After The Storm....

....BLUE SKIES

What To Do When Hunkered Indoors....

....COOK! 

 Here is one dish we made while indoors waiting out Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene:

Chicken Pot Pie Barefoot Contessa Style

• 3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 5 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups medium-diced carrots (4 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes
• 1 10-ounce package frozen peas (2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

For The Biscuits:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the chicken breast on a sheet pan and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.  Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.
In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce.  Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and the heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions, and parsley. Mix well. Place the stew in a 10 x 13 x 2-inch oval or rectangular baking dish. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the biscuits. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is the size of peas. Add the half-and-half and combine on low speed. Mix in the parsley. Dump the dough out on a well-floured board and, with a rolling pin, roll out to 3/8-inch thick. Cut out twelve circles with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter.
Remove the stew from the oven and arrange the biscuits on top of the filling. Brush them with egg wash, and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the biscuits are brown and the stew is bubbly.

Note: To make in advance, refrigerate the chicken stew and biscuits separately. Bake the stew for 25 minutes, then place the biscuits on top, and bake for another 30 minutes, until done.

Caesar Salad

Jim and I enjoyed chicken caesar salad tonight....

1 egg
Juice of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove
2/3 cup of olive oil
2 anchovies
1/4 cup or so of freshly grated parmesan or parmesan reggiano
Salt and Pepper
Romaine Lettuce

Finley chop garlic clove and anchovies and create a paste.  Combine lemon juice, garlic clove, egg, salt and pepper and whisk.  Slowly add olive oil while whisking.  Add parmesan and mix again.  Pour over a package of washed and cleaned romaine lettuce.  Add grilled chicken if you'd like and garlic bread.  If you'd like to do homemade croutons take day old bread and chop/tear up saute with olive oil over medium heat.  Top salad with parmesan.

For the garlic bread chop off the top of a head of garlic - put in foil - pour olive oil on top and season with salt and pepper.  If you're short on time put the oven on 425 and cook for 35 mins or 1 hour at 350.  Let cool, squeeze out - mix with melted butter and brush over a baguette you've cut in half.   Heat baguette with garlic butter for 10 mins. at 350.

Oh Canada - Summer Travel

Something Outrageous

And That's Our Show!

Summer In The City

Life After Racing

For the race horse life after the race can be a race for their life.  When a horse is retired from racing it is usually very young, and needs to be worked with to understand life off the track.  To address this need a non profit organization called Trott (training racehorses off the track) formed in January of 2010.  It's an all volunteer program that depends on the support of those who give and all the money raised goes to help the horses in restoring their bodies and spirits. 

Campaign To Help The Children

 

Today marked the start of a celebrity social media campaign, I'm Gonna Be Your Friend, to help the "Save The Children Organization" aid the children of East Africa by raising money to feed the millions of children and families in need.  The food crisis in Somalia and across East Africa is the worst in decades there are as many as 10 million people affected.   I hope this endeavor helps raise awareness, but most of all promotes a great outpouring that helps many.

The song and film can be downloaded through ITunes, from www.imgonnabeyourfriend.org or via Bob Marley's Facebook page, for 99p / $1.29. The Facebook page will also feature click-through links for direct donations to Save the Children's East Africa appeal.

East Village Best Eats...

Our friends own two great places in the East Village.  

Perfect combination of delicious food and fun ambiance.   

Two must experiences:La Cervecia (formerly Bar Paya) and Wine Bar.......

Something To Celebrate

Jim and I just celebrated our 7th anniversary - cheers!.....

Glamour With Your Feet and Legs Capri Style.....

When I was traveling Europe with my family several years ago while on the Isle of Capri we came across this wonderful cobbler making fabulous shoes.

Just a few weeks ago I came across his concept, Tuccia Di Capri, in Henri Bendel NYC.

Capri is also know for the famous Capri pant.

Even Barbie wants to be glamorous with whats on her feet.  

Although not from Capri, but France, 

Christian Louboutin is making his fabulous signature 

red sole shoes for Barbie and FAO is caring his line.

Dream State In Post Production

Brought to you by Dark Kidney Film.