#29 Mediterranean Sheet Pan Chicken & Easy Fermenting
life is hard, food doesn't have to be [vol1. 11.1]
This week’s newsletter is a mish-mash of some favorite things: new fast/easy recipe, local bread class, easy fermenting, and an introduction to one of my fav organizations.
Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Breasts
So much flavor and super easy and fast! I made it with boneless skinless thighs and subbed one can of cannellini for garbanzo beans. I had green onions that needed using and chopped/sprinkled them on top before serving.
LOCALS - Want to learn to make bread before Thanksgiving? Come to a bread making class in my kitchen next Wednesday 11/11 at 6:30pm. We will mix and bake a couple recipes in class. You’ll go home with confidence and a dough bowl to bake at home, bread making guide with tips and details plus recipes. Cost is $50. Only 2 spots remain. Reply to this email if you’re interested.
Ever fermented with honey? It’s super easy and highly recommended. A couple weeks ago I found kumquats (now in season!). Sliced them in half, removed seeds, stuffed in a jar then poured raw, local honey over. By the next morning the honey was runny like water. Each day I shake the jar to make sure honey is covering the top of the fruit. These are delicious to eat one at a time -- or if they make it to Thanksgiving or an appetizer/charcuterie kinda thing, I’ll pour over a block of cream cheese. The honey is now infused with a citrus flavor.
In the same method I described above, you can also peel cloves of garlic (whack them a bit to expose to air and jump start the allicin) and pour honey over. Eat the garlic when you’re feeling under the weather and drizzle the garlic infused honey over pizza (game changer!). Another idea is to pour honey over a jar of cranberries! Let it sit until thanksgiving (unrefrigerated, shake occasionally) and use this as part of your cranberry tradition. I also like to put these fermented honey cranberries in smoothies. Get a boost of probiotics and sweetness!
Each month I donate to an organization a portion of my earnings from Beautycounter. I share about it here not to be braggadocious but instead highlight people/organizations that you might not know about otherwise. This month and in December I will be giving to Transformed for Life (formerly A Perfect Injustice). I met the founder, Abby, 14 years ago when we lived in Phoenix. Before we were able to meet face to face I read her newsletters. The stories of trauma I’ve read over the years are simply heartbreaking. Her ministry has evolved over the years (she’s now married a Ugandan and has 2 beautiful children!) I love they are equipping Ugandans with life skills, providing counseling/social work type services and loving the least of these in the name of Jesus. We also support this ministry with our regular giving. About 7 years my family was matched with a boy named Enoch, who is about my oldest son’s age. We exchange letters, photos and prayer requests with one another. Transformed for Life is making a difference in Africa and I encourage you to consider giving to them with your year-end giving.
Question for you - do you have favorite Thanksgiving desserts besides pie? I’d love to know. Reply and tell me.
Julie
PS - I made the Mediterranean Roasted Chicken this week because I choose 2 pints of organic cherry tomatoes in my Misfits Market box. I am loving this subscription service. The interface both on my phone and desktop is easy to use. You can pause the boxes or add extra dry goods. I tried it on the recommendation of a friend and now recommend it to you! I love having veggies in my house and the (positive) pressure to use them. It’s sort of like a FarmShare in that I am eating in season, what is available and some look a little wonky. :) If you love spotless, perfect produce this would not be for you. I have been pleased with the quality and quantity for the price. We get the biggest box twice a month - I’m considering increasing the frequency…wanted to start slow. If you want to try it, we both get a portion off the price. My code is COOKWME-PE8ECJ.