Chicken and Cranberries

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

This is one of my favorite recipes. It is easy to make and freezes well. Servings 6 12 ounce bow tie pasta, uncooked 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup cranberry liqueur or 1/3 cup port wine ( I use red cooking wine ) 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup sliced shallots or 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion ( I use shallots ) 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken ***, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces 1 1/4 cup canned low-sodium chicken broth Chopped fresh thyme or parsley (I used parsley...

Fish Eye Pinot Grigio

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

The latest Pinot that I tried was this one from Fish Eye . They have a flash based web site where you click and a blue fish controls the screen movement. Click on the wine bottles and it reloads the page with the selected wine. As far as the wine goes it is really pretty good. It has a nice flavor on the first sip and doesn't have the sometimes over strong aftertaste. Fish Eye even has recipes for both warm weather and cool weather on the web site. That is just plain cool. So it is fairly cheap: $10 bottle and well worth a night of relaxation....

Simple Grilled Steak With Vegetables

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

Keeping with my simple theme, here is yet another meal that is quick and easy to prepare. I used a pair of T-bones, but the steak can be essentially any cut you like. Ingredients Steak - 2 T-Bones Squash - 1/2 pre cut Zucchini- Whole Red Potatoes - 10-15 small Sweet Onion - 1 Stick of margarine Directions Fire up the grill so it gets nice and hot Vegetables Chop the onion Cut the potatoes up into 1" - 2" pieces. Leave skin on. Mix the onion and potato and wrap in aluminum foil [ do not seal yet ] Cut 1/4 stick of margarine into slices and spread on onions and potatoes Seal potatoes and...

Sesame Crockpot Chicken with Baby Carrots

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

I'm going to have to start a category called YAMM (yet another main meal). This one came out of the fact that I have very little food in the house and wanted to put something on that would be ready when the kids and I got home later in the day. Ingredients 1 Package Chicken *** (boneless) 2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons butter/margarine 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds 1 Small bag of precut baby carrots Salt and pepper to taste Directions Place butter in center of Crockpot (underneath chicken) Place chicken in bottom of Crockpot Cover chicken with olive oil Sprinkle chicken with sesame seeds Cook...

How Much Do You Eat

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

Ever go to one of those Chinese restaurants where it seems like you can't take more than a sip of tea before someone runs up and refills your glass and by the time you leave you have this feeling that you've had more to drink that you usually do? Well, you are probably right. CongnitiveDaily just reported a study that used a self refilling soup bowl to test if how much we eat is related to our perceptions or to our stomachs. The surprising answer.... is here I'll give you a hint: how much you eat isn't dictated by how hungry you are....

Blue Fish Riesling

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

Tonights wine is yet another Riesling. This one by Blue Fish. Much like the other Riesling I talked about this one is fruity and smooth. It has very little of the "tingling" aftertaste that many Rieslings tend to have. Check out the uniquely colored bottle This is a German wine (didn't know that until a moment ago) and I think it is the first German wine I've ever had. For less than $10 a bottle, it now stands as my favorite Riesling so far....

Pineapple and Honey Graham Cracker Pork Chops

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

Yes, this is another easy, quick and tasty main course. Ingredients 1 Package Pork Chops 6 - 10 Graham crackers 2 -3 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Can of Sliced Pineapples in Juice Instructions In a large skillet on medium heat place the olive oil Place graham crackers into a large baggy and instruct your 4 and 7 year olds to crush them [child labor is optional, but tends to be more efficient than adults at this] Rinse the pork chops and place into the baggy with the crushed graham crackers Shake well until all pork chops are coated Place pork chops into hot pan and brown for about 3 - 5 minutes a side...

Beringer - Gamay Beaujolais 2003

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

I always forget how much I tend to like Beaujolais . They tend to have a fruity taste without of the acidity you get in a lot of red wines. This one is no exception. In fact, I think this is one of my favorites so far. Certainly the best wine I've blogged about. My initial thoughts: smooth, light taste. Tastes of fruit, though just a hint. Can't pin down other flavors. Odd; sensual almost.

Nutrition Myths and the Power of Water

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 1 comments

There is an article about ten nutrition myths here . The article cites the top 10 nutrition myths and "dispels them". The list includes things like eating carbohydrates make you fat, eggs raise cholesterol, and vitamins. One of the items on the list @ number 9 is Drink eight, 8-oz glasses of water per day. The author contends that you don't necessarily need that much and in fact it is somewhat arbitrary. I won't dispute that, however there is one piece about drinking water that wasn't mentioned. When you drink cold water your body actually burns calories to warm the water up. Think about that for...

San Telmo Malbec - Argentina

Thursday, June 12 2008 - - 0 comments

Today's wine is a red from Argentina. This one isn't my favorite wine. It has a rather strong after taste. Not sure how to describe it other than "sharp". Taking a deep whiff of the wine gives a hint of the actual taste. It isn't bad, and certainly for the $6 - $7 I paid for it I can't complain, but it will not be making another appearance on my table. I had a picture of the bottle, however my Bluetooth from my phone to laptop seems to no longer work and I'm too lazy to take a picture with the digital camera. Want to see the vineyard? Go here...