Herb Baked Whole Chicken

Here’s a chicken recipe you’re sure to like for a special meal.

Ingredients:

One fully thawed 6 to 8 lb. whole chicken

The herbs; garlic, paprika, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, crushed parsley, thyme.

Two tablespoons of canola oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Wash and dry; then spray a large, deep oven baking pan with extra-virgin olive oil non-stick spray. Remove chicken from the grocery store shrink wrap. Cut off any excess skin, fat, and remove the internal organs—plus neck. Rinse the chicken very well with cold tap water and pat dry. Place in the prepared baking pan. Apply two tablespoons of canola oil to the top of chicken and rub well. Next apply the seasonings and any others you prefer.

Herb Baked Whole Chicken

Bake on a higher rack for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cut the skin only, no deeper, at the leg quarters to vent from the torso; this allows for faster cooking and a juicier chicken.  Bake for 30 more minutes and check. The juices should run clear; no blood. Here’s a picture of what my Herb Baked Whole Chicken looks like on the cutting board—ready to carve.

My family loves this meal especially on Sundays; we have it often. A hint; when carving, leave a little meat on the bone for what I call Carcass soup. Two to three chicken carcass’ makes a delicious pot of chicken soup. Just keep the remains in your freezer until its soup day. Yummy!

Thanks for stopping by. J. A. Ireland.

New York City; The Big Apple

Travel Fans,

New York City and Lady Liberty

I still remember circling New York City, while in a holding pattern before landing at LaGuardia airport. I was so excited when I saw Lady Liberty from the air. We’d never been to NYC before. The excitement I felt was in indescribable.  It was like nothing we’d ever seen—anywhere. Soon, we landed and began our long anticipated adventure.

Downtown New York City

Riding in a New York City cab was wild; there’s no other way to describe it. I’ve never been in a car when the driver did a U-turn in the middle of heavy traffic—crazy! From the airport, we grabbed the cab that proved to be an exciting and rather heart pounding adventure. During the driving into the city, we zipped past tunnels, overpasses, and underpasses. When we were stalled in traffic, our “cabbie” made a 180 degree maneuver and drove us down another side street to get to our destination. “Oh yes he did!” I think he was yelled at, honked at, and “got flipped off” at least 100 times on our journey. Overall it was a noisy and thrilling ride. I’ll just say, “Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore.” We booked a moderately priced hotel in midtown Manhattan, the Holiday Inn Midtown. It was located very close to the Manhattan cruise port for the next morning’s embarkment. It was the taxi drivers job to get us there from La Guardia.

Seeing The Sights Of Times Square

Our hotel was located on 57^th St, close to Broadway, Columbus Circle, Times Square, and the south side of Central Park. Our evening plans were to do some exploring, walk down Broadway to Times Square, and eat some original New York Style pizza.

Broadway -NYC

This was a fun, very memorable evening. We found New Yorkers to be very friendly and helpful; some were quick with directions. We looked like we needed help finding places, thus our maps.

We felt quite safe walking around this area in the evening, even though my family stood out like complete nutty tourists. We happily marched down Broadway, wearing our matching “I love New York T-Shirts”; we looked like a chorus line. Under the circumstances, this was a very unwise thing to do, as tourist books suggested that you try not to stand out while in New York. Oops!

We concluded our evening by swimming in the roof top pool of our hotel with all of the towering New York skyscrapers surrounding us. It’s a fantastic memory that will last a lifetime.

New York City Sky Line

The morning of our cruise, we opened our curtains to the New York City skyline, a bustling city below us, and looked out over the Hudson River, trying to spot our cruise ship. We were just a short cab ride to the Manhattan Cruise port where we boarded the Carnival ship.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

After the muster (safety) drill and the ship set sail, we stood on the deck, watching the Manhattan Skyline pass by. We sailed past lower Manhattan, Wall Street, and Battery Park. We couldn’t imagine what life’s like for the eight and a half million people who live and work here in NYC.

We sailed into New York Harbor, filled with many ships, past Ellis Island. We spent some time talking about the more than 12 million immigrants who first stepped out on land there. They all arrived in hopes of finding a new life, in a new country.

Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island

Finally, we sailed past Liberty Island and gazed upon the wonder; the Statue of Liberty. A gift from the people of France; she bears a torch and tablet inscribing the date of the Declaration of Independence signing.  She’s an icon of freedom of the United States; a welcome signal to immigrants arriving into this land. This brought tears to my eyes. It really was something I’ll never forget.

