Roast Chicken!

You should be super jealous right now.

  This was the first chicken that I've ever roasted.  And it was A.W.E.some!  We went to the Grandin Village Community Market today.  It was the first day that they had fresh, local, and hormone free chicken!  David and I were up at about 7:30 (Why?!) and decided to walk down with the puppy dog and grab one.  It was more expensive than at the K-roger but after eating it we feel like it was totally worth it!

I didn't take any process pictures because Thomas Keller's recipe is all over the internets.   I cooked it over zucchini, squash, red onion, and mushrooms.  The veggies were mushy and flavorful (just the way David likes them!). 

The veggies were from the Grandin Co-op so, except for the Jiffy Corn bread, it was all local!  The skin of the chicken was crispy and awesome.  I can't wait to have chicken sandwiches and chicken salad!  We have tons of food left over and will have lunch until we leave on Thursday for Ohio!

The Alaskan Rockfish

Tonight for dinner we tried something new. My parents went to Alaska on a vacation for their anniversary. When they came back they had pounds and pounds of fish. I was lucky enough to have rockfish, salmon, and tuna brought to us when they came to visit Roanoke. I decided tonight that it was time to cook a fish that I had never heard of.  I found this online at Cooks.com and it sounded pretty darn good.

1 1/2 lbs. Rockfish fillets
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. minced parsley (optional)
1/4 c. melted butter
2 tbsp. lemon or lime juice
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Place fish fillets in shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with almonds and parsley (optional). Combine butter and lemon or lime juice; pour over fish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven 10 minutes, uncovered, until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. Serves 4-6.

Well, the fish took more than the 10 minutes thatI estimated. I thought it needed more salt. But you know what? I think most things need more salt. All in all it was pretty good! The almonds stole the show. I thought they were wonderful. I don't know if I would choose Rockfish of over fish like salmon, tuna, or talapia.

As sides we made two things. First, Sauteed Spinach with lemon butter and a dash of balsamic vinegar. I wish I would have thought about adding some garlic cause that would have made it a lot better.

Second, baked sweet potatoes and russet potatoes sprinkled with olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika. The potatoes were placed in a Pyrex and cooked at 400 for an 1 hour.

Sunday I am smoking some sort of meat in preparation for Thanksgiving. We will let you know.

Good thing we love pepper!

The husband is in pain because of a dentist appointment yesterday.  He wanted food that he’d actually be able to eat and requested Velveeta Mac and Cheese and country fried venison steak.

This is what you should do if you cook things correctly.

Otherwise...The play by play without pictures because I’m not a good blogger. Clearly. 

• Cut up the 2 lbs of leftover Velveeta that you have in your fridge.
• Measure 3 3/4 cups of dry macaroni instead of four. Cook according  to package directions or until macaroni sticks to the bottom of the pan.
• Get butter out of fridge. Curse because you don't have 6 tablespoons.
• Wonder if Country Crock is the same as margarine and use it anyway.
• Melt CC and add 1/2 cup of flour to make a roux
• Add 2 cups milk and "stir continuously" after you reread the recipe and realize your mistake. 
• Get black pepper and dump about 1/4 cup in, scream, curse, and then scrape out as much pepper as you can. 
• Add Velveeta and stir until it melts.  Add macaroni. put in two dishes (one to freeze for an awesome dinner later).
• Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

(I topped the one that we ate tonight with lots of Ritz crackers and put the other one unbaked and labeled in the freezer.  It’s going to be super good with ham steak later in the winter.  It’s just as easy to make two as it is one!!)

The husband made an awesome country fried steak.  It was like magic.

We debated making green beans for healthfulness and decided against it.  The pepper debacle actually turned out great!  

Plate it up, add Frank's red hot, and demolish!

Post Script: I'm voting no more Velveeta after this mac and cheese is gone until the Superbowl.  I'm just sayin...