooms!! Tonight was different though - Andrew was there.  I made two - that's right TWO pans of Chicken Marsala - one with mushrooms and one without mushrooms.  I also made the sauces two different ways - one with a rue to start and one where I used cornstarch and liquid to thicken the sauce in the end.

You may be wondering why there are only 3 pieces of chicken when there are 4 adults for dinner.  Amber doesn't like sauces - don't ask me explain it's just a thing she has.  Her chicken was on the counter with no sauce when I took the pic.

As you can also see from the pic I am a very messy chef.  Sauce is splattered everywhere.  But I've heard this is a sign of a genius at work!! Don't know. What you can't see in the photo is the prosciutto!! Yes ma'am there is Italian bacon in there!!! Everything is good with a little bacon - for that matter everything is good with a little Italian!!

What'd you make for dinner last night?  Do you have to adapt your menus to fit what likes and don't likes are in your house?  Let me know. 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Weekend Wrap-Up

Louise and I headed to the Cape around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.  I wasn't so sure it was going to be a comfortable weekend because of the mugginess but once you drove over the bridge the weather seemed to change.  Don't get me wrong it was muggy but not nearly as bad as at home.  What a difference it makes just going over the bridge!!  We took a nice leisurely drive to Dennisport and, in true girl fashion, we chatted the whole ride.  Once we got to the house in Dennisport we went inside the house and opened up all the windows and doors.  It's like being in another world there - so quite, so calming, no hussle and bussle.  I soooo needed this.  We then quickly got started on prep work which took all of about 45 minutes - Louise had already decorated the place with fall colors and scented candles.  Next, more chatting with Louise - hope I didn't tire her out but I really enjoyed our time alone!!



The girls arrived and we got started right away on dinner! I happened upon a couple of recipes which included bourbon - not that I'm a bourbon person or drinker but I thought we could give it shot - huh no pun intend!!!  First up with the spinach salad with Bourbon Brown Sugar Dressing.



Here's the recipe:
Bourbon Brown Sugar Salad Dressing (for Spinach Salad)

Recipe By :Bima Restaurant, Portland, Oregon
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Restaurant Salads and Salad
Dressings

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
5 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar -- plus
1 teaspoon firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses -- plus
2 teaspoons molasses
1 tablespoon bourbon
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup olive oil
salt

In a small bowl or the bowl of a food processor or blender, mix together
the brown sugar, molasses, bourbon and balsamic vinegar. Slow whisk in
the olive oil.

(If using a food processor or blender, slowly pour the olive oil into the
vinegar mixture with the machine running.) The dressing should be dark
brown and thick. Taste and add salt as needed, Chill and serve over a
salad of spinach leaves, mushrooms, red onion and blue cheese.

Source:
" Oregonian FoodDay, April 2, 1996 "
Yield:
" 1 1/2 cups "

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per serving: 2375 Calories (kcal); 216g Total Fat; (81% calories from fat);
0g Protein; 113g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 50mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fruit; 43
Fat; 7 Other Carbohydrates




I have to tell you I really liked it.  Next time I think I'd thin the dressing a little with more olive oil but it was really good and the blue cheese provided a nice contract to the sweetness of the dressing.

For dinner was Bourbon Pecan Chicken! This was so delicious.  It was really easy and the sauce was excellent.  I highly recommend serving this dish to family or guests.  I served it with plain white rice and stemmed fresh broccoli.  I kept the sides simple so as to not take away from the main focus of the dish - The Chicken!!



The recipe for the chicken came from Allrecipes.com.  Here's the link:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bourbon-Pecan-Chicken/Detail.aspx?prop24=etaf and you can recalculate the recipe for as little as two people!!

Dessert was made compliments of Louise.  It was a perfect accompaniment to the dinner (and we didn't even coordinate).  It had an Oreo cookie and butter base (everything taste good with butter - I'm just saying) and the middle was made with Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk and strawberries.  The outside of it is "frosted" with Cool Whip too!! You'll have to get the recipe for this from Louise though.



The rest of evening was spent playing games (Apples to Apples and Taboo).  We laughed so hard at times. 

In the morning was a wonderful breakfast provided by Brenda.  They are called Dutch Pancakes and OMGoodness they are delicious.  If you have any sense of reason you WILL try these.  They seemed easy enough to make and the taste was just wonderful.

Anything with chocolate is wonderful

Chelsea covered her's with maple syrup and nuts!
So that covers the meals and some of the fun.  I have to start planning the next party - any suggestions?  I love your feedback.  Will keep you posted on my life as a Guinea Pig!!

