Sunday, June 30, 2013
Orange-Balsamic Glazed Chicken
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Here Come New Ideas for Volunteering
Many of us can profess to leading busy lives. Between working full time, taking care of the family, cleaning the house, and running errands, you probably hardly have any time for yourself.
One way to get some time to yourself is to do some volunteer work. I volunteer at the local theater, The Ivoryton Playhouse, as an Usher. I also help them with some online marketing whenever I can. I enjoy this kind of volunteer work because I love the theater and it is a way to make new friends. My interest in the theater came from my Grandmother, now I continue on the tradition with my Mother. We usher together.
Another way I found gratifying to give back to the community was to volunteer as a Friendly Visitor for the local Assisted Living/Convalescent Home. As people grow older they find many of their friends and relatives pass away over time. Older people also develop more health problems and they need some support or friendship because they become lonely. This program was created to help give them a better quality of life. Someone other than their family they can turn to talk to and have some fun. They bring in a Friendly Visitor.
I was vetted through an agency in my local, and matched with a person in the Convalescent Home. I told them my likes and dislikes. The Home gave me the rules. I follow the dress code, and follow some safety and cleanliness guidelines. More or less I am there to be a friend for someone who needs a friend.
We play game like scrabble and rummy. You can be matched up with someone who shares you interests. Many people need letters written for relatives for them, or just someone they can talk to. It is a way to pay it forward, perhaps you might have your own Friendly Visitor in the future. It is a way to give back.
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| The Ivoryton Playhouse, Ivoryton, CT |
Another way I found gratifying to give back to the community was to volunteer as a Friendly Visitor for the local Assisted Living/Convalescent Home. As people grow older they find many of their friends and relatives pass away over time. Older people also develop more health problems and they need some support or friendship because they become lonely. This program was created to help give them a better quality of life. Someone other than their family they can turn to talk to and have some fun. They bring in a Friendly Visitor.
I was vetted through an agency in my local, and matched with a person in the Convalescent Home. I told them my likes and dislikes. The Home gave me the rules. I follow the dress code, and follow some safety and cleanliness guidelines. More or less I am there to be a friend for someone who needs a friend.
We play game like scrabble and rummy. You can be matched up with someone who shares you interests. Many people need letters written for relatives for them, or just someone they can talk to. It is a way to pay it forward, perhaps you might have your own Friendly Visitor in the future. It is a way to give back.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Simple Chicken Cutlets
Broccoli
I purchased broccoli crowns at the supermarket and cut the up. I steamed them. I put an inch of water with some salt in a half quart pan, and placed a metal steamer inside.
Noodles
For the noodles you should follow the directions on the package. They are all a little different because it all depends on the thickness of the noodle. A little science knowledge from Alton Brown can go a long way. Water and salt is the keep to good noodles.Always add salt to the water. Make sure you cook the noodles in plenty of water. Butter before placing on the table.
Chicken breasts
all purpose flour
eggs
plain breakcrumbs or panko
canola oil
black pepper
salt
Line everything up in this order.
Clean and prepare the chicken cutlets. Pat dry.
Place some flour on a plate seasoned with salt and pepper.
Beat some eggs in a bowl. If you are cooking 6 or 8 chicken cutlets you will need at least 3 eggs .
Place panko or plain breadcrumbs on a plate.
Start by dipping cutlets in flour. Work to cover thoroughly.
Dip the cutlet in the egg.
Then place the chicken in the panko or plain bread crumbs. Cover thoroughly.
When almost all the cutlets are covered, heat a deep saute pan at medium high heat. When hot add some canola oil.
When the oil is hot and sizzles add the chicken cutlets, cook until the cutlets are browned on both sides, turning once, and make sure the chicken is no longer pink in the middle or 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
Note: For this recipe I used large organic eggs, and organic chicken cutlets, treated with no chemicals.
The chicken cutlets were a hit!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Pleasantville Meatloaf Revisited
When I had originally started blogging in 2009 my boyfriend wanted me to make a meatloaf so I made this one, but what I didn't say was that the recipe serves 8 people and he didn't want me to make this gigantic meatloaf for 2 people. He wanted me to make it much smaller, so I cut the recipe down.
Pleasantville Meatloaf
Adapted from Dinner and a Movie
Serves 3-4
Glaze:
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
For the loaf:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 Vidilia onion or 1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon dried herbs (basil, oregano, parsley, etc.)
1 1/4 t Worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 1/4 lbs meatloaf mix
In a small bowl mix the glaze ingredients and set aside.
In another small bowl place the buttermilk and oatmeal to sit for at least for 5 minutes or more.
Saute onions and garlic in the tablespoon olive oil until translucent about minutes or so.
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl place the beaten egg, yogurt, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, dried herbs, oatmeal, and meatloaf mix. Add the onions and garlic and mix to combine.
Note: Meatloaf will appear liquidy, but the oatmeal and the meatloaf will soak up the liquid.
Pull out a roaster pan or a cookie sheet with a rim and place aluminum foil on top. Oil the aluminum foil. Dump the Meatloaf atop the aluminum foil and use the aluminum foil to center it and shape the meatloaf.
The meatloaf takes about an hour to cook. The thermometer should read 165 F.
After 45 minutes put the rest of the glaze on the meatloaf.
When the meatloaf is finished take out of the oven and eat to your hearts content.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Chicken Teriyaki
This recipe, just to let you know is written for the broiler, but you, of course, may obviously, also cook it on the grill. It is considered a very might summer recipe, excellent to be served with salad, perfect for Memorial Day Weekend!
For this recipe you will need:
a whole chicken, cut into pieces, or 2 and a half or 3 lbs chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or whatever you like
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sherry
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 garlic glove, chopped
1 teaspoon ginger
Vegetable oil for oiling roasting pan or grill
Place the chicken pieces into a shallow pan or a marinating pan along with the other rest of the ingredients and marinate in the refrigerator for two hours or more.
After the two hours has passed or when you are ready to broil or grill the chicken. Oil the broiler pan or the grill with the vegetable oil. If broiling, broil the chicken 5 to 6 inches away from the broiler unit. Broil until 8 minutes on each side, basting frequently. Cook until chicken is cooked through.
The chicken was excellent, as the recipe was easy, but then you can always count on most marinating recipes to be easy.
I have been a little slow on my writing lately but recently I wrote an article on Comments! Comments! Where are The Comments? you may find interesting if you are a blogger.
If you enjoy Teryaki try the chicken.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Homemade Fluffy Butter Frosting on the Happy Cake for Mother's Day
The frosting recipe comes from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and it is described as being light and airy.
Fluffy Butter Frosting
Enough frosting for an 8 or 9 inch cake.
4 tablespoons butter (I use unsalted)
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, divided
2 egg whites
Cream the butter, and add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar.
Beat the egg whites in a mixer until foamy and thick. Add the 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Beat until stiff.
Blend together the two mixtures. If the frosting is too liquidity add more confectioners' sugar to make it easier to spread on the cake. The frosting hardens as it sits.
Note:
If you add your sugar to the egg whites too early, this is as stiff as your egg whites will get. This is not what you want.
So this is what I made for Mother's Day as part of our family celebration.
What did you make for Mother's Day?
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