In My World

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used 3 large chicken breasts) 1 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (I used all my cayenne pepper making Homemade Chili Powder . . . so I used 1/8 tsp. of that) 1 tsp. paprika (I used 1 tsp. Homemade Chili Powder) 1 tsp. curry powder 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 onion, chopped 1 cup peach or apricot preserves (I used applesauce) 3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce 1/2 cup chicken broth or water 2 tbsp. cornstarch (I was happy with the consistency of the sauce so I didn't thicken it) Place sweet potatoes and onions in a 3-1/2 quart slow cooker. Sprinkle chicken with salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, curry powder, and ginger. Place chicken on top of potatoes. Top with peach preserves, vinegar, and soy sauce. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (I went high for 4 hours) until chicken is thoroughly cooked and sweet potatoes are tender. Combine chicken broth and cornstarch and mix well. Add to ...

I loved this movie.  Of course, I love Tom Hanks.   During the Normandy landing two brothers are killed in action. In another theatre of the war the third Ryan brother is killed. Their mother is to receive all three telegrams on the same day. The United States Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall learns there is a fourth brother, Private James Ryan, and decides to send out 8 men (Cpt. Miller and select members from 2nd Rangers) to find him and bring him back home safe. I think I may need to watch this movie again today. Academy Awards, USA 1999 Won Best Director Steven Spielberg Best Cinematography Janusz Kaminski Best Sound Gary Rydstrom Gary Summers Andy Nelson Ron Judkins Best Film Editing Michael Kahn Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing Gary Rydstrom Richard Hymns Nominated Best Picture Steven Spielberg Ian Bryce Mark Gordon Gary Levinsohn Best Actor in a Leading Role Tom Hanks Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Robert Rodat ...

One of the things I made for my friends at Christmas was homemade chili powder.   1 tsp paprika 2 tsp cumin 1 tsp cayenne 1 tsp oregano 2 tsp garlic powder Mix everything together and store in a glass jar.

I had this meal at Denny's in London recently. It is part of their Hobbit themed menu. Everything was great but the french-toasted honey cake was amazing. On a recent cookie run to Hollandia Bakery I spotted honey cake and bought one. Here is the recipe I came up with. Dear hubby LOVED it. It is very sweet obviously but sooooooo good. 1 cup milk 3 large eggs 2 tablespoons honey 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 honey cake, sliced into 8-10 slices 4 tablespoons butter In medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, honey and salt. Pour the egg mixture into a pie pan. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Dip the cake slices into the egg mixture, allow to soak for 30 seconds on each side. Over medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch nonstick saute pan. Place 2-3 slices of cake at a time into the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and place on rack in oven for 5 minutes. Repeat with all the slices. Serve immediately wit...

 Too Much Happiness.  I have to admit I didn't understand all the stories but I really loved most of them, especially the last short story.   

1 cup uncooked rolled oats 1/2 cup sifted enriched flour 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine Mix oats, flour and brown sugar.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Top sliced apples with this mixture.  Bake in a moderate oven (350 F) until apples are tender.

For quite a while I have been subscribed to a menu planning service called Soscuisine.  They do all the work for you . . . except for the actual cooking.  They focus on fresh, locally foods where possible.  They count the calories and the carbs and whatever else you need them to count.  This service even produces your weekly shopping list for you.  I can't rave about it enough.  Check it out. Today's lunch menu was for Squash and Leek Soup, an egg salad wrap and a glass of milk.  The soup tasted even better than it smelled . . . and it smelled pretty great . . .  Squash and Leek Soup [L.S.] http://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/squash-leek-soup-less-sodium 4 servings Preparation 10 min   Cooking 1 h 10 min 110 calories per serving   Ingredients 1/2 butternut squash 500 g 2 tsp canola oil, to toast the seeds 10 mL 1 leeks, white and light green parts only   300 g 1 clove garlic, minced   1 tbsp butt...

