Dinner Tonight: Chicken Piccata

Kathleen Rear

2 comments

May 28, 2011

Getting all the juicing and zesting and pounding done ahead shaves time off this recipe and makes it do-able for a weeknight.

Chicken Piccata
4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 cup Flour
2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup Garlic Flavored Olive Oil
2 Lemons
1 tablespoon Capers
1 cup Chicken Stock
1 tablespoon Basil (fresh or dried)
1/4 cup Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons Butter

You’ll need the zest of one lemon and the juice of two lemons. Juice your lemon over a tiny strainer to catch the pits.

Place the chicken breast between cling film or waxed paper and pound until very, very thin; about a 1/4 inch. Slice the pounded breast in two making two portions. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.

I was fortunate to run into the Thin Sliced Breast Fillets at my grocery. I snap these up whenever I see them, they are such a time saver!

Salt and Pepper each of the pounded breast portions and dredge them in the flour, shaking most of the flour off. You only want a very thin coating of flour.

Heat the garlic oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat and saute the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side. Don’t over crowd the pan; maybe only 4 cutlets per batch. If you need to add more garlic oil to the pan between batches, go for it. After the chicken is fried set it aside and lower the heat to medium.

Pour in the chicken stock, lemon juice, lemon zest and capers. Stir and bring to a simmer, reduce for about 10 minutes.

Add the butter and cream, whisking to combine.
Add back in the chicken and basil. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve with bread and salad or with pasta.

I Heart Zooey!

Kathleen Rear

no comments

May 21, 2011

She’s one of my all time girl crushes. The new show on Fox looks like so much fun. It also looks like I’ll be watching it alone in my male centric household because: WARNING WARNING!…GIRL TV SHOW ALERT….WHOOP WHOOP!….CHICK SHOW CHICK SHOW!
Of course they have surprised me before, my 13-year-old used to watch ANTM with me. Probably had nothing to do with the mostly unclothed, scorching hot, girls.

Packing Light: The Dopp Kit (Redux)

Kathleen Rear

no comments

May 19, 2011

Oh how the righteous have fallen! I’m ashamed to say I’ve reverted to my old habits. Last time I packed to travel my dopp kit was a mess, not only that, I packed a bunch of stuff I didn’t use; to the tune of almost 2 lbs! Shame, shame, shame. Below is a photo of what I took on our weekend getaway to Las Vegas.

SHAME!! PACKING LIGHT FAIL!!


Click to get a better look.

First off: Things I didn’t need.
My entire brow kit. I’m a fan of tidy eyebrows but really the whole kit?
Two foundations? Liquid and powder?
Two blushes? Powder and stick? Uh, Kath? Are you MOVING there?
The fake eyelashes were fun, however ultimately nonsensical. Also, have you ever tried to take off fake eyelashes at 3 a.m. after, well…a few drinks?
Ahem… moving on.
Full size makeup remover and cotton pads? My face wash doubles as a make-up remover, that’s why I buy it
All those makeup brushes, the full packet of bobby pins, and full size scissors.
As you know, full size anything is a packing light no-no.
I suppose it’s time to back the truck up (I’ll need a truck if I insist on taking all this crap!) and re-acquaint my self with packing light.

Here’s the after photo:

Much Better


Click for full size

Remembering my own advice about travel sizes and travel bottles plus taking only things you’ll know you’ll use, it’s much more manageable don’t you think?
Oh and the little red Victorinox Swiss Card? It has scissors, tweezers, a light, and tools you can hand to MacGyver so he can break you guys out of the bad dude stronghold.

Pineapple Chicken

Kathleen Rear

no comments

May 17, 2011

This is a great busy day recipe because it’s just browning meat and then opening a jar. If you substitute shrimp for the chicken it’s even quicker!

Pineapple Chicken w/ Rice.

2 lbs Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Thighs
Salt and Pepper
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup Pineapple Preserves
1 cup Orange Juice or Water
1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 tablespoon Grated Fresh Ginger
1 cup Fresh Pineapple Chunks
1 tablespoon Fresh Chives

Cut the chicken into strips and season with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to a large saute pan and brown on medium high for about 10 minutes.

Add the pineapple preserves and orange juice and stir until the preserves are melted.

