Test Kitchen Tuesday - Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner Edition

I was folding clothes one day and turned on the tv for some noise, which was weird since I hardly watch tv anymore. Anyhoo, I ended up watching Rachel Ray make a chicken dinner with roasted garlic gravy that looked outrageously good, so I went right down to the computer to print off a copy of the recipe. Find the original here. What I am going to post is the recipe with a few changes.

My first change was to omit all the fresh herbs...not because I don't like them, but because they weren't available at my regular grocery store (except for the parsley) and what was there was limp and sad looking! I didn't want to make a special trip to another store or pay $15 for 5 herbs. That is fine for Rachel, she's a go-zillionaire after all, but not for me. I also didn't want to buy the boiling onions since a small bag of them was $5.99. Whatever! I already had frozen pearl onions at home so I used them instead and they were marvelous! Finally, I gave up buttering my bird at 3 tablespoons because I was totally grossed out. You know me and my great love of unmelted butter! I thought I was going to toss my cookies over the smell (ack!) so I cut my misery short. The finished product was very tasty. I was a bit skeptical about the gravy, but it also was very good. I think, however, that with a buttery chicken and veggies roasted in pan drippings - a gravy made with a cup a cream was a bit over the top. If you didn't make it, you'd still have a great dinner.

Baked Chicken with Herb Skin and Roasted Garlic Cream Gravy

Ingredients

2 large heads garlic

Extra virgin olive oil

2 T. dried rosemary

1 roasting chicken

dried thyme

kosher salt and pepper

6 tablespoons butter, divided

1/2 pound baby potatoes

handful or two of frozen pearl onions

1 cup baby carrots

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 cup cream

4 cups baby spinach, packed, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Pre-heat the oven to 400˚F.

Cut the heads of garlic to expose all of the cloves. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the exposed garlic, then press into the rosemary to coat. Wrap the garlic in foil and roast in the oven until tender, 45 minutes.

Rub 4 tablespoons of softened butter all over the bird skin, then season liberally with salt, pepper, and dried thyme. Arrange the potatoes, onions and carrots in a roasting pan. Settle the bird over top of the potatoes and vegetables. Roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

When the garlic is done, let cool until it's cool enough to handle. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the skins and mash into a paste.

In a saucepot, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat, then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the stock and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and whisk in the mashed garlic. Let thicken for 5 minutes, then add the cream and reduce the heat to low.

Remove the chicken from oven and carve. Fold the spinach into the vegetables to wilt. Serve the vegetables and chicken with gravy on top.

My other pictures didn't turn out, but you get the idea. I really liked the addition of the spinach too, but I've been groovin' on spinach lately.

Also, my sister Jaime and I have been working on crafty Halloween projects together like we used to when we lived 30 minutes from each other many moons ago. Sure she's across an ocean now, but that doesn't mean we still can't do fun things together! I finished embroidering my first project, now I just need some decorative buttons and a frame! Isn't it cute?

Got the e-pattern from twin stitchers.

I Stand All Amazed

Test Kitchen Tuesday - the Serendipity Edition

I love to make new recipes, it keeps my life as a mom who cooks meals in the home (as opposed to take-out all the time) interesting. I decided to give a new dish a try, even though it sounded a bit odd. As I was throwing in all the ingredients I thought, "This is going to be so nasty!" but I persevered and served up hot plates of Chicken Enchilada Pasta. It was a BIG HIT!! Can I just say that it was yummy and that Merritt had THIRDS, and that Grant even ate some, which is MONUMENTAL...seriously, the kid doesn't eat dinner. As I contemplated the recipe I realized that it was a Serendipity Dish. Let me explain...no, no, that will take too long. Let me sum up...

Serendipity: "Good Fortune or Luck"

An assortment of odd ingredients were thrown into a pot and came out super tasty, now THAT is the ultimate kitchen luck!

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed or shredded
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 medium onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
4-ounce can diced green chilies
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2 (10-oz) cans green chili enchilada sauce (I used mild)
2/3 cup red enchilada sauce (I used mild)
1 can large black olives, cut in half (Don't like 'em!)
1 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
16-20 oz. penne pasta (I used 12 oz.)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta until tender. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet and add the onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes until onion is translucent. Add the garlic and red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, until pepper is barely tender. Add the cooked chicken, green chilies, spices, enchilada sauces and olives. Let the sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Add the sour cream and cheese and heat through, until the cheese is melted (but don't boil!). Pour the sauce over the hot pasta. Garnish with extra sour cream, cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions or crushed tortilla chips.
From: My Kitchen Cafe

I put the crushed tortilla chips on after I took the picture, but don't forget them, cuz they are a great topping. I didn't go nuts with the toppings because that would freak out my kids, but do what you like. I think some cilantro might be tasty on top too. Usually I don't like to force my food aversions onto my children (thus they all eat unmelted cheese with gusto and like cottage cheese too) but I just couldn't bring myself to put in the olives, they are just too nasty. Let them grace your pasta though! Enjoy!

