Friday, April 1, 2011
Curry Chicken Salad
4 bone in skin on chicken breast
2 cups red seedless grapes
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1 cup of Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 tbs. fresh parsley (optional)
1/2 chopped celery (optional)
Heat chicken in oven for 35 – 45 mins till cooked and tender. Let cool. Peel apart chicken and put in a bowl. Put grapes, almonds, mayonnaise, soy sauce, curry powder, salt and pepper in with chicken and mix well. Ready to serve or chill in refrigerator. Great for lunches during the week or just to have something in the fridge to snack on.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fun Fashions
This past weekend I reconnected with a friend and visited her store Idiom across from Yale University in New Haven, CT. It was great to see her again and catch up, also I found some fabulous finds in her cute store. I got some colorful earrings for spring made by metal monk. Love a Kristin Ford piece she has, the Loren Hope hoop earrings, Bed Head pajamas, Michael Stars, and more. You can become a fan of Idiom on facebook.Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Birthday Risotto
Jim requested mushroom risotto if we didn't go out to eat. As it so happens he caught whatever bug I caught and wasn't feeling well. He wanted to come home and have some comfort food.
Mushroom Risotto adapted from Tyler Florence.
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth, low sodium
- 4 cups water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 onion, diced, divided
- 2 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- 1 pound fresh portobello and crimini mushrooms, sliced
- 2 bay leaves (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped (can use spice from jar)
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon truffle oil
- 1-ounce dried porcini mushrooms, wiped of grit
- 2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese and Parmesan Regiano grated
- Fresh Italian parsley, for garnish
Directions
Pour one cup of broth into a bowl and heat till warm in microwave (30 - 45 sec.). Put porcini mushrooms in that bowl and cover with saran wrap for 10 mins. Drain excess water into pot of broth water mixter.
Heat the chicken broth and water in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic, cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms, herbs and butter. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in truffle oil then add the dried porcini mushrooms which were reconstituted in1 cup of warm chicken broth. Season again with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Saute 1 minute then remove from heat and set aside.
Coat a saucepan with remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute the remaining 1/2 onion and garlic clove. Add the rice and stir quickly until it is well-coated and opaque, 1 minute. This step cooks the starchy coating and prevents the grains from sticking. Stir in wine and cook until it is nearly all evaporated.
Now, with a ladle, add 1 cup of the warm broth and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed the liquid. Add the remaining broth, 1 cup at a time. Continue to cook and stir, allowing the rice to absorb each addition of broth before adding more.
The risotto should be slightly firm and creamy, not mushy. Transfer the mushrooms to the rice mixture. Stir in Parmesan cheese, cook briefly until melted. Serve with Top with Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Heat the chicken broth and water in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic, cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms, herbs and butter. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in truffle oil then add the dried porcini mushrooms which were reconstituted in1 cup of warm chicken broth. Season again with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Saute 1 minute then remove from heat and set aside.
Coat a saucepan with remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute the remaining 1/2 onion and garlic clove. Add the rice and stir quickly until it is well-coated and opaque, 1 minute. This step cooks the starchy coating and prevents the grains from sticking. Stir in wine and cook until it is nearly all evaporated.
Now, with a ladle, add 1 cup of the warm broth and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed the liquid. Add the remaining broth, 1 cup at a time. Continue to cook and stir, allowing the rice to absorb each addition of broth before adding more.
The risotto should be slightly firm and creamy, not mushy. Transfer the mushrooms to the rice mixture. Stir in Parmesan cheese, cook briefly until melted. Serve with Top with Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tessie's Birthday
We've been celebrating Tess turning 1 today. When we were at Canine Style this weekend the manager who knows Tess kindly gave her some special treats. Boy did she love her very own pink cupcake! She did share a blue one with her brother which he enjoyed. She is having a joint birthday party with Jim this weekend - birthday celebrations continue! Photo of Jim and Tessie this winter I love......
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Straight As The Crow Flies
Not too long ago Hoda of Kathie Lee and Hoda mentioned a little know song - "straight as the crow flies." Kim Richey is talented and her song has heart, soul, a good sound, as well as a good message. Enjoy! Thanks Hoda!
Roasting Garlic & Garlic Bread
I love roasting garlic and make garlic butter for my bread. You can use homemade or store bought bread - baguette, ciabatta - whatever you like.
First: Take your garlic head and cut off the base or you could cut off the top - either or.
Second: Put your garlic in foil, pour olive oil, and grind salt over it then close the foil around the entire head of garlic.
Third: Turn your oven on 375 (no need to preheat) and put the foil with the garlic in the oven and leave there for 50 mins.
Take out, open, and let cool. Then squeeze the garlic out in a small dish and add olive oil or melted butter and mix together. Then take a brush and brush onto your bread. Top with parmesan or asiago cheese and bake in the oven on 350 for 10 mins. Goes great with any meal or by itself.
First: Take your garlic head and cut off the base or you could cut off the top - either or.
Second: Put your garlic in foil, pour olive oil, and grind salt over it then close the foil around the entire head of garlic.
Third: Turn your oven on 375 (no need to preheat) and put the foil with the garlic in the oven and leave there for 50 mins.