New York City was everything, and more that we imagined; crowded, noisy, somewhat grimy, Broadway, tourists, great Pizza, and very emotional moments. A place will just draw me in. After a visit to this incredible city, I’ll say, “I love New York.”

We had a wonderful visit to a fantastic city on a very memorable Carnival Cruise line trip. We sailed from New York City up the east coast to Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s New Brunswick, Canada on a 5-day cruise on the Carnival Triumph.

On my next article I’ll write more about this amazing vacation up the eastern coast line of America on Carnival Cruise Line.

Thanks for stopping by. J. A. Ireland.

 

Healthy Country Blueberry Cobbler

This is a healthy blueberry cobbler that’s easy to make and delicious. Everyone loves it when I make it.

Ingredients:

¼ cup canola light butter, melted; a bit more will be needed to grease the baking pan.

One and ½ cups plus 3 tablespoons sugar

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup low fat butter milk

2 pints fresh blueberries

Healthy Country Blueberry Cobbler

One 6.5 oz can fat free Reddi wip Dairy Whipped Topping for serving on top

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Generously grease an 8×11 deep, baking pan with canola light butter; then generously flour, covering the entire pan.

In a large mixing bowl combine 1 and ¼ cups sugar, the self-rising flour, low fat buttermilk, melted canola light butter. Whisk well and allow the batter to set briefly.

Rinse the blueberries using a collider and pour on paper towels to absorb excess water.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the blueberries evenly over the batter. They will sink into the batter; that’s ok. Sprinkle ¼ cup of sugar evenly over the blueberries.

Single Serving Of My Healthy Country Blueberry Cobbler

Bake for 35 minutes on a higher rack; then remove from oven. Spread 3 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the cobbler and bake for 10 more minutes.

The edges should be golden brown; if not bake a few more minutes until done. Cobblers are best if allowed to set and cool for 20 minutes.

When serving, top with fat free Reddi wip Dairy Whipped Topping; then top with more blueberries. Here’s a picture of what my Healthy Country Blueberry Cobbler looks like when the pan came out of the oven and what a serving size looks like.

A simple frosting recipe for the cobbler:

3 cups powered sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla

1/4 cup chopped fruit (your choice)

Mix well with spoon(If thin, add a little more powered sugar to thicken) then refrigerate. Apply to top of cobbler when cobbler is cool.

Jack Ireland

Blueberry Cobbler with Strawberry Icing

My Heart Healthy Baked Alaskan Salmon with Crunchy Pecan Topping

Heart Healthy Cooks,

Here’s a recipe for baked Alaskan Salmon that my family just loves. It’s teaming with Omega 3’s.

Ingredients:

Heart Healthy Baked Alaskan Salmon with Pecan Crunch – Two pieces of my delicious fish

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons canola oil butter, melted

5 teaspoons honey

½ cup Italian bread crumbs

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans; leaving some a bit large

3 teaspoons fresh parsley chopped

7 ( 8 ounce ) fresh Salmon fillets

fresh ground pepper

lemon wedges

Prep work:

In a small bowl, mix together the Dijon mustard, melted butter, honey, parsley, and freshly ground pepper.

In another bowl, mix together the Italian bread crumbs and pecans.

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with extra-virgin olive oil non-stick.

Remove the fresh Salmon from the seafood deli counter wrapping. Remove scales and rinse well with cold tap water. Check for any remaining scales. Rinse again.

Cut your Salmon into desired fillets and place each on the baking sheet skin down. Spoon on the sauce. Cover each piece generously. Use all the sauce. Next cover each fillet with the crumbs / pecan mixture by spooning as well. Use all the crumbs to cover generously.

For baking. Ten minutes per inch at the thickest part of the largest fillet is the usual baking time. The salmon should flake when tested with a fork. If not, bake two or three more minutes. My family likes our fish more crispy than most. A rule for us is always to bake five more minutes. I baked my Salmon for 15 minutes. My family went crazy over this dish. Salmon is a very heart healthy protein; it’s high in Omega 3’s. Also, the Dijon mustard compliments the Salmon so well you won’t believe it. I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading. J. A. Ireland.

