Chicken Salad done right.

I can't stand Chicken Salad! I will say it again, I can't stand Chicken Salad!

Well at least I didn't think I did.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I firmly and abhorrently believe that Mayonnaise was made by and solicited by Satan himself. I can't stomach the stuff. Not just the taste of mayo but the smell, its greasy texture, the way it jiggles at you on the spoon, and don't even get me started on the gross translucent crusty way it dries out on a non rinsed utensil. Every thing about mayo make my stomach churn, even now as I write the above descriptions my stomach has butterflies and saliva is building in my mouth, just waiting for my gag reflex to tell my stomach that we are all clear for take off.

When you consider there are so many foods that include mayo, my distaste for it is kind of sad really. Don't let me miss lead you, I do consume mayo but there are strict rules that must be obeyed. I can not visibly see globs of mayo, I can not physically feel the greasy residue on my lips and I must never be able to taste the mayonnaise in anyway. So you could probably guess that the idea of Chicken salad is not a concept that I have ever willingly gotten behind. However I have recently discovered a recipe for Chicken Salad that is not only delish but has such a small amount of mayo it is difficult to even know its there.

This is a light refreshing version of Chicken Salad that not only I have fallen in love with but my family as well. It feels good on the lips and has a way of bringing sunshine to mind.

I fully understand if you add more mayo because that's what you are used to but I urge you to give it a try as is and see if it doesn't bring you into the light and out of the mayo dark ages.

Lemon Basil Chicken Salad:

4 boneless Chicken Breast cut into 1 inch chunks
1-2 tablespoons mayo
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt to taste
1 lemon, finely zested and juiced
3-5 lrg Basil leaves, thinly sliced


Boil the Chicken cubes until fully cooked, roughly 10-15 minutes. Drain, cool, then shred the Chicken, place in bowl. Stir in mayo and enough Olive oil to moisten Chicken to your liking.
Add the lemon zest and half the lemon juice (add other half as to your own taste) to the Chicken mixture stir well adding the Basil and Sea Salt to taste.

The Sabo family eats these tasty nuggets on Cranberry Ciabatta Bread.

Not all Broccoli is good or good for you!

I used to be a bit of a Broccoli snob. My Broccoli had to be lightly steamed to maintain its crispness and enhancing its bright green color. I preferred it with no butter, but a pinch of salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Recently all that changed.

As of May 2010 I lost my whole large intestine and with it my ability to enjoy fresh or crisp veggies. Every veggie I eat must now be steamed to a limp pile of mush. Truth told, they advise eating your veggies from a can. This for a broccoli snob is for shame!

I really have a hard time finding a way to get vegetation in my diet now. Not in whole because of my dietary limitations but also because the idea of eating this canned form of over cooked, industrialized, mis conception of nutrition kinda grosses me out.

My compromise to eat Broccoli again has come in the form of Cream of Broccoli soup. Does it really mater if its over cooked when its soup?

I'm pretty sure my eating of broccoli this way is not healthy any longer. I mean once your Broccoli is doing the back stroke in butter, cream and cheese, nutritional veggie value is of no use. But hey, at least I get to eat Broccoli again, right?!?!

Cream of Broccoli and Cheddar Soup:

Makes enough for 4 lunch size servings

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced (if I have some, I really like 4 cloves fresh roasted garlic mashed)

1 small carrot, shredded
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk

2 cups water

2 chicken bouillon cubes (I prefer the granulated powder)

8-10 ounces fresh cut and steamed broccoli (I used frozen broccoli heated in the microwave, cuz I need softer texture)

1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, depending on your tastes

1/2 cup heavy cream

In a small stock pot sauté the onion, garlic and carrot in the 3 tablespoons of butter and teaspoon of oil for 5-6 minutes over medium to medium high heat, until the onion becomes transparent. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove from pot and set aside.

Prepare a roux by melting 4 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add the flour and stir briskly, allowing the mixture to bubble rapidly and thicken. Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly to thicken. This takes a while so don't give up hope. :)

In the tea kettle boil the 2 cups water and mix with the bouillon. Add this broth to the roux a little at a time, stirring constantly.

Slowly sprinkle in the cheese, stirring it all in slowly, so it melts evenly. Add cooked broccoli and other cooked veggies to the soup base. Cook on low for 10 minutes. Stir in cream before serving.

Pa-spaghetti Please!

My daughter Savanna loves spaghetti. There is never a 2 week time period that goes by without her begging for spaghetti. Winter, Fall, Summer and Spring is a year round battle, with her charging and the rest of the family begging for mercy.

I like spaghetti too, don't get me wrong. But come on. Wanting it twice a month is a little over kill. I thank the Lord for the day she became old enough to use the stove top herself. I now keep jars of marinara sauce in the pantry at all times. Believe you me, she uses them.

However much she may heat her jars of ready made sauce. There is always one repeated question. Mom when are you gonna make yours? Sauce, right there at her finger tips and she still begs for mine.

As a mom there is a certain feeling of accomplishment when there is a particular food your children like and crave. There is a double feeling of warmth and love when you know what they crave is something that your Mama made you. In fact I'm sure my Mama can confirm that just a few eye blinks ago, I was the 12 year old pegging for her to make me spaghetti. Heck! Who am I kidding I just begged Mama to come over and make me some a few months ago.

Our spaghetti sauce is nothing to win awards. But its my Mama's and you can't put acceptable accommodations on that. Its more than tomato and spice. It's the smell! Oh my, how I love that smell. You walk in the door and your body is lovingly wrapped in a blanket of family and home.

