Maple Syrup & Sweet Onion Chicken

Uh....what's for dinner???

I have a shortish commute; usually around half and hour. So I like to think up what's for dinners on the way home. But sometimes....I get nuthin'. So when I come home I open the fridge doors and take stock of what's hiding in there....and some experiments work better than others!

Here's one that worked really, really well. I didn't take pics, sorry. This dish wasn't around long enough!

Maple Syrup Chicken with Sweet Onion and Rice

Ingredients:

Rice ( I used basmati)
Chicken bouillion cube

2 Skinless boneless chicken breasts, filleted
1 large vidalia onion
1 large shallot (or two small)
Cooking sherry
Butter
Olive Oil
Seasoning salt, pepper
Flour, Garlic Powder
Maple Syrup




First thing:

I started the rice cooker cookin' with a cup of rice and two cups water with a bouillion cube (chicken).

Fillet your chicken, cut your onions and shallots into thing rings.

On med-high heat, add olive oil, enough to cover bottom of pan. Add in onions, shallots and a good chunk of butter. Maybe two tablespoons worth. Let cook down for about 3-5 mins, covered.

Remove lid and splash in the sherry. Stir in, reduce heat to med-low. Add in some seasoning salt and pepper.

Dredge your chicken in the flour and garlic.

Add chicken to pan, stir well to mix in with onions and get it all combined. Add a dash more olive oil to pan, and turn heat back to medium. Lightly drizzle some maple syrup in. Add rest of flour (Not more than 3 tablespoons) stir to combine.
Replace lid, let cook.

Every 5 mins or so; check on chicken, stirring gently to make sure cooking evenly.

After about 20 mins splash in more maple syrup, a handful of brown sugar, seasoning salt and pepper and replace lid. Turn heat to low-med and simmer for another 20 mins or so. Keep the lid on it.


This should be ready after 40 mins cooking time, nice and creamy. Add more syrup to taste, do NOT  use regular pancake syrup!!!

Serve over rice. The salty of the rice works really well with the sweetness of the chicken.

We added a bit of hot sauce to the rice and it was even better the next day for lunch!

Enjoy.

Holiday time....again?!?

Annnnd it's HOLIDAY time again!!!

Unbelievable how fast time moves.

What with the move and the new job; I simply haven't had time to sew. And also it doesn't help I haven't even really unpacked my sewing room....but I have found time to acquire new fabric...:D

Crappy pic; I used my puter cam. There's my arm!

I have been working on knitting some of those 'infinity' scarves for Christmas gifts; I've been using the Lion Brand Homespun Thick & Quick so I can get 4 or 5 finished before Christmas.
I'm adding in a skein of Patons' Sequin Lace to make it extra soft & sparkly; and if I have time might sew in some extra sparkly beads I have kicking around somewhere.







 Today also started my test baking. I test out new recipes or mess with my old ones; and I just like to try them out before I give them out. Heh. Today was peanut butter fudge...omg. Sugar rush!

I tried Sally's recipe and it is SO good. And SO easy you won't beleive it. I've tried so many of her recipes and haven't gone wrong ever! I've never met her but I love having her (in blog form lol) in my kitchen as we cook.

Oh dear....someone's been muching

Here's the link: Sally's Baking Addiction Blog.   I added Reese's Pieces to mine; so yummy!

That's all in my world...dishes are done, movie is on, kitty is purring....couch potato time!


***

WIPS:  New Christmas quilt to brighten up Mom's room at her home. It's pretty dull in there.

Top secret gift for someone who may (or may not) read this; and so, it shall remain a secret. But there will be one to keep and two to give.

Um...there's a few other WIPS that I haven't unpacked yet so....

Summer Strawberries!

I love summertime. It's my favourite, for many reasons. One of which not the least of which is STRAWBERRIES!!!!!!!!!!

 I love love love strawberries. Love them. Could eat them everyday (and I have been.)
And I don't mean the shipped-from-California or Florida ones that have sat on truck for 5 days after being picked and processed etc etc.  I mean the grown 10 minutes from my house kind that you get in the local market for those three magical weeks late June to early July.
The smell of fresh strawberries...that 'pop' when you first close your lips around one...there just isn't anything like it.

