Chicken Jubalia and Baked Bread

If feels like forever since I have made dinner! I was excited to try out a new recipe, Chicken Jambalaya. Jambalaya is a Louisiana dish and there are many variations such as shrimp Jumbalya, Cajun Jumbalya, and sea food Jambalaya. To accompany this dish, I made homemade artisan bread and served it with a salad. I also cut back on the spiciness using one tablespoon of cayenne pepper instead of two. Next time, I might also add some bacon for extra flavor.

Enjoy

|-|-|-|-\-|--|-|-|-|-\-\-\-|-\-|-|-\-|-|-|-|-|-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-|-

Chicken Jambalaya

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. olive oil

6 boneless chicken pieces (thigh and breast), cut into large chunky pieces

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. chopped oregano

2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 red onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped

7 oz (200g) thick slices cooked ham, coarsely chopped

3 cups hot chicken stock

6 oz (175g( long-grain rice

50z (140g) peas (shelled weight)

Small handful of cilantro, finely chopped

Directions

Heat half the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, tossing the oregano and cayenne pepper, and then add to casserole dish ( in batches, if necessary) and cook for 6-10 minutes until golden brown, Remove and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in the casserole dish over medium heat, add the onion, garlic, and bell peppers and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring, until soft. Return the chicken to the casserole dish and stir in the ham, pour in the stock and bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer, season well, partially cover with the lid, and cook gently for about 40 minutes. Check occasionally that it’s not drying out and add a little hot water if needed. Stir in the rice, turning it so it absorbs all the stock, and cook for about 15 minutes or until the rice is covered adding more stock if necessary. Add the peas for the last 5 minutes.

Tastes and add seasoning, if needed and stir in the cilantro, if using, Serve with a green salad, green beans, plain yogurt or sour cream, and some crusty bread

Key To Driving

Recently, having to write a research paper, the topic being on driving, I came up with quite a few thoughts. However, they would not all work in my paper, so I wrote a satire. Unlike the first time I wrote one, this is a big longer but the theme remains the same. Driving. It was a nice break from in-text citing and be verb eliminating and gave me a nice two hour break. 

It is of course, not to be taken seriously and I cannot be held responsible if any teen attempts to follow these points and fails due to reading this(:

Enjoy,

|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|

The Key To Driving

                                            The teen manual on how to obtain a driver’s license and keep it

Driving is a universal fad among teens. Status is measured not only by what grade you’re in but if you can drive and thus be independent. So how does one become a successful driving teen? Well, it starts with a successful argument.

At a young age many people learn how to make an argument with their parents so effective that they will inevitable get what they want. This type of method is one of the best ways of accomplishing anything a teen could ever want. So here are the steps for convincing the parent. First, a teen should start to sympathize with the amount of work his or her parents have and so make it a point to not only show how much they need her help but how willing she is to give it. Pointing things out like, “I can grocery shop for you” or “take my siblings to their soccer practices” the teen will now be getting more attention on the subject. After thoroughly convincing both parents of the necessity to drive, she can then very casually hint of her needing a car, as there would be absolutely no other way of accomplishing these tasks. By this time, parents will certainly agree to all of the valid points the teen has brought up and will state that it is time for the teen to start driver’s Ed.

Fast forward a couple months and the teen not only has finished the driver’s Ed class but is ready to take the written test. The teen must make sure to fail the test completely the first and second time so that they can understand the answers to the rules on the test, as the correct ones are circled. However, passing the third test is crucial. Once the teen has obtained her permit, she must make sure to practice only a couples times before the test if at all to allow her to savor the joy of passing the written test. Putting into practice what one has learned only makes young drivers more uptight about the driving test as they feel they must remember everything they have learned. Nothing could be worse than a nervous driver.

When the big day comes, don’t worry about coming in early (like many recommend) since you will be waiting in line for three hours anyway. When you are in the car with your instructor, make sure to only do what they say at the last minute. For example, when the instructor says to turn right at the light, you wait until you are in the middle of the intersection to turn right, surprising your instructor and making his or her day. They will love you for this as many of them have had this job for years and are in need of some excitement. You don’t need to worry about getting too many things wrong because as long as you do not do the obvious such as, run a red light or hit a person, you will pass.

The ticket to success is to get a speeding ticket within the first week of obtaining one’s driver’s license. This will insure that you will not only be popular with your friends and parents but also with the police. Since, at this point the teen is a licensed driver, they must practice all the necessary things excellent drivers flawlessly execute. Texting is vital and one must be able to do it quickly and discreetly wherever they are from the class room to the restaurant. Cars are no exception. If a teen has been overly popular with the police they may need to be cautious about showing their iPhone texting skills but not to worry. As long as their car has illegally tinted windows all will be well.

Driving should be an enjoyable experience from the beginning. Teens need all the help they can get when beginning to drive. Just remembering that a good strong argument is the beginning of a great driving experience, will help any teen along the road to freedom and popularity.

4th of July 2013

Although these are a bit late, I had to post them. One the 4th of July last year, we had our annual community  4th of July parade. We were joined by the Davises and we helped them decorate for it. Later, we joined them on the Freelance, which Damon drove, and enjoyed the amazing fire works from close proximity.

Enjoy

({({({({({({({({({({({(|})})})})})})})})})})})