Hayride & Pumpkin Patch

One of the local nurseries is hosting their annual hayride and pumpkin pick this month, but they added a new twist...if you bring a donation to the food bank, your pumpkin is free! Well, that sounded like just the sort of thing I like - a fun fall activity, free pumpkins, and a good cause. We piled into the car on a gorgeous autumn afternoon with canned and boxed goods in hand and drove down for a visit to the great pumpkin patch.

We waited in line for 30 minutes, all in varying stages of anticipation.

Finally, our chariot arrived...












and we climbed on board.


There were lots of pumpkins to choose from...

and everyone found the perfect one.

Then it was back in line
to give our pumpkins a new home.

No Tricks - Just Treats!

There's no season that brings on the baker in me like fall. I think it's the cooler temperatures outside and cozier feeling inside that does it - just one more reason why autumn is my favorite time of year.

I made these beauties for Sunday morning breakfast during General Conference. Nothing says "love" and "gospel learning" like a fluffy, soft cinnamon roll! Go here for the recipe.




I also tried my hand at pretzel making. It was easy, fun and SOOOOOO good! I got this recipe from one of my favorite blogs; Tongue 'n' Cheeky. Don't forget the dipping sauce...it is outrageously good!

Finally, in honor of fall, a classic...

The end.

Handel's Messiah

This is George Frideric Handel. In 1741, he was approached by a man named Charles Jennens about creating a musical oratorio on the life of Christ. Jennens' idea was to share the life of Christ, including the prophecies of His life and mission made by ancient prophets, through scriptural passages set to music. The scriptures chosen were from both the Old and New Testaments and include many well-known phrases such as: "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion," "For unto us a child is born," and "He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." This oratorio served not only to celebrate the life of Christ, but to teach the largely illiterate, everyday men and women who didn't have access to the Bible, scriptures concerning the Savior. In 24 days, Handel composed his now- famous music. This was not just another job or simply an opportunity to flex his creative muscle - composing the score for Messiah was a spiritual journey. In those 24 days, Handel hardly slept or ate, instead working feverishly to complete the piece. In one account, a servant who was bringing the composer a tray of food found Handel in tears. He had just finished the "Halleluja Chorus" and declared, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself." On April 14, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland, Messiah was performed for the first time. After it was finished, someone came to congratulate Handel on creating such a marvelous piece of "entertainment." Handel replied, "Entertainment! My purpose was not to entertain, but to teach them something."

So, why the history lesson about Handel and the wonderful Messiah he wrote? Because my stake is part of a Tri-Stake/Interfaith collaboration. We are performing a Messiah sing-in. I am part of the large choir, but I also auditioned for the chamber choir and was accepted. I'm VERY excited. (I tried out for a solo as well because it is good for me to stretch myself and act in faith, but didn't get a part. That is actually good, since I wasn't expecting to get a solo and most likely would have died of fright if I had.) Anyhoo, if you want to come and be taught and uplifted by this most marvelous piece of music, we are singing on November 29, 7pm, at Northridge High School. You can bring your own music and participate in certain songs as well. I would love to have you there.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I know, I know...that line goes with Christmas for most of you. NOT FOR ME! I LOVE Halloween time! It is so cute and there is candy and kids dressed up and fun decorations and toilet paper ghosts...I love toilet paper ghosts! As today is October 1st, that meant that Grace and Grant had spooky, half-moon shaped pb&j sandwiches while Merritt had a pumpkin shaped tuna fish sandwich. We also lugged out the boxes (yes, in the plural...I have that much Halloween stuff) and started to decorate anything that holds still for more than 5 minutes. This is the time of year when I KNOW I have the best husband on planet earth, because he looks at all the decorations and dangling spooks and simply smiles and loves me still. :)

Merritt hangs out with the skeleton in his closet.

Grace and Grant followed me around and gave expert decorating tips.

I decided to serenade Halloween while hugging my black tinsel with shiny purple bats...and yes, that is a ribbon on my head.

Decorating is hard work, so we finished things off with some Halloween cupcakes. I made the kids eat theirs outside, though, since they are notoriously messy with cupcakes. I think Grant fed most of his to our backyard neighbors' dog. Hope you're okay Ling-Ling!

Happy Halloween Ya'll!