On The Menu!

I have spent a healthy chunk of change lately upgrading the equipment in my kitchen in order to improve the culinary experience for Will and I.  In the past month I have purchased an Aroma Rice Cooker/Food Steamer, a cast iron reversible griddle/grill that covers two burners on my stove thus expanding its capabilities, new cooking utensils and of course my most recent purchase of the NuWave Oven.  Yesterday was payday and now that I have my Thursdays off again, I can take care of all my chores and errands thus leaving my weekend free for recreation and recuperation.  

So yesterday I planned the weekly menu to take advantage of all the new tools at my disposal along with healthier meal choices for us.  Last night was the kick off of the new menu and the first use of my NuWave Oven.  I must say it was a complete success with lots of deliciousness to fill our tummies.  On the Menu:  Baked Chicken, Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Corn, Cornbread Stuffing and a Creamy Chicken Gravy.   Including prep time this delicious meal went from package to table in under 2 hours, the kitchen was not heated up, and cleanup was a snap.  Not bad for a first attempt.  Here is what I did:

I took a Trader Joe's minimally processed free range 5 pound frying chicken rinsed and drained, then rubbed a small amount of olive oil on the outside.  On the inside I put chopped garlic, onion powder and half a lemon, squeezed.  I then rubbed onion powder and poultry seasoning into the skin, tied the legs and placed it on the 1 inch grill, breast down, in the NuWave Oven.  Placing the dome on top, I set it for 350 F and the timer for 40 minutes.  When that timer went off, I flipped the bird breast side up, removed the lemon and squeezed the remaining juices over the breast, then cooked for an additional 35 minutes.  I added foil for the last 5 minutes to prevent over browning.  The chicken was cooked to perfection (internal temperature 165.4 F measured with my new digital meat thermometer), tender juicy and delicious!

While the Chicken was cooking I steamed some Trader Joe's gold potatoes with some salt and Rosemary for 25 minutes in the Aroma steamer.  I removed the potatoes then steamed some Trader Joe's organic sweet corn for 10 minutes.  I mashed the potatoes with butter and milk, reheating them in the microwave for 2 minutes just before serving. On the stove, I prepared some Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing using chicken broth instead of the water in the recipe and made the gravy.  The gravy is simple, take a can of cream of chicken soup, add onion powder, poultry seasoning and a little chicken broth, heat and voila instant gravy!  Every thing came together at the same time for a wonderfully delicious, hassle free meal!

Clean up was easy, the juices from the chicken were gathered in the liner pan of the oven, so I just poured them in a jar for disposal, and every thing else disassembles and is dishwasher safe (except for the power head on the oven), so in it went and I was done.   A very successful beginning to our grand experiment. 

Now getting to the Music and the Men, I was in a mood for some Boccherini today, so I found a great video (posted below) of 3 Boccherini Quintets for Piano and Strings Opus 56, Number 1 and Opus 57, Numbers 3 & 4.  That performance is by Roberto Panuzzo on Piano and members of the Stumentisti del Teatro alla Scala.  Over on my tumblr, I have my favorite among Boccherini’s Cello Concerti, the Cello Concerto in B Flat Major.  That marveleous performance is by the Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic under the baton of Philip Greenberg and features Xavier Philipps as the Cello Soloist.  His performance is on  a Cello  crafted by Matteo Goffriller Venedig in 1710, was recorded live at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

Then since it is Friday, it is time to indulge in a little phantasie fantastique with some gorgeous guys in compromising or suggestive situations that are sure to delight one and all.  You will find your Friday Fantasy Fuel posted down below.  Over on my tumblr, your Hottie of the Day! is there offering his 'Open Invitation...'.  Thanks for the visit, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!