ABSILVER's World

I was asked by Sara, for some good chicken recipes. It turns out during the pandemic we may have been ready to build a coop as there are a number of recipes we have tried and I thought I would share with you all. We try for healthy recipes, but not all of these are.  We have been enjoying chicken thighs a great deal, but I know breasts are leaner and healthier.  For those that are curious, not all of them are from the Barefoot Contessa, and some of the healthier ones are actually Weight Watchers. My go-to chicken recipes: Let’s start with my go-to recipe for chicken breasts. This is from the Barefoot Contessa.  I found it as part of her chicken salad recipe.  The key here is these are bone-in and skin-on breasts.  I have never made the chicken salad, but consider it as a bonus.  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chicken-salad-contessa-recipe-1938131 Next is a roasted chicken and this one also comes from Ina Garten aka the Barefoot Contessa.  Really is quite easy.  For a kosher alte

"All I Have To Do Is Dream," 63 years ago! Sixty-four years ago, my parents wed in Anderson, SC.  I wrote most of this last year for their 62nd anniversary, but I wanted to add to this 64th celebration. My parents have been troupers through the pandemic. Yes, there were some complaints along the way and one errant toilet paper shortage scare, but they held up better than most. My mother learned to order groceries online. They weathered storms, power outages, and even an occasional doctor's appointment with more patience than most. When the vaccine came out, they were first in line, knowing how important this would be for them. With my sister's help and perseverance, they made it through without catching COVID and without most of the stress and complaints that those much younger seemed too eager to share. We did Zoom calls with family, birthday Zoom call for Dad's 90th, and more Zoom calls with me to update their computers. That said, through it all, while other pe

So, I sit here on a Sunday morning.  We have had a rainy weekend. Ok, we seem to have only had rain as of late.  Frank went to Austin for an appointment, and I was home alone with our four-legged kids.  DaisyBelle handled the single parent with ease.  She has experience knowing Frank will be back and confident of my ability to continue to feed her on a regular schedule, meet her scheduled walks, and wait patiently for his return. Lucky was fine also but a little less accepting, I must say.  During the day, she didn't see me as an adequate replacement for Frank for the scheduled cuddles in the morning.  They have a schedule, and I was not allowed to fit into hers. My role in her life was the same, but at night she found the back of my leg at sleeping time. Actually, she and DaisyBelle decided that the bed size and extra space were not significant, as they teamed up to confine me to one spot on our bed between them, and all was well. That said, it was raining. I might have mentioned

  Here is my latest top ten list of what is on my mind these days. Advice on LinkedIn:  There are many good articles on LinkedIn that range from different approaches to marketing, improving sales, or at times management advice.  But, it always reminds me of when I started as a sales rep.  Everyone told me to read books on better sales approaches and how to sell more.  The first call I made, the CEO of a construction company had the same books recommended on his bookshelf.  How can I possibly be authentic with a client if we are both reading that same book?   Following the same advice as everyone else is following a crowd. To stand out takes following your unique road, in my opinion.  In technology sales, I spent more time understanding the technology and what I was selling.  Focused more on their business and earned multiple 100% clubs and Golden Circle awards.  If I had followed the pack, I don't think I would have done as well. Odd price promotions in grocery stores during the p

There have already been FIVE MASS SHOOTINGS in the USA since 2021!  FIVE!  28 people have died, and 9 injured.  Not from a virus that can't be seen.  Not from auto accidents on the highway, but by men who could easily buy assault weapons and walk into a store, a spa, or other places and just shoot, kill and injure others.   I must confess. I have never owned a gun.  I had touched a gun once when my Dad tried to show me how to clean his pistol, and I cringed.  So, I may not be the best person to write an objective blog on gun violence.  That said, I don't think you have to be right-wing or left-wing to see that we have a problem in this country.  We make it so easy to get any gun in this country that a man in Atlanta can buy a gun in the morning and kill 8 people before the day is out.  Many want to ask women to have a waiting period for an abortion, but those "pro-life" people don't support any restraint on gun ownership or waiting periods.  Yet, the killing keeps

  I sit here, lucky in East Texas, never lost heat or water, and we have had food. But, we are odd in Texas.  Much of the state is boiling water, wishing for power, dealing with pipes bursting and empty shelves in the grocery stores.  Those that have electricity and ordered from the wrong provider are receiving astronomically high bills ( https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html ) rewarding these companies for the scarcity of electricity to heat homes in the middle of freezing temps and ice storms. How did we get here as a rich and growing state?  The Texas economy grew because of oil and natural gas, and yet it created its power grid that dis-incented generators to build and upgrade their plants.  Under the assumption, the market was a better manager of electricity cost and demand than the government.  I read an article on ERCOT, the manager for the Texas grid,( https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-ercot/ ) that most of Texas was m

The saying goes that chicken soup is the Jewish elixir that can cure the common cold, and who knows if it may help the new vaccines. (Just kidding on the last one.)  I get asked fairly often how I make chicken soup.  The recipe started years ago from a recipe on the Empire Kosher Chicken Website.  It has since evolved and been updated from experience and watching cooking shows/ To the left is my latest batch, and I will take you all through it step by step.   If you have access to kosher chickens, I would recommend them.  The koshering process, which is salting the chicken, actually adds flavor and helps the chicken meat hold up, so it is flavorful in the soup being served.  If you choose to use kosher chickens, you can skip the first step below.   This recipe is for two chickens. If you have less or more, adjust accordingly. Step 1: Brine the chicken.  For each chicken, select a pot big enough to hold the chicken and enough water to cover the chicken.  Pour in enough water and add en