I didn't put the chicken and vegetables on skewers. I put them in an oiled baking pan and cooked them at 450 degrees in the oven and served them over basmati rice. Delicious! 2 servings 260 calories per serving Marinade 4 h Preparation 10 min Cooking 10 min Ingredients 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 shallots, finely chopped 40 g 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil 23 mL 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 lemon 1/2 tbsp dried oregano 1 g 1 pinch salt [optional] 0.1 g ground pepper to taste 2/3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into cubes 200 g 1 yellow or red sweet peppers, cut into 2 cm squares 200 g 1/2 onions, cut into segments 100 g 12 button (white) mushrooms, whole or cut in half 170 g 10 mini-tomatoes (cherry, miniature or grape) 2/3 cup 1 tsp olive oil, for the grill 5 mL Before you start Metal skewers are needed for cooking. Marinate Cut the chicken into cubes and set aside. Crush the garlic and finely chop the shallot, then put them in a shallow dish. Stir in ...

Headpins are a Canadian rock group, founded as a side project in the late 1970s by then Chilliwack members Ab Bryant and Brian MacLeod. Macleod was impressed by the vocal talents of Vancouver rock singer Denise McCann, and asked her to join his new venture. Originally, Matt Frenette played drums for the Headpins while Bernie Aubin played drums for a fellow Vancouver band, the soon to be renamed Loverboy. But within months, Aubin and Frenette swapped bands, where each continues to play to the present. The Headpins began gigging around the Vancouver area throughout 1981, quickly building a fan base. McCann left at the end of that first year, and MacLeod brought in Darby Mills to provide lead vocals. Headpins released their debut album Turn It Loud in 1982, which quickly went platinum and topped the charts for six weeks, with the hit single "Don't It Make Ya Feel". (Wikipedia)

2 servings Preparation 10 minutes cooking 25 minutes 280 calories per serving 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp canola oil 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 260 g ground chicken or turkey ground pepper to taste 2 t bsp tomato paste 1/4 cup ketchup 1/2 tsp brown sugar 2 tbsp water 4 drops Tabasco sauce (optional) 2 hamburger buns Prepare the vegetables. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.  Add the onion then cook until it is translucent, about 3 minutes with occasional stirring, paying attention not to let it burn.  Add salt, then reduce the heat, cover and cook until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cayenne pepper then cook with stirring until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the chicken then cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it loses its pink colour, about 5 minutes.  It is important not to overcook the meat at this point, otherwise it will end up dry and crumbly. Season with gro...

4 servings Preparation 20 minutes Cooking 30 minutes Standing 5 minutes 480 calories per serving Cooking dish:  19 cm x 19 cm 3-1/2 tbsp non-hydrogenated margarine 7 tbsp white all purpose flour 2 cups 2% milk, lukewarm salt and pepper to taste 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 1 pinch grated nutmeg 10 over-ready type lasagna noodles 1-1/2 cups Bolognese Meat Sauce Make the Bolognese Meat Sauce: Ingredients 1 onions, finely chopped 200 g 1 carrots, finely chopped 100 g 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 stalk celery, finely chopped 35 g 1 slice bacon, finely chopped 20 g 1/2 tbsp butter, unsalted 7 g 1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL 360 g ground beef, lean 1/3 cup milk, partly skimmed, 2% 85 mL 1/3 cup white wine 85 mL 1 cup canned tomatoes (diced) 260 g 2 tsp tomato paste 12 g 1 tsp dried oregano 1 g 1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g ground pepper to taste [optional] Before you start A food processor would make chopping...

Castle Kilbride is an 1877 grand Victorian home that was built by James Livingston, “The Flax and Linseed Oil King of Canada,” in Baden, Wilmot Township, Ontario. It stands as a monument to our heritage and traditions, and the commitment that the people of Wilmot Township have made to preserve their heritage. Castle Kilbride is known for the rare “trompe l'oeil” wall and ceiling murals found throughout the home. “Trompe l'oeil” is a French term which means “to fool the eye.” This illusionistic painting technique is employed in many of the decorative ceiling and wall paintings found throughout Castle Kilbride.  James Livingston recruited the best tradesmen to assist him with the building of his Castle. One of the best decisions he made was to hire the artist Henry Scharstein. It was likely in 1878-79 that the paintings were created. Little is known about this artist, but what he left behind has inspired all who have seen his work. In September 1995, the Federal Government ...

