A One Pan Meal

I have been harboring a secret.

I have had this weird pan in my foot for about 2 months 

and I didn't want anyone to tell me that I couldn't

wear my Vibram 5 Fingers anymore, so I

just kept ignoring it.

Coupled with the usual weird twisty feeling I always have in my knee and

a tightness in my hip, my acupuncturist convinced me to go see

Steve Curtin, a well known Osteopath in Blue Hill

Guess what?!  It isn't the shoes!!

My whole right side is twisted from standing funny for EVER

in restaurants.  And.  He can fix me!!

I came home elated, tired and hungry.

I wanted a really quick, easy, delicious comforting meal

I had defrosted some chicken breasts that morning,

 had some sweet potatoes, 

a few shallots (could easily have been red or white onion)

 and broccoli all in the house,

so I layered them in a roasting pan, seasoned them

with salt, pepper and some rosemary - I used two sprigs of

fresh, but you could use 1 teaspoon of dried -

 I drizzled it all with a bit of olive oil

Then, I sprinkled the chicken breasts with salt, granulated garlic and a bit of dried thyme

I browned them nicely in a skillet (whoops that is technically two pans)
and laid them on top of the veggies

To add a bit of moisture to the pan as it would roast I 

threw about a 1/2 cup of white wine into the skillet and did a bit of deglazing.

It could have been water or even orange juice, whatever you have on hand.

I drizzled this over everything, hit it with a few splashes of red wine vinegar

 and popped it into a 375 degree oven

I basted it every 10 or 15 minutes to make sure everything was

staying moist and cooked it a total of 35 minutes, until the potatoes

were tender and the chicken temped at 165 degrees.

I let it sit for 15 minutes and voile, dinner was on the table

One pan, lots of flavor and not a ton of effort.

Perfect

And, my foot doesn't hurt today

Enjoy!

Kyra

"The" Weekend

A nap on the screened in porch, quilting, sewing, a wonderful long

phone conversation with my best friend in Florida, dinner out in

my newly made dress,  freshly caught halibut on the grill, Oh My Gosh!

I know and truly appreciate that people will miss Lily's Cafe

this summer, and have all winter, but the peace in my soul

is overwhelming

The first thing Theresa said on the phone was, "this is the THE weekend,

how do you feel not working?"

Very intuitive of her, because it wasn't until Sunday, as I came in from 

the backyard onto the freshly opened screened porch that

the freedom of not waiting on hundreds of people every day

all summer really hit me

Instead of directing 9 employees, preparing the best food possible

 and trying to perceive the needs of many,

I was sitting in this lovely space, sewing the binding on a quilt

and listening to the birds

I also had a chance to revisit some older work as I made a pillow runner to match

this quilt I had sold several years ago.  Isn't it fun to see what you have done with some

distance between you and when you completed it?

This pattern is from the book Simple Start, Stunning Finish by Valerie Wells

The colors remind me of sea glass and pure summer and the bed it lays on looks

right out over the water - pretty cool!

I pulled this old hand made beauty out, repaired a ripped block,

 gave it a good soaking in Oxyclean and hung it in the sunshine to dry

My cats who have taken to eating their food 

outside of their bowls, now have new little placemats made from oil cloth

I picked up at Fiddleheads while we were in Belfast

Here is the dress I made to wear to dinner.  I just hope I didn't

look like the tablecloth! 

I'm addicted to this simple shift pattern. 

 I seem to modify it each time I make one, and just started 

 curving in the waist a bit so it isn't so sack like.

I need all the help I can get! 

Well, I find myself filled with love, teary and oh so grateful

for the time I have given myself to fall in love with life again

and the magic of summer in Maine

Here's to all of you!

 I hope you had a great start to the season as well,

Kyra

Yes, we have no tahini

When I told Renee that I was headed over to mow

Lily's this morning she said, "your crazy, the only good day 

to mow was yesterday"

I'm really not sure what that meant, but I had three

hours of intimate yard time - did I really write that about

mowing 2 acres of lawn? -

to think about it

I've decided that I live in a Ruth Moore novel

Anyway, something else I was thinking about was my book club

meeting yesterday and how much everyone seemed to enjoy 

the hummus I made.

Since it is a party weekend I thought the recipe might come in handy

Tahini is one of those things that always seems to sit in my pantry

for ever, then when I find a need for it, I've just thrown it away

because it had sat there forever.