Even now with my own children. That feeling carries on. I like to put the sauce on to simmer before noon and it never fails that by 2:30 when they come through the door, the house wafts with the smell of love.

It changes the atmosphere. What could have been a trying day becomes less a burden. Homework hidden in a backpack is now eagerly on the dinning room table. Children just lingering near the kitchen looking for any reason to be enveloped in something bigger than words can describe.

Its always the same every time. 3 hrs till dinner yet all are hovering for sneak peaks in the pot, small snips and tastes. All under the guise of "I'm gonna stir the sauce mom and make sure its not sticking".

It makes me wonder which Savanna is really asking for. What does she really crave. A food that will fill her belly and nutrition her body or a experience that restores her soul. You just can't put that in a jar!

Spaghetti Sauce:

1 29oz can tomato sauce
1 29oz crushed tomatoes
1 6oz can tomato paste
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 Garlic clove minced
1 tea Italian seasoning
1/2 tea Oregano
1/2 tea Basil
Pinch of Sugar
Pinch of Sea Salt
Dash of Balsamic Vinegar
Drizzle of Olive Oil

I like to sweat the onion and garlic in the Balsamic. Then add the rest and simmer. Add your favorite meat and enjoy.

A Kraft-y Pork Chop

Peter Brady ate Pork Chops with Apple sauce. Mark Sabo eats them with Kraft Mac and Cheese.

It amazes me. That after 20 yrs together this man can still crave Kraft Mac and Cheese.

Truth be told he craves Kraft all the time. All his meals would be so much tastier with Kraft. Turkey........Kraft! Steak.........Kraft! Late night snack.........Kraft! But most importantly with Pork Chops.

Now you have to understand, I DISLIKE KRAFT MAC and CHEESE. I refuse to make it. I tried every way I could to separate my husband from this craving. I have made several gourmet cheese sauces over the years. From Fontina, Gouda, Cheddar and stooping as low as trying Velveeta. Nothing will fill his need. It must be Kraft.

So in order to make my husband happy and save my sanity. I will make him pork chops and mac, about every 3-4 months. That's it.

Look in our pantry any other given day and its Kraft free. In fact I get a good giggle when I quietly purchase the Kraft and then skillfully put it in the pantry. Only to then smile when my husband looking for a snack will stumble on the box. Releasing a shout of glee. Then a statement of anticipation, knowing he'll get his favorite meal pretty soon.

I love my husband and so Kraft-y concessions must be made. I do however stand firm in my refusal of Hamburger Helper. A woman's gotta draw the line somewhere!

Mark's Favorite Pork Chops (I'm pretty sure you can figure out the Mac and Cheese!):

Ingredients
5 Bone in Pork Chops
2-3 tablespoons Butter
1 tablespoon  Vegetable Oil
Salt Pepper

Heat frying pan with Butter and Oil on med high heat. Salt and Pepper both sides of the chops. Fry them, turning them consistently from side to side. Remove from the pan a pit before doneness is reached. They will continue to cook on the serving dish.

                                         

A Jeff by any other name......

Some people collect Nick Knacks. I collect Jeff's. I can't seem to recall a time in my life when there hasn't been a Jeff present. There was Jeff the childhood mate and I might also add a mean Kootie Kootie Ahhh player. Then came Jeff the teen infatuation. Who had the looks of a man and the charm of a snake. During my married years, I have cherished the friendship of Jeff the kindred spirit. I like Jeff's. I am still friends with all my Jeff's. It seems to me every landmark in my life has come with a Jeff. Now is no different.

I recently went through a major life change. After a mild stroke it was decided I needed to lose some weight. So I did. I am almost 40 lbs lighter and happily healthier. During my weight loss I met a new Jeff, a different kind of Jeff. This is a G Geoff.

One night while out to dinner with My husband and friends, I realized the conversation got a bit confusing while talking to both my kindred spirit Jeff and my new friend G Geoff. So I decided to call him the G man. Depending on my mood and my alcohol consumption, occasionally I call him Grand Master G. But the G man seems to do the trick most of the time.

I really like this Geoff. He's funny, intelligent, handsome and a great cook. The G man and I share a mutual passion for all things caloric. Food just seems to magically appear where ever we are. Most of the time I'm ok with this. I coming up on a year of weight loss and haven't gained any weight back, so bring on the food. However, the G man also goes by another name. A cursed name. A name my perceptive daughter gave him.

You see my friend the G man works for a major industrial baking company. Giving my daughter the idea to call him the Doughnut Man. The Doughnut Man is not my Geoff. The Doughnut Man is a scary creature. A doomed soul. Forced to work his trade by the dark of the night. Delivering tasty lard filled, sugar coated and Satan created treats to the mass population. My home is not immune to this evil.

There is a specific pastry that the Doughnut Man brings me. I can't say no. My mouth starts to water just from the sight. My arm involuntarily reaches as my hands grip the the cellophane wrapper and pull. Opening the package to release the demon inside. I  must take a bite. I am forced to chew and swallow the flaky buttery mound of  sweet iced goodness. If I could only stop at one. No I mustn't. Too late. Another package litters the floor as my eyes glaze over from the high my body receives. Ahhh the Svenhard Danish. How I love thee. But the Doughnut Man.........CURSE YOU DOUGHNUT MAN! CURSE YOU!

Svenhard's Danish

The Doughnut Man and The Devils Handmaiden!