Since a lot of NYC restaurants are closed because of Covid 19 they have been sharing some of their coveted recipes online. One of my favorite classic New York City restaurants is 21. They have been posting “Cooking at Home with 21” for months now. I had been waiting and waiting for my favorite dish to make an appearance and wouldn’t you know….it was posted last week. I love the 21 Club Chicken Hash. It is honestly is the fancy cousin of the chicken casserole and one of my favorite dishes ever. I always order it but not on it’s signature bed of white toast, but with extra spinach. It does not look too hard to re-create. It is on my list for this upcoming chilly, maybe snowy weekend!! Bon Appetit!
Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 cups chicken stock
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
½ cup unbleached white flour
¼ cup dry sherry
¼ cup heavy cream
1 ½ lb grated gruyere
½ tsp fresh grated nutmeg
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Bring the chicken stock to a
boil. Add the chicken breasts and lower the heat to a simmer. Poach the
chicken breasts 20 minutes or until fully cooked. - Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and cool completely before
cutting into one-inch cubes. Reserve the liquid. - Combined the softened butter with the flour, kneading them together into a
paste. - Return the reserved chicken stock to a boil, and using a wire whisk, add the
flour/butter combination in one-tablespoon increments. - Cook 5 minutes then add the sherry and cream.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Whisk in the cheese and nutmeg.
Remove from heat once cheese is melted. - Fold in diced chicken.
- OPTIONAL CRUNCHY TOPPING: Top with additional cheese, and brown lightly
under broiler. - Serve with spinach, Many patrons prefer the hash served over white toast (no crust) instead of rice.
Seared Spinach
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound fresh spinach leaves, thoroughly washed, stems removed
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach leaves and
sear quickly on one side. - Add salt and pepper.
- Toss/turn with tongs or a spatula to cook the rest of the spinach until just
wilted, but still bright green. (5 or 6 minutes)
A lot has changed over the last few months.
Thanks to the coronavirus, jobs have ended, travel plans have been disrupted, and we have all had to adapt to a new way of living. Wearing masks when out of the house is now the norm, and many of us are now a little more suspicious about close contact with people than we used to be.
It has been a rough ride, and it’s not quite over yet. However, we should take stock of the life lessons that the pandemic has taught us. Yes, our lives have been thrown into chaos, but we should still be thankful for these lessons, as they will positively impact our lives in the long-term.
Lesson #1: Our health matters
We know our health matters, of course, but some of us can be a little careless when it comes to self-preservation. We fall into bad habits, such as smoking, drinking too much, and snack eating. And we put off medical appointments because we’re too busy or because we assume we are probably okay.
The pandemic has made us all take better care of ourselves. We have seen the devastation it has done to the health of others, and this has shaped the way we live and behave. Ask yourself: How many times have you washed your hands today? Chances are, you may have washed them more than usual.
With the knowledge that our life is fragile, we should now have the incentive to take better care of ourselves. We should make an effort to overcome life-damaging habits, and we should make the necessary check-ups, be that with a doctor, quality dental care, or those other services that are unique to some of us.
Lesson #2: We need to care for our financial wellbeing
Over this last year, the financial position of many of us has changed. We may have lost our jobs or been forced to live on less if our employers haven’t been able to pay us our full salaries. We may have had to make cutbacks in an effort to reduce our living costs, and we may have had to delve into our savings to make ends meet.
It’s been a tough time, but it has been a reminder that we should start saving money for other emergency situations. It has also been a reminder that it is possible to live on less with a little bit of frugal thinking. When the pandemic ends, we should remember the financial lessons learned, for the long-term sake of our future finances.
Lesson #3: We should prioritize our relationships
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so the saying goes, and this has been true over the last year. Many of us have missed out on contact with family members, friends, and other loved ones. We haven’t been able to socialize like we used to, and this is because of self-protection and self-isolation, as well the preservation of the people we’re close to.
The pandemic has been a reminder that our relationships matter, and it might be a wake-up call to those of us who are sometimes too busy to make time for others. And knowing that the lives of our loved ones are also fragile, we might now be reminded to spend as much time with them as we can before they are no longer here at all.
What life lessons have you learned? Let us know in the comments below.
If you have been following me for a while you know how much I love a pretty table setting. A friend recently introduced me to Lucy Grymes. Lucy Grymes is a paper and lifestyle brand that creates paper products that are both beautiful and easy to use. Lucy sent me a really pretty assortment of her vase wraps and paper placemats. I worked with the vase wraps this past weekend, with my friend Kelley, to create a really pretty fall tablescape. All of the paper placemat prints are so gorgeous too. I am working on some table settings so stay tuned. But, I think I need to copy some of Lucy’s ideas which I have included below. To see her complete line or to order your own vase covers or placemats, click HERE.
