Roasted Chicken With Veggies  

Posted by Sarah in , ,


This recipe was inspired by Cast-Iron Darling. This is a one pan dish, with fair amount of prep but little to clean up!


Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 60-90 minutes

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 2 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1 tsp ground thyme
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 2-3 Tbs olive oil
Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
Combine the spices and rub under the chicken's skin.
Heat oil in cast iron dutch oven over medium heat.
Place chicken breast-side down in oil, brown 3-4 minutes.
Remove from heat.


  • 1 summer squash (zucchini) sliced 3/4 inch thick
  • 1 red onion, cut into wedges
  • 3-4 small red potatoes, halved
  • 3-4 whole carrots, halved lengthwise
  • 6-7 whole garlic cloves, peeled

Cut veggies as stated above, put into dutch oven with chicken. If the veggies are above the chicken, they will retain a crisper texture.

  • 2 Tbs honey
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
Mix together, brush over the chicken and the vegetables.

  • 2 tsp rosemary leaves
  • 2 tsp thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
Sprinkle over chicken and vegetables.

  • 1 lemon, quartered, seeds removed
Gently squeeze lemon over the chicken and vegetables. Add lemon quarters into the dutch oven.

Cover and bake at 425 F for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake 45-75 minutes, or until chicken is done. Bast the chicken several times while baking. **Cooking times vary depending on size of chicken**

Transfer chicken and vegetables to serving platter. Lightly thicken the drippings for a wonderful gravy/sauce!

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Eierkuchen - The German Pancake  

Posted by Sarah in , , ,

Although pancakes are rarely part of a traditional German breakfast, there are numerous recipes floating around on the internet for German Pancakes. This recipe is part of a more traditional Zweites Frühstück (second breakfast) and would be served with fresh fruits, jam, or confectioner's sugar.


These pancakes closely resemble the French Crepe but are slightly thicker.

Serves 1 (easily double, or triple the recipe as needed)

2 eggs
4 Tbs all purpose flour
1/2 Tbs sugar
dash salt
2-3 Tbs milk

  1. Whisk the eggs for 1 minute or until light and fluffy.
  2. Add flour, salt, sugar, and milk.
  3. Mix well. It should form a very thin batter.
  4. Let stand for 15 minutes.
  5. Heat a 10-inch crepe or omelet skillet until well heated.
  6. Brush with melted butter or spray lightly with cooking spray.
  7. Pour approximately 1/4 cup batter into skillet.
  8. Swirl to spread evenly in skillet.
  9. Cook 1-2 minute on first side, or until the bottom is browned and top is set.
  10. Turn. Cook 30 seconds to 1 minute on second side.

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Breakfast - My thoughts  

Posted by Sarah in , , , ,

Maybe is it my German heritage that has turned me into a breakfast enthusiast. In Germany breakfast truly is the most important meal, it is so important that they have it twice! In Germany when eating Frühstück, you can expect to see a variety of sausages & breads, multi-grain cereals similar to granola, jams, honey, fruits, and soft-boiled eggs. If you're not entirely stuffed from that, around 10:30 you'll be served Zweites Frühstück, or second breakfast, which consists of coffee, pastries, and what we often refer to as coffee cake.


Maybe it is my Italian heritage. Italians are known for their love of food. "Mangi! mangi!" (eat! eat! in Italian) was a common phrase around my house growing up. Food was the answer to everything. At my parents' house, food still is the answer to everything. I cannot visit my parents without my mother trying to load my car full of groceries because she is worried that I do not have enough to eat.

Whatever the reason, I grew up thinking breakfast was a multi-course meal. In my family breakfast started with fresh fruit, then came the juice along with bacon AND sausage, then came milk and the pancakes/waffles/egg dish/hot cereal, and to finish up, a nice hot cup of tea black tea. At the age of 27, I can honestly say that I have only eaten cold cereal for breakfast 20 or 30 times in my lifetime. Cereal is occasionally served as one of "courses" of breakfast, but it is rarely the entire breakfast.

Now knowing that I eat like that daily, you are probably picturing me as being over-weight. Even though my average breakfast contains over 800 calories, I am living proof that eating breakfast helps you to stay skinny. I am 5'5" and a size 4. But I am also very active and cannot seem to sit still to save my life.


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Welcome!  

Posted by Sarah

Welcome!
I am a 27 year old soon-to-be-married, modern housewife. I am the product of a work-aholic father and an Italian stay-at-home mother. I am both of my parents combined. I work entirely too much, love food entirely too much, and got stuck with all those old-fashioned ideas about having home-cooked meals, a spotless house, freshly pressed & clean clothes, all while working an average of 50 hours a week.

Since buying my home 3 years ago, I have been called to a modern day Fannie Farmer, a young Martha Stewart, and most often that I'm just stuck in the wrong time period and I should have been born in the 50's and not the 80's.

My goal is to one day publish a modern cookbook that would incorporate the family dinner traditions of the 50's but in a cheap, affordable and most importantly quick & easy fashion for the modern-day family. In this blog you will find my recipes, helpful hints, and my rantings as I try to accomplish my goal.


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