A Heretic and a Liberal Jesus Freak cook a meal. No one catches fire. (pics)

[A HERETIC I AM]

Several weeks ago, DU'er "Liberal Jesus Freak", a regular in this group, very kindly invited me over to share a meal with her and her husband the next time I happened to get a load in their direction. It took a while but it finally happened!

Unfortunately, time was not on my side but we agreed on a simple chicken dish that is fairly quick but delicious.

Basil Chicken with a White Wine sauce - in this case, a basil and chicken infused Buerre Blanc.
Mr. LJF prepped the chicken by pounding out the breasts and then marinating them in white wine with minced basil.

To the left is the marinating chicken. We dusted with seasoned flour with more basil mixed in, then into an egg wash, back into the flour and set aside;


Once all the breasts have been coated they go in to a medium hot pan with butter. Cook till golden brown on both sides, then place on a platter or sheet and hold in a warm oven while you make the sauce.


LJF giving the smell approval test. VERY important step!


Two completely and utterly normal, loving people and one nitwit;


Anyway.......

Mr. LJF sauté's Yellow Squash in bacon fat, a great way of doing such a vegetable and one that I have never tried before. Wonderful idea. Look at the skill! Buerre Blanc at right front and garlic mashed potatoes waiting in the covered pot.


Lovely dining room, beautiful setting, gracious hosts, crappy photography!


My VERY gracious and charming hosts. Doesn't she look like Hillary?


It was so very sweet of her to invite me, basically a complete stranger she knew only from my threads and posts in this forum - over to their home to share a meal. We had a great time, talking about DU, its trials and tribulations, the variety of its members and how much we enjoy this particular group. She is a truly warm and tender soul as is her very kind husband.

It was a great pleasure meeting them both and we shall definitely do this again!

Here's to new and good friends!

[elleng]

1. VERY COOL, y'all!

[Laurian]

2. Looks like a fun time!

What a fantastic way to get to know each other. I'm sure you had much in common to talk about during dinner.....food, politics, DU. (And that chicken looks really, really good!)

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. It was great!

They are completely charming.

[Kali]

3. I love seeing DUer meetup type threads

what fun!

(what wine did you have?)

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. I didn't have any (AHEM) wine.

I had to drive afterwards.

(AHEM)...sorry...something in my throat!


A lovely German Piesporter Reisling Kabinett. Perfect for this dish, as it adds a touch of sweetness to the chicken.

[Kali]

13. heh

I was going to have a hand-carried Reisling from the Riengau this evening but alas, I hadn't put them away in the fridge since my friend arrived. (so I had a bottle of St Michelle Brut instead hee hee) I have a halbtroken, a troken and a classic this trip.

Did a road trip throught the Ruta de Vino/Guadalupe valley of northern Baja this month. Cant say how many times she had to explain that not all Reislings are sweet.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. If you ever find a Halbtroken Spatelese, BUY IT!

Apparently very common in Germany but it's been a while since I have seen one in the US. But I admit, I don't shop for fine wines very often these days.

You probably know, but for those that don't - "Halbtroken" simply means "half dry" and refers to the sugar/acid level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_wine_classification

[Kali]

16. they are hard to find because they drink them all locally

I get mine "direct", and honestly I am not that into the sweet stuff all that much. Love the grape and the "local" wines from there. Hoping to go next October and enjoy another thing we don't have here - federweisser (early fermenting grape "juice" - )

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. It has been often said....

that the best red wines in the world are French, but the best white wines are German.


Years ago I sold wine by the case in private wine tastings. Primarily wines from Pieroth, which at the time (and may still) specialized in Single Vintage wines - small production bottling from individual vineyards.

I have forgotten much of what I learned, but I still recall what I like!

[Kali]

18. well, keep your eye out for some of these Mexican reds from Baja

pretty impressive (not that I know much) but hard to import financially - I mean who thinks wine when you think of Mexico?

good stuff - and some good olive oils as well. who knew?