Here are my arrangements on my dining room table:
And here is my friend Kelley’s that she put in her pretty living room. We LOVED working with the vase wraps. We both covered a stemless wine glass for each arraignment!
And here was our inspiration!!!!
When your life gets busy, you can put aside outstanding tasks to concentrate on what is important at the time. This can include tidying up your dresser in your bedroom. Spending a few moments straightening the contents on top of and inside this piece of furniture will make your life easier later when you are searching for something. Here are a few tips for organizing your things.
Account For What Is Inside
Empty out the drawers and set the contents on the floor or on your bed to sort through. This is a good time to determine if the article of clothing is something you still wear or if you want to get rid of it. Store away clothes that are out of season, then prepare to bring them out when it is time. Pile like items together and decide what drawer they would fit best in. Save the smaller spaces for things like underwear or socks and the larger ones for sweaters, sweatshirts, and pants. If there is something that would work better on a hanger, take the time to hang it in your closet instead.
Organize The Top Of the Dresser
Clear away the belongings on top of the dresser and wipe off the dust or other debris on it. Analyze what was there and decide where it should actually go. If it is a random piece of clothing, place it in the drawer it belongs. If you have different pieces of jewelry lying around, set them back in the box they belong in for safekeeping or add a decorative dish to hold these items. If your jewelry storage is also a mess, slip some jewelry inserts inside so that you can organize them by category. Set up any art or decorative pieces that you might have displayed on your dresser to finish off the look.
What To Do With the Extra Items
Once you have your dresser organized, determine what to do with the items that you are willing to part with. You can post them in an online marketplace site or clean the rest of your house and have a garage sale. You can consider donating them to a non-profit organization that has a discount store of their own to raise money for their cause or contact the veterans to come pick up your donations. This is very easy to do and very satisfying. If these objects have a sentimental value to you, pack them carefully into a box and store them somewhere that is cool and dry, like your attic or basement. Purchase an airtight container to store them in to protect them from the elements and to prevent anything from falling on them and damaging them.
The holidays are just around the corner and although things may be different this year, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home to get it clean and organized. This will make it festive and cozy for you and your loved ones.
Now you may be thinking it’s a little early to start thinking about the holidays but they will soon be here and there’s no time like the present. Plus, if you start preparing in advance, it means there is less for you to do when the holiday season arrives and you can enjoy the festivities stress-free.
Try taking on a different cleaning or organizing chore each week and it won’t feel as overwhelming. Here are some ways that you can start preparing your home for the holidays now.
Clean everywhere, even outside
Before you think about hanging any decorations up, you need to give your home a thorough clean from top to bottom, inside and outside. If you start with the big tasks first, it will be much easier. Things like a deep clean, or cleaning out your gutters are chores you want to tackle first. By doing this in advance, it means you will be able to spend more time with your family nearer the time. You’ll only need to maintain a clean home and that won’t be as time-consuming.
Declutter your drawers and cupboards
This is one of those tasks that if you tackle it now, your future self will be happy and grateful that you did. When you’re putting your holiday decorations up, the last thing you want is to get sidetracked by the mess in a drawer when you were simply looking for spare batteries. Clear out any junk or unwanted items from your cupboards and drawers. It can be a mundane chore but think of the satisfying feeling you will have once it’s done and out of the way!
Update your furniture
You might have been meaning to get a new piece of furniture for your home but have been putting it off for a while, now is the time to do it. Whether it’s extra chairs so there’s plenty of seats for everyone to sit or a new dining table so the whole family doesn’t have to squeeze around it, update your furniture now. Places like Dining Rooms Outlet have some great affordable options.
Do an inventory
If you have guests over for the holiday season, you need to make sure you have got enough linen, towels, place settings and glasses, etc. Checking you have enough of these items now means that you won’t be rushing around last minute trying to pick extras when the stores will be busy in the build-up to the big day.
Give to charity
Sort through your children’s old toys or games and anything they don’t want or use anymore you can donate to charity. Chances are they will get plenty of new toys and games for Christmas so rather than trying to make space and feel like you can’t move for toys, this will prevent that from happening. You can also go through bookshelves and closets and see if there’s anything else that you can donate to charity.
