Reflections on a Monday

Motivation Monday and looking at the date, take the risk but follow through. It could be the light you need in this life.

Braised Pork with Onions

I’ll be honest. I don’t have a clue of exactly how I made this. I’m so mad because it was so good I wanted a second pork chop like right away! It was definitely braised. I browned the chops in a pan. I’m sure I did that with salt and pepper and I feel like I added chili powder. Maybe some cinnamon? I braised it with either pumpkin beer or apple cider. Or maybe both? It definitely had sliced onions. That’s all I got! But it was delicious. And I had to post it just because of how beautiful it was. Maybe one day I’ll figure out how to recreate it 🤷🏻‍♀️. This is why I write everything down! Happy Friday!

Moving Mountains

My unbelievable team member started an amazing foundation for young woman who are previvors, survivor, thrivers and caregivers of breast and reproductive cancers. The work her and her co-founders do is beyond amazing and I was so lucky to have the honor to attend their gala and help support their efforts. They even, fittingly, played an old favorite I liked dancing out on the dance floor too. Life is so short. Live it well and to its fullest.

:)

When the memory of a smile becomes just that… a memory….

Measuring Precisely

Sometimes I appreciate structure, and sometimes I don’t. Maybe that’s why I love to both cook and bake. But either way… I’m excited that I finally splurged on this new rolling pin from Food52. It will precisely roll out my thanksgiving pie dough this year! 💗 Or maybe I’ll start early and make an apple pie this weekend. I mean, it is still Apple season, right? Does anyone else love this rolling pin as much as I do?

Braised Fall Chicken with a Portuguese Flair

Cool weather… endless braising images showing up on your Instagram… cooking to comfort…. all of which inspired this dish. And it was a good one. Mixing Portuguese flavors of the linguica I bought in Cape Code and froze, my favorite seasonal pumpkin beer, and of course apples, braising just warms the souls.

Ingredients

1 smoked linguica sausage link, diced
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 shallot, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
1/2 gala apple, peels and cubed
1 can of pumpkin beer
1/2-1 cup apple cider
1 tbs spicy mustard
1 can cannellini beans
1 cup castelvetrano olives
Salt, pepper and chili pepper to taste

Directions

In a braising pan or deep set saute pan, sauté diced linguica until brown. Remove from the pan.

In the linguica oil, add the chicken seasoned with salt, pepper and chili pepper. Brown on both sides and remove from the pan.

Clean out the pan a bit from the extra grease before circle the pan with olive oil. Add the sliced shallots and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Add back the linguica and deglaze the pan with the beer. Add the cubed apple and let the beer reduced for a few minutes. Nuzzle the chicken back into the pan, and add the apple cider. The liquid should come about 3/4 the way up the chicken. Add the mustard and mix in. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan and set to simmer.

After about 30 minutes, add the beans and the olives. Let that stew another 15 minutes or so. The beans will help thicken the sauce.

Serve over rice pilaf or a thick egg noodle, and let the comfort sink in. Enjoy!