When we were kids, we had a giant garden. Mom grew everything.....from parsnips to squash to potatoes to rhubarb, you name it, she could grow it. Dad would be out there labouring away and when I was a teenager I *hated* to work in the dirt. Hated it. Now, I can't wait to get diggin' and growin.

One of my favourite things my Mom used to make was something she called "Rhubarb Stew". It was always cooked on the stovetop and served warm with a lot of sugar on top.

I was surprised years ago the first time I made it, how simple and easy Rhubarb Stew was to make. You cut up a bunch of rhubarb into inch size cubes, dump it in a giant pot, add a cup of sugar and let it cook down, down , down until it's a gooey yummy sludgey rhubarby stew. Simple, easy, delicious.

I'm big fan of the Slow Food Movement   and in the summer, try to grow as much as I can, and freeze and can (when possible). There's a FABULOUS market in my home town Briwood Farm Market that I visit when I'm home to visit. Almost everything is as local as can be, and so fresh and so good...can't say enough wonderful things about it. Even if I still call it "Giffords" from time to time. I'm old. I forget.

So..... having bought 4 pints of strawberries, they needed to be used. I ate a bunch, froze a bunch, and used a bunch in my lovely New Rhubarb Stew!

Rhubarb Stew

Clean and prepare 1 solid bunch of rhubarb stalks. Cut ends off, cut into 1 inch cubes. 

Clean and hull strawberries, cut into quarters.

In a large stockpot (I used my canning pot as you can see here, because I did a double batch. Usually I use my 6 qt pot).

Add 1 half cup of white sugar, and 1 half cup of orange juice.

Place on burner at medium-high heat, bring to boil.

Keep an eye on the pot, stir with a long handled wooden spoon occasionally.

It will cook down, slowly, about 2o mins .....

  

And after about 30 mins it should be boiling and look something like this:

Reduce heat to med-low and simmer another 15 mins or so

 

This is the finished stew, I usually like to stir it up some and mush up any pieces of fruit that are still kinda solidy. Let it cool for a bit, this will be WAY to hot to eat.......so be patient!! (I speak from experience here.....avoid the scalded tongue!)

Enjoy over really good vanilla ice cream.....this is also yummy cold, too.

 

 

 I hope everyone is enjoying their summer safely and happily, and eating as much local produce as they can fit in their bellies!

By the way, Thanks to Mr J for the wonderful present that has enabled these amazing pics!!!

Spring Cleaning

Yay!! SPRING is finally coming here in our frozen corner of SW Ontario. And I'm finally able to get down into the Quilt Cave without freezing my fingers off!

This cold cold cold winter has gotten  me re-thinking the whole sewing-in-the-cave thing; I think I am going to move on up and begin to sew upstairs; in the spare room. Or, as we'll call it, The West Tower.


I also have been remiss in sharing some FAB news; I get to do my first Quilt Ebook review!! A new Fons & Porter is coming out and I get a sneek peek! Woohoo!

Time to get some sewing on.....get my mojo back, baby YEAH!!

A bright, springy pic of my Vintage Rail Fence, featuring reclaimed vintage floral sheets for backing.

Update & Happy Mardi Gras!!!!

Lots going on here at The Quilt Cave. Christmas was lovely, gifts exchanged and everyone enjoyed the Big Turkey Dinner. (That I nearly dropped on the floor, but that's another story a la Mr. Bean).

I haven't had much time for sewing, we are in the process of selling the house and so, must keep everything contained and neat and orderly. *Snort*

I do have a few WIPS (of course) and plenty of UFOS....

A new favourite full sized WIP

! I did finish a whole bunch of Bloomers however for the shop, to go along with the Custom designs, and  I think I will be adding more colours this summer...keep your eyes peeled!

Well y'all, as they say down in N'awlins.... Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

Someone has claimed this Sprocket pillow as his own.

A few pics for you on this blustery cold Feb Mardi Gras....

The BEST spelling mistake ever....read carefully...a little sewing humour

MY favourite couch blanket made with Moda and Bernat yarns, it's twin sized, took me almost a year. Ha. Perfect to snuggle under...