Check your Christmas ornaments
Now you may be meticulous when it comes to taking your Christmas ornaments down, packing and storing them away safely. But there are times when ornaments can crack or break, so it’s best to check them to make sure they are in great condition. Or if you’d like some new ornaments this year, you can always make some new ones. This is something you can do with your kids in the weeks leading up to Christmas and it will keep them occupied for a couple of hours.
Make sure everywhere is winter-proof
It’s that time of year when the temperatures drop so you need to ensure that doors and windows seals are in good condition to stop draughts getting in. You can add throws to your couch to make them cozier and finish off the look with some seasonal decorative pillows. To make your home feel extra warm and snugly scented holiday candles are a must!!!!
These are just seven simple ways you can start preparing your home for the holidays. When the house is ready inside and outside and all the boring, mundane chores are out of the way, it means you can put your feet up, pour yourself a seasonal beverage and enjoy the holiday season with all those you love.
When life gives you lemons……. make lemonade as they say. And 2020 has brought all of us a TON of lemons. Despite all the changes and upheavals to people’s lifestyles in 2020, there are still some things that remain unchanged fiscal responsibility and BILLS!!
Image Credit: Pexels CC0 License
If you are looking for ways to help save money and readjust your financial obligations and how you deal with money, this post will give you some ideas on how best to approach this to make sure you can still live comfortably but also make savings on household bills where possible.
Repair not Replace
When something breaks down, the first option is to replace it. Appliances around the home come with a typical lifespan. If your appliance breaks down and is over 50% of the way through its lifespan, you may be looking at considering replacing it altogether. However, choosing to repair it may be more cost-efficient, especially for newer models. Many retailers sell parts for major appliances such as Electrolux spare parts to enable you or a repair company to fix the issue easily.
If you require new furniture, have you considered upcycling? While not strictly repairing an item, breathing a new lease of life into old or unused furniture around the home can save you money on buying new and allow you to create a unique one-off item to compliment your home.
Check online for upcycling tutorials for the cost of the materials needed – often these can be sourced from donations of pre-loved items, you can create something original for your home. There are so many ways you can repurpose items around the home. Wooden headboards can make great shelving or feature art for walls. Repurpose an old wardrobe by removing the doors and any shelves and turn it into a completely new item for your home such as using the wood to make a side table or sideboard for your hallway or even a coat and shoe cabinet. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with!
Utility Bills
A go-to option for everyone looking to save money, but by making sure you aren’t paying over the odds on your household bills by switching suppliers if possible can save you some money you can use for other essentials. Apply this to your bills and insurance policy to make sure you are getting the best deal for the level of cover you need.
Car insurance, home insurance and life insurance premiums can all add up, but moving to a provider who matches the level of cover you need for a better price will help you to maximise your income.
With the average monthly cell phone bill being $67, making the switch to a different cell provider can help to save you money by switching plans to a more suitable one for your needs that costs less.
Protect Your Income
If you are worried that your income may be affected during the pandemic, it may be worth looking into redundancy insurance or income protection insurance. Check with your provider to see what type of cover you have on your policy and see if you are covered should the unexpected happen.
If not, it may be worth adding either of these insurances to make sure your income is protected. Redundancy cover will provide you with a payout in the event of involuntary redundancy, and income protection cover will pay out should you be unable to work due to an illness such as contracting coronavirus and being unable to work for long periods.
Losing money in such unprecedented times is a huge worry so while protecting your income is initially saving your money, you will reap the rewards should you fall into one of the categories that mean a loss of income. It may be that you need to add this to your policy as a premium cover but the extra expense each month can ease pressure and worry about your will to manage financially should your income be affected by the pandemic.
Debt Consolidation
Taking out a debt consolidation loan could mean you increase how much you owe, however, the monthly repayments could be lower than your combined payments and all you are left with is one more manageable payment each month. Check your eligibility before applying and make sure you have a good credit history to maximize your chances of getting accepted for a lower-rate loan. Take into account annual fees, fees charged, and the interest rate you are paying on your existing credit before deciding if a consolidation loan is best for you. Consolidating your debts is the act of taking on a loan to repay all of your outstanding credit in one lump sum and then be left with one more manageable monthly payment. If you are paying high levels of interest on the money you owe for loans, credit cards, car financing etc., then looking for a lower interest loan that can pay off your existing credit obligations can help you to improve your credit rating and avoid falling behind on repayments.
Remove Unwanted Subscriptions
It pays to be thorough when going through your bank statements. Revoking any subscriptions, you aren’t frequently using can help you to save some money each month. Gyms, magazine, charity donations, streaming services and more can all add up and if you aren’t using them as frequently as you should be, then consider cancelling and going without until you are in a better position financially.