Scattershooting
I blatantly stole the title of today’s post from Blackie Sherrod, a former sports writer for the Dallas Morning News. I beleive the statute of limitations has run, however, and he won’t mind. It just seems very appropriate to this post.
I haven’t blogged for awhile. No excuses. I have been busy, though. We went to the Great State Fair of Texas on opening day again this year. We’ve been doing that for some 20 years. The weather was wonderful and the fair was fun as always. We watched dogs catch frisbees, and fools fall from many stories high strapped into a sort of bungee contraption. We ate, as always, but Kim (who could have been nicknamed stretch as a child) won the consumption title. She had a Fletcher’s corny dog, roasted corn on the cob, orange sherbet on a stick, ice cream drumstick, and Jacks’ French fries. Winnah!!!!
We took a weekend trip to Lake Murray, OK. That was the weekend we were supposed to go to Crystal Beach, but Ike nixed that. Anyway, Lake Murray is a lovely lake in Oklahoma with the lodge built in the 1950’s. There are cabins all over the several acres surrounding the lake which can be rented. It’s really beautiful and has been a lovely way to relax and enjoy nature for many years. The sad part is, the good people of Oklahoma have not found it in their hearts to designate any tax dollars to keep it up. So the lodge is falling down around its ears, and many of the cabins have been boarded up. The decision has been made to privatize Lake Murray park. The plan is to tear down the lodge and the old cabins and rebuild newer, brighter, better for bigger bucks. We’re told it will cost “somewhat” more to stay there in the future but all will be great. I think it’s a shame. The people who used to go there and enjoy the state owned playground will no longer be able to afford it. My political statement of the day is that people who always vote against taxes are voting against themselves; they’re just too short sited to see it.
We’re spending the weekend at our lakehouse on Cedar Creek Lake. It is so wonderfully relaxing to get away from the Metroplex. LJ and I have discussed the fact that it’s just physically impossible for us to be uptight and worry about work and such when we’re here. Everyone should have such a respite.
4 chicken breasts, skinned and boned
1 tablespoon oil
salt and pepper
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons light cream
1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
¾ cup unsalted chicken stock
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
1 small tomato, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
Heat oil over medium-high heat in skillet. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and saute until cooked through. Transfer to plate and keep warm.
In a small bowl, stir the yogurt and cream into the cornstarch mixture. Set aside.
Add garlic and shallot to skillet and saute for 1 minute. Add stock and lemon juice to skillet, and stir to deglaze pan. Boil slowly for 3 to 4 minutes until liquid has reduced slightly. Remove from heat and stir in the tomato and yogurt mixture. Add cilantro.
Pour sauce over chicken and serve.