So Easy Moist Baked Chicken

/ Bluebird Gardens/

Here's where you can make a nice dent in your shopping bill and have something ever so delicious without even glancing at a recipe book:

  • I added cut up yellow onions and celery; sprinkled with my BBQ rub, and covered with an olive oil. You can use any seasonings of your choice.

  • Cover with aluminum wrap with shiny side up, away from chicken, or cook in a pot with a lid. About 1 hr at 350F. The onions caramelize with the celery and become a delicious topping or side dish; I never make enough. Keeping the chicken covered helps keep chicken moist.

  • After pulling out of the oven and letting it rest for 10 minutes, I had to check my cabinet for what olive oil I had used. It was a basil-flavored Olive Oil, which added a scrumptious taste!

  • Once cool, you can remove from bone and either cut up to freeze, add to soups or serve just as it is.

  • Store in juices to keep chicken moist when you heat it back up before serving.

Note to self; cut up more onions and celery next time!

Charlotte

Homemade Chili Recipe

/ Bluebird Gardens/

For those of you who have canned, frozen and otherwise preserved summer produce from your garden, now is your chance to shine - and be inspired to gardening even more. There are few dishes that chase away bone-chilling winter than homemade chili.

Over the years, I have tried a range of recipes from vintage to modern. I have also tried a number of combinations but forgotten to write most of them down - well, except for this one. I was making it at one of my brother's homes and my sister-in-law insisted I write it down as I was throwing it together.

One of the nice things about chili is there are a only a few basic ingredients; after the basics, you can customize to your own taste.

I start with fresh tomatoes when I can, or a jar of canned tomatoes. When you start adding other preserved garden produce like green peppers, zucchini, squash, and whatever else you may have handy, this chili recipe becomes a culinary adventure.

Do you also have a secret chili ingredient? Every chili maker has one!

Charlotte’s Homemade Chili Recipe

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 16 oz. can pinto beans; 16 oz. can red beans or 32 oz. of one kind of beans

  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (optional)

  • 1 large cut up yellow onion

  • 1-3 cut up garlic cloves

  • 2 cups water

For seasoning:  

  • 2-3 tablespoons chili power

  • 1 teaspoon fresh-dried oregano from garden

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon baking cocoa

  • 1-2 teaspoons salt

  • Bay leaves

Instructions: 

  • Add and brown ground beef.

  • In a larger pot, mix tomatoes and beans.

  • Add seasonings and 2 cups water. Cook on low.

  • Drain browned hamburger and onions; add to simmering pot.

  • Taste test.

  • Add salt if necessary. Add 2-3 bay leaves. Cook for 15 minutes longer.

  • Remove bay leaves.

  • Serve, or store in small containers to freeze for later use.

Charlotte