200 Followers Celebration Giveaway

"Friends are like fabric - you can never have enough!"
                                                ~author unknown

It's Monday!  Like you needed to be reminded.  How was your weekend?  My Saturday was busy but Sunday was rather restful.  Saturday morning was our normal run to the Farmer's Market where I probably over bought because of not being able to go the previous weekend. I felt like I was in a fresh produce drought last week - lol.  Next we were off to the Cruise 99, a car show being held downtown.  There were some absolutely spectacular cars on display (pictures further down in the blog).  Then to lunch and on to our ALS Support Group meeting.  There we said good-bye to our case manager of 5 years and met the incoming case manager.  Two hours later we were on the road to Petsmart - have to feed Weasley and Snickerdoodle!  And finally home about 4:30.  A very full day and I was pooped.  Sunday was much more relaxing even if it was wash day.  We were able to sit outside for a couple of hours enjoying the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee.  I managed to complete one more hexagon flower for my GFG quilt (picture on One Flower Wednesday) and started assembling the garden.  We caught up on some shows on the DVR (we're over a week behind) and just generally vegged.

Photo Of The Day:

Coast Redwood in our backyard

Coast redwoods range from southern Oregon to central California, extending not more than fifty miles inland- only as far as the coastal climate has its influence. Fog plays a vital role in the survival of these trees, protecting them from the summer drought conditions typical of this area. They also need abundant winter rain and moderate year round temperatures. In ideal conditions a coast redwood can grow 2-3 feet in height annually, but when the trees are stressed from lack of moisture and sunlight they may grow as little as one inch per year.  We have 7 of these trees in our little backyard.  This is my attempt at bringing the mountains to our valley home.

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Here are a few of the cars that we saw at the car show on Saturday:

 This last car belongs to a friend of ours.  He completely restored the car by himself (except for the paint job).
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Friday's mail brought me my first block from the Australian Block Swap.  An envelope arrived from Cathy, who lives in Golden Grove South Australia.  She sent me a beautiful green and white block in the Blazing Arrows block that I requested.  She included a post card "Greetings From Adelaide" with a picture of the Rundle Mall.

Isn't it pretty!?!

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As I previously mentioned, I was able to start assembling my Garden for my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  My 'stepping stones' are just a plain white but I thought that it was the best way to really make the bright colors of my flowers pop.

I can't even imagine how many flowers or stepping stones it will take to make a full quilt.  But I haven't set myself any time limits and am thoroughly enjoying creating each and every flower.

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This giveaway is now closed.  The winner will be announced Monday, October 18, 2010

200 FOLLOWERS!!  I can't believe I now have over 200 followers.  Thank you all for deciding to follow my rants and raves, creations and failures, hopes and dreams.  Calls for a celebration - don't you agree?  How about another giveaway?  Would you like some fabric?  How about these.............

This is a set of 5 - 1/2 yard cuts of fabric from the line called "Indian Summer Style" by Hoffman California International Fabrics.  These are really pretty fabrics!  You can't really tell it but each piece of fabric is highlighted with sparkly gold in the leaves (I just couldn't get a decent picture - sorry).  You could win 2 1/2 yards of fabric to add to your stash!  Here is what you have to do to enter:

1.  Leave me a comment on this posting - anything you want to say.  Let me know why you quilt, or what you are doing today, or what the weather's like  -  I think you get the idea

2.  And, if you would like a second chance to win this fabric, blog about this giveaway and come back here, leave me a separate comment and tell me that you did and include a link to your blog.  This must be done in a separate comment or you won't get two counted entries.

That's it!  Simple enough don't you think?  This giveaway will close Sunday, October 17th at 6:00 pm PST.  The winner will be selected using random.org.  I will announce the winner on Monday, October 18 in my posting for that day.

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GIVEAWAYS

Kati over at The Blue Chair is having a great giveaway.  She is giving away personalized blog business cards (a $50 value) and four fat quarters of Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry.  This ends Oct. 13th.