A Western Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

Greetings fellow cruisers,

If a Western Caribbean Cruise is in your future, you’ll enjoy reading this article. We sailed on the Disney Fantasy to Costa Maya, Cozumel Mexico , and Grand Cayman. We had a wonderful cruise; so many highlights to write about.

Satellite Falls on the Disney Fantasy

For us, the Disney Fantasy is a breathtakingly beautiful ship, with unbelievable wonders.  The service was impeccable, our food and dining experiences were delicious, as with all our Disney cruises. The entertainment was pure Disney “Magic” as well. In all, we had a wonderful time.

Our ship was filled to capacity; as usual. Although, it seemed crowded on the open decks, and at Flo’s, the quick service eating areas, we found some special ways to escape for some adult only experiences. We discovered a lovely, quiet, hideout called Satellite Falls. There is a beautiful waterfall were a person can sit in the water and read; a lot of people were reading their Kindles. There are multitudes of fold out chairs that are covered by an awning for shade. You can see the waterfall and the chairs with awning in the picture. Also, the view of the sea from there is out of this world. This picture shows the blue waters off the shore of Cozumel Mexico. We enjoyed the day at Satellite Falls as the Disney Fantasy parked at the dock at Cozumel.

Cozumel Pier and the Disney Fantasy

Many people exited the ship and explored Mexico for the day. The dock makes it incredibly easy to come and go as many times as you want.  The food, shopping, and spirits in Cozumel are not to be missed. Señor Frog’s is close by.

The beaches are restful and breathtaking.  In the past, we’ve spent the day exploring  the beautiful city and relaxed on the tranquil beaches. Cozumel is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. Today we relaxed and enjoyed the day at Satellite Falls; and the incredible view. The view really was spectacular; as you can see.

I have so many memorable highlights to share of our week aboard the Fantasy.  Another fantastic memory is the Spa.  Part of my family enjoyed spa treatments at the luxurious Senses Spa, and enjoyed  spending time in the Rainforest room. The treatments were relaxing and spectacular;  the Rainforest room was relaxing and entertaining. Disney brings spa treatments to a whole new level; of course they do.

Senses Spa

Mickey’s Pirates of the Caribbean

Our evening of dining experiences were exceptional in the character dining rooms.  One of the best meals in the regular dining rotation was Pirate Night. Many families, along with all the staff, dressed as pirates for the fun dinner. The menu is Caribbean.  We thought the Caribbean Jerk Ribs were yummy. “Rrrr me maatee!”

The Pirate Party later on deck is a spectacular, not to miss show and fireworks. Disney is the only cruise line that has fireworks at sea.

We also enjoyed reservations at the Italian inspired, Palo restaurant, and the elegant French restaurant, Remy, enjoying a three-hour dining experience.

At Palo, we particularly enjoyed the variety of fresh breads, cheeses, and seafood at the buffet. That’s only the beginning; the food keeps coming to the table. Every time we finish one item our server brings us something else. There’s also Italian Pizza; yum. For the main course I ordered the lamb. Every time we eat at Palo I order the lamb; it’s heavenly. Also, Palo’s wine and champagne list is exceptional.  The servers are truly Italian and love to talk about their home country; Italy. Our dining experiences at Palo are so memorable that every time we sail on a Disney Cruise, we make a dinner reservation at Palo. One point to make; for men, a blazer is required. Also, there is an additional charge.

Remy on the Disney Fantasy

Palo Seafood Buffet on the Disney Fantasy

Our  evening at Remy was exquisite. We enjoyed a small room to ourselves  where the French servers brought us one sample after another and explained the meaning behind each dish. The French delicacies kept coming along with their names and explanations.The wine and champagne list here is exceptional as well. Finally, when we were over stuffed, our French server rolled in the cart that was full of french chocolate and cheeses. The samples were so delicious we couldn’t resist even though we had no room left. We had never tasted so many rich flavors. The meal lasted the entire evening as advertised and was romantic; also as advertised. If we sail on a Disney Cruise Ship that has a Remy restaurant, we always enjoy an evening of dining at Remy. Also a point to make; there is an even stricter dress code and an even higher extra cost for this exquisite French restaurant.

Buena Vista Theatre on the Disney Fantasy

We enjoyed all the Disney Broadway style musical production shows of Aladdin, Wishes, and Believe. Our family’s favorite was Aladdin.

We attended many of the movie showings in the Buena Vista Theatre; it was beautiful, as you can see.

