Chicken Kiev

  The dish has traditionally been considered Ukrainian in origin since its name comes from the capital of Ukraine, Kiev.

Kiev Butter: (if you don’t have some of the spices, just omit them, Really!)
8 Tbsp Butter, at room temperature
½ small onion minced
2 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup white wine
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
½ teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt & Pepper to taste

How to make the butter.
 

1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter.
2. Add onion and cook until translucent (don’t let it brown). Add garlic and heat another 1 minute.
3. Add white wine, thyme, rosemary and marjoram. Let the juice evaporate until ¼ is left.
4. Add paprika, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to medium/low and cook an additional 4 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, place in a small bowl and refrigerate.
6. Once the mixture is cooled, use a fork to mash it into the 7 tablespoons of butter at room temperature.
7. Add the chopped fresh parsley, lightly salt and pepper and mix well.
8. Form a log out of the butter that is about ¾” thick and place in the freezer.

Chicken Kiev:4 or 5 Chicken Breasts
2 egg, beaten
¾ cup flour
1 ½ cups fine dry white bread crumbs
Salt and Pepper to taste

How to Make Chicken Kiev:
1. Pat dry the chicken. Remove the tenderloins from the chicken breasts (if any) and carefully pound them to 1/8” thick.

2. Pound the chicken breast as thin as you can get it (about 1/8” to ¼” thick) being very careful not to to tear the chicken. It should be thinner on the edges which will help to seal the chicken and prevent butter from oozing out when cooking. Peel off the wax paper.   

3. Sprinkle one side of the chicken with salt and pepper.
4. Cut the butter into 4 or 5 equal pieces.
5. Place one piece of butter in the center of the chicken breast
6.  Fold two sides down over the butter. Fold in the other end of the chicken breast and roll up the rest of the way.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrres F.

Heat vegetable oil in a deep sauce pot over medium heat. You should have enough oil to cover the chicken at least half-way.

7. Set up 3 separate dishes. (1) flour (2) beaten eggs (3) bread crumbs
8. Gently cover the finished chicken in flour, dusting off the excess flour.
9. Dip the chicken in the egg
10. Cover chicken with bread crumbs (gently shake off excess).

11.  Gently place the chicken in the hot oil and fry until golden brown, then turn over.

12. Remove chicken to a baking dish. Once all  pieces are done, bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.
13. Drain on paper towels and serve with white rice and veggies. 

14. Enjoy!

Polar Blast Ice Floats

    This is a fun fizzy drink to make with your kids. Since, it has been so hot here this drink is a good way to cool off  the summer heat. Just one thing to do before making this make sure your Punch and Ginger ale are cold.

    Let me know what you all think?

Recipe
Hawaiian Polar Blast punch
Ginger ale
Vanilla Ice Cream

Fill the glass half way with Blue Punch

Next add about 1/4 to 1/3 of Ginger Ale

Last add a big scoop of Ice cream

Taa daa easy and tasty to make

Thanks for stopping by!

Marianthi

Salt jar art

   School is out and now boys are looking forward to doing projects in the house. So, this was their 1st summer project done. Very simple,easy, and fun. All you need is salt, ziploc bags, food coloring and glass jars.

shake shake shake

Divide the salt in the ziploc bags. I did 4 colors red,orange,blue, and green. Squirt as much food coloring in the salt. Shake the bag and getting the coloring throughout the salt. Pour the salt in separate bowls.

Now let the fun begin. With a spoon start pouring the salt in the jars/glasses. My boys loved it and they came out pretty!

Enjoy

Have a great day!

Surprising Vacation Trip to..

    Jamaica!!! Yes, my amazing husband surprised a trip to Jamaica last week. No kids just the 2 of us. We stayed in a lovely resort called Couples Resort San Souci, Jamaica. It was truly beautiful, peaceful and relaxing time we had. A Big Thank You to my husband for planning this surprise vacation for us!
Here are a few pictures from the trip!

Enjoy! I did.

Marianthi

Train tracks on the wall

+    This is not something new that we recently built. When I got pregnant and find out our first baby was a boy, this project was the first thing done to the room which my husband was so excited working on it. Every time I show the house to someone they  compliment how they love the train idea in my boys room. I feel bad I haven't still finished up with more buildings and other stuff to fill in the missing space of the tracks. My boys love it when at night the lights shut off and the little sticker stars glow and their train going around at night with a little light in it. The boys enjoy it so much!! Now with 3 little amigos this was a big hit in their room. Here are couple pictures.

Enjoy!

Marianthi

Homemade Pesto Bread

   I love pesto sauce and decided to finally make bread of it. I find this recipe in a international blog and had a friend translate the recipe to me. It came out divine. Two things I added more to it was the flour it called for 5 1/2 cups flour and I used almost 6 1/2 cups flour and instead of skim milk I used whole milk.
Here is the recipe.

2 cup warm water

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tsp sugar

½ cup skimmed milk ( I used whole milk)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon instant dry yeast

5 1/2 cup flour( ( I used almost 6 1/2 cups))

For the filling:

2/3 cup pesto

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

 

 In a large bowl, combine water, olive oil, sugar, milk, salt and yeast. Mix well. Add a cup of flour and stir well to mix with a wooden spoon. Add another cup of flour and repeat. Pour ½ cup flour on top and pour the dough. Begin to knead and slowly add a little flour. Knead 8-10 minutes. Pour a little olive oil in a deep bowl and place dough. Cover with a cloth and let stand for about an hour to double in size.
Pour out the dough onto a very lightly floured surface. Cut in half. Using your fingers flatten out one of the pieces. Roll out to a  rectangle. Spread half the pesto and 1/4 of a cup Parmesan on top. Bring in the side by a half inch and then roll the dough like a jelly roll.

 Pinch the seam closed. Take a sharp knife and cut down the center length wise. Open the jelly roll exposing the inside of the roll.Take the two cut pieces and braid them together with the cut side always facing up. Place the bread into a greased  loaf pan. Now, repeat this whole process with the second piece of dough. Then cover both loaves with plastic wrap and allow to rest for an hour or till double in bulk. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining Parmesan cheese and place into a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes. Check the bread about 10 minutes before they are finished to see if you need to cover with tin foil if they are getting to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Marianthi

Back Friendly Gardening

My husband thought it would be a good idea, to have a garden that is not mixed with the lawn, it would be comfortable to work on and have storage for gardening supplies. He built for me the planter shown below out of discarded wood and pallets.

He inserted plastic lining inside so the wood will lust a little longer with the direct exposure to water. On the back, he inserted pvc pipes for drainage.

The pallets at the bottom are used to store gardening supplies, soil, fertilizer e.t.c.

I have planted, cucumbers, peppers, parsley, eggplant, basil and tomatoes.


The best part................... I don't have to bend to take care of it. Love it.




My husband is quite innovative. :)