Molly from Molly's Place is giving away a subscription to McCall's Quilting. Not sure when this one ends.

Have you checked out the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway?  There are around 140 blogs participating and 8 businesses all holding a giveaway.  Make sure you check them out!  I still haven't made it all of the way through the list!

And, of course, don't forget that I, too, am participating in the Fall Into Fall Giveaway.  You can enter my giveaway HERE.  In this giveaway I'm giving away a darling quilt kit!!
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Final Thought

When I started this blog I thought having just 5 followers would be an amazing accomplishment - and, even then I thought I would have to beg family members to sign on.  Once I reached 100 followers I thought that would be the top goal I could attain.  But you all have made me so happy by becoming my followers, whether daily readers or if you just stop by for the occasional visit.  I am blessed to have each and every one of you in my life.  So many of you already seem like close friends just from our little comments to each other via email.  I know that I won't ever meet the majority of you, but I want you all to know I honestly do appreciate your comments and friendship through my daily journeys called life.  You bring a special sunshine to my day!!  Thank you all so very much for becoming a follower of Stray Stitches!!

A Purple Christmas Chicken

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.                                              ~Stanley Horowitz

Yesterday was rather run of the mill day - nothing new, nothing exciting.  But sometimes sameness is a good thing - restful, steady, and comfortable.  I did have a good lunch with my BFF at the Village Grill - Spicy Meatball Soup and salad.  Definitely was a soup day.

Photo Of The Day:

PURPLE

Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.  Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A purple room can boost a child's imagination or an artist's creativity. Too much purple, like blue, could result in moodiness.  Deep or bright purples suggest riches while lighter purples are more romantic and delicate. Use redder purples for a warmer color scheme or the bluer purples to cool down.  A deep eggplant purple with neutral tans or beige is an earthy, conservative color combination with a touch of the mystery that purple provides.  Green and purple can be a striking combination in deep or bright jewel tones or use lighter shades for a cheerful, springlike feel.  Pink and purple has feminine appeal.

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Yesterday I was assigned my first partner in the Christmas Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  Her name is Robyn of Robyns Home In the Mountains.  She requested a Christmas tree in either patchwork or applique in colors of red, green, gold and cream.  The block I made will be going out in today's mail.  I don't want to show the block until Robyn receives it but here is a peak:

I hope Robyn likes it

By the way, the Christmas Quilting Block Swaps Australia is still looking for more participants.  If you are interested you can click either the link above or the block on the right sidebar.  Come join us - it's fun!! 

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I didn't get to any other sewing yesterday, but I did get a little bit more done on the SIL Christmas Stocking.  I'm so close to being done - next week is the goal.  So, since I have no more craftiness to show you, I will share a recipe I tried this week.  I found this a few weeks ago in the Parade section of the Sunday paper.  It stated "Here's a 21st-century take on a '60's TV dinner staple".  The recipe is by Bobby Flay.

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

3 Tablespoons canola oil

Sal and freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients minus the chicken

Directions

1.  Whisk together the buttermilk, mustard, paprika, garlic and onion powders, salt, and cayenne in a large baking dish.  Add the chicken breasts; turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 4 hours.

Ready for the frig

2.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position.

3.  Pulse 1 1/4 cups of bread crumbs in a blender until fine. Pour them into a shallow bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix well.

4.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a baking rack on top.  Liberally spray the rack with nonstick baking spray.

5.  Working one breast at a time, remove chicken from the marinade and dredge in the crumb mixture. Place on rack. Bake until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the breast registers 160 degrees F, about 25 minutes.

Coated and ready for the oven

A nice golden brown and ready to serve

Personal Notes

1.  If you are worried about the taste of the buttermilk, it really doesn't come through.  Believe me, I don't like buttermilk!

2.  I used vegetable oil instead of canola oil

3.  I ended up cooking the chicken for about 40 minutes total.

4.  Reheats well.

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GIVEAWAYS

I am behind once again on reading all of the great blogs out there but here is one giveaway I did find:

Joy Studios is giving away a bunch of fun fat quarters and a patch panel. This giveaway ends October 13.

