What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

I’m excited to have another guest blogger and cook today!  Johanna Galyen is a young wife and mom of four.  She has lots on her plate, yet I often hear her talk about what she’s fixed for Sunday dinner.  This is a young woman who works as a nurse, home schools her two boys, cares for two busy little girls, attends church faithfully, and still manages to have dinner on the table on Sunday.  It can be done!  I recently read her Saturday night status on Facebook which said, “Got the Corn shucked, Sweet taters washed and wrapped, sweet tea is in in the fridge, The ham is ready to go. Now I just need someone to eat it!”  I’m sure those that gathered at her table were thankful for her hard work, and if I’m not mistaken, that was a Sunday that she fed not only her family, but also guests. 

She has learned to plan and prep ahead so that the meal is ready when they get home.  Smart girl! 

This past Sunday, I served the Ugly (but Tasty) Duckling. On Saturday night right before bed, I pulled the frozen whole chicken out of the freezer. I set it in the sink and ran some cold water over it for a couple of minutes (just to get the thawing process started). During the Sunday morning frenzy, I simply opened the now thawed chicken from it’s packaging and gave it a rinse and removed the giblets(we don’t eat those wretched things). I gently separated the skin from around the chicken breast area and put 1-2 tablespoons of butter and put about a tablespoons of the salt/pepper mix in and around the skin/breast area. Add some of the mix to the inside cavity and rub the rest on the legs/thigh area.

Add onions, carrots, and potatoes (you can peel the potatoes if you want, we just left them to save time). Add 3/4 cup water. Place lid, and cook on high for 4-5 hours.

When we got home, I simply drained the broth into a pan and cooked it till it was thick. I thickened it with 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mix in cold water before adding it). Carefully remove the bird and veges and place them on your serving platter.

My dinner rolls are delicious and SUPER easy. I buy the frozen dough balls (only Kroger stocks these) and place them in a buttered dish and set them in my empty microwave  This way, I know no bugs will attack

Salt/Pepper mixture — take a clean bowl and put 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix it together.

Thanks, Johanna for sharing how to get it all together on Sunday – burnt sacrifice not withstanding!  =)  I will be trying this chicken…and I must buy some of those rolls!  Yum!

Tell me, what’s been cooking in your kitchen?

From my parsonage kitchen,