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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Chicken with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

























It is Labor Day weekend, we picked up Mom and the three of us are spending the weekend together at the house.  We decided to spend the three days focusing  on what we like to do best.  Gardening, cooking and watching movies.  Saturday was gorgeous.  All of the hardy Hibiscus was in bloom along with Flox, Black Eyed Susans, Sedum and Butterfly bushes.   After working all day, the three of us sat on the front porch together for cocktails and Tim made this great chicken recipe - with fresh basil from our garden - it was so good!

Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced 
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste 
  • 1 cup chicken broth 
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream 
  • 1/3 cup julienned sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained 
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan 
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 
  • 1/4 cup basil leaves, chiffonade.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
  • Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, to taste. 
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side; set aside. 
  • Melt remaining tablespoon butter in the skillet. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan, thyme, oregano and basil. 
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet. 
  • Place into oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 175 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes. 
  • Serve immediately, garnished with basil, if desired.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Awwww cat photos!



















Awwww, our babies.

Happy Birthday Mom!





























Thank you Tim, Jean, Marcello and Keith for making this a wonderful weekend for Mom.  We decided to celebrate my Mom's birthday this past weekend and Tim and his family couldn't have made it better.  Jean made these amazing Pina Coladas!  Keith and Marcello entertained us with their brainiac-ness!  Yuki charmed us with her cuteness! Tim and Jean cooked an incredible dinner which included a re-visit to the Honey Bee Cake recipe which was delicious!  Mom really enjoyed herself and we watched vintage 70's movies outdoors as the sun set.  Nothing better then the Towering Inferno on the big screen. Happy Birthday Mom - so glad that you are here with us and able to celebrate your birthday in New York.

Monday, August 3, 2015

The Best Gift



















Finding little surprises around the garden this summer are just all a bonus.  Because, the biggest gift of all is having my mother here.  In the middle of this gorgeous weekend, I found myself sitting on the back porch with her.  I looked around and felt so full of love and joy with all the beautiful things surrounding us, she is the most beautiful thing of all.  I feel so grateful and happy right at the moment.  It was an amazing weekend.

Little Surprises


























This summer is full of surprises.  As Tim and I start to repair portions of our neglected garden, we find a few little rewards.  After years of no tomatoes or the worst specimens you have even seen, we are glad to see that there are other great little gifts in our garden.  Our grape vines finally produced grapes this summer.  We found them as we started to clean and separate plants to transfer.  Totally excited.  Know nothing about grapes and harvesting and when you can pick so have to do some homework.  Love little gifts like this.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Joy List - Mom and Summer 2015

























I have kept journals and what I call my Joy List for most of my life.  My Joy List consists of moments in my life that were truly happy.  Obscure moments - of tactile, sensory driven moments of joy.  I have waited to have my Mom near me most of my life so that I could spoil her and show her how much I loved her .  Finally, after a rough 6 months, and a long tedious week of travel and upheaval - I had the weekend I always imagined. My Mom sitting in our garden - the three of us.  Gardening, napping, chatting, relaxing.  A day I always imagined and hoped for for the three of us.  It could not have been more perfect.  It was a beautiful day, and the garden was neglected but blooming.  I couldn't have been happier and more relieved.  Today went on my Joy List.  I love you Mom. I love you Tim.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Happy July 4th



























With so much going on in my life right now - this weekend although exhausting seemed so peaceful and happy and fulfilling and perfect.  The tent was delivered wednesday and everyone arrived on Friday - great food, great crafts, a little rain, lots of fun, conversation, good outdoor movies, hiking, napping, hilarity - it could not have been a better weekend. Everyone left at noon this morning after brunch and the tent guys came and removed the tent and we cleaned up and collapsed with a couple cocktails and are not moving for a few hours.  Great Fourth of July!