1. Sometimes Sundays are hard. I have come to enjoy my time at church with my father….even though I still groan every time I wake up on Sunday morning. But between the rhythm of the mass and the time it gives me for reflection….it is comforting. It is one of the few times I can just sit and reflect on life. So some Sundays are easier than others. The last Sunday or two I have spent thinking about Judi and how important she is in my life and that of my boys.
2. This Sunday my father didn’t seem particularly confused but he seems weaker and more bent over than ever. He didn’t say much except "thank you for another Sunday." After church he decided he didn’t want to go food shopping with me. He wanted to just wait in the car but I nixed that idea and took him home. Even though shopping was a breeze and took about a tenth of the time it normally does it made me awfully sad.
3. I did something to my neck last week. I don’t know what but by yesterday it was exCRUUUciating. Horribly painful. It was a beautiful day and I should have taken advantage of the afternoon but I felt like I couldn’t move. It’s a bit better today but I sure wish I didn’t have to be at a desk all day. ugh.
4. Fall doesn’t usually make me sad—-I have always found it exciting. This year something about the trees that are already bare and the blowing leaves makes me a little sad.
5. Busy, busy week at work this week. Wednesday evening event, have to work Friday afternoon which I don’t usually do and then all day Saturday, then a work dinner on Saturday and then poof! it’s time for taking my father to church again….
6. On a different note….I am really pleased with a chicken recipe we made the other day when Gisela came over. I think it was even better cold the next day. It’s from my favorite series of cookbooks—-I’m so sad they have discontinued the series…. I think I have bought most of them—-picked them up cheap on ebay or half.com. I had always passed this recipe over as it sounded o.k. but not exciting. We cook a lot of chicken at our house though—-Ernie adores chicken and Owen likes it too. I was totally wrong however…it turned out to be marvelous—-the flavor is simple and clean and wonderful. I think it’s something a lot of kids would like too. I’m TRYING to cook more kid-friendly and Owen did like it. Of course Leo likes nothing (he’s still my sweet pea though). The introduction to the recipe says that people always end up eating more than you expect and I can see why. A definite keeper and highly recommended!
Convent Chicken
from The Convent Cook by Maria Tisdall
via The Best American Recipes 2003-2004, edited by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens
4 chicken breast halves, skin on
6 chicken legs, skin on
6 chicken thighs, skin on (I used all thighs and legs)
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce (I used regular)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (I do believe in fresh lemon juice but hey, I was pressed for time)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Marinate the chicken 3 hours or overnight—I think we marinated it about 5 hours. Grill on a covered grill (we put the coals on one side, the chicken on the other) or you can bake it at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. They say to let the chicken drain in a colander about a half hour before you cook it.
There you have it. Let me know what you think….