And, of course, don't forget to enter my Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway by clicking on the link HERE.  You can check out all of the other participants by clicking on the scarecrow in the right sidebar.
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Final Thought

It's finally Friday. Another week coming to a close.  Did you get all that you wanted accomplished?  I pretty much did.  Do you have any plans for the weekend?  My Saturday will be sort of busy but I think Sunday may truly be a day of rest.  So I leave you heading into the weekend with this quote:

Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless. 
                                    ~Bill Watterson

Have a fantastic, festive, fabrictastic Friday!!

Monday - Ugh!

Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain. 
                                                           ~J.K. Rowling

Did everybody have a great weekend? Mine was exceedingly busy. We started out Saturday morning bright and early to attend the Walk To Defeat ALS Bakersfield Walk. I have a super team of friends and family that joined me for this great fundraiser. After the Walk most of us stayed around for a barbecue from which all of the proceeds went directly to ALS! Then it was back to our house along with 8 additional family members, baked a cake, and generally prepared for the barbecue we were hosting for our team members. Hubby cooked Santa Maria style beans and excellent barbecued tri-tip. I prepared a green salad that included grape tomatoes and avocados – two things that never touch our salad and rarely ever make it in the front door. Plus there were chips and beverages, and then, of course, the cake for dessert. A great time was had by all. Sunday morning after breakfast with my DH, DD, and SIL, we all headed to my DM for a quick visit (she got to go home from the hospital on Friday!), a run to Costco, and back home for a lunch of pizza. DD and SIL left shortly after lunch and I began the weekly wash. Needless to say, I am a little tired today. And, to top it off, the Internet server has been down since I got up, well since 4:45a.m. (that I know of) and didn’t come back up until 9:30 a.m. explaining my late post. I hate it when your day starts off totally wrong!! One good thing was I started one of my SAL blocks since I couldn’t do any posting.

Picture Of The Day

This is the t-shirt my team members wore

Here are some of the hundreds of people that turned out for the Walk

I know, not my normal pictures.  I just wanted to share with you a little of the Walk To Defeat ALS walk that happened here on Saturday.  Each year, the Walk to Defeat ALS^TM brings communities together in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Though we walk for various reasons, we are united in our quest to find a cure for ALS.  My team rocks!!

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On Friday, I finished and mailed off my block for my first swap in the Australian Block Swap.  After the mailman came and swooped it away, I had a blockhead moment..........I forgot to take a picture of the block when I was finished!  I was so excited to get it done and on its way that it didn't even occur to me to grab the camera.  Can you believe it?!?  So, I emailed Cathy to let her know that her block was on its way and asked her if she could please take a picture of it for me and email it to me so that I may share it with my friends.  I'm such a ditz!!!
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Thank you, Leona!!

A very big bright spot in my day Saturday was the arrival of a surprise gift from my friend Leona, of Leona’s Quilting Adventure (check out her blog!). She must have known I needed a pick-me-up after the week I had just been through. What a wonderful assortment of goodies she sent! Included was a warm note, a pair of adorable “quilting” socks (can’t wait for the weather to turn cooler to wear them), two Harriet Hargrave’s Quick-Look Guides – one on Caring For Fabric & Quilts and the other on Choosing Batting – both are great go-to guides, an envelope that contained 4 wonderful quilting labels (one can never have too many of those!), and an fantastic little Notions Bag that she made just for me! I think I will use it for transporting my hexagon flower notions. Thank you, Leona, for thinking of me! I love it all.

Isn't this a great bunch of goodies !?!

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Since I didn’t have any time to do any sewing over the weekend, I will share a recipe with you today that I prepared on Friday. It is a slow-cooker recipe that is a favorite of ours – and super simple to prepare (my favorite kind!)