So, even with Sarah Britton's recent, very romantic, blog post about it

I have admitted to myself that I don't like it very much

My wonderful Aunt Ethel always made this version of tahini free hummus 

as a tidbit before dinner - I can smell the cukes from her garden that she would

serve with it instead of crackers -

and I have adopted it as my own

Summer Hummus

2 cups cooked or 1 large can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

2 cloves of garlic, rough chopped

A nice sized handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped

1/4 - 1/2 cup olive oil - I have never measured it -

Juice of 1 juicy lemon

Sea or Kosher salt to taste

Place the beans, garlic, parsley, lemon juice and salt in the bowl

of a food processor.  Add some olive oil, probably most of the 1/4 cup

and process until nice and creamy, or with a bit of texture, whatever you like

add more oil to get the texture you are looking for

taste for salt

Once you get it down the way you like it, think of folding in artichoke hearts,

or roasting the garlic, or using cilantro instead of parsley.......

So many possibilities!

Mostly, enjoy your weekend everyone,

and thank you.

Kyra

I'm in love with something plastic

I am addicted to these Dash and Albert Polypropylene rugs

This one became so stained up, I just soaked it in some

warm water with Charlie's Soap cleaner

and it looked like new

Awesome colors, or lack of, and great designs

They don't fade, stain or wrinkle

Look how this one perks up this dreary basement laundry room

and you just hose it off when it gets dirty!

This one is on our screened porch.  I've spilled wine on it

and it has rinsed right out.

Plus, they are soft on your feet and feel pretty much like cotton

Crazy

This is one of my favorites, not a Dash and Albert, 

but it is actually hooked like a wool rug

I bought it from a Garnet Hill catalogue last season

I am not convinced it is as easy to clean as the others,

but I'll let you know

That is my excitement for today

I hope you are looking forward to a long weekend

and a kick off of summer

Enjoy!

Kyra

The Monthlies

An unexpected group of women, meet once a month

taking turns cooking an inspired meal,

enjoyed with wine, deep laughter and good honest conversations

There were six of us originally,

 meaning each had a turn to cook and host two times a year.

Upon the decision of one of the group to move back home,

we decided that on her two turns we would go out to eat!

Our first excursion was last weekend, to Rockport, and dinner

at Shepherd's Pie

A cozy restaurant, with a great bar, good local food, well priced wine

 and a warm inviting atmosphere

We started at the bar while we waited for a table and ate

organic french fries and muscles roasted on cedar boughs with lime

We were then seated at a table by the open kitchen with 

a view of the harbor 

A recipe for a wonderful time

We all spent the night at the

 Towne Motel ( a Boyce's wannabe)

in Camden

 Being early risers, at 6am Renee and I walked the empty

streets of this usually bustling tourist town 

I think it is honestly the first time I actually "saw" Camden

It is such a lovely historic town on the coast of Maine

and quite picturesque in its quiet awakening of the day 

I had to throw this picture in here, it's thru the shop window of

Sugar Tool - need to go back there when it is open :0)

We then all headed to Chase's in Belfast of course for breakfast,
happy and socially satiated

Next time, I think we should check out The Lost Kitchen in Belfast
I keep hearing incredible things 

~

Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments about my blog

I really enjoy writing it and am so grateful that you are willing to share

all this with me

Have a wonderful day,

 I know I am excited about all the potential in mine

Kyra

Pop Up Dinner Party

About a month ago I bought these awesome wicker chairs at an auction for 

$50.00, I had the cushions from some yard sale years ago, splurged on the pillows

at TJ Maxx and just this week, ordered the lively Dash and Albert outdoor rug

from Dragonfly Dry Goods in Vermont (no shipping fees!)

Then on Monday, I saw this table in a Sundance Catalog for $2200, plus shipping

I showed it to Renee and asked if she thought she could make one - a little bit longer

and little bit narrower

I came home Friday afternoon and this is what I found going on in her shop ~

How awesome is that!  I mean, really.

She got all inspired when she found true 2x4's at the island's very own Barter Lumber Co.

Yes Bob, you are right, it was definitely time for a party!

I knew that Sunday was supposed to be gorgeous so 

I emailed a bunch of people, spur of the moment on Friday evening, and invited them

to a pop up dinner party on Sunday.

 I would supply the wine if everyone brought

a dish to share

 What fun! 

 The food was great, home made gnocchi in tomato sauce, fajitas, quinoa salad, deviled eggs,

and the list goes on....

I made a gluten free strawberry rhubarb crisp that came out

pretty darn good, you will find the recipe below

I thought people would leave when it started to get cold, but

they found quilts or just drank more wine to keep warm!

Everyone laughed and told stories

I am so grateful for friends and the good mingling of energies

One dear friend whispered in my ear last night that he was enjoying me not working

Cheers to that! 

I also love the remnants of good times, especially things left 

by a recent non smoker :-)

We all decided that pop up parties 

were the theme this summer

So do it! and have some fun!

Happy Monday

Kyra

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (GF)

pre heat oven to 350 degrees

Filling:

4-5 cups sliced rhubarb

4-5 cups strawberries

2 1/2 T arrowroot powder or 4 T non gmo cornstarch

1 tsp cinnamon

bit of freshly grated nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp grated orange peel

pinch of salt

1/2 cup coconut crystals

1/2 cup maple syrup

Stir to combine and spread into a buttered baking dish, approx. 9x13

Topping:

1 1/2 cups almond meal

1 cup rolled oats

4 T coconut oil - room temp

4 T butter - room temp

1/2 cup honey or 3/4 cup brown rice syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 T chia seeds soaked in 3 T water for about 15 minutes

pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and

process to form a dough

Spread in clumps on top of filling and bake until bubbly all the way

thru and the crust is deep golden brown, approx. 45 minutes

Enjoy!

Peace

Take care of yourselves today

And enjoy your weekend

Kyra

Homemade Brats and my new Vent a Hood

See that line of smoke?

That is everything that I used to fill the house with

when I cooked, going straight up and out

so my neighbors can now see and smell my dinner

First time ever in my 47 years of life that I have had

a vented hood in my home kitchen

Needless to say I am very excited

Renee and I have talked about putting one in for years, but

we have a very small kitchen and I couldn't get past 

the idea of that big silver thing jutting out

But, hey! I'm married to a contractor!

We ended up buying the insert and Renee built the

box around it to look a little like the cabinetry,

which then in turn meant that I finally convinced her

to paint the upper cupboards - long story

Anyway, to celebrate I decided to make homemade bratwurst sausages

Bratwurst, when I lived in Cincinnati,  ruled.

They are the white sausages, with green flecks

I don't know what makes them white, but that is

why I make my own

Penzeys Spices sells a Bratwurst Blend spice mix

that is pretty authentic tasting

It makes it really simple to throw these together

Homemade Brats

1 pound of ground pork 

(you can grind it again with your own grinder for a smoother texture if you are so inclined)

1 T Penzeys Spices Bratwurst Sausage Seasoning

2 T minced onion

1 garlic clove, minced

2 T finely chopped fresh parsley

(Last night I had some chopped winter savory leftover from Saturday that I threw in too - nice addition)

Mix well, but not too much

I form them into patties, or you can put them into casing for links

Pan fry them, grill them, bake them, whatever you desire,

just enjoy them!

Have a great day

Kyra

Nervous Excitement

I awoke this morning at 3am to a torrential downpour and

immediately remembered that I had forgotten to

put my seedlings inside yesterday evening.

They are at Lily's

Donning raincoats and sweatpants, Renee (God love her) and I

headed up to save the poor drowning babies

I think they'll be okay, 

I am supposed to be

hardening them off aren't I?

  Oye

All this after spending 7 serious hours yesterday with Michele Gower

mulching the gardens at my home

I dumped and she spread.  Holy crap, I've never had

help doing this before and it usually takes me 4 lonely days

It was awesome to have someone to talk to 

and share the load - no pun intended -

I am so grateful

We missed one small garden behind the rock wall and after 

feeding the birds this morning I found myself out there in my

pajamas and a raincoat finishing up

As I rounded the corner to the front of the house, which is

on Route 15,  I ran into two phone guys fixing lines

Why the second looks dudes, haven't you

ever seen someone gardening in the rain in their pajamas?

I seriously crack myself up, but the hard work is done my friends,

the hard work is done.

Okay, so here is where the nervous excitement comes in

#1 ~ the people whom I did the big interior design project for

post titled "A Completed Project" arrive today from D.C.

and will see it for the first time ~ yikes!

And #2 ~ the Seamark Community Arts  Summer Workshop

list just came out, and I am on the schedule, teaching my first

quilting class!!  

Here is the description Holley wrote:

QUILTMAKING - FIRE & ICE

Kyra Alex at Lily’s    

Aug 7&8   9:00 – 1:00   $75 TEENS/ $100 ADULTS

A simple but satisfying way to work with fabrics and design that suits both the complete beginner and the most advanced quilter. Starting with monochromatic color, we slash into them randomly to add bursts of color and design.  No rules, lots of freedom and a wonderful way to use up scraps or odd pieces of things you love, like a linen table cloth or that favorite shirt. A functional size quilt top can happen quickly or you can spend more time on techniques.  Sharing the unexpected with each other is the best part. Open to all levels of experience. Materials list available when you register.

I'm off to my sewing room on this rainy day to do some lighter lifting

Enjoy yours!

Kyra