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The sweet garlicy sauce was totally to die for. Yum! Although the chicken was small, we kept enough for a second meal. I served it with onions roasted in olive oil and fresh thyme from the garden, and cooked up the other half of cabbage I had used earlier for some slaw. I put some bacon fat in the cabbage along with more thyme! All the dishes had a hint (just a hint) of thyme, the unifying presence.
recipe
I can't tell you how much fresh herbs from the garden will spice up (!) your meals.
We also had two more small helpings from the pear tart. All I will have to cook tonight are some mashed potatoes out of the box (we like Hungry Jack, which I find sometimes at the Ocean State Job Lot), and some baby carrots to supplement the left over cabbage. We gobbled down the roasted onions. Another super-cheap side dish, along with the cabbage.
Eating well does not HAVE to depend on spending a lot. Be creative. Oh boy, was that garlic sauce good. I used the last bit of a bottle of white wine and made my own chicken stock out of the back and neck. To repeat: be creative.
Speaking of which, crepes stuffed with whatever can be a delicious, elegant meal at little cost. I will post my recipe soon. Remind me if I forget. You will, won't you?
I found a pasta recipe for Italian sausage and chicken thighs, both always on sale around these parts.
Do not neglect your fruits and veggies. Delicious squash (we're partial to acorn) will be on sale in the stores soon. It keeps if cold, so stock up.
The Cheeseparer
Tonight we're feasting on a braised chicken, actually with only twenty cloves of garlic, because forty is for two chickens. Home grown garlic, home grown oregano and rosemary, a good quality chicken, now defrosting on the kitchen counter.
Last night we shared a steak that was on sale, and we shared a baked potato (a big one) and we shared a pear tart I made for dessert. All this sharing has nothing to do with frugality but more to do with keeping one's weight in check. Also shared a long walk through the woods. Walking is a great activity, and it's free.
When I got out my walking stick, the orange cat (a new cat to the household) took one look and raced upstairs. He has perhaps an interesting story about sticks which he can't tell us. Many years ago my father was visiting us, and he took it upon himself to sharpen all the dull kitchen knives. My god, the cat freaked and took off at fifty miles an hour. Another interesting story. Animals can talk in their own way.
The garden is just about gone except for the herbs and a couple grape tomatoes. I only have two bulbs of garlic left, having eaten ((or almost eaten) nine and gave one away. It was great garlic. There is a lot of bang for the buck with herbs, too.
The nasturtiums are still blooming, and for some reason, the aphids left them alone this year. We had a big hawk sitting NEXT TO the bird feeder yesterday. My husband wanted to take a picture, but I chased him before he could eat any of my birdies. Wish the hummingbirds would migrate. I'll worry about them until they show up again in May.
With the cooler weather, one begins to think pot roast, chili, beef stew, chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs, the heartier fares. Shop the sales. Eat seasonally. Clip those coupons! Make out your menus for the week from the specials. You do make out menus and a food plan, don't you? Shopping willy-nilly is not paring any cheese.
Yours in thriftiness,
The Cheeseparer
Italian prune plum tart. Found all over Germany in late summer, made with either with a crusty dough somewhat like shortbread (muerberteig) or a yeast dough (hefeteig). I sprinkle a few sliced almonds on top. Tastes as good as it looks.