[MynameisBlarney]

31. Well...

The climate and terrain is very Mediterranean-ish.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

25. We used to meet every month here in Portland

for microbrews and good conversation. Funny thing, we realized once that we almost never actually discussed politics. Physics, technology, food, books, our lives.. everything but. I miss that.

Now that my schedule is free, I'll have to see if I still know how to herd cats. It's easier here, cause PNW libs love tasty brews.

[Skittles]

4. she should have invited me over

I would have kicked two normal and loving and one nitwitty ass; yes INDEED

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. You would have had to wait in line! She has a bunny rabbit and a Sheltie.

Both of them took turns on me!

[Skittles]

9. LOL

YEE HAW!

[rhett o rick]

8. I cant tell you how good that looks.

very cool.

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. It's really simple and it came out really well.

Try it. PM me if you need more details, but it is a really simple dish.

[rhett o rick]

14. I love cooking and I will very much try it.

On edit, please tell what was in the sauce.

[A HERETIC I AM]

19. Basically the Buerre Blanc I put up the other day;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/115722191

This one tonight was done very similar. Reduced wine, a little minced onion, finished with butter and a splash of cream.

As I did in the video, we used the wine the chicken marinated in and added a bit of chicken stock as well. If you like a thicker sauce, whisk in a bit of flour or just reduce a bit more after adding the butter and cream.

[rhett o rick]

24. Thanks, sounds great. nm

[LancetChick]

10. What fun!

Love pounded, egged and breaded chicken breasts. Everything looks delicious! And you know, I was thinking LJF looks like a younger version of Hillary too when... Bam!... I got to the place where you said the same thing.

I don't care about peoples' houses, but when it comes to kitchens, food and gardens... I love to peek. So thanks for sharing!

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. Very cool house in a very cool neighborhood.

And very cool people.

It was fun!

[SheilaT]

20. I wish I could have eaten with you.

Good food is so wonderful. Alas, in this time of fast food and packaged things, too many of us forget, or worse yet, have never known real cooking.

I LOVE to bake. I make chocolate chip cookies that could bring peace to the Middle East, I'm convinced. But more demonstrably, I often bring my baked goods (cookies, cakes, brownies) to work to share. I love how much everyone loves what I make, but I also find it truly sad that I can tell by how much everyone loves what I make, that so few people have ever had real, baked from scratch goodies. It's not that hard to bake from scratch. If you already use a mix, trust me, it takes less than five minutes more to bake from scratch and the differences are galaxies apart.

I love food. I am fortunate that I do not weigh 800 pounds.

[NJCher]

22. read it and weep

Alas, in this time of fast food and packaged things, too many of us forget, or worse yet, have never known real cooking.


My neighbor, the mother of one of the country's most famous rappers, funnels a tidy sum out of his millions for good works. One of her projects is to get average and low-performing kids a chance at college.

So she was telling me this story the other day. She was visiting with a 16-year-old kid who was a candidate for the program. He remarked to her that he had never had a family meal. Furthermore, he only eats two things: pizza and chicken wings.

That's it. Day-to-day meals: pizza and chicken wings, all of which are purchased out of the home.

Nary a green vegetable in sight.

So my neighbor fixed him up with a family she knew in his neighborhood and who has a big family meal on Sundays. The kid went once and got hooked. Now he is a regular at this family's Sunday meals.


Cher

[SheilaT]

29. What a great story.

A kid who'd only eaten pizza and chicken wings is now getting a regular family Sunday dinner. There are some fantastic people out there.

[4_TN_TITANS]

32. There's a lot of kids out there

who can count their weekly menu on one hand. My girls were raised on garden fruit/veggies, but that's not an option for every kid, unfortunately.

[tavalon]

21. No thread of this type is complete without Dar William's The Christians and the Pagans

If you haven't heard it, it is well worth the three minutes. But listen closely there are moments of sublime hilarity throughout!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

26. I hate christmas music

but I will play this one over and over next season.

Lovely!

[tavalon]

38. I'm with you on the Christmas songs

Dar Williams is consistently wonderful, though, so you needn't limit yourself to that timeless favorite!

