dinner and a movie

Monday, January 11, 2010



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.




14 comments:

  1. You said it....Delicious! And great to look at too. Have a fantastic day & Tail Wags to All.
    ~Moose

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  2. It was a good Canadian night all around.
    Looks delicious as always. The best part - Dinner for TWO!!

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  3. Very good! But what about the other cats? I'm beginning to worry about them a little......

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  4. Oh Rachel please- fret pas. The L'il Man has been making almost nightly, belly to ground, creeps through our living space (feral like as he is) and Bleet no longer runs away from the cowboy. They both are of the tres aloof, attached to one and one only person, feline variety. Oliver is very much a dog (the oh so personable life of any party) disguised as a cat (he hopes Millie will admire that canine quality of his).

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  5. Oh. Yum. You always have the best recipes over here at Blackstreet. I'm takin' this one back to the manor. Thanks, Susan! xx

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  6. mmmm.... methinks me must be brave and take the scary phylo out of the freezer to play/wrestle with it....

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  7. ps...we watched The Matrix... What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas and Up over the weekend.....
    We have a huge collection of DVDs too...
    I'm thinking movie watching is a Canadian cold weather pastime.... as Shamu mentions. What's not to like about snuggling on the couch with popcorn and a drink? .... our fav thing to do til spring opens up too many possibilities to be able to spend that much time inside....

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  8. Sounds like you are having a great time! And I am going to have to give those chicken packets a try... sounds delicious!

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  9. Oliver probably wants his own little phylo pastry-covered tuna. If you have cats, you know that some of them are dogs in cat's clothing. We had one that always wanted to go for a walk with the "other" dogs, and when he got tired, I had to carry him over my shoulder. As you said before, Oliver is most definitely a "retriever."

    We have six feral cats, all neuter/spayed. I smile every night as I watch them put on a show in the kitchen window.

    It sounds like you and the cowboy are still having a great time loving each other and taking care of all the animals. Love to all.........

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  10. I am enjoying your fun times Susan...and that last photo is full of mouth-watering scrumptiousness.I have never cooked with phylo pastry. Your photos have boosted my motivation 110%.

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  11. What a way to spend a winter! Those packets look too yummy! Must try...

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  12. My mouth is watering, BIG TIME!!!
    How fabulous that you BOTH cook, and so very well, too.

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  13. Holy smokes, that looks so awesome!

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