Sunday, February 26, 2012

Nona's Sunday Smile




Chicken Gumbo -- as requested

I was asked by Mariodacatsmom ( www.shufflingalongwithpd.blogspot.com
for my recipe and I love to share any recipe.
Here it goes!



1 Tbsp olive oil
0.454kg (1 pound) boneless chicken thighs -- cut in strips
salt and pepper
170 gm (6 ounces) andouille or smoked sausage -- cut in half then into 1/4 inch pieces
1 medium onion diced
1 medium green pepper -- ribs and seeds removed -- diced
2 stalks celery diced
1 large zucchini diced
1 Tbsp tomatoe paste
2 tsp dried thyme
2 vine ripened tomatoes diced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 Tbsp white flour
1800 ml (2 quarts) chicken broth

In a 5 qt saucepan warm oil over high heat. Season chicken with S and P. Brown both sides about 10 minutes.transfer to a bowl.
Reduce heat to medium. Cook sausage til browned. Add onion, pepper, and celery. Cook til onion is translucent  about 6 minutes. Stir in flour. Cook til light brown, stirring constantly about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoe paste, zucchini, tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. return to simmer. Stir in chicken and juices. Cover and cook til thickened about 30 minutes.
Remove lid. Simmer another 30 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasonings.
Stir in parsley.
Serve with plain rice or crusty bread.

My husband likes a bit of heat so I sit the hot sauce bottle in front of him at the table. If everyone likes a bit of heat add a couple dashes of hot sauce to the whole stew.

Enjoy!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Blitz Attack and 20 cm

I was minding my own business Thursday when all of a sudden BANG!
A severe lactose attack!
I really have no idea what prompted this but having been lactose intolerant for the past 25 years I have come to find out lactose is used in a variety things that does not have to be included in the list of ingrediants. Did you know that lactose is used in frozen french fries to crisp them in the oven? Did you know that lactose is used (sometimes) in maple syrup to clear it? No I did not eat french fries or eat maple syrup. My one theory is the pineapple juice I drank Thursday at lunch. Perhaps lactose is used to help clear that? I don't know -- all I know is that I was up all night Thursday and am just starting to feel better today. I am still tired from being up all night Thursday
.
Iain is away until tonight. He is on the Board of Director's for Ontario Nature and today there is a board meeting. He left yesterday during the worst storm of this season.


 Of course 20 cm of snow dropped in my driveway. I was going to wait for Iain to come home but I am feeling better today so out I went and cleared it off. I have a sweet guardian angel neighbour who snow blowed the crispy icy end from the driveway!


So I have had a shower and finished up some laundry and I think I will cuddle up with a book and a cup of tea.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Mardi Gras


Had some friends, who have had a rough few weeks, in for a Mardi Gras supper.
Started with French Quarter cocktails (dark rum, spiced rum, orange and pinaeapple juice) to get the evening started.


Then onto some Chicken Gumbo.


A delicious recipe that will be a part of the repertoire.
To end the dinner -- Louisiana bread pudding with a whisky cream sauce.


Rudy and Buck were all ready for the day!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Clearing my mind

Well I am back from Alberta.
It was so very hard to say goodbye to those sweet little faces.
My last week there I was bombarded with so much horrible news.
Very dear friends' 3 year old son , Max, has been diagnosed with liver cancer.
As we speak he is undergoing mounds of chemo.
He is envisioning a shark whose favourite food is tumour and name is Kimo.
Go Kimo Go!
Then just 2 weeks ago more friends' son and daughter in law lost their twins in her 6th month.
It really hit home to Iain and I because we know how high risk a twin pregnancy is.
I just hugged our Riley and Miles and weeped.
More dear friends who have been together for almost 30 years are splitting up!
I got an email from my sister that my father has been diagnosed with a brain tumour with the primary in his lung
I have been estranged from my father for over 30 years but he is a human being and I do feel for him.
I'm not sure how much more I can handle.
I am not a religious person by any stretch but please keep all these people in your thoughts -- however you do that!

Here are those sweet faces that make life worth while.




Saturday, February 4, 2012

Edmonton and Gaslight

Holly and Dan and the Peas have taken a much deserved family trip to Edmonton today!
They finally have a vehicle that can fit them all!!  YAY.
So Nona is having a day to herself -- drink more coffee watch some old movies (paydirt for me as Gaslight is on at noon -- one of my favourites) and get caught up on reading some blogs.
Just me, Punk, and Charlie =^..^=