10chickenstomaine

Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Roulade (or The Joy of Stunt Cooking)

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless); 1 large package frozen spinach, drained; 1 tablespoon veg oil; Shredded mozzarella (varies); Salt and pepper (to taste); Method: Separate the tenders from the breasts, then butterfly the latter. Pound everything to about 1/4 inch thickness, and overlap on plastic wrap. Stuff with mozzarella and spinach, thenContinue reading “Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Roulade (or The Joy of Stunt Cooking)”

A Fixed Point of Light

There have been times in my life where the power has gone out. Where the wind howls and buffets the windows; where the doors strain and groan against their frames. Where the darkness is impenetrable and unending, with the thickness of damp wool. In those times, I’ve focused on a fixed point of light. InContinue reading “A Fixed Point of Light”

Vegan Red Pepper Pesto with Zucchini “Noodles”

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 1 Red Bell Pepper; 1 Tomato; 2 cloves of garlic; 1/4 cup of olive oil; 2 tablespoons pine nuts; Salt (to taste); Balsamic vinegar (to taste); Sugar (optional; to taste); Crushed Red Pepper Flake (optional; to taste); 4 zucchini (for the noodles, optional) Method: Quarter the tomato, keeping the seeds and gelatinContinue reading “Vegan Red Pepper Pesto with Zucchini “Noodles””

The Chicken and Dumplings Economy

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 1 whole chicken; 2 eggs; 2 tablespoons butter; Water (varies); Salt (varies); AP flour (varies); Method: Add whole chicken to a large pot and cover with water. Add salt and boil for an hour, then remove to cool. When safe to handle, pull chicken by hand. In a large skillet, melt theContinue reading “The Chicken and Dumplings Economy”

Love and Crime in a Plate of Nachos

I’ve been thinking about nachos a lot lately. Not in a “I kinda feel like nachos” way (though that, too), but more from a curiosity standpoint. You see, I’ve come to the realization that no other food can provide as much immediate, relevant information about a person or place. I’m confident that, with a littleContinue reading “Love and Crime in a Plate of Nachos”

Stormy Beef Stew

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 1 large chuck roast; 4 waxy potatoes; 4 carrots; 2 ribs of celery; 1 medium yellow onion; 2 TBS veg oil; 1/4 cup dry vermouth; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Cornstarch slurry (to taste – see note) Method: Cut the chuck roast into bite-sized cubes, and brown in the bottomContinue reading “Stormy Beef Stew”

Spinach Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 450g flour 300g eggs (6 large) 12 oz frozen spinach 32 oz ricotta 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Salt (to taste) Fresh nutmeg (to taste) A sauce of one’s own 1 more egg (to seal the ravioli) Method: Combine flour, eggs, and salt (to taste), together with two (2) tablespoons ofContinue reading “Spinach Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce”

Kitchen Essentials, Part III – Accessories

Well, we covered knives and boards in Part I, then took on pots and pans in Part II, so onward to the real heart of a good kitchen setup: the accessories. I am a kitchen minimalist. I don’t like drawers overflowing with nonsense, or countertops covered in gadgets. As a general rule, if I haven’tContinue reading “Kitchen Essentials, Part III – Accessories”

“Colby Cove” Cheesy Buttermilk Biscuits

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 350g all-purpose flour; 1 cup shredded cheese; 1 cup buttermilk; 50g lard or vegetable shortening; 25g butter; 4 teaspoons baking powder; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; Cracked black pepper (to taste) Method: in a large mixing bowl combineContinue reading ““Colby Cove” Cheesy Buttermilk Biscuits”

“Ugly” Tortellini With Pink Sauce

#RecipeUpTop (details below): For the pasta Six eggs (300g); 450g AP flour; 10g salt; For the filling: 2 cups ricotta; Seasoning (per preference, to taste); Method: Combine the eggs, flour, and salt, and knead into a firm dough. Allow to rest for thirty (30) minutes, then process through pasta rollers to desired thickness. Cut rounds,Continue reading ““Ugly” Tortellini With Pink Sauce”