what's on my (paper) plate?

still baking, a bit frantically now, as kids have volunteered to bring cookies to their respective classroom christmas parties. so it's cookie making, shopping, wrapping, bagging, delivering/mailing. but. still have to do all the other "stuff" like feeding them, bathing them, doing their laundry...where can i apply for a house elf? do i have to prequalify or something? why can't i be more like tita Martha?
so we've been having a few, ahem, "quick and easy" meals (translation: frozen, microwaveable, take out, creative daddy cuisine and sshhh! McDo.)
i would like to share an easy chicken dish with a little assistance from Mama Sita.


it is just your basic chicken afritada. marinate chicken legs and thighs in knorr or maggi liquid seasoning for at least a half hour. brown in olive oil just until all opaque. pan fry cubed potatoes. saute garlic, onions, tomatoes. put browned chicken into pan with enough water or broth to cover and 2 tbsps. of "caldereta" instant mix (well, i ran out of menudo/afritada mix),2 laurel leaves, and dried or fresh thyme or half a teaspoon of dried "herbs of provence" . add chopped pimientos or roasted red peppers (sold in jars, goya brand for example). bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for about 40 minutes or until fork tender. add cubed potatoes, garbanzo beans, and spanish style sausages-chorizos-(tropical,goya, or marca el rey brand) and simmer 5 minutes more.

canned food, yes, but!



i first read about these Portugese smoked sardines from a feature in the Boston Sunday Globe magazine quite a while back. then i actually saw them at the cambridge "trader joe's" and after 1 can, have gone back for more,more,more. they do not taste "fishy" at all but instead are very subtle, smokey...like our tinapa(smoked baby herring). we're hooked. it's perfect with fried garlic rice (sinangag) and fried egg (pritong itlog) like celia k's...sardinesilog? tinapasilog?