There were six movies showing on a random schedule, including Iron Man 3 and Oz The Great and Powerful.  We particularly liked this one.

Aqua Duck

On our last day we rode the Aqua Duck; as it took me that long to get up my nerve and the lines were short. This was the first time during our sailing that the wait to ride was less than ½ hour. It was a very entertaining and thrilling ride, sailing high over the deck and ocean, in individual rubber rafts.

There is so much to write about; several articles on our various highlights will follow.

This vacation was wonderful, the weather was beautiful, and we had a fantastic time.

We smiled as we left the ship, walking past the cast members and Mickey Mouse waving us off the ship, saying “See Ya Real Soon.” I’m sure they will. I thought as I inwardly cried. I wanted to fork out my card and sail for another week. It was so much fun. Writing this article makes me want to book another cruise. I hope you book one too.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy cruising. Ja

Heart Healthy Sweet Hawaiian Barbecue Ribs

My ribs are so delicious and tender they fall off the bone. You won’t be able to stop eating them.

Barbecue Sauce Ingredients:

One tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

One large onion – finely chopped

Two large cloves garlic – finely chopped

Two cups tomato ketchup

One 10 floz bottle of Hawaiian Punch ( Fruit Juicy Red )

¼ cup Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce

½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar

Two tablespoons brown sugar

½ teaspoon pepper

One tablespoon onion powder

½ tablespoon ground mustard

½ tablespoon lemon juice

One tablespoon low sodium Worcestershire Sauce

Dry Rub Ingredients:

Two tablespoons brown sugar

Two tablespoons garlic powder

Two tablespoons onion powder

One teaspoon ground cumin

One teaspoon chili powder

One teaspoon black pepper

Two racks of lean pork spare ribs, 3 pounds each.

Night before preparation:

I make my Barbecue Sauce; In a medium sauce pan, I add chopped onions, extra-virgin olive oil, and two large cloves garlic finely chopped. Next I sauté until golden and tender. Now I’m adding all the rest of my remaining ingredients. I’m cooking on low heat for about an hour while stirring constantly. When my Q – Sauce is ready, I’ll put it in the fridge overnight. While it’s cooking, it’s time for my dry rub.

Dry Rub: I pour all the ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl. Next, I’m whisking them all together. Some of the brown sugar is being stubborn so I’m using a fork to break it up further. That should do it. Remembering to stir my sauce.

Next I’m removing my ribs from the fridge and cutting them out of the shrink wrapping. They require a very good rinsing with cold tap water. I pause to stir my sauce. I always remove the membrane; it peels off easily. This allows better penetration of the spices and makes the meat as tender as possible. I also remove any fat. I try to make my cooking as heart healthy as possible. I stir my sauce. I tear off two long sheets of cling wrap and lay on the counter. I stir my sauce. I’m placing the rib racks, bones side up on the sheets. I stir my sauce. Next I spoon my dry rub all over both ribs and rub it in. I carefully turn the ribs over and spoon on the remaining dry rub. I stir my sauce. I use it all and rub it in. Now I’m covering the ribs with the cling wrap. They will require several more sheets to cover them properly. I pause to stir my sauce. I’ll put the ribs in the same large, deep, baking pan that I’m going to use tomorrow. Now my ribs go in the fridge overnight. The sauce is also ready. When it’s cool, I’ll put it in a bowl and place in the fridge overnight.

Tomorrow Is Rib Day; I Can’t Wait

Tick Tock Tick Tock

It’s Tomorrow:

I’m pre-heating my oven to 275 degrees. I remove the baking pan from the fridge and take the ribs out of the pan. I’ll wash the pan for safety and spray it with extra-virgin olive oil non-stick. Next, I very carefully remove the cling wrap from my ribs and gently place them bone side UP in the baking pan. I remove my barbecue sauce from the fridge and gently spoon on both ribs, covering both; completely but not excessively. I’m careful not to disturb the dry rub. I place the ribs in the oven for 45 minutes on a higher rack and the sauce back in the fridge.

Heart Healthy Sweet Hawaiian Barbecue Ribs

After 45 minutes, I remove the ribs from the oven and carefully turn my ribs over. For this job I’m using two sets of tongs. I’m very careful not to disturb the dry rub. I place the ribs meat side UP. I remove my sauce from the fridge. Now I’m generously covering the meaty side of the ribs with my Q – Sauce. I use every last drop. Now it’s back in the oven. I’ll bake my ribs for 3 more hours. Here’s a picture of what my ribs look like when they’re ready to eat.