[NJCher]

23. nice pics

lovely home, great story.

Thanks for sharing this with us. I, too, love DU get-together threads.


Cher

[A HERETIC I AM]

34. They are great people. Glad to do it. n/t

[Texasgal]

27. Fabulous!

I love these threads!

[cbayer]

28. This just made my day!!

What a lovely post and what a great time it sounds like you had. I love the picture of the three of you.

[A HERETIC I AM]

35. Glad you liked it!

I couldn't help myself, mugging for the shot!

[4_TN_TITANS]

30. OK.... I'm really liking these cooking posts you've been doing.

I believe you did the one on french onion soup? I've been making onion soups ever since! Maybe I just love a story with pictures, but I appreciate the effort to put these together.

[A HERETIC I AM]

36. Terrific!

Hell, if I can inspire someone, then it makes the effort worth it.

I'm very happy you enjoy these.

[Canuckistanian]

33. Wonderful story!

Wish I could have been there. Not many DUers in my neck of the woods.

Thanks for posting!

[A HERETIC I AM]

37. You're welcome.

After almost ten years, LJF is only the second DU'er I've met!

[underpants]

39. Food always brings people together

Looks like a really nice evening.

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

40. Oh my!

We made the front page! Thank you for daring to visit people you had never met--I guess we were both brave and so lucky. New friends are the best since we still have much to discuss. We'll do it again soon. I insist. Also--I'm happy on so many levels to be compared to Madam Secretary Clinton

[A HERETIC I AM]

42. That's what I'm calling you from now on!

Madam Secretary, once again, thanks so very much for inviting me over. It was fun indeed. Now, what to make on our next get together, eh?

Something fabulous, outrageous and spectacular that takes 4 hours to prepare!

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

43. Mmmmm....

Paella?

[A HERETIC I AM]

44. With Shrimp and Lobster? n/t

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

45. Is there any other kind?

[A HERETIC I AM]

46. Not to my knowledge! n/t

[davidwparker]

41. Very nice. n/t

[IrishAyes]

47. Lovely - Inspiring - Looks Delicious!

And I don't just mean the food. Good friends are one of life's great blessings. You're all very fortunate. It keeps me inspired with a little hope for the world. We can always use more of that.

One of my blessings in this tiny town I'm always griping about is the room to grow a good bit of my own food. Nothing in the world tastes better than cherry tomatoes picked off the bush on a warm afternoon. I always start with the intention of bringing most of them in, but it seldom works out that way. I've been known to eat so many off the bush that I had no appetite by the time I got to the kitchen.

That's one of the things I like best about retirement. Not only the chance to cook from scratch almost always but to grow the food organically from saved seed too. Besides tomatoes I always grow peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, eggplant, and... well, you get the idea. This year I'm trying out more heirloom tomatoes and black currants and those adzuki beans Dr. Oz keeps talking about. And I want to branch out into the winged bean because I understand you can eat every bit of the whole plant, even the roots. If the state ever legalizes recreational marijuana, I'll try my hand at that too. Then all the people here who drink too much and fight with their spouses and cheat on their taxes can talk about me and my evil pothead ways. It always does wonders for my deportment.

[RVN VET]

48. If Mrs. Clinton ever needs a stand in after her victory in 2016

we have the perfect look-a-like, only prettier, with a heart of gold, a smile worth diamonds, and a husband who obviously knows what a lucky dude he is!

(That was NOT meant as a knock against Bill. It was meant as a comment on the dude's happy face.)

[Whisp]

49. That looks like so much delicious fun!

Maybe we can think about doing a cyber great big dinner party right here in Cooking and Baking?

Not sure how that would work but there is possibility of some fun with it too.

We each make a real dish and photograph it and submit it here. Maybe we will end up with 19 salads, but that doesn't matter.

hmmm. I think this idea may have chicken legs.

[colorado_ufo]

50. Wonderful pix! Thanks to all for sharing!

BTW, I think we have the same kitchen cabinets!