Recipe - Chicken Saltimbocca

from Cooking Light January/February 2011

In an attempt to make meals more interesting and fulfilling, I have been trying out a lot of new recipes this month.  I love my Cooking Light subscription, and found tons of recipes this issue that I want to try out.  Last night I tried Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca.  It happened to be the cover recipe, and part of their quick and easy meals feature. 

Ingredients
4 (4-ounce) chicken cutlets
1/8 teaspoon salt
12 fresh sage leaves
2 ounces very thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into 8 thin strips
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/3 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
Lemon wedges (optional)

Preparation
1. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with salt. Place 3 sage leaves on each cutlet; wrap 2 prosciutto slices around each cutlet, securing sage leaves in place.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan, and swirl to coat. Add chicken to pan; cook for 2 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm.
3. Combine broth, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a small bowl; stir with a whisk until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture and the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil to pan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 1 minute or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly with a whisk. Spoon sauce over chicken. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.


The recipe won two thumbs up all around the table!  It was easy to make, it took about 20 minutes.  It was juicy and delicious.  Lemony sauce was great with angel hair pasta and broccoli.  Although my food styling skills may be lacking, my photo looks pretty close to the original in the magazine.  Definitely one I will make again.

Also in this month's issue:
Chicken with Mushroom Sauce:  we had that last week, two thumbs up!
Sauteed Chicken with Sage Browned Butter:  that's for tonight.  I will let you know how it goes.
Italian Beef Stew:  I will try this one next week.  It looks delicious!

Eerie Resemblance

I spent part of today scanning old postcards and photo cards for my Postcards, etc. Blog.  I came across this interesting photo card.

It's just another vintage photo card - a bit blurry because the dog moved.  It has no distinguishing markings on the back, but it was sent from my uncle to my parents in 1960's. 

What is interesting about this card, is that the woman looks remarkably like my mom, although she wasn't the woman in the photo.  

What do you think?

Art to Share

One of the beautiful things about exploring blogs is that you often run across some very talented and creative people.  Some of them are even willing to share their art. I found this fabulous share on I am Very Mary.

My Owl Barn is offering a free downloadable Owl Calendar, with a variety of incredible art. 

I made one, you should, too.

Discovering the undiscovered - Vivian Maier

Do you ever go to yard sales?  Sometimes I do.  Do you ever flip through someones forgotten stuff at an estate sale or flea market.  Sometimes I do.  What if you saw this photograph?

What if it was only in a negative?  Or maybe unseen, in a film canister?  And if there were boxes of them?

Would you recognize the quality and talent?  Would you take a second look?  Would you ask who had made these?  Would you want to find out more?

This is the story of the amazing discovery that John Maloof made as he was at an auction one day.  He found some old photos; and he realized they could be important.

He looked for more from the photographer. He has now accumulated over 100,000 photos, negatives, and film canisters from the until now unknown photographer, Vivian Maier. Maier may turn out to be one of the best street photographers of all time.

Working as a nanny and domestic in Chicago in the 1950's, 60's and 70's, Vivian Maier lived a seemingly uneventful life, but took photographs of everything. Her body of work, still being discovered, is being acclaimed as one of the best collections of street photographs ever compiled.
Eccentric, private and quirky, Vivian Maier was an amazing photographer. I am excited to see her story unfold.




What would you do?

(Photos printed with permission of John Maloof)

Sunday Sculpture Series

This sweet, gangly dog, On the Rise, was sculpted by Colorado artist Louise Peterson.

photo courtesy C.A. Crandall

Peterson was inspired by her own Great Dane, Bella.  In the combination of animal form and movement, she captures the regal and goofy qualities of this breed.  This bronze sculpture measures 3'4" x 2'6" x 2' and weighs 140 pounds.  You may visit On the Rise at the corner of Baseline and Public Roads in front of Mojo Coffee in Old Town Lafayette.  For more information about Lafayette's Art on the Street Sculpture Walk, visit the city's website.  This work is available for purchase for $16,000.


Another, not snowy, view of this playful sculpture.





 This sculpture won the Jean Melblom People's Choice Award for the 2010-2011 Art on the Street.  Congratulations Ms. Peterson!

Recipe - Protien Bars with Oatmeal

Protein Bar Recipe

2 c chunky peanut butter

1 ¼ c honey

3 ½ c raw oats

¼  c wheat germ

¾ c sunflower seeds

2 ¼ c chocolate protein powder (I use whey based powder)

Melt peanut butter and honey in microwave.  Mix in remaining ingredients.  Spread into cookie sheet (I use on large sheet pan and one medium sheet pan) refrigerate for 4 hours.  Cut to desired size, 2"x4".  Wrap in foil.  Store in refrigerator.

• you can add different nuts, try chopped almonds, pumpkin seeds, or chopped peanuts
• add dried fruits, cherries, cranberries or chopped dried apricots
• eat as a quick snack or energy booster; they are great to take on a hike

This is a great recipe to make as you are trying to keep up with your healthy New Year's Resolutions!  It is a great pre- or post- workout snack. 
This one is particularly timely for me, as I am trying to boost my workout to lose what I gained over the holidays (darn that cheese and wine!).  And timely for my community as my small town, of Lafayette, Colorado, hosts it's annual Oatmeal Festival this weekend.  This weekend you can run in the Oatmeal 5k, enter the oatmeal baking contest or eat at the Oatmeal Breakfast Bar, with the world's largest oatmeal toppings bar.  Who could beat that!  Gotta love living in a small town!

Happy New Year!

So, I've been a little slow to keep up with the blogging during the holidays (and also the laundry).  The hustle and bustle of the busy season has been so fun this year.  We had lots of family to visit, celebrations with friends and family, dinners and parties.  I am exhausted.
When the routine sets in next week, I am looking forward to a slower pace.  A little more predictable time.  Perhaps, back to exercising and making art.  A little less baking and eating.
I hope the holidays treated you and yours well this year. 
Happy New Year!