Blackened Oven Chicken

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (if you don’t want really spicy chicken, cut this to 1 1/2 teaspoons)
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon onion (or garlic) powder

8 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

This recipe will yield enough seasoning to coat 8 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts. 

Photo from Google Images

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside (you can also make this seasoning and put it in an old spice jar).

Wash and pat dry your chicken, lightly spray each side with cooking/baking spray (like Pam), coat in the seasoning (I sprinkled it on with a spoon then patted it in with my fingers covering all parts of the meat)

Heat a cast iron frying pan for about 5 minutes.  Place the chicken in the hot pan and cook it for 1 minute on each side.  Then place it in a baking pan (lightly sprayed also with cooking/baking spray)

Bake in oven on 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breast.  Chicken is done with cut in center and juices run clear and meat is no longer pink. 

Serve with practically anything.  We like it with garlic potatoes and a green salad.

Calling All Opinions

I'm considering making a page on the blog for reviews and converting this site over there.

What are the pros/cons of such a move, in your opinion?

Ready? Set? Go|!

Whose Lucky? I am!

Having a musician in the house can be a blessing and a curse.  The noise level can become unnerving, but holiday gift giving is a piece of cake!  Then there are the special gifts one receives from the musician, such as songs written or performed just for you, and music compilations that are one of a kind.  As a parent, I believe the fact that my daughter is a musician is just another thing that makes me one of the luckiest parents alive.

It is a serious issue, these dangling cords

I’m going to tell you a little secret:  I’m a closet OCD. Not officially diagnosed, and I’m not in need of therapy just yet, but I have my moments. Like when I have to separate my Skittles into color groups before I can eat them (this does NOT apply, however, to M&Ms).  And like how I count stairs as I walk them and bathroom tiles while I’m doin’ my bizness; and how the cords behind my computer drive me batty and will completely derail my train of thought if I spy them with my little eye (same as the cords behind my TV/DVD/VCR, etc).  However I have found that heat shrink wrap works wonders for my cord situation, and it is not sticky and gross like electrical tape or nearly as tacky as using those little wire tie things.  So, if you’re borderline OCD like me, or if you just have a peeve about those danged cords, do yourself a favor and buyheatshrink plastic tubing.  Don’t thank me.  I live to serve.

Wordless Wednesday

Easy Garlic Potatoes

One of my daughter's favorite potatoes of all times is a recipe she calls "Easy Garlic Potatoes."

Ingredients:

8 to 10 small red potatoes
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 Tablespoons butter
1 can Vegetable Broth (or chicken broth)
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan cheese (optional)
Parsley (optional)

Melt the butter and garlic in a frying pan on low heat.

Wash the potatoes and either peel a strip down the middle (if they are smaller than an apricot) or, if larger than an apricot, cut in half.  Set aside.

When the butter is melted, turn up the heat and brown the garlic. Once the garlic is as brown as you want it (and the butter will be a little brown also), add the potatoes, salt, pepper, parsley and broth.

Bring to a boil, turn down to a low simmer and cover. When the potatoes are completely done (depending on how many you cook it could be 20 to 30 minutes) if there is any broth left in the pan, turn the heat up and boil the broth until it begins to thicken (due to the starch in the potatoes). Pour the potatoes and broth into a bowl and serve.

As a variation, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the potatoes. They're delicious either way!

Health Insurance

Moving to another state has resulted in the loss of our health insurance. Once I become a member of the employed sector again, I won’t be so worried about it. And, my husband’s new job does not offer health insurance, but they do pay a $3.25 per hour stipend to go toward the purchase of our own health coverage. Moving was stressful, and finding a job is stressful, but knowing that we can get health insurance again is at least one thing I don’t have to worry about.