True Friends

Natalie and Sweet Pea

I am a firm believer that having a pet, especially a dog :) while growing up makes one a better adult. I believe a pet makes an adult a better adult, too.

I got permission from my blogging friend Gina at Purdy Wallcovering to post this picture of her daughter, Natalie and her friend, Sweet Pea, sleeping. How sweet is this picture! It brings tears to my eyes to see this sweet innocent child asleep with her friend next to her, making sure no monsters find their way into her dreams.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

I must do better at remembering where I get these recipes, if I am going to post them. More than likely it came from http://www.recipe.com/? I like their receipes a lot, they are rated by people who have actually made them.

I made this for dinner tonight and it was DELICIOUS! It's a good thing I made enough for only one serving, or I would still be eating. I made whole wheat angel hair pasta and roasted asparagus, which was a delicious combination with the sauce.

Since I have to count every mg of sodium, cholesterol and carbs, I made a few substitutions - and it was still... mouth-watering DELICIOUS!!!

*I used smart balance instead of butter, 2% milk instead of cream, and red onion, chopped, in place of shallots. Using a little corn starch mixed with the chicken broth and whisked in when almost ready to serve was a great substitution for the the cream. I used the red onion cause I had some that needed to be used. I also used organic chicken breast, which is so much better.

2 whole chicken breasts boneless and skinless
2 egg whites2 Tbls. cornstarch Juice of 1/2 lemon1 seasoned bread crumbs
1 Tbls. fresh parsley, chopped1 teaspoon kosher salt ( I never add salt to anything )
1/4 teaspoon pepper (Fresh Ground is so much better)
Zest of 1 lemon, minced
1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
3 Tbls olive oilSage butter sauce
3 Tbls shallots, minced
1/2 cup Dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
4 Tbls. Unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt, white pepper, cayenne to taste (I omitted this completely)
1 teaspoon fresh sage, minced

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare the chicken by halving and then halving again lengthwise. (Whole chicken breast are a bit too big. Making smaller pieces ensures that the coating will not burn before the chicken is cooked through.) Pound to about 1/2 inch thick. Blend the egg whites, cornstarch, and lemon juice with a fork in a wide, shallow dish; set aside. Combine the bread crumbs, parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and zest in a second wide, shallow dish.

To crust the chicken breasts, dip each in the egg white mixture and then roll in the bread crumbs. Then transfer the chicken to a rack set over a baking sheet. Air-dry the chicken for 20-30 minutes to help set the crumbs.

To cook, first saute the chicken on the stove in an ovenproof skillet.

As you put the chicken in the pan, lay it towards you. This way each piece will rest on top of any crumbs that fall off. Saute until the chicken is golden and crisp on one side, then carefully flip the pieces over. Cook until golden. Finally, transfer the whole pan to a 450 degree oven to finish. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven. If you are serving this with Sage-Butter Sauce and Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary, begin roasting the potatoes while the chicken is air drying on the rack, then prepare the sauce and keep it warm in a warm water bath. It will hold just fine for at least an hour.

For the Sauce - saute the shallots in butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until soft, 2 - 3 minutes. Add the wine, cream, broth and lemon juice. Simmer until reduced by half, 8 - 10 minutes. Whisk in butter, 1 Tblsl at a time, stirring constantly. Do not add more butter until previous addition has melted completely. Finish sauce with sage and seasonings. Keep warm in a warm water bath until ready to serve. The Roasted Potato recipe is listed separately.

Chicken breast cut in half and breaded.

Sauce cooking

Chicken cooking to a golden brown

My Latest Love Crush

Trying to break my dry spell. Lately, I have not been into blogging, because my brain feels asleep these days. Nothing is exciting me. Normally, I am one of those people very, very passionate about 'everything', it's all or nothing. Can't find the passion right now, hoping to light a spark.

So my attempt to break the dry spell, the nothing excites me phase is, blogging about my latest crush. I don't know what it is about Aussie men, but I find them to be so handsome, sexy, and just downright lovable.

The Mentalist is one of my favorite shows right now. I rearrange my schedule around this show, mostly cause I love Patrick Jane, played by Simon Baker. Eye candy for sure.

OK, I know...a pretty lame blog! ...But it is the best I can do at the moment.

Love Those HOLEY Jeans

OMG~~~I LOVE THESE!