Everyone loves my Heart Healthy Sweet Hawaiian Barbecue Ribs. I hope you do too. Thanks for stopping by.

J.A. Ireland.

TANGY TILAPIA

Orange Glaze Tilapia

Ingredients:

Six large pieces of fresh Tilapia Fillets

One orange

A dash of fresh pepper

One quarter teaspoon of garlic powder

One and ½ tablespoon basil

Two tablespoons red wine vinegar

One tablespoon caraway seeds

One tablespoon olive

One tablespoon ginger

½ cup orange marmalade jelly

Preparation:

Orange Glaze Tilapia Fillets

First I zest my orange; then juice. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. I mix all the ingredients together in a small mixing bowl and whisk well. Spray a large baking pan with canola oil non-stick spray. I place my Tilapia fillets evenly on the baking pan then spoon on the orange glaze evenly over the tops of the fish. I coat evenly until each piece is covered completely. I’m baking my fish today for ten minutes. We like our fish crispy on the edges. Here’s a picture of how my Tilapia looks when baked and ready to eat. Yummy!

Thanks for stopping by.

May good fortune guide your path.

J.A. Ireland

ALASKA; Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord

The Fjords Are Like Being In A Dream

Humpback Whale in Glacier Bay

When we booked our Alaska cruise, we didn’t know what to look for. Some people will choose to sail on their favorite cruise line.  Others say to book for the port adventures, or onboard adventures. For many the question will be, do I want to see Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord? Both are enchanting and dreamlike, but different experiences.

When we cruised through the Tracy Arm Fjord, the ice, mountains, nature, and waterfalls seemed close enough to touch with the stunning Sawyer Glacier as a conclusion.

Glacier Bay National Park,  with it’s vastness, huge bald eagles soaring high over the mountain tops,  glacier carved mountains, and streams ragging down the mountains.  After getting a wide perspective of Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm Fjord’s vastness, we were able to see more of the small details.

Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park– Our day in Glacier Bay National Park on Holland America’s Zaandam was breathtaking. We were blessed with a nice sunny day, with temperatures in the mid 50’s. We cruised through the St. John’s Inlet, and viewed the magnificent John Hopkins Glacier. Even though it was partially dirt covered, its majesty and splendor were breathtaking.

We were approximately 6 miles from it, but due to its vast nature; it looked to be only a quarter-mile away. Imagine our amazement when we were informed that we were 6 miles away from this giant natural wonder. As we gazed upon her beauty and splendor, we could see the light blue ice, which marks her timeless journey that began on the Fairweather Range on the eastern slope of the Lituya Mountains. John Hopkins Glacier, like many others in Alaska takes a journey that requires several hundred years to complete. Also, during our dreamlike cruise, we were filled with the wonders of hundreds of smaller glacial formations and picturesque waterfalls.

Alaskan Mountain Goats in Glacier Bay

We spotted, with our high-powered binoculars, many cream colored mountain goats that are living very happily on the rugged slopes of the snowy mountains. They are actually very easy to spot, high up on the mountainside due to their cream color. The cream color contrasts with the white snow and the green vegetation of the mountain side.

This very picturesque journey through the seemingly narrow channels of this unchallenged and vast ice wilderness will leave any traveler with perhaps the best memories of a lifetime. Glacier Bay National Park will live in our hearts. It was a glorious day.

Tracy Arm Fjord– During our day of sailing through the majestic Tracy Arm Fjord, the weather was more typically Alaskan. We were bundled in layers, as the cold drizzly rain fell from the overcast sky. Fog engulfed the ship at each turn along the fjord and gave us more unexpected surprises with it.

Tracy Arm Fjord

We sailed on this cruise with Disney Cruise Line on the Disney Wonder. As the Wonder turned into the vast entrance to the breathtaking Fjord, we were immediately taken in with her heavenly beauty. The vastness of her incredible size was unfathomable as we slowly sailed through her still waters.

The mountains appeared to be only one quarter mile high from the cruise ship deck even though we were told they were 4-6 miles high. Slowly sailing along, we saw more cream colored mountain goats walking on the sides of mountains and bald eagles soaring majestically above. Sea otters and seals were also plentiful. Seals were lying on the floating, blue ice chunks from the calving glaciers.

