Roasted chicken with potatoes, apples and onions.

My own take on the chicken, apples and leeks recipe I posted about at the very start of this blog.

Roast Chicken, Potatoes, Apples and Onions
serves two to four


-1 5lb fryer chicken
-4 potatoes, peeled and quartered (or halved if they're small)
-2 apples, cut into sixths, pips removed
-1 medium yellow onion, cut into sixths
-olive oil
-fresh rosemary, about two large sprigs
-salt and pepper

Quarter your chicken. Leave the wings attached the breasts, and the drumsticks attached to the thighs. You know. Quartered. Remove all the skin except for on the wings. In my mind they would end up too dried out if they were skinned and separated from the breasts.

Toss everything together in a big bowl, and position in your largest pyrex, or a cookie sheet:

That right there is a close up of a skinless breast + skin on wing.

Anyways, I popped this in the oven at 400 for about 40 minutes. I also forgot to take a finished photo but it basically looks the same, except cooked and delicious. Todd and I had a hard time restraining ourselves. Needless to say, only a breast and a half survived the carnage.

New/Sorta New Shows I Love

1. Pan Am

Even Todd is really enjoying this show. Its basic plot is interesting enough, but the additional historical take on it, getting to see life in the sixties and how it differed (some good ways, some bad) is also really fascinating. I read an article online too, in which a few ex-Pan Am ladies were asked about the show's accuracy and surprisingly, the only thing they really didn't think was true to form was the hue of the uniform! Even the CIA subplot with one of the characters is to be believed. It did indeed happen. This show is awesome.

2. Revenge

My favorite response I ingeniously thought of is: nevermind forgive and forget; it's revenge and remember. Anyways, my own issues aside, haha, this show is good so far. I really enjoy the plotting and intrigue and the clashing between the two main female characters. I will admit, I'm not sure how many seasons the main plot can survive. I mean, eventually the gig is up, right? But I'm more than willing to stick around to see just how they'll do it.

3. Prime Suspect

Before the season premiere, Todd would constantly make fun of the commercials for it because he thought it just looked dumb. Stereotypical aggressive female cop in the big city type stuff. But then... then we watched it. Holy hell. It's tough and gritty and gruesome at times, but there are also seriously touching moments in Bello's character's personal life. I've always liked Maria Bello, even in the hideous Coyote Ugly, so I am happy to see that she's found what seems to me to be a big hit.


4. Up All Night

This is basically a given and I don't think anyone is surprised to find this on my list. Arnett and Applegate are hilarious and most think Rudolph is too (she annoys me but does make me laugh), and the reality of trying to cleave new parenthood with your old selves and still trying to maintain some humor and grace truly is hilarious, with or without a witty script. This show is an absolute hit.

5. Happy Endings

This show isn't new, but it was last season. And it is unbelievably hysterical. I mean, along the lines of Cougar Town and, in my opinion, Modern Family. Quick, dry wit, rakish, borderline loserish but charming characters, and just honest to goodness quality chemistry and rapport between all the characters. This show is so funny, I can't even do it justice with a blurb. So I'm just gonna stop right here.

Friends.

A lot of times they look suspicious. Guilty, or ashamed. But then again, their's is not a typical relationship.

See, Kittums (he's the one on the right) was raised by a dog, my old dog Beau. And when poor Beauregard passed on to wait for me on the Rainbow Bridge, Kittums was distraught. Then we bought a high energy plant destroyer and named him Patton (he's the one without the spots and stripes). They became fast friends.

The other cats we had at the time, Vito and Orange Julius (RIP Jules), weren't as keen on making doggy friends, but Kittums had been around the doggy block, so to speak, and was utterly unfazed by being pursued, nipped, harrassed, barked at, attacked and chased upstairs. After all, he is a Mau, and if there's one thing that doesn't faze a Mau, it's physical violence (just ask our friend Barb).

So, you know, they bonded. The other cats weren't into Patton or, quite frankly, Kittums (he is my cat, so he and I were both foreigners when I married Todd, moved into his house, took over the bathroom that had a tub and brought my cat). So add ostracism to the bloodlust that bonded these two furballs.

So happy, so peaceful, so serene....

Of course, Patton is a pretty smart guy, and when I got bored taking 832578 photos of these two just lying there looking at me like I had interrupted a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, all I had to do was stand up and say "Get Kittums!"

Alex takes a moment from playing ball to watch the spectacle. Kittums yowled the whole time, Patton gruff-growled, but notice how the two never stop the game. Kittums lolled about like a Roman senator while Patton feinted and parried.

You can see the sheer look of delight on the dog's face.

Coming in for a bite...

Almost got it...

Whack!

That dopey dog grin again: "Raaahh. I love you Kittums"

Free.

Today, after spending four years in jail for a crime she did not commit, Amanda Knox was granted her freedom. I personally do not believe she did it, based on evidence or the lack thereof. I'm happy for her, and relieved she gets to go home.

I hope the prosecutors come to their senses and decline an appeal, because that would be ridiculous considering there is already a convicted killer with DNA on, and inside, the victim and a confession that he was indeed at the house that night.

Congratulations, Ms. Knox. May you have a safe return to the U.S., to your family, and, I hope, to normalcy.

Rows of Deliciousness.

There's not much to say about this except YUM:

Diced potato chunks in the foil packet with olive oil, salt and pepper; chuck steak and chicken kabobs with yellow onion and mushrooms; mini bell peppers stuffed with queso. All for the grill, all easy to assemble and even easier to gobble up. Plus, who doesn't love a meal that is cooked entirely out of the kitchen? I still somehow manage to make a mess most of the time, but it's still so nice, not standing by the stove, stirring, monitoring, etc.

So if you need any help deciding what to do for dinner tonight, and are tired of cooking, give this a shot. Happy grilling!

Goldichewie.

Once upon a time, Goldichewie came to the village. A crazy man found it, and gave it a try.

But the bone said "it's ok, but it's just not quite right."

Goldichewie then tried the crazy man's large-nosed wife, but said "It's ok, but it's not right."

Then Patton came and said "You two must be mighty damn drunk because this is my chewie and now I'm going to have to rub it in the dirt to get your gross drool off of it. Nice try, jerks.

And Goldichewie was relieved. And promptly devoured.

More Clouds, More Storms.

These were with my (new) camera phone and aren't perhaps the best quality but these photos showcase just how huge the skies are out here, like iMax theatre screens where you can literally watch rainstorms chase each other from one end to the other.

This is the leftmost downpour:

The middle view:



The rightmost storm:

Simply fantastic, especially with a covered walkway from which you can watch, dry and happy.