Pork Chops and Mushrooms

Ingredients

4 boneless pork chops, ½-inch thick
½ medium onion, chopped
4-oz can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
3 Tablespoon red wine
10 ¾-oz can golden cream of mushroom soup

Ingredients - not including the 4 pork chops

Directions

1. Place pork chops in greased slow cooker. Top with onions and mushrooms.

2. Combine soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, wine and mushroom soup. Pour over mushrooms.

3. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Ready to eat (perhaps there is a tad too much butter on the corn - lol!)

Personal Notes

1. Reheats well

2. Original recipe called for 2 medium onions, sliced but the first time I made it with that much onion, the onion was all we could taste

ENJOY!
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Giveaways

Confessions of a Fabric Addict is giving away 5 books as her participation in the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway.  Check it out before October 15!

Disconnected Stitches is also participating in the big giveaway and is offering a darling baby panel and 3 coordinating fat quarters.

Another participant is Mama Spark's World.  She is giving away a Halloween Schlep bag, an autographed copy of  the pattern Fair and Square from none other than Amanda Jean of Crazy mom quilts, and she cut out enough 6.5" squares to make the quilt along with 2.5 yards of black Kona Cotton for the sashing and the binding (this I did not cut). All you need to add is a back and you will have a quilt!! Check it out!

And don't you dare forget about my giveaway!  I, too, am participating in the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway.  You can enter my giveaway HERE!!

And if you should be looking for more giveaways, don't forget to check out all of the bloggers from the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway!
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Final Thoughts

After a frustrating start to the day, I will try to continue forward and accomplish what I can while playing catch-up.  I will leave you with this quote I think sums it up best.............

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Fall Into Fall Quilters GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. 
                                                                ~Carol Bishop Hipps


It's the first day of October!  And it's time for the Fall Into Fall Quilters Giveaway!!  Are your ready?!?  Of course you are.  But first a quick update:  Mom is healing but is quite spacey on morphine.  Yesterday she said that my sister and I both had freckles - neither of us do.  Then she said she saw butterflies in her room.  Ah, the wonders of drugs.  Last night DS got a call that Mom was trying to pull out all of the tubes and IVs - I think she's had enough.  We will see what today brings.  Thank you all for your prayers and positive thoughts for Mom's quick recovery.

Photo Of The Day:

Orange spider gerbera in my front yard

The color orange:  Orange is vibrant. It's a combination of red and yellow so it shares some common attributes with those colors. It denotes energy, warmth, and the sun. But orange has a bit less intensity or aggression than red, calmed by the cheerfulness of yellow.  Orange brings up images of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and (in combination with Black) Halloween. It represents the changing seasons so in that sense it is a color on the edge, the color of change between the heat of summer and the cool of winter.  Because orange is also a citrus color, it can conjure up thoughts of vitamin C and good health.  Orange, a perfect color for the first day of October.

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I did manage to complete 3 hexagon flowers for my GFG quilt while sitting in the hospital yesterday. 

I'm only giving you hints of the bottom two since I am saving those to show on One Flower Wednesdays!

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GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Now on with the Fall Into Fall Giveaway!  Have you not heard of this?  It will be fun!  There are 8 businesses and 143 bloggers participating in the great giveaway including me!!!!  Just click on the link above and it will take you to the list of bloggers - check them out to see all of the great giveaways.  But wait!!!  While you are here check out my giveaway!

I'm giving away a darling kit for a baby quilt!

Just Ducky Baby Quilt from Connecting Threads designed by Darlene Jewell-Walhood

The approximate finished size is 41 1/2" X 41 1/2"

It includes the following:

Pattern

Fabric: Over 3 1/2 yards of fabric is included!!

A package of charm squares

1 1/4 yard Checkered Plaid, blue/yellow

1/2 yard Basket Weave, lt green

1/2 yard Crooked Crosshatch, dark yellow

1/2 yard Lily Pads, blue

3/4 yard Vining Stripe, blue

***You will need to provide an additional 2 3/4 yards for a two pieced backing and some black embroidery thread

Here is a closeup of a portion of the instructions

You have 5 chances to enter but you must leave a separate comment for each question below.  Make sure to leave your email address if your blog email is not activated!