Seals on Glacial Ice

While standing on the cruise deck we felt as though we were experiencing another world.  A world that was untouched by man and by man measurements. Objects appeared a half mile away but were actually seven or eight miles away.  Alaska is so big. It’s vastness is something one must experience from a cruise deck or other means to understand.

We began to see large chunks of blue glacial ice, from a calving glacier, floating by in the calm water. Often times we could spot a seal lying on the floating ice, watching us curiously as we sailed by. With each turn of the fjord, we could feel that we were going to experience something very special.

While approaching Sawyer Glacier, we noticed that the ship was sailing even slower. As we were now approaching a large field of floating blue ice, we began to see more seals, moms and their pups. To determine safe passage, the captain had to very slowly navigate around these large chunks of blue ice. This is there home. We’re the intruders. The captain was very slow and cautious.

Sawyer Glacier With Humpback Whale Fluke

Reaching Sawyer Glacier at last, our cruise ship remained a safe distance, as to not disturb the hundreds of seals sunning themselves on the solid blue ice bergs that were calved from the glacier. As we viewed the awe inspiring creation of nature, we were captivated by the vast splendor of this famous glacier. We were stunned when we were informed that the face of Sawyer Glacier was over six miles wide, and 300 to 400 feet tall. To us, it seemed only a fraction of that size. This was a further testimony to the vastness of these incredible Fjords. We watched as Sawyer Glacier slowly calves many small and large pieces. We heard the crack, like thunder, and down the ice crashes into the freezing waters below. I remember standing there in awe as the calving continued. The journey these glaciers make down from high in the Alaskan mountains takes several hundred years concluding by slowly calving in the fjords.

The cold rain was still coming down. I had a coffee mug in my hands. But this moment was not to be missed. We realized that time and distance have no meaning to a glacier. One hundred years is merely an instant, and for this vast untamed wilderness, several feet can equal many miles. Our senses are rendered useless as we span this heavenly, unimaginable land. We were standing on the deck  watching, while taking it all in for about 45 minutes.  Our ship was just quiet. People were quietly captivated and immersed in their own reflective experiences.

Disney Wonder in Tracy Arm Fjord

Slowly, one by one, people started leaving the deck. The ship slowly swirled around and began the slow, still awe inspiring, journey back through the Tracy Arm Fjord. Even though the deck was practically empty, we stayed top side to enjoy the magnificent splendor even more. This is when life long memories are created. The deck was all but deserted when we finally went in to warm up. And regrettably. Sailing the Tracy Arm Fjord was truly another world that we sailed through. We remember staying on deck to soak in every possible moment of this heavenly, magical, mesmerizing sight. It too, was a glorious day that will live in our hearts.

Is a cruise inside Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Fjord in your future? Often times the decision of which fjord is decided by which cruise company a person chooses. If you shop Alaska Cruises you’ll see what I mean.

If you want my opinion, from the perspective of a Disney Castaway Cay Gold Club Member, experienced traveler, fantasy / fiction / spiritual author, chef, blogger, with a family. In my opinion, either choice will provide you with a heavenly vacation and fill your minds with awe and wonder. Alaska is a world of it’s own; it’s a place you can visit over and over again. As we have. If you are planning an Alaskan Cruise, and I hope you are, you will leave this Yukon paradise with memories that will last a lifetime. Guess what? Just as we have, you can always ad more. Thanks for stopping by. Ja

My Heart Healthy Citrus Chicken Recipe

Hi Everyone,

Today I’m cooking my recipe of Heart Healthy Citrus Chicken. I started by cleaning my chicken. I’m using three pounds of leg quarters. I removed all the skin and as much fat as possible. Next I cut the legs off the thighs then thoroughly rinsed in cold tap water before putting them in an already sprayed with non-stick, deep, 13/9 baking pan. Again, I use extra virgin olive oil non-stick. I placed the ready chicken in the fridge for later while I made my citrus marinade.

Ingredients:

Three pounds of chicken

Two oranges

One tablespoon garlic

One teaspoon pepper

Two tablespoons basil

Two tablespoons red wine vinegar

One tablespoon caraway seeds

One tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

One tablespoon ginger

One and half cup orange marmalade jelly

One and half cup sweet baby rays BBQ sauce

One quarter cup tomato ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Next I grated two tablespoons of orange zest then squeezed the juice from the two oranges with my juicer and put it in a saucepan. This is the start of my citrus marinate.

