Veterans Day

Today I want to say "Thank you" to all of our service men and women past and present who gave and are giving their lives to protect all we hold dear.


I have four uncles, one aunt and a brother who have and are serving in the military.  My brother is in the Navy.  He and his family recently returned from Japan.  They were stationed there during the awful earthquake.  Which reminds me, thank you to all of the wives, husbands and children who directly support our service members.


Here are a few links if you would like to show how thankful you are in a more concrete way.


Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund
Provides financial and emotional support to surviving US military families and severely injured veteran families afflicted by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Give 2 the Troops
Click on the above to see a comprehensive list of items the troops need and want.


Operation Shoebox
Perhaps one of the better known organizations.


Thank you for stopping by, and thank you brother,
Natosha

Lemon Artichoke Chicken

My friend, Aimee, first made this for Mike and I when we lived in California.  She shared the recipe with me and I cooked it a few times.  And although I looked back fondly on the dish, I haven't cooked it since.  Well, when I asked my friends for topics for this blog Aimee suggested Lemon Artichoke Chicken and said she had lost the recipe.


I Googled the recipe and Aimee and I are pretty sure the original one (for us, anyway) is from Sunset Magazine.  Here it is:

Ingredients

• 4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves (about 8 oz. each), rinsed, dried, and pounded to an even thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch 
• 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper 
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 1 can (14 oz.) quartered artichoke hearts, drained
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. In a 10-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add chicken in batches and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a 9- by 13-inch baking dish and add artichoke hearts.
• 2. Add sherry, lemon peel, and lemon juice to remaining butter in frying pan; stir over medium heat until well blended and hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cream and stir. Remove from heat and pour sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese.
• 3. Bake until sauce is bubbling and golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes.

Submitted to Sunset Magazine by Charlotte Corkery, Auburn, CA
FEBRUARY 2006

I put the chicken breast between two pieces of plastic
and use a rolling pin to pound it flat.

This recipe is so good.  You can substitute dried lemon peel and canned lemon juice, but trust me, the fresh makes this dish.  You only need one lemon for the recipe.  You can cut fat and calories by using skim evaporated milk, but again, that 1/2 cup of heavy cream makes the sauce scrumptous.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

p.s.  Sorry about the color of the text and all the white.  Technical difficulties.

Have You Heard of Scentsy?

I have no craft to show you today, but I do have a great Christmas gift idea for you.  Actually, it's a great gift for any occasion.  Gift to your host/hostess, birthday, thank you, house warming, Monday (come on- a Scentsy product would totally make your Monday better), or just pick your own reason.


*btw, I am not being paid for this endorsement and the opinions stated are all mine*


If you have never encountered Scentsy, you may be asking, tell me what it is already.  Well, Scentsy offers a line of scent warmers that not only smell heavenly, but are super stylish as well.


Here are an example of some of their Christmas warmers:







I think my favorites are the reindeer and trees.  And then there are the adorable plug-in warmers.  Here are my favorites:




Here are some non-holiday warmers:





And for all you crafters out there, Scentsy offers a DIY warmer, you just add your own designs:


Now that you have picked out your warmer, the hard part has come:  picking a scent.  Here are just a few:  Baked Apple Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake, Autumn Sunset, Christmas Cottage, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Clean Breeze, Cucumber Lime, the list go on and on.  Oh, and guys, there are even scents just for you, such as: Duke, Echo and Hemingway.


Where can you order yours?  Go to Amy Pylant's Scentsy Page and start buying!!  Then come back and tell me what you bought.  ;)


Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha