dinner and a movie

pre dinner music and the most excellent company as I prepare dinner at the kitchen island

When the cowboy and I first discussed combining our households we talked about having a movie night each week. Well, turns out every night has become movie night at 29 Black Street. The cowboy has an extensive collection of both video and DVD movies, peppered of course with historic themes and plots. I order more movies from our library and occasionally I'll tape something from a commercial free movie channel that is part of my cable TV package or I'll tape a much anticipated PBS documentary or Masterpiece Theatre (also commercial free. Phew).

He and the beautiful brown hound arrive at Black Street just before 5. He has a beer while he starts a fire and then he joins me in the kitchen (if I'm cooking) and keeps me company during final dinner prep. The sisters all hang out by the fire with their every evening, one each raw hide chew - a pre gnashing event occurrence and Oliver goes through his repertoire of feline wiles to see if he can't convince the cowboy to dole out a few Whiska's Temptations. We enjoy our lovely dinner and then the whole family (three dogs, two people and Oliver too - of course) snuggles in together on my extra large and tres comfy sofa for the evenings feature presentation. Friday night - Capote (from the library), Saturday night - The Graduate (from the cowboy's collection) and last night - 28 Days Later (from the 2 for $10 bin at Walmart). Last night's dinner recipe (avec photos) as promised.

Rosemary Feta Chicken in Phyllo Packets (makes 4 packets)

2 large boneless chicken breasts cut in half
phyllo pastry
fresh rosemary
the zest of 1 lemon
8 tbsp of feta cheese
1/2 c. melted butter

Each packet uses two sheets of phyllo pastry. Butter well with a pastry brush the first sheet and fold into thirds to make a large rectangle. Place chicken in the centre of this rectangle and top with 2 generous sprigs of rosemary, 1/4 of the lemon zest and 2 tbsp. of Feta cheese. Wrap up like a Christmas parcel, buttering well (butter works like a glue to help hold the parcel together).
Generously brush melted butter on the second sheet of phyllo pastry and place packet at one end of the large rectangle. Roll and fold packet down the end of the rectangle and you'll have a well wrapped chicken packet with ends of pastry on either side. Brush with butter and fold these two ends in and under the packet and bake with this side down. Bake for 30 mins in a 350 oven. Serve immediately while pastry is still crisp from the oven.

I served these chicken parcels with a Greek salad and roasted potatoe wedges (tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper and dried oregano). Delicious.