And, of course a special thank you goes out to Louise for allowing us to stay at her place!  What a wonderful hostess!!

Thank you my dear!





Friday, September 23, 2011

Getting Ready for the Weekend

As many of you know, this weekend is the Guinea Pig Clan's Sleepover!! I've chosen the menu, done the shopping and even did some prep work.  Now all I have to do is pack everything up and I'm ready for tomorrow.  I brought home a box from work for the dry ingredients.  I put the box on the dining room table and started loading in my ingredients!  Made a trip into the kitchen to gather more things and when I came to the table this is what I found!!!


I don't know if she thinks she's coming along - mistake!!! or what she has in mind.  But I do know this she is very comfortable in there.  Now I have to wait till she decides she wants to get out of the box so I can finish loading it up.  That's okay though I have plenty to do.  Gotta go finish - so excited to see all my girls!!!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Less is More

How long does it take you to put on your makeup in the morning.  I'm a "just the basics" kind of girl when it comes to everyday makeup.  I do the foundation, powder, blush, lipstick and mascara.  Sometimes I'll throw on some eyeliner but for the most part with me putting on makeup is a 5-10 minute process.  If it's for a night out then maybe a few minutes more for some extra primping but basically that's it.  However this 5-10 minute process has been extended in the last several months because of a small 2 year old little lady who insists upon "I do it too!!!"  She, of course, must wear the same makeup as gramma and she also must do it herself.  Like any other sophisticated young lady, she is perfectly capable of putting on her own makeup.  Once she was done she proudly announced that she was ready for the day.

The end result!!!
Julia considers herself to be quite the fashionista when it comes to things like makeup!! She definitely prefers to do all things on her own!  Good luck to her mama!!!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Girls Afternoon Out



On Friday we had the pleasure of visiting the Westport Rivers Winery in Westport, MA.  I actually won the tour at a Night out for Autism.  The tour for up to 10 and we all received wine glasses in the end.  We rented a limo - we all chipped in so the expense was little!!! Although I poorly planned the amount of time we would need the limo - I guess I was too excited about getting out with all the girls that I miscalculated!


And of course it wouldn't be a guinea pig event without some snacks.  These are the ham rollups we had.  It was sliced ham, Laughing Cow cheese and a dill pickle!! They were yummy.  Of course we also had crackers and cheese. And no wine tasting is complete without chocolates!



The limo ride was very comfortable and as you can see in the background we were having discussions at solving the world's problems!! Our wonderful driver was Steve. Can you image driving around 9 women to a winery!! Steve deserves a medal!!




This one is called Middle Sister!! Brenda thought she was being funny!



This one is called Mommy's Time Out!! Rachel and Colleen love having time out!

Louse and Sharon enjoying the art offered at the winery.
Our tour guide, Carol (and the owner) was wonderful!


Girls Having Fun!!

We had a great day didn't we girls.  We learned a lot about the wine making process and we had some tremendous laughs. Thank you all for coming along and making the day complete.  I love you all.

And P.S. - Brenda took a lot more pictures than are up here these are just a few for the blog!!



Friday, September 9, 2011

TGIF


Ok so here is how my day started.

Wake up (check)!
Get coffee (check)!
Help Julia get dressed (check)!
Shower (check)!
Get dressed (check)!
Clean cat box (check)!  Note - I do not have a cat, don't want a cat, it's my daughter's cat but it lives with me!!
Clean dog vomit (check)! Note - I do not have a dog, don't want a dog, it's my son's dog but it lives with me!!

Now if you know me at all, you know that I DO NOT do well at all with the last two items on the list.  To say that I was gagging would be an understatement.  I truly thought I was going to cough up a lung or two!! This is a wonderful trait that I inherited from my grandmother and father!!!



Once the gagging was controlled I was able to get on with the rest of my day.  Which actually at this point is going quite well.  Work is pretty much caught up.  Next off to the hospital to visit mom.  And then glory be home for the night!!!

How was your day? Did it start out rough and turn out great or the other way around?

Let's hope I'm in for a better day tomorrow!!

P.S. Please understand that I'm not an animal hater.  I love animals.  I just love them in other people's homes!!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

SLEEPY TIME!!!





So as you all know we have talked about having a sleepover girl's night for some time.  Well here it is girls!! On September 24 we will have a sleepover down the Cape.  Louise has been kind enough to let us use her place in Dennisport!!! I thought we'd do a nice but simple dinner (all new recipes of course) and maybe play some games or just sit around the camp fire and have some wonderful girl talk.  In the morning we can all enjoy breakfast and then depart and go back to reality at home!!  Hope you will be there for this wonderful time of cuddling, snuggling and laughing!!