Add the red pepper flakes, cinnamon sticks, and ginger. Stir, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Uncover and turn the heat up to high, reduce the sauce for 5 five minutes.
Add the fresh pineapple chunks and chives for garnish.

Serve over jasmine rice or ramen noodles.

Oh! and here’s a really easy way to make perfect rice every time!

Jasmine Rice

2 cups Jasmine Rice
1 teaspoon Salt
Bring 2 quarts of water to boil. Add salt. Add rice. Boil rice until almost done. (Cooking time will vary) It should be a little undercooked in the middle.

Drain rice in a small colander then place the colander into the now empty and still warm cooking pot.
Cover the pot and colander with a clean dry kitchen towel and set aside for 10 minutes. Fluff with fork for serving
Tip: you can make the rice as far ahead as 30 minutes.

Are You My Mother?

Kathleen Rear

1 comment

May 7, 2011

Although the story by P.D. Eastman about a baby bird trying to find his mother is endearing and one of my favorites, I would like to float out the idea that, as women, we have lots of Mother’s in our lives. Not just the one.

My Mother, the one who gave birth to me, is my first and always. She gave me my start, made me into the person I am today.


Me and Mom 1970


Me and Mom 1973

But, she’s not the only one to do so. Over the years just about every woman I’ve grown close to has taught me lessons I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.

My Sister is my Mother…


Me and Sis 1970’s


Me and Sis 1980’s
She taught me how to see another person’s point of view. She taught me how to laugh at my self and maybe not take my self so seriously all the damn time.

My Grandmother is my Mother…


Grandma Naomi and Mom


Grandma Naomi and Me and Sis


Grandma Geraldine and Dad and Bruce and David


Grandma Geraldine and Me and Sis

She plucked my eyebrows the first time. She bought me ice cream after a day at the beach. She made me feel I was special. She taught me, in part, who my own Mother was, where she came from and ultimately where I came from.

My Mother in Law is my Mother…


Funny story. My Mother in Law was being bossy, (I totally forget what we were even talking about) and I was not in the mood for mother in law bossiness that day.
So, I piped up “Who do you think you are? My Mother?”
In all seriousness she returned; “Yes, I am!”
It dawned on me right then the magnitude of what my Mother in Law had taken on when I married her son. She wasn’t the enemy. I was, after all, a fan of her work (my husband). She was not by birth, but by choice, my Mother.

The Feminine Historical Narrative is my Mother…

They passed away long before or shortly after I was born, but thanks to the stories passed on by their daughters and granddaughters and sisters, I know them.

The stories of who they were helped shape the kind of person I wanted to be when I was growing up. Sassy, feisty, brave, mysterious, hard-working, funny, adventurous!

My children are my Mother…

There’s only one way to know what kind of Mother you’ll be. Become one. Most of the very important lessons learned about myself and the world were taught to me by these two guys.

I am my Mother…

You become your Mother. It’s inevitable. All those Mothers, and more, encouraged, inspired, and taught me, so that’s not such a bad thing.

So, to all my Mothers, to all of you and all your Mothers, I wish a Happy Mother’s Day.

Positive Vibration

Kathleen Rear

no comments

May 3, 2011

Have you ever woken up with a song playing in your head? Maybe it’s just me. Today this was on a loop in my subconscious.

Live if you want to live
Rastaman vibration yeah! Positive
I and I vibration yeah! Positive
I a man iration yeah! Irie ites
Positive vibration yeah! Positive

If you get down and quarrel everyday
You’re saying prayers to the devil, I say
Why not help one another on the way
Make it much easier

Say you just can’t live that negative way
You know what I mean
Make way for the positive day
Cause it’s a new day
New time, new feeling yeah!
Say it’s a new sign
Oh what a new day

Picking up,
Are you picking up now
JAH love, JAH love protect us (repeat)

Rastaman vibration yeah! Positive
I and I vibration yeah! Positive
I a man iration yeah! Irie ites
Vibes, got to have a good vibe
Picking up,
Are you picking up now (repeat)

Yeah I know, you’re thinking: “Take a shower hippie!” Well, I am from Oregon.

Recent events on our little orb and in my personal orbit have got me all stressed up and nowhere to go. What about you?

Let’s have a cold drink and listen to what Mr. Marley has to sing.
Everything gonna be alright…

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