Take out, open, and let cool. Then squeeze the garlic out in a small dish and add olive oil or melted butter and mix together. Then take a brush and brush onto your bread. Top with parmesan or asiago cheese and bake in the oven on 350 for 10 mins. Goes great with any meal or by itself.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Magical Moments
(photos from a friends Iphone)
As I looked at my sister on her wedding day I remembered a little girl full of wonder who played dress up and believed in fairytales and magic. That evening I saw all the magic and wonder of fairytales coming true.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
First Lady's $35 Dress
First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on the Today show in February 2011 wearing a $35 dress from H&M. Great that she demonstrates fashion does not have to break the bank. She demonstrates that she's still very much a real person, a real wife, a real mom. While she holds a very respected, important title she also still holds the position of being real. Many of us, in reality, can't afford to spend more than $35 for a dress. Her actions reiterate the old truth in which our confidence shouldn't come from what we wear or how much we spend on our things. What we wear isn't what defines us, but rather what we do with what is given to us is what defines who we are.
"And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us - no matter what our age or background or walk of life - each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation." Michelle Obama
"And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us - no matter what our age or background or walk of life - each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation." Michelle Obama
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Balsamic Reduction
What an easy, delicious salmon sauce that is usable again and again! Get a 16 oz bottle of cheap balsamic vinegar and boil it to it reduces to about half a cup place it in a bottle like you'd use for olive oil a nice smaller half bottle of wine works perfect and it will keep for up to 3 months.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Moving Tips
Packing:
- Label your stuff well i.e.: summer tops
- Pack your clothes in garbage bags and then in boxes
- Label all sides with what room and check fragile – whatever is needed etc
- Spend the money for bubble wrap, packing paper, and boxes it's important to pack china etc well
- Be detailed in labeling your boxes i.e.: 3 glass bowels, 4 red glasses, 4 white coffee mugs etc
- Give yourself time start 6 weeks in advance do an hour or so each day
Unpacking:
1. Move boxes into their specific rooms and organize in a fashion where you can walk around
2. Move the big furniture like you want it (you may have to move boxes several times to do this)
3. Start unpacking your boxes room by room one by one - most important areas first i.e.: bed & kitchen
4. With your big furniture in place and boxes piled in one place in each room you will not be overwhelmed
5. Clean as you go i.e: clean the area you pick for your TV then set your TV up same for sofa etc
6. Again give yourself 6 weeks to get settled if working full time much less if not working 1 - 2 weeks
If you don't have someone packing and/or moving you these tips are for you. In our latest move we did it all ourselves with the gracious help of family and friends along the way. These were some of the tips that we learned and thought we'd pass on in hopes to help others who are like us and taking on a move themselves.
Our move lead us cross country one big reason of which was for me to chase my lifetime dream of acting. We stayed with friends along our journey from the south to the north. We had to pack several things for living through the fall and part of winter with Jim's parents while we transitioned into NYC. Upon arriving in the fall we unloaded truck into storage unit - in the winter we reloaded the truck to move to NYC - then unloaded the truck in NYC, mind you a 24 foot truck. What a move! Glad we are settled into our NYC home now.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Super Bowl
Pizza and the Super Bowl.....

A joint effort:
I made the dough
Jim rolled it out
We both topped it
Jim put it in the oven
I served
We both enjoyed!
While we wished our Pats were in the super bowl Congrats to Green Bay!
I made the dough
Jim rolled it out
We both topped it
Jim put it in the oven
I served
We both enjoyed!
While we wished our Pats were in the super bowl Congrats to Green Bay!
Easy Shrimp Dish We Enjoyed Last Night
Ellie Krieger, "So Easy"
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp (20 to 25 per pound), peeled and deveined
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups cooked orzo pasta, preferably whole-wheat
Preparation
Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, then add the shrimp and cook, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the oil remaining in the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and basil and season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Return the shrimp to the pan and cook just until heated through. Serve with the orzo.
Per serving: Calories 380
Total fat 10 g
Sat fat 1.5 g
Mono fat 5.5 g
Poly fat 2 g
Protein 35 g
Carb 35 g
Fiber 4 g
Cholesterol 215 mg
Sodium 490 mg
Excellent source of: Copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, protein, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin K.
Good source of: Calcium, fiber, potassium, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc.
Makes 4 servings
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Chicken Salad
I took an old familiar Arkansas recipe last week and revamped it coming up with this.....
4 bone in skin on chicken breast
2 - 4 celery stalks
2 cups of grapes
1/4 cup of fresh italian parsley (a handful)
2 tbs of chopped fresh basil (a handful)
1 tsp of dry mustard
1/2 of a small white onion
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 and 1/2 cup of Mayo
1/4 cup of half and half
Pour olive oil over chicken and rub on then add salt and pepper to both sides and cook in the oven on 350 for 30 – 40 mins. Let cool. While cooling sauted diced onion with olive oil until clear. Cut up celery. Give your parsley and basil a ruff julian chop and wash and prep your grapes. After chicken cools take skin off and debone. Shred with your hands and do different sizes in a bowl. Add your celery, grapes, parsley, basil, dry mustard, onion, salt and pepper, mayo and 1/2 & 1/2 and stir. Put in fridge – enjoy at your leisure.
We enjoyed - hope you do too!
4 bone in skin on chicken breast
2 - 4 celery stalks
2 cups of grapes
1/4 cup of fresh italian parsley (a handful)
2 tbs of chopped fresh basil (a handful)
1 tsp of dry mustard
1/2 of a small white onion
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 and 1/2 cup of Mayo
1/4 cup of half and half
Pour olive oil over chicken and rub on then add salt and pepper to both sides and cook in the oven on 350 for 30 – 40 mins. Let cool. While cooling sauted diced onion with olive oil until clear. Cut up celery. Give your parsley and basil a ruff julian chop and wash and prep your grapes. After chicken cools take skin off and debone. Shred with your hands and do different sizes in a bowl. Add your celery, grapes, parsley, basil, dry mustard, onion, salt and pepper, mayo and 1/2 & 1/2 and stir. Put in fridge – enjoy at your leisure.
We enjoyed - hope you do too!
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