2 servings Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 35 minutes 280 calories per serving 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, cut into 3-4 mm thick rounds 4 button (white) mushrooms, quartered 1/3 cup chicken broth 2 tbsp raisins 1 tbsp canola oil 4 chicken drumsticks, skinless 1 cup canned diced tomatoes 1 tsp herbes de Provence salt to taste ground pepper to taste Prepare the vegetables:  finely chop the onion, slice the carrots, cut the mushrooms.  Soak the raisins in a small cup of lukewarm water.  Set aside. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, then add the chicken drumsticks and saute thoroughly on each side until golden, about 7-8 minutes.  Take the chicken pieces out of the pan then set them aside on a warmed serving plate in the oven. Add the onion to the pan, then sauté 2-3 minutes.  Add the carrots and mushrooms then cook 2-3 minutes.  Add the raisins and broth.  Scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly as the liquid comes to a boi...

Today's Writing Prompt: Best Movie What is the best movie you have seen recently? What made it so good? My new best movie I've ever seen is St. Vincent starring Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy. It was genius from the very first joke to the last scene. These two actors are among my list of favourites and the story was touching and surprising and full of pathos and humour. A real mixture. But the star of the show is Jaeden Lieberher who plays Oliver, the little boy who befriends Vincent, played by Murray.

from soscuisine.com 2 servings Preparation 10 minutes / Cooking 30 minutes / Standing 10 minutes 210 calories per serving 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1/2 carrot, finely chopped 1/2 Tbsp. butter, unsalted 1/2 cup pearl barley 1 cup chicken broth 1/3 cup water 1 bay leaf 2 Tbsp frozen peas salt and ground pepper to taste Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion, sprinkle with salt, then saute until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the barley, then cook 3 minutes with constant stirring.  Pour in the broth and water.  Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, stir once, add the bay leaf and cover.  Cook until the barley just starts to become tender, about 25 minutes.  Add the carrot and peas, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, 6-7 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir once, cover and let stand 10 minutes.  Discard the bay leaf, adjust the seasoning and serve.

3 tbsp olive oil 3 large garlic cloves, minced 1 small onion, minced 1/4 tsp crushed hot red pepper 1 14-1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes, juices reserved 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp dried rosemary 2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or 1 16-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 4 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium canned broth 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup croutons In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and hot pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, the vinegar and rosemary. Increase the heat to high and boil until juice from the tomatoes thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas, chicken stock and salt. Cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and smashing some of the beans with the back of a spoon. To serve, sprinkle with the cheese and the croutons. From:  The One-Pot Gourmet by Pat Dailey

I was having a rummage through the sale tables at the book store at the mall and picked up a new recipe book,  The $10 Gourmet  by Ken Kostick.   2 Tbsp olive oil 2 chicken breasts, skin on, bone-in (of course I used no skin boneless) 6 shallots, chopped 1/2 cup cranberry juice 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup dried cranberries Heat the oil in a medium-sized sauté pan.  Brown the skin side of the chicken breast on medium heat for 8-10 minutes.  Turn and brown the other side for another 8-10 minutes. Add the shallots, cranberry juice, basil, salt and pepper.  Cook for another 4-5 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and dried cranberries.  Allow the sauce to reduce by half.  Serve and drizzle with the reduction.

  Christmas Jars  was just a lovely 2-kleenex story about sharing and Christmas.  This book was actually sent to me by a complete stranger when I posted that I couldn't find a copy of the book.

  Paul Hayden Desser (born February 12, 1971), who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario. His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge to alternative country, as demonstrated by his first full album, Everything I Long For, released in 1995. Since then his work has become progressively more refined. Desser received a B.A.A. in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in 1993. In February 2023 he released the single "Miss Fort Erie", his first new music since 2015. He followed up at the end of the month with the announcement that his new album Are We Good will be released April 5, 2023, on Arts & Crafts; the announcement was accompanied by the release of the album's second preview track, a duet with Feist titled "On a Beach". Actor Steve Buscemi and musician Matt Berninger of The National appeared in the song's video. Are We Good received a ...

6 oz egg noodles, narrow 6 oz grated Swiss cheese 4-6 slices bacon 1 cup milk 2/3 cup sour cream 2 eggs 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper cherry tomato and parsley for garnish, optional Cook noodles according to package directions until just tender. Drain.  Combine noodles with Swiss cheese.  Spoon into a 1" pie plate or casserole. Cook bacon.  Drain.  Crumble.  Blend together the milk, sour cream, eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and bacon.  Pour over noodles. Bake at 375F for 40-45 minutes until set.  Garnish with cherry tomato and parsley, if desired. Serves 5-6. Variation:  Sharp cheddar cheese in place of Swiss cheese. Good served with a roast or grilled meat or as a main dish with a tossed salad and crusty French bread. I have no idea where I got this recipe from because I've had it forever . . . LOL . . . very yummy and definitely not good for you . . . as the best things usually are . . .

