Monthly Archives: March 2013

Chicken and vegetable Cacciatore

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This chicken vegetable cacciatore recipe is my favorite recipes. It falls into my comfort food category and is great on a miserable day (be that cold or raining/snowing). It happens to be a weight watchers recipe from WeightWatchers Momentum Cookbook (page 123) – modified quantities below.

Ingredients (serves 3-4)

  • 1 packet of purdue boneless chicken breasts, diced into about 1 in chucks (pre-packed two 1/2 breasts)
  • 1/ 2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 package of cremini mushrooms (~4 ounces), sliced
  • 1 celery stalk, sliced
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 a jar of pasta sauce (or a can of tomatoes+herbs of your choice)

Cut the chicken and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet, add the chicken and brown. Transfer the chicken to a bowl and set aside.

Add the vegetables to the skillet – from the bell pepper to garlic cloves, cook and stir the vegetables until slightly softened (about 3 minutes).

Add the chicken back to the skillet with the vegetables. Add the pasta sauce or canned tomatoes + herbs and heat. Once it starts to bubble slightly, reduce heat and simmer covered for about 15-20 minutes.

We serve this with either a 1/2 cup of brown rice pasta or a grain like couscous or quinoa. It usually provides enough for an additional 2 lunch portions – its great reheated. You can also freeze it easily in a sealed container.

My Dad’s first exhibition

I have great news, my Dad (Don Wilkie) has had the amazing opportunity to put on his first exhibition of his oil paintings. He has always been an inspiration, and a positive supporting influence in my work.

Art_Gallery

He was interviewed by the local rag where they highlighted his exhibition.Dads Article

He has been more recently focussed on World War II aircraft, but really is versatile in his subject matter.His Facebook page for his art studio can be found here. Here are some of my favorite picks from his work:

This is a painting of my son (his grandson) at 1 year old.
Sean_grandson

Painting of Highland CattleHighland_cows

Paintings of World War II Aircraft:Vineyard_Plane Plane Typhoon

CONGRATS DAD!!!

Another Progress report on Four Seasons in One Day quilt

This weekend was very productive – The back is now finished for the four seasons quilt and I have pinned all the layers together ready for quilting. The photo’s are not great due to all the shadows from the trees (obviously need a different time of day), but you will get the idea.

The back is Kona yellow solid (on the top)–> 1/2 chevron stripe of left over Notting Hill (Joel Dewberry) pieces –> and from Joann’s a aqua chevron fabric (on the bottom)

Back

The top:

Front

Now, onto the quilting and binding. The binding will be red. I will post one more time when it is all finished :-).Thanks for following my quilt journey.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced