Monday Goals and Etouffee

Monday goal time again. Last week's goals suffered with all my distractions, but I still did lots of sewing. This week will be---

1. Bind Jane's Star
2. Load another quilt
3. Finish Jacob's Ladder blocks for swap
4. Put last round on and trim Christmas Courthouse Steps
5. Add borders to D9P
6. Work on a UFO
7. Work on blue baby blankets

Now, I don't intend on doing all these. But maybe I can LIMIT myself to these projects!

At the last minute for sign up, I joined a swap of Blue/White Jacob's ladder blocks. I love this block, and think a quilt made in blue/white will be lovely. I could just MAKE the whole quilt myself, but somehow that just isn't as fun! I only need to make 12 blocks, last night I made 6.

I sewed on the Courthouse Steps, I have the last round to do. Soon they can be made into a top. I had to cut 7 more light strips at the end, and I almost didn't have enough. There are plenty of darks, but not lights. It is destined to be a using type quilt, so I'm not worrying about it~!

And that Judy, she is a BAD influence. While looking for Cajun Recipes, I came across this one at Cooks.com. And made it. And talked my relatives into being the guinea pigs! I think it was a bit too greasy and would cut back on the butter, and I didn't use the red bell pepper. I used some green bell pepper I had in the freezer. And I added some boneless cubed pork (after all, it's the other white meat Sarah!) with the chicken thighs. No fresh parsley either. But it was very good, and I will make it again. Oh, I finished mine in the crock pot.

CHICKEN ETOUFFEE (A-2-FAY)

1 stick unsalted butter 2 med. onions, chopped 1/4 c. thinly sliced celery 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 sm. red bell pepper, diced 8 chicken thighs, skinned 1 1/2 tsp. cajun seasoning mix 3 tbsp. flour 2 tbsp. tomato paste 1/4 tsp. Tabasco 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 c. chicken stock, broth or water 1 c. chopped green onions 1/2 c. fresh parsley, minced Cook, long grain white rice Heat large heavy skillet over medium heat until hot. Melt butter until it smokes. Saute onions, celery and red bell pepper for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, season the thighs with cajun season mix. Add them to skillet after vegetables have sauteed for 5 minutes. Brown thighs, cooking 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside for later use. Add flour to skillet and stir well. Cook about 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Blend in tomato paste, Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add chicken stock and cooked chicken. Cover and cook for 12 minutes. Remove cover and add green onion and parsley and cook uncovered 3 more minutes. Serve over hot rice.

This is my favorite brother in law Paul, he often will test drive my food for me!

And if this wasn't enough, I also found a recipe for beignets, and we had them too. No pictures, we were too busy eating them!

And my sister and I sat and talked, drank coffee, and ate those pesky beignets. Now I am stuffed, I don't think I will sew tonight anymore. Even Ruby ate a beignet. I made then using brioche dough from my Artisan Bread cookbook, and still have some dough left in the fridge. Ahh, think, I could do this every day or two! No, better not!