Birthday Celebration, New Scarf, and a Recipe

We celebrated Hannah's birthday last night and had a wonderful time enjoying the birthday meal she selected: Spicy Chicken* over Angel Hair Noodles, Colorful Corn Salad, French Bread, and for dessert...Vanilla Cake with raspberry filling, served with Rainbow Sherbet and Sparkling Apple Cider.

Micah and Elizabeth were able to join us for the meal, presents, and playing Cranium--our first time to play the game, which was a fun variety of activities to keep us entertained!

And speaking of presents...my gift to Hannah was the knitted Bliss Scarf that I recently mentioned. It's made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky yarn, is 45 inches long and 5 inches wide, easy to knit, and is very soft and luxurious to wear. The color of yarn I selected will match her dress coat, which is a dark mulberry wine. (The scarf is actually darker than it appears in the photo.)

When I tissue-papered the scarf down inside a gift bag, I had to include one of the needles...as it was still attached and not completed! Ack! This morning I knitted the extra half-hour it took to use up the skein and bind off--a happy-day-after-your-birthday gift! Sometimes you finish in the nick of time, and sometimes you don't.

A good time was had by all.

*recipe follows on continuation page

~Deb

Taken from August/September, 2001, issue of Taste of Home magazine.

Spicy Chicken (a keeper if you like spicy dishes!)

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
• 2 cups chopped green onions
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsps dried thyme
• 1-1/2 tsps cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, saute the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, cayenne, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1- 1/2 tsps garlic powder
• 1- 1/2 tsps pepper
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Meanwhile, in a large resealable plastic bag, combine the salt, garlic powder, pepper, basil, and cumin; mix well.

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 16 ounces angel hair pasta or whole wheat vermicelli

Add chicken to mixture in bag and toss to coat. May marinate for half-hour or longer to blend spices. In a skillet, saute chicken in remaining butter until juices run clear. Add chicken to tomato sauce; simmer for 10 minutes.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Top with chicken mixture. Garnish with sour cream if desired.

Yield: 8 servings (although I usually 1-1/2 x the chicken and spices for the stated amount of sauce.)

Comments

[Chris]

Hi Deb, I LOVE the scarf!! I actually looked at the site for the scarf the other day when you posted and thought "I HAVE to knit one!" :) Not in the near future of coarse! :) Maybe after the wedding. The one you did for Hannah looks so nice and snuggly warm! Maybe when we FINALLY get together we can knit AND talk at the SAME time! LOL :)

[Jodi]

LOL ~ I love that you wrapped up your knitting on the needle ... what a hoot! ;o) The scarf is bee-U-ti-ful! Great color.

A very happy birthday to your Hannah. You not only had all your little chickadees close in age, but three of them just bounce month to month on those birthdays. You must have been a *very* busy momma when they were little. [Not that your not busy now - lol.]

[Susan]

A Happy Belated Birthday to Hannah (we've been out of town)!!! The scarf is lovely, Deb - and I think it's cute that you wrapped it with the needle still in! ;)

[Tammy]

A pretty scarf.Way too funny about the knitting needle wrapped in with the gift.

We had cold weather last week but now it has been in the 60's and 70's.No need for a scarf here.

[Julie]

Deb,
You did a great job on Hannah's scarf. You keep it up and you are going to have to hold an online knitting class!!! I would sign up for sure. Did you teach yourself or have classes? I remember something about a class...Alli and I would be willing to drive to take yours when your ready to teach :)

[Islandsparrow]

Mmm mm - those recipes sound yummy! I love Taste of Home.

You are an inspiration with your lovely scarf - I'm working away on mine. Thanks for the encouragement!

[Cindi]

What a beautiful scarf! I hope she enjoys it. May it bless her and keep her warm.

[Karen]

A Happy Birthday to Hannah!! I love to make things for my children, but like you, I sometimes find that I run out of time. :-)
Beautiful scarf!
Blessings,
Karen