Basics

Ok.
I was asked today what are the basic staples one needs to cook in the kitchen with. I had to really think about it because while one person might like garlic, another may not..
So the basic essentials i have in my kitchen at all times and will never run out of are.....(drum roll please...)
Salt (table salt, Sea salt & Kosher salt), Pepper, Garlic, Seasoned salt, Italian seasoning & Cinnamon.
With those, i can whip you a meal that your future grand kids will be talking about..
You can have all those other seasonings, but realistically speaking.. how many of us really use Lemon grass to season food for our kids that may have 20 minutes to sit and eat before they have 5 hours of homework or go off to the next sporting event that is on the schedule? I like to keep it simple. that way when i do use lemon grass or sassafras, its fresh and something that the family will be impressed with.
What do you keep in your arsonal of seasonings? 

BACON CHICKEN

 you can make this a meal or use this as an appetizer..

feeding 4:
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 pk of boneless skinless thighs cut to bite size pieces...
1T garlic salt
1 1/2 t pepper
1/2 cup of flour (reg flour will work.. i like rice flour)
Thick cut bacon (cut in half)
toothpicks (wooden.. soaked in water.. this will make it so they don't break splinter or burn up)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees and then turn off..
Mix four garlic salt and pepper in a bowl.
Lightly dredge chicken in the flour mix and wrap each piece of chicken with bacon,  put a toothpick  into it set aside till all are done.
Heat pan to med high or 350 on a griddle.
When pan is hot put half of the wrapped pieces. (Allow room to flip to cook on all sides)
Put on an oven safe plate and serve or put them in a warm oven. (when people get there the chicken is still warm and you have had time to clean up and put everything away..)

If you want to add to the flavor, get some fresh sage leaves and put them in the chicken when you roll it up.. it will cook into the chicken. It makes it awesome!!

You can play around with the seasonings that you put in the flour. Those of you who have never used rice flour, its easier to digest than all purpose flour and when making onion rings or fried foods, will be lighter and crisper than reg flour. for this recipe, it helps to bond the bacon to the chicken and serves as a mild flavor barrier.

let me know if you like it!

Julie

Here we go....

So, I'm sitting at my sons soccer game and my friend asks me, when are you going to make your blog? I promised her that it would be soon.. So here it is...

I am a mother of two sons, and all of their friends.. I am a wife, a friend, a volunteer, a coach and so on.. I try so hard to provide good meals for my family but with being spread so thin, it is extremely hard. I don't have time to shop for many things, so the basics is what i have and I build from there. This blog is to help some of you that need tips, or could use different recipes or a little more time management in the kitchen..  It has only taken me almost 20 years to get it right, and I am still learning new things everyday!

I hope you enjoy this blog. Feel free to comment on the recipes and pass them around. If you have recipes that you want to share, email me and i will post them for all to share.. I know if it saves me a few minutes and my family loves it, I will totally promote it..

Have a wonderful time cooking!
Bon appetit

Julie