Common Miracles...

sweet...
beauty...

strength...

passion...

sustenance...

Poppy Seed Chicken...

Jenni's recipes are simply the best and hopefully one day she will publish a cookbook so that you can all have access. One year she gave each of us a small black cookbook with her collected family recipes and we have all converted to them. My sister Christine recently made this Poppy Seed Chicken for the family and I thought she had slaved all day.. it tasted so delish, but it was one of Jenni's stunning recipes.. so no slaving required.

Jenni's Poppy Seed Chicken

Enough chicken for your family
(chicken breasts work great)
1 cup chicken broth
1 can Cream of Chicken soup.. (use low fat)
1 cup fat free sour cream
1 T poppy seeds
1 package Ritz crackers (not the whole box)
4 T butter

Simmer chicken in broth until cooked. Salt & Pepper to taste. While cooking mix soup, sour cream & poppy seeds. Add cut up chicken to sauce. Crumble crackers & mix with butter & pour over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Christine served this with a rice pilaf and sweet baby peas, good French baguette and some delish French garlic cheese spread and chocolate pie. Heaven.

Thomas Hardy in Film...

My sisters and I had a Thomas Hardy marathon several days ago. Fabulous! Ciaran Hinds, who I loved in Persuasion
is also amazing as The Mayor of Casterbridge, a man who cannot decide whether or not to be good and often makes the wrong pick.

Justine Waddall, who is sooo pretty, and perfectly played the lovely Molly Gibson in Wives and Daughters, is also the quintessential Tess.

Thomas Hardy is not light viewing, but his themes create great discussion and certainly make you think. Also, if you happen to enjoy a good costume drama partially for the costumes.. don't miss Tess.. Justine wears some of the most beautiful things.