By the time I can no longer wear my jeans, they are usually strings connected to each other with no fabric left by the time I can give in and stop wearing them. Well, that or be arrested for wearing them out in public. The more age they have on them, the more worn out they are, and the more holes they have...the more I LOVE them!!! I never buy new jeans! I know some in my own family who love to wear only new jeans, not my thing. My favorite place to find jeans are at Thrift Stores, Goodwill Stores, etc. And if they have holes, it is a sure thing I'll buy them.

My Love For 'anything' Kaffee Fasset

How cute are these!

I want this coat!!! And the one thing I cannot do is knit.

A wonderful, talented friend of mine from Germany introduced me to Kaffee Fasset years ago. Since then, he has branched out into many other areas. His talent and style is a thing to behold, in my opinion. I have many of his books, mostly quilting, since I do quilt. I enjoy his other books for inspiration and ideas. Each time I look at one of his books, I want to run to my hobby room and create something, anything.

I was taken back a little when I saw how he had aged. I always want people to stay the same, young, vibrant and full of life. Not to say he is not, but he is older since my last sighting of him.

I am posting a few of his works. If you are not familiar with him, please do take a look at his sight. You may even want to purchase a book or two of his...you will not be disappointed.

Get salty and savvy

Here are some great tips! I found this today while on Planet Green. Living GREEN is great for us and great for our planet. Salt is inexpensive and non-toxic, so why not!

By Sophie Uliano

I'm continuing my budget-friendly series here with suggesting the myriad uses for common household items. Since green is all about saving money, your health and the planet, it makes sense to consider 10 things you can do with a jar of eco-friendly, common salt.
Freshen your waste disposal: Pour 1 cup of salt into the unit, run cold water and start the motor. The salt will dislodge grimy deposits.
Prevent grease from splashing: If you throw a few pinches of salt into the frying pan before frying fatty foods such a bacon, you'll prevent having to clean all the that grease off the hob.
Washing your Greens: It can be tough to wash greens such as chard, Kale and even spinach because of the little curly crevices. Wash the leaves in a sink half full of cold water and 1/2 cup of salt.
Mold prevention: In these tough economic times, we can't afford to let anything go to waste, especially an expensive piece of cheese. Prevent a hunk from going moldy by wrapping it in a napkin that has been soaking in salt-water prior.
Ditch the stain remover: Many stain removing sticks can be toxic. Instead make a solution with 4 tbsp of salt in 2 cups of hot water. This is especially good on yellow perspiration stains. Simply sponge the solution onto the stain and rub until the yellow disappears. Wash as normal.
Mouthwash: Most drugstore mouthwashes are expensive and contain dye, alcohol and sweeteners. Do it the old-fashioned way by mixing 1tsp salt and 1 tsp of baking soda in 8ounces of warm water. You can also add 5 drops of tea tree oil if you like the taste.
Salt Rub: Forego the expensive body scrubs and give yourself a homemade salt rub at home. Just dip your mitts into a large tub of sea salt and massage while your skin is wet and then shower off.
Pick up broken eggs: Have you ever tried to scoop up an uncooked egg that has smashed onto the floor? Extremely difficult—however if you use salt, easy! Cover the spill with salt as it will draw the egg together and wipe up with a recycled paper towel.
Remove baked-on food: When you are facing the awful task of scrubbing out a roasting pan, dampen the pan and sprinkle salt all over. The salt will lift off the baked on food.
Spruce up your mop: To prevent you having to run out and buy a replacement mop head (not my favorite activity), soak your mop in a bucket of water with 1 cup of salt overnight.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @PlanetGreen

anne truitt quote

Artists have no choice but to express their lives. They have only, and that not always, a choice of process. This process does not change the essential content of their work in art, which can only be their life. (Anne Truitt)

Salmon Chowder

I made this tonight and it is awesome delicious!!! I found the recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/

Only some minor changes did I make on this one. I used only 1/2 cup of cheese, fresh salmon , fresh garlic, and I omitted the salt. Easy and quick!

3 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups diced potatoes
2 carrots, diced
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
2 cans salmon
1 can evaporated milk
1 can creamed corn
1/2 pound cheddar cheese, shredded

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Saute onion, celery, and garlic powder until onions are tender. Stir in potatoes, carrots, broth, salt, pepper, and dill. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Cover, and simmer 20 minutes.

Stir in salmon, evaporated milk, corn, and cheese. Cook until heated through.