Tag: Family Dinner

Perfect Roast Chicken

I spoke before of the fact that you need to learn how to cook three things in order to survive….one good breakfast, one good lunch and one good dinner.  Well this is the dinner. Roast Chicken is something I can make and be confident of.  Everyone is always so impressed and it is really quite easy.  Plus you can also make a great chicken soup after, which I will show you later. Here is a simple version for you to try….

You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces. Just good food from fresh ingredients – Julia Child

Ingredients:

  • Roaster Chicken 7-8 lbs.
  • Kosher Salt
  • Fresh cracked pepper
  • Softened butter
  • Lemon

Preheat the over to 375 degrees F. Remover the giblets (I have to admit, I did leave these in one time and the whole meal was ruined. I believe more people have done it than they care to admit). Rinse the chicken inside and out. Pat dry with a paper towel. Put the chicken in a heavy duty roaster pan on a rack.

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Salt and pepper the chicken well, inside and out. Loosen the skin on the breasts and insert some lemon slices under it.

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Add the remaining lemon (cut up) into the cavity.  Rub the softened butter all over the chicken (Messy, but worth it!). Add some water to the bottom of the pan, (this helps with broth for soup later on).


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Cook for approximately 2 hours until juices run clear when the leg is cut or pulled on. (Internal temperature should be app. 165 degrees at breast and 175 degrees at thigh).

I usually shoot for 170 degrees at the breast, but that is my preference.   Let the chicken sit for a bit before cutting into it. Everyone in my family loves this and that is very hard to do with five picky eaters. Serve with rice or potatoes and some seasonal vegetables. Great for leftovers also
roast chicken

Fish Tacos – Taco Tuesday

So… Tacos? I could eat them every day. Hubby…not so much. Kiddo and I wanted Tacos today, but we need to win over the big guy. What to do? I know….. Fish Tacos.

I have never made them before, but there is a first for everything. Time to do some research. I looked at some great recipes and decided to wing it. First thing to do … head to the fish monger. Headed down to Fresh Catch to check out the selection. Captain’s Cut Cod it is.

It’s a ‘I want to fake my own death, move to Mexico & live off Tacos & Tequila’ kinda day! – Unknown

  • 1 lb. Captain’s Cut Cod
  • Two radishes sliced paper thin
  • Thinly sliced green cabbage
  • Pinch of chili powder
  • Pinch of cumin
  • Sour Cream Lime sauce
  • 8 corn tortillas

SOUR CREAM LIME SAUCE

  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 4 tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, more if needed
  • zest of lime

I loved this so much, I could eat it straight.

Prepare the sauce and let it sit for 15 minutes or so in the fridge to stay cold.

Meanwhile, on med/high heat, warm up the tortillas in a cast iron skillet. A few minutes on each side and then layer between dish towels to stay warm.

Cut the fish into 1 inch pieces.

Now, warm up another cast iron skillet on med/high heat. Sprinkle a pinch of chili powder and cumin on each piece and add to hot skillet. Heat 2-3 minutes on each side. I found that a small spatula was the best way to flip the fish to prevent it from falling apart. Put the skillet in the oven at 350 to finish cooking.

Now it is time to eat. One corn tortilla, some fish, radishes, cabbage and the lime sauce!

They came out fantastic! My husband now loves Taco Tuesdays!

 

Allergy Information: Seafood, Dairy, Gluten Free, Nut Free

 

 

 

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned Beef and Cabbage is that once a year meal I think I don’t like and then I make it and it’s great! I think the problem is, it’s not the prettiest meal to make. But it wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day in this Irish House without it.

 

May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows your dead – Irish Blessing

 

Ingredients: 

  • Corned Beef- 3-4 lbs in Brine with spices included
  • 4 potatoes, quartered
  • 5 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • One large onion
  • 1 medium size green cabbage
  • Mustard (optional)

Put the corned beef in a large heavy pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain off the water and cover it again with cold water. My friend Kristen gave me this tip and I don’t know what I did before. It takes a lot of the salt out. Add the seasoning packet. Bring to a boil again and then lower temperature and simmer for about 2 hours.

Add potatoes, carrots and onions. Bring to a boil again, then lower to simmer for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Add the cabbage and cook for about another 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve warm. Enjoy!

Just remember….everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

Additions: Mustard for Corned Beef

Allergens: Gluten Free, Nut free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Peanut Free, Soy free

Throwback Thursday Post: When a restaurant is more than a restaurant. The Chieftain Pub, Plainville Ma.

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May your heart always be full & May your glass never be empty… Sláinte!

Sometimes you go to a restaurant to get something to eat, but sometimes the meaning is greater. I have always believed that food is memories. When you eat that meal your grandmother always made you are honoring her and remembering her. That is how I feel when I go to The Chieftain Pub in Plainville, Ma. My late father loved this place. He lived about an hour away and it got so the only way he would make the drive is if we promised him that we would take him to “The Chieftain” for lunch. It got so bad, he wouldn’t even come to our house first… “We’ll just meet you there.”

“The Chieftain” is an authentic Irish Pub if there ever was one outside of Ireland. The food is wonderful and legit.. from the Bangers and Mash to the two types of hot Irish Bread on the tables. Do not forget to try the Coconut Teriyaki Chicken Wings! Mary and Tom Cahill along with their daughters Olivia and Lynne have brought Ireland to our very own backyard and it is worth the drive.

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The people at the pub are family and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. They came to know how much my father loved the place and embraced it. I even got a delivery of hot Irish Bread to my door on Christmas Eve so my kids could give it to him for Christmas….It was a big hit!

In addition to having great food, they are also very allergy friendly. The gluten free menu is fabulous. I have a child with multiple allergies and they always do their best to be accommodating. The Chieftain Pub is very kid friendly and allergy friendly.

Today on this St. Patrick’s Day, my family and I will go to “The Chieftain” and make a toast to my Dad on our first St. Patrick’s Day without him and I am sure he will be smiling. See you there!

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Sharing the Sunday Fun

 

I just love that my family is embracing all this. My sister and her husband have always made Sunday Dinners a priority and I have been so jealous. With the loss of our father, who was such a fabulous cook, I feel that my children have been missing out on this wonderful tradition. My brother-in-law made this very impressive Ginger Swordfish on Sunday and he got the recipe from the fabulous website Yummly. I will need to make this soon. Pair it with a great wine and you are good to go!

My hope is for family and friends to share their stories of fun Sunday Dinners …the good, the bad and the ugly! Thank you Kathy and Ron, Hopefully this is the first of many….

Swordfish courtesy of Snug Harbor Fish Company. Wine courtesy of Snug Harbor Wine Company. 

A recipe is a story that ends with a good meal – Pat Conroy

 

 

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

I am on a journey to bring back the Sunday Dinner. When I was a child, my family had the most fabulous Sunday Dinners! Multiple courses spread out over the whole day. The neighbors would show up, it was wonderful. My dad loved to cook and experiment. Over the years, he became a fabulous chef. But in the beginning, there were some rough days. We had 18 Fettuccine Alfredo’s in a row, before he got it right, then he never made it again!

I did not appreciate these days at the time, but now with my father gone and my children growing up, I want to start them up again. I miss them.

I have realistic goals, I do not expect to do this every Sunday. At this point, I will be happy with a few times a year. A more realistic goal is for my family to eat dinner at the kitchen table together a few times a week.

I would love to share these recipes from our Sunday Dinners and learn more about yours. Lets bring the Sunday Dinner back!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton