Recipe: Chicken Marsala (gluten free)

I'm so excited to share this recipe with all of you. Once again, this recipe comes from the McCormick Spice Packets that you can buy at the grocery store. They now sell these at the Walmart Super Center too and in fact have the largest selection of these spice packets to choose from. I  must say of all that I have tried so far, the Chicken Marsala is by far the best. In fact, according to Kevin this recipe is now neck in neck with my Chicken and Dumplings for the best recipe award. I have to agree...it is FABULOUS.

Here is what you will need to get started:

One McCormick Chicken Marsala Spice Packet (not pictured)

or

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. marjoram leaves

1 tsp minced dried onions

1/2 t. black pepper

1 tsp. basil leaves

3/4 parsley flakes (optional)

1/2 c. flour (or gluten free flour of choice such as rice, coconut or gfree all purpose flour mix)

1 t. salt

1 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

3 T. butter, divided

2 T. olive oil

1 pkg. (8 oz) mushrooms (I like baby portobellas)

1/2 cup chicken broth

3/4 cup Marsala wine (not Sweet Marsala)*I bought a $5 bottle of this at Walmart and it worked well.

Directions:

Mix flour, garlic, marjoram, onions, salt and pepper in a shallow dish (I used a pie plate) Reserve 1 T. of this flour mixture for a later use.

Next, cut each breast in half if desired or you can leave them whole. Rinse in water to dampen them then,

                                                     coat each breast portion in the flour mixture.

                       Next, on medium/high heat melt 2 T of the butter and the oil in a large nonstick skillet.

 Next cook the coated breasts in the butter/oil mixture for 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Remove from pan once browned on both sides (chicken will not be cooked all the way through at this point)and put the breasts on a plate and loosely cover with foil. Set aside.

Add sliced mushrooms to he skillet and cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender.

                                           Mix broth and reserved T. of flour/spice mixture.

        

                                                         Add to the skillet along with the marsala wine.
Bring to a boil, stirring to release browned bits in the bottom of the skillet. Next, put the breasts back into the pan.

Then, stir in remaining 1 T of butter and the basil; cover with lid and simmer (heat on the lowest setting) for 15 minutes or so or until chicken is done all the way through. I usually take a small paring knife and cut into one breast to check for doneness.                                                       

Once chicken is done, if the sauce is not thickening well, you can sprinkle in some WONDRA, a sauce thickening flour. Whisk it in until sauce is desired thickness.                                                                    

Serve on a platter, spooning sauce over the chicken. (optional: sprinkle parsley over the chicken as a garnish: I didn't)  I served this with home made mashed potatoes and green beans and it was wonderful.

This dish is a beautiful as it is DELICIOUS! Enjoy.

Spooky Stampin projects

Here are some pics of LAST months Stamp club projects. I just mailed these off to Kate and my nephews as a special Halloween treat.  Above is a "mummy" For those of you who stamp with Stampin Up!, he is made using the top note die in your Big Shot Die Cutter.
Here are some treat boxes made with another Big Shot die cut. I FINALLY got my big shot this past month! This month marks the one year anniversary of my being in stamp club and it was at last my turn to be hostess. (which means I got to earn the freebies) I was so blessed with a great sales! The total orders of the 12 gals in my club was over $500 so I earned 3 free stamp sets and with the credit I earned towards purchasing from the catalog I was able to purchase the Big Shot for $39! It sells for $100 so I was super excited!

Here is another great project made with yet another die cut. This little "match box" is fun because you can put candy inside and as it is opened an eye ball pops out at you!

Lastly, here are Halloween cards made with a texture plate that was used in the die cut machine to make this web design. Really cool isn't it? Here is another card made with the same texture plate

                                        Have a WONDERFUL Halloween everyone!

Fall and Halloween Decor

My favorite time of year is here! As I've said so many times before I absolutely LOVE fall. I love the cooler weather, the leaves turning on the trees, pumpkins, fall baking and the list goes on. As I"ve also said many times before I LOVE to decorate my house for fall. I'm excited to share what the new house is looking like this fall.

One of the things I love about our home is the little court yard in the front. I thought it would be fun to hang a fall wreath on the little iron gate that leads you in.

  

We really enjoy this courtyard. I'm out here once a week pruning roses and shrubs, weeding and watering.

Each morning this is where I sit to spend time with the Lord and work on my bible study.

Won't you come in?

These decorations are new this year. I love the little red birdhouse that says "Welcome Friends" It is right inside our front door on an antique piece of furniture.

                         This pumpkin is also new this year. I love the rustic look of it. It's perfect on this end table along with the leaf plate.

I LOVE this built in buffet table in the dining room. It is the perfect place to display a big bouquet of flowers in the spring and summer and in the fall....a bouquet of LEAVES! I found these at Joannes this year for 50% off and couldn't believe my luck. They are perfect for this spot.The base of the vase is filled with acorns.
Also new this year are these wonderful pumpkins! I found them at Marshalls. They are basically a ball of leaves. Love them!

Also at Marshalls this year I found the pumpkins, twine and grape vine balls that I put in this gold bowl.

These are all my halloween collectables that I've been collecting through the years. I have a whimsical friendly witch collection, and a few cats, ghosts and pumpkin faced characters. Below is the mantle and the all new Happy Halloween banner that I made this year. Additionally I adorned the mantle with pumpkins, vintage pumpkin faced characters and berry garland.

The banner was so easy to make. I purchased a kit at Michaels that came with the banner cards, string to hang it and the letters. I embellished it with my own black ribbon and I used silver waffle paper and glass glitter(new from Stampin Up!) to embellish the letter circles. I LOVE the results!

                                                                   Our family room.

This tray was new last year from Walmart's newer Better Homes and Garden's collection. I noticed they are selling it again this year as well. It's made of wood and has leaves carved around the inside. I put some raffia pumpins, leaves and a candle in the tray and it makes a perfect centerpiece for the coffee table.

Acorns have a special meaning to me as my Mom LOVED them. She collected all sorts of things with acorns and when I see this little plate of acorns sitting out on the end table, I think of  her.

                          I love the desk and wine rack that is built in to the cabinets in the kitchen.

This cabinet was the perfect spot to hang my Welcome Harvest basket. This year I filled it with this great bouquet of leaves and pumpkins that I found at Michaels.

The little openings below the wine rack are PERFECT for putting some of my little collectables in.

                                                             Another shot of the kitchen.

                                                                      ..and another.

                           I love this little vintage pic of a boy sitting on a pumpkin. It was my Moms.

This is by far my favorite of all the halloween decorations. The little pumpin tree with vintage ornaments fit perfectly in this little corner of the kitchen counter. I made these ornaments2 years ago by putting vintage stickers on black card stock and hanging them with ribbon.

                               This wire pumpkin floral tower is new this year. I found it at Marshalls.

This painted wire pumpkin with candle works nicely on our kitchen table. My Dad bought me the runner in St. George, NV a few years back.

For years now, I have had this trio of candles on my kitchen counter. I like to light them almost every night to set a nice mood of tranquility. Right now, I'm burning pumpkin scented candles, which is one of my favorites!

One last touch...I put this fall swag on the top of the mirror that is outside the hall bath.