I wanted to share a quick little scrapbooking tip with you.  I hate crooked sticker letters so this is how I keep them straight. Line up you stickers on the edge of your ruler Place the letters where you want them to be on your layout Tip the ruler and press down on the tops of the stickers to hold them in place when you remove the ruler Press down the bottom edges of the stickers and you are done . . . nice and straight.

For this project you will need patterned paper, pen, punch, crochet hook and yarn. Cut a circle the size you need from patterned paper.  Using the punch, punch out holes evenly spaced around the outside edge of the circle. Crocket around the outside edge:   single crochet in starting position, chain 3 or more depending on the size of loop you wish to make, single crochet in next hole . . . continue until you are back to the starting position.   Slip stitch into first single crochet and finish . I left the tails fairly long so I could tie a bow in them.

The Original Stone The original marble stone is still there although it is difficult to read;  a duplicate stone was erected beside it in 1982. Three kilometres north of Wellesley, Ontario, nestled among lush green hills and farmlands, lies Rushes Pioneer Cemetery. In the far back corner of the communal resting place is a mysterious encoded epitaph that stumped people for a century. This is Ontario’s cryptic gravestone. Finally, in 1947, the cemetery’s caretaker cracked the code that Reverend Doctor Samuel Bean wrote to commemorate two of his three wives. (Yes, one headstone shared by two wives.) In order to understand why Ontario has a cryptic gravestone, we need to become familiar with the peculiar man who created it. Born in 1838 in Wilmot Township to Abraham and Susannah Bean, Samuel was their fifth son. Throughout his life, he experimented with many professions. Early in his career he taught for several years. Next, he became a medical doctor and practiced for a short tim...

I'm reading a book through Daily Lit called 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen .  I can tell you right now, if it wasn't for the author's recommendation I would never have seen Son of Rambow .  I've never even read a review for it, just assumed it was another stupid spoof movie with grown men acting foolish and mocking a movie which was nearly as bad as the spoof.  A little harsh?  You may have guessed I'm not a fan of the Rambo franchise which is very sad because my dear hubby is a fan.  And I rarely enjoy spoof movies. Anyway, I digress . . . So Maltin recommends Son of Rambow  and I actually read his review and decided to give it a shot.  I found it online, picked up some crochet and sat back to watch the show. This is a coming-of-age type of movie but done very cleverly, without the unrealistic and foolish which is usual in this genre.  It's about two boys who really have nothing in common except that they are both on the outside of th...

1 red onion, coarsely chopped 1 yellow or red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped 1-1/2 potatoes, peeled 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed 1-1/2 tbsp canola oil 2/3 dried chili peppers, minced   I didn't use this ingredient . . . don't want to freak Hubby out too much 1-1/4 tsp dried oregano 1 cup canned diced tomatoes 2-3/4 cups chicken broth 1-1/3 cup frozen peas 1 cup red beans (canned), rinsed and drained 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce, to taste  Didn't use this ingredient . . . see note above . . . LOL 1 avocado, cubed (optional)  Didn't use this ingredient 1/4 Cheddar cheese, grated (optional) 4 corn tortillas (optional) 4 tsp fresh cilantro (optional)  I could not find fresh cilantro anywhere . . . sigh . . .  salt to taste Prepare the vegetables. Heat the oil in a pot.  Saute the onion over medium heat 3-4 minutes.  Lower the head and add the peppers, garlic and salt.  Cook 10-12 minutes. Add the minced chili pepper, o...

If you know only one thing about me and my scrapbooking, it is the fact that the only stickers I like are alphabets.  But every once in a while I find stickers that are just perfect for what I am working on.  I can be open minded . . . LOL To create this simple title box I used alphabet stickers to spell out the title on a piece of cardstock.  I cut out a second piece of cardstock about 1/2" bigger than the title block. I placed interesting quilt block stickers around the outside edge of the  larger cardstock, making sure there were no blank spots showing through. I adhered the title block to the sticker block.  I'm very pleased with the finished results. I'd love to see what you come up with using this simple idea.