Mix all other ingredients together in saucepan. This is the citrus marinate. Remove the chicken from fridge. Using half the marinate, cover each piece of chicken as much as possible. Put in oven uncovered on a higher rack. Bake for 30 minutes. Put remaining marinate in fridge.

After 30 minutes, remove chicken from oven and marinate from fridge. Turn each piece of chicken over then spread on the rest of the marinate, being careful to cover each piece. Place chicken back in oven and bake for about 20 minutes. Do a fork check in the bone area for red juice and cook extra accordingly. Total cooking should be 45 to 50 min.

Heart Healthy Citrus Chicken – YUM!

This is my version of heart healthy Citrus Chicken. Everyone loves it. Here’s a picture of how my Heart Healthy Citrus Chicken looks when ready to serve.

Next I’m making my Heart Healthy Oven Bake Herb Potatoes.

Heart Healthy Herb Potatoes

I coated my oven pan with extra virgin olive oil nonstick spray, then washed eight medium sized Yukon Gold potatoes. I cut off any bad places then sliced into ¾ to 1 inch bites before placing in a large mixing bowl. When all the potatoes are cut, pour in 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and toss . Potatoes should all be covered well, if not add a little more oil. Next, pour the potatoes in the pan and spread evenly. Now for the spices. This is the fun part. Go to town. Really. The herbs make the potatoes so don’t be shy. Today I’m using garlic, basil, paprika, Italian, thyme, chili powder, parsley. See; just go to town. You’re making herb potatoes. Flip the potatoes over and coat them on the other side. I’m baking the potatoes next to my chicken for 15 min. Then turn them over and bake for 15 min more. Here’s a picture of how my Heart Healthy Herb Potatoes look when ready to serve.

Today’s Salad:

Baby Spinach

Shredded Red Cabbage

½ Green Pepper

½ Cucumber

1 can colander drained garbanzo beans to remove salt

Today’s Salad with Heart Healthy Fruity Dressing

My Dressing for today:

2 Tablespoons Pineapple Preserves

2 Tablespoons Pomegranate Red Wine Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Canola Oil

Just mix the ingredients together and the dressing is ready. Here’s a picture of my salad.

Thanks for stopping by.

May good fortune guide your path.

J.A. Ireland

BERMUDA; Beauty Beyond Imagination

Fellow travelers,

Atlantic Island of Bermuda

Bermuda Ferry

We have been blessed to travel to many beautiful destinations, but none as breathtaking as the Island of Bermuda. We sailed to the United Kingdom Island onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and enjoyed our stay of several days.

Our last memorable day was spent in the capital; Hamilton. We enjoyed a very enjoyable and scenic ferryboat ride from Dockyard to the charming city. We sailed across the Great Sound again taking in the islands beauty once more from the water. Magnificent. The weather was perfect,with blue skies and very comfortable temperatures.

When we arrived in Hamilton, our ferry captain dropped us off at Front Street. This is the heart for Bermuda’s tourist and resident businesses. All along the street, we could see the colorful landscape of pastel businesses. We enjoyed the sights of open-air trolleys, mopeds by the hundreds, and some cars lining the streets. This is a place to buy that perfect souvenir.

Another interesting sight to remember was the residents going into their places of business wearing Bermuda business suits. These consisted of a dress shirt, sport coat, and matching Bermuda shorts, long socks, and shoes. This seemed  perfectly normal attire; how nice.

Bermuda Open Air Trolley

As we had booked a shore excursion that day, we had just enough time to meet up with our tour guide. Our shore excursion was to spend a delightful couple of hours touring downtown Hamilton on one of these open-air trolleys. Our guide shared with us many interesting facts about his island. He told us about the architecture, home ownership, and pointed out many different building to us.

Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda

As we journeyed through the streets, our driver stopped in front of the HSBC bank on Front Street. We were fascinated as he explained that the quaint little bank enjoyed deposits that exceeded several billion dollars. “No Way “was our response. It was only a small, simple bank.

Johnny Barnes Statue in Bermuda
“Mr. Happy Man”

Along our tour, one of the most unforgettable and impressive structures that we saw was a tribute to Johnny Barnes. Our tour guide explained the history of this local legend. Each morning for more than