Easy Peasy roasted chicken

Sep24

I am usually reviewing products and services on this blog. But this roasted chicken recipe was so easy that I had to share.
I went to Food Network’s site and found Emeril Lagasse recipe for roasted chicken. I searched for roasted chicken and decided to use the recipe that looked the least complicated. I am in no way a good cook. I don’t like too many steps (like sear then bake). And I don’t like any dish that requires constant attention because I am probably going to mess it up when I forget about it. Yea. It is not a question of IF but WHEN. If I can throw the ingredients together and come back in a predetermined time, that is the best for me.

Step 1: Cut up big chicks of onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, potatoes and put into the roasting pan.
Step 2: Wash and dry chicken. Take out guts from the inside
Step 3: Season chicken with salt and pepper. Rub skin with a mixture 4 tablespoon olive oil / 4 tablespoon butter / 1 tablespoon dry rosemary. Squeeze juice of one lemon and put the lemon rind in the cavity. Put into roasting pan and bake 500 degrees for 50 – 60 minutes (you know it’s done when juices run clear when you poke the leg at thickest point).

Step 4: Rest chicken for 15 minutes (meaning out of the oven but don’t cut into it) and enjoy.

The steps are so simple. And I set the timer on the oven to check the chicken after 50 minutes and the chicken looked perfect. The roasted veggies and chicken were full of flavor and cooked just right. I was hesitant to follow the instructions as described because I thought that oven temperature was too high. But I decided that I am going to follow the recipe to the letter and if it did not come out right, I was going to complain. I don’t know why I had any doubts. Emeril has never steered me wrong (I tried one of his recipes once before and it was equally delicious).

The final product was something worth publicizing. I shared my picture on my FB page, Instagram, and emailed a lot of my friends. Hubby asked me if I impressed myself. "YEP!" I said.
Even if you have never roasted a chicken, this recipe is so easy to follow that it will make you feel like you are Julia Childs.

I did think about trying to cook something else for the next day, but I got tired and took a nap instead.

White Orchard tea

Sep18

This is one of my favorite tea brands. The tea bag are big enough to allow the tea leaves to expand for full flavor. The flavor White Orchard is light, fruity, and fresh. The delicate aroma is so relaxing. Hot or cold, this tea is good sweetened with honey or by itself.

Villa Alena Moscato D’Asti

Aug28

I am not a wine connoisseur so I can’t explain to why my taste buds like this sparkling wine so much.
But trust me when I say it is DELICIOUS and bubbly. And it is cheap because it is sold at Trader Joe’s . I bought it because I was having a party and was going to mix it in the punch.
I always thought that cheap wine was supposed to taste like rot gut, but this is smooth and full of flavor. Once I tasted it, I decided this wine should be served on its own in glasses. There was no wine punch. Just plain punch and Villa Alena Moscato D’Asti.

I am going to buy some more so that I can enjoy the whole bottle myself.
Served Villa Alena Moscato D’Asti chilled with a plate of strawberries is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

If you are interested, at http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Wine-Connoisseur there are steps to becoming a wine connoisseur.

Steps (with my comments in parenthesis showing why I probably will never be a wine connoisseur)
1 Get information from the experts (I know I am supposed to trust the experts, but what if their taste buds like different flavors than mine?)

2Go to a wine shop and ask the staff for recommendations. Look for bottles of wine with write-ups near them, award citations and high magazine ratings. (Once again, I know I am supposed to trust their recommendations, but what if their taste buds like different flavors than mine?)

3Attend a local wine tasting or a wine appreciation class. (I have attended a local wine tasting before. My impression was, "Eh, no real standouts." But other people were, "OMG, this is awesome." I felt like missed something everyone else got. Are my standards too high that nothing met it OR are they too low and not even registering what they are supposed to? A serious conundrum.)

4Join a wine group. (Many times these groups are filled with pretentious people who usually get on my nerves)

5Visit a winery. You’ll learn how wine is made, see how the grapes are grown and be taught the proper procedure for drinking wine.(Did this in Napa. The "proper procedure" for drinking wine does not suit me. I feel like some of the flavors I am supposed to be noticing are being lost. Possibly my taste buds are not refined enough.)

6Buy wines that match the taste of the food you’re serving. (Did this before but cannot really tell what I am supposed to get out of that)

7Don’t just stick to traditional reds and whites. Try sparkling wines, ice wines and dessert wines as well. (I do try this. I like moscato, reisling, and sparkling wine. I need to find an ice wine to try.)

8Learn about different grape varieties. (Good idea, but I don’t have a good memory)

9Subscribe to online wine newsletters. (I might do this)

10Look for a wine school in your area. (I live in the country so there are no wine schools in area)

11Have an informal tasting either at a friend’s house. (This is a good idea that I plan to try one day. Don’t see how this will help me become a wine connoisseur, but seems like fun)

12Make wine inexpensively at home. (This could happen. Hubby planted several grapevines that look to produce in the coming years.)

Pizza is best when it is Mellow

Aug24

If you have not had the chance to visit a Mellow Mushroom restaurant, you are missing out on some very delicious pizza.

I cannot even remember the name of the pizza that I ordered, but it had so many tasty toppings and cost me close to $30. When you compare that to $8 Dominos or $5 Little Caesars pizzas, you might balk at the price. If you are feeding a group of people who don’t care about taste (i.e. teenagers or drunk people), stick with the cheap pizzas.

If the people eating are foodies (as I am) and appreciate quality ingredients, they will enjoy Mellow Mushroom.

The best part about this pizza is its crust. I don’t remember all what they do during the dough preparation, but it results in a tasty product. My pizza was loaded with toppings: black olives, green peppers, strips of bacon, tomatoes, pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese. As I type about it, I am transported to my Mellow Mushroom experience. ***eyes glaze over***

Granted, “delicious” does not come cheap at Mellow Mushroom but it is worth at least one try. Your taste buds will sing in delight.

Si si me gusta!! Antojitos Aminta

Aug15

Antojitos Aminta is a restaurant in a food mall at the corner of Mission Str and 22nd Ave in San Francisco
I wanted some arepas de queso (cheese arepas). Arepas are usually served in Central American restaurants. Antojitos Aminta serves Salvadorian food.

I like it all especially arepas with the vinegary, pickled cabbage slaw.
If you, as a reader, do not know what an arepa is- it is similar to a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese (I don’t know what type, but probably a Centroamerican version of mozzarella).

I recommend going here if you are in the Mission area of San Francisco, but not if you are in a hurry. My parking meter was running out time and la señora making my food was taking her sweet time shuffling around the kitchen. Any other time I would not have minded. But since I was in a bit of time crunch, I started to get antsy.
***Looking at the picture for Antojitos Aminta is making my eyes a little misty for arepas SIGHHHHH