1.  What is your favorite thing about autumn?  Leave one comment for your answer.

2.  Are you a follower?  You don't have to be but I would be happy to have you become a follower.  Leave me a separate comment if you are a follower, a new follower, or just an occasional reader - I thank you all!

3. What are your Halloween plans?  Leave me a separate comment for this.

4.  What is your favorite thing about writing a blog?  Another separate comment

5.  Why do you read blogs and what do you look forward to seeing the most?  Your final comment.

So, you have 5 chances to win the Just Ducky Baby Quilt.  I look forward to reading each and every one of your comments.  Good luck.

Remember, each entry must be left as a separate comment.  You may enter a maximum of 5 times.  The winner will be selected by random.org.  This giveaway will close on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m PST and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

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Final Thoughts

October turns our thoughts toward Halloween, followed quickly by Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Autumn is one of my favorite times of year as it means we will finally be heading into cooler weather, the leaves will be changing into their color splendor, the days will be shorter, and we will have a fleeting look at few different birds as they begin their migration south.  I would like to share a recent poem I found the sums up autumn rather nicely:

"October's Party"

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

                                                                                       ~George Cooper

Have a wonderful, warm, wise, and winning Wednesday!



Peanut Butter Pie

Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint. 
                                                              ~Mark Twain

After spending most of yesterday (8 hours) sitting in waiting rooms at the hospital, the above quote gave me a chuckle.  My Mom is doing well after surgery - groggy, sore, and complaining.  She was in recovery for over 4 hours and was finally moved to CCU where she spent the night.  She will be moved to a room today, if one becomes available.  And she thought she would be going home last night after surgery!  Where do the elderly come up with some of these ideas anyway - wishful thinking I suppose. 

Photo Of The Day:

Another Gerbera from my yard

Since I have run out of facts about Gerbera daisies to share with you, here are a few quotes about flowers that I enjoyed reading:

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.  ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.  ~Andrew Mason
 
God loved the flowers and invented soil.  Man loved the flowers and invented vases.  ~Variation of a saying by Jacques Deval (God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.)
 
A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.  ~Terri Guillemets
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A definite bright spot in my day yesterday was the mail when I arrived home.  My swap partner, Shawna (of That's Sew Shawna),  from the Brown Bag Quilt Contest sent me the most fabulous fabric.  I think I know what pattern I will be using but I will share more on that later.  Here is the beautiful fabric she sent from The Fat Quarter Shop:
 

True Love Birds by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs

She was so sweet to send the entire 12 fat quarter collection when the contest only calls for 8.  Shawna also enclosed a wonderful little note.  Thank you, Shawna!!

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How about a recipe today!  Something sweet and delicious?  I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs From The Kitchen Of: Mrs Bettie Rocker - she shares some of the best recipes around! 

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

9 inch deep dish pie shell

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 cups milk

2/3 cup sugar

dash salt

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs, separated

4 tablespoons corn starch

whipped cream

Directions:

1.  Bake empty pie shell according to directions.  In a small bowl, place powdered sugar and peanut butter.  Cut sugar into peanut butter with a fork until mixture is crumbly.  Place half of mixture in bottom of baked pie shell, reserve remainder.

2.  In a pot, place egg yolks, milk, 2/3 cup sugar, vanilla, salt, and cornstarch.  Cook over medium to medium low heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Pour over peanut butter crumb mixture in pie crust.  Sprinkle half of the remaining peanut butter crumbles on top. (The rest goes on top of each piece after topping with whipped cream)

3.  Bake at 325 for thirty minutes.  Refrigerate for several hours before serving.  Top with whipped cream and remaining crumble mixture to serve.  Enjoy!

Personal Notes

1.  I thought I had done something wrong with the egg mixture as it seemed to take forever to start to thicken.  When it first started to thicken there were big lumps.  Just keep stirring and everything will smooth out and thicken very quickly.

2.  I don't care for peanut butter, but the DH, DD, and SIL absolutely loved this pie!!

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Reminder

I haven't been able to keep up on my blog reading the last two days :(  I do so miss reading all of them as I learn so much, enjoy the stories, and marvel in the creativeness of everyone.  So, I am not up to date on any giveaways.  However, you won't want to miss the Fall Into Fall Quilter's Giveaway that starts tomorrow.  I will be participating with a giveaway!  Last I checked there are over 140 bloggers that will be hosting giveaways!!  I can't wait to check out all of the blogs and finding some new ones that I haven't visited before.  Doesn't it sound like fun?!?

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Final Thoughts

Thank you all for your prayers and wonderful thoughts while my Mother goes through this health ordeal.  I'm confident that she will come out of this the same cantankerous 82 year old that she was when she went in - lol!  She really is a wonderful woman but she certainly is opinionated, she is always right and you might as well not argue with her because you will NEVER EVER get her to change her mind.

So I leave you with this final quote:

If you do everything you should do, and do not do anything you should not do, you will, according to the best available statistics, live exactly eighteen hours longer than you would otherwise.  ~Logain Clendening

Who Is The Winner?

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself. 
                                                                  ~Benjamin Franklin


Today is Tuesday and time to announce the winner of the giveaway.  So, thank you to  random.org, a number was selected. 

And that number is 89.  Congratulations to CRAFTY PUG!   I will be emailing Crafty Pug to get her snail mail address.

Photo Of The Day:

Succulents on my back porch

Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climate or soil conditions.  Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots.  The storage of water often gives succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance than other plants, a characteristic known as succulence.  The best known succulents are cacti.  Virtually all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.  My succulents should be very happy today as our temperature is supposed to reach 102*.  I told you we weren't through with summer!

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I was able to get a little sewing in yesterday.  I finished the top for my Paganini. 

This is a sample of the some of the fabrics I used

Here is the top. 

The lighting wasn't very good for taking the picture so the different fabric prints didn't show up well, but you can at least get an idea of what it looks like.  I plan to get it sandwiched today and maybe even start quilting.

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I am sharing a recipe for chicken that can either be prepared in the oven or grilled on the barbecue.  As usual, this recipe comes from allrecipes.com.

Lemon Barbecued Chicken

Ingredients:

2/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

1 (3 1/2 pound) broiler-fryer chicken, cut up ..... I used 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Ingredients (minus the chicken)

Directions:

1.  Whisk together the first 10 ingredients. Add onion; set aside 1/4 cup if barbecuing. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Chicken marinating

2.  For barbecue:  Drain and discard marinade. Grill the chicken, covered, over indirect medium heat for 45 minutes or until juices run clear, turning and basting with reserved marinade every 8-10 minutes.

3.  To bake chicken:  After marinating, place chicken in a greased 15" X 10" X 1" baking pan. Pour all of the marinade over it. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 1 1/4 hours or until juices run clear, basting occasionally.

Ready to eat!

Personal Notes:

1.  I used 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2.  I put the chicken in a 9" X 13" baking dish. Then added the marinade, turning the chicken to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

3.  I used the same dish that I used for marinating to cook in - straight from the frig to the oven (plastic wrap removed, of course)

4.  We found the chicken to have more flavor when baked that when barbecued.

5.  Reheats very well!

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Reminders

Don't forget about the Fall-O-Ween Quilt Designer Blog Hop.   Today's host is Sandy Gervais!

Another reminder, Friday is the start of the Fall Into Fall Quilters Giveaway (the scarecrow link on the right hand side)!  If you would like your blog to be part of the giveaway, tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to enter.  You should see the list of blogs that are participating!!  The giveaway starts Friday, October 1!!!!!

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Final Thoughts

Even though there was only one winner today, we are all winners in the game of life.  As long as we are able to breathe, think, love, and feel we are all successful and should feel proud just to accomplish those four remarkable gifts.  Remember, the next winner could be you!!

Have a tenseless, tireless, tremendous Tuesday!!