randomly chaotic and frequently mundane

and it is good.? started chicken soup.? the groceries arrived around 5, so it was a little late to have soup tonight (my chicken soup takes all day to cook).? this variation on the theme, since i make it different every time i make chicken soup is:

• ? take 1/2 c. chopped onion and saute in a tablespoon of butter (in your stock/soup pot)
• add 1 14oz can of chicken broth, stir and get up any onion stuck to the bottom of the pot
• add 1 whole chicken (rinsed) and enough cold water to cover, plus a generous pinch of salt, pepper and garlic powder and a dash (literally, just a dash!) of cayenne pepper.
• bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered about 2 hours

that’s where i’m at now.? tomorrow the chicken will be disassembled.? bones, skin and the like discarded and meat returned to the pot where i will simmer until it’s reduced by about 1/3.? i don’t think i’ll be adding any noodles.? just chicken and broth.

i need a chicken, some celery and some carrots.? so i can make a big pot of chicken soup and make myself feel better.

soup is good food.? i wonder if i have any soup in the freezer.? i might have some vegetable soup i made awhile back… that would be good.? *i go check now*

YEP.? vegetable soup is on the stove now.? interestingly, it looks like it settled and separated a little in the freezer.? the veggies were all at the bottom of the container, w/ the tomato sauce from the base around and above them and the vegetable broth on top of that.? it was like a vegetable soup parfait or something. lol? i’m sure it’ll be fine once it’s heated up… it’s a poor substitute for chicken soup, but it’ll do in a pinch i suppose.

ok, so a few days ago i did some chicken breasts for dinner (boneless/skinless).? i marinated them allday in the juice of 1 lemon and 1 lime w/ a dash of garlic salt and pepper for good measure.

then i wrapped em in foil on a bed of chopped onion (just a little — 1 thin slice chopped per breast) with about 2 tbsp of “religious experience” mild salsa on top.? and baked em till they were done.? twas delish.

today i chopped up the one that was leftover and mixed it with a little mayo and emeril’s kicked up horseradish mustard to make a nice chicken salad.? it’s so good i’m eating it plain — i don’t want to share it with bread.? this would need special bread to do it justice.

chicken for dinner.? i have boneless skinless chicken (thighs).? i’m thinking of doing some kind of stuffing with the mushrooms that are a few days from being… well… not good for anything.? seared then baked… and perhaps a gravy or sauce to accompany.? i have no idea why.? i’m just in the mood to cook something groovy.

i’m also thinking i should start contemplating submissions for the chicken recipe contest now.? i know they probably won’t be due till like october or something, but last year i only gave myself 2 months or so to come up with recipes.

one of the recipes i submitted last year: southwest chili con pollo

1 onion, diced
1-1/5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced
1 c. water
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2-4oz cans diced mild green chiles
15 oz can corn, drained
15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp paprika
1 tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tbs white wine vinegar

in a large stock pot, combine chicken and onion and cook until chicken is cooked thru.

add water, tomatoes, chiles, corn and beans, stir and bring to a simmer.

stir in oregano, paprika, chili powder, pepper, garlic salt and vinegar, bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer uncovered stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes.

serve over rice.

made some deviled eggs today with some of the easter eggs.? but i made em a little bit different.? usually i mash up the yolks w/ a little mayo, mustard, salt and pepper.? today instead of regular mustard or dijon mustard… i used some hot mustard i got w/ some chinese i ordered a few days ago…

oh my god were they some good deviled eggs!

thank you, that is all.

gage got himself a basket full of candy and a new bubble gun.? he’s enjoying the candy.? so’s mommy, he he.? there are a few things that he’s not going to be eating (like the cadbury creme egg).? my favorite part of the whole easter holiday is the candy.? whoppers robin eggs are divine — whoppers w/ a candy shell on the outside.? cadbury products are of course the ultimate… creme eggs, caramel eggs, fudge eggs and mini eggs.? a former co-worker from birmingham england mentioned that there they have a cadbury product there… a large hollow chocolate egg filled with little chocolate easter figures and stuff.? i would love to be able to get one of those.

did a lamb roast in the rotisserie.? quite tasty.? made a wet rub w/ about a tablespoon of christopher ranch crushed garlic (paste), 2 teaspoons of greek seasoning, the juice of half a lemon, a dash of liquid smoke and about a tablespoon of emeril’s horseradish mustard.? god did that come out tasty.