January 29, 2011

One-Pan Chicken and Veggies with an Apple Gravy


I haven't had a "dinner post" in quite awhile and I made this one-pan meal the other night and it was truly delicious and needs to be shared! I recieve Rachael Ray emails and newsletters and in one of the latest ones I got it had a one-pan chicken dinner and it looked amazing. I had another recipe from here with chicken and an apple gravy with homemade rice pilaf that I have been wanting to make, or at least the apple gravy part, so I combined the one pot meal with the gravy and it was a nice hearty and satisfying meal with a nice hunk of grainy bread to mop up the yummy gravy.

One-Pan Chicken and Veggies with an Apple Gravy

4 pieces bone-in chicken (2 leg quarters and 2 breasts)
1 small acorn squash
1/2 pound small Yukon gold potatoes, cut in halves
2-3 large carrots, cut into large chunks
1 small onion, quartered
1 large, or 2 small heads garlic, cut in half
salt and pepper
1 tsp. thyme
1 T butter
1 T flour
1/2 cup apple cider
1 cup chicken broth

Preheat oven to 425.

Place all cut up veggies in a roasting pan. Season with salt, pepper and the thyme, drizzle with olive oil and mix together with your hands. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and season with salt and pepper. Nestle the chicken into the roasting pan on top of the veggies and roast for 40-50 minutes until juices run clear. Let sit for 10 minutes to cool and to let meat rest.

In a small sauce pan melt 1 T butter. Add in 1 T flour and whisk into a roux. Whisk in the apple cider to avoid lumps. Whisk in chicken broth and bring to a bubble and allow to thicken. Season with salt and pepper and serve over chicken and veggies.

Recipe inspired by Rachael Ray


This dinner was so delicious and easy to make and prepare! I mean, you throw everything in a roasting pan and that's about it. The gravy takes no more than 5 minutes to make and its full of apple flavor and is great with the chicken and veggies and especially good just being dipped in with a piece of hearty bread. So yum! I really think anybody can make this and it would come out fantastic. And you can cater it to your tastes, use whatever hearty vegetables you like and you can make it your own by adding other spices or herbs that you like!

Please excuse my food photos...by the time dinner is ready it is dark outside therefor I have no light to do my photos by. Makes me a sad food blogger...oh well! Please enjoy anyway!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

-BellaRosa


January 5, 2011

2011: A New Year

We are 5 days into the new year and for me this New Year came in without a bang, but I really liked that. I feel more relaxed and more calm about this new year and I feel it's going to be a good one!

2010 was a very changing and interesting year. I don't know if I feel as though I, myself, have changed much, but things about my surroundings and other people close in my life have changed, and therefore affected me and brought new experiences to my life. Also over the past year I am grown much closer to some friends and further apart from others. Friendships come and go and you really get to learn who your friends are and who are gonna stick with you for the rest of your life as you grow and change as a person...and I think I really got to discover that over the year of 2010.

This past year I turned 25! That seems like one of those ages that really MEAN something, but overall I just feel like the same little girl. I still act like I am 17 and I am still dealing with real-life adult stuff and it all seems weird and foreign, yet right. I don't know. I think 25 is just one of those ages where you really realize you are an adult and not a kid anymore...


One of the biggest experiences for me was taking our first trip our to California from my brother, Jim's, wedding. It was mine and my husband's first time EVER flying and our first big trip to anywhere, and what a better excuse than to be there for my brother's wedding?! It was an amazing trip full of family, great food and some of the best memories I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I couldn't believe how as a family, we all came together and all flew out for Jim and Joan and how close it made me feel to my family. And now being older, I can really, truly appreciate the time I get to spend with my brothers and being able to go out with them and just hang out and have a good time. Like I said, memories I will cherish forever.

Whole Family together for the Wedding

And to experience all of that with my husband meant the world to me, I love that I was able to share the whole trip and adventure with him.
Hubsie and I at the Golden Gate Bridge!

Another big event was that of my husband's sister changing her entire life and getting divorced, remarried and moving to Germany with our nephew Griffin. It was something that while shocking, was almost, understandable. It was something she needed to do for herself and for her to be happy and live the life she wanted. Also, I got to do my first try at wedding photography so that was sometime new I got to do! I am not normally the one taking pictures of people so it was interesting and harder than it looks!

Rudy and Missy at their wedding

While we obviously miss her dearly, now that she is overseas, we support her and her new husband and all the good things coming to them is well deserved! They are expecting their first baby together which is very exciting, but kinda on the sad side because we won't be able to see them for much longer now because she can't travel while pregnant, and we won't see the baby in person other than over Skype. We try to Skype with her when we can and with the time difference its hard, but we still email and keep in contact with all that is going on.

Missy and Griffin at the airport on their way to Germany

Hubsie and I celebrated 1 year of marriage in 2010 which was crazy! That first year really flew by fast and I couldn't believe our anniversary was already happening! We had a wonderful day of going to the Art Museum and having lunch there and then going out to dinner later that night. It was an amazing day and I it was really truly magical and I just can't believe how fast that year went by!
September 26, 2009

I feel like, for me, 2010 was all about family and experiences. I got to truly realize and appreciate the time I get to spend with my family and I got to do and experience things I didn't think I would have. So all in all, 2010 was a great year and I feel like 2011 will be a good one as well!

Hope everyone had a wonderful 2010 and are looking forward to their 2011!

Bye, Bye 2010! Bring it on 2011!!!!

-BellaRosa