Blueprints for Building Better Girls

I heard good things about Elissa Schappell's related stories in Blueprints for Building Better Girls and had pretty high expectations.  I'm the kind of reader that ordinarily will wait for paperback or get it from the library.  For this book, I hoped for the best.  And I was not disappointed.  At once honest, sharp, and tender, I could not put this book down. 

Today I am grateful for my candy cane flannel pajama pants (which I have been living in lately), chamomile tea, hugs, old-fashioned correspondence, and my family.

Delicious & Easy Roast Chicken and Potatoes

I made this for the first time last month and it was a big hit around here!  I was very impressed with myself.

This recipe is just prep, assemble, then walk away as it roasts.  It's done when the chicken is fully cooked and the potatoes are soft in the middle.  Because it cooks so slowly, the chicken is really juicy.  You could also do a million things with the leftovers.

One chicken, already cut up
Potatoes
Onion
2 T olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400* while you wash and chop potatoes and onions.  Next time I'll make the potatoes a little bit smaller than pictured.  Pour the olive oil, some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a large roasting pan.  Add the veggies and stir.  Then season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.  Add the chicken to the roasting pan, skin side up.  Set the timer for an hour and walk away.  The house will smell really good as it cooks!  Check it after an hour (use a thermometer).  Last night's chicken was 4.5lbs and took 1 hr 20 mins to cook.  And it was great!

View From A Room

I love fall!  And I have quite a view of it from my very own window.  I love this time of year when the leaves are crunchy and it's just a little chilly.  My CSA offers Honeycrisp apples, which became my favorite kind of apple last year.  My Heart's Desire spent some of the weekend splitting firewood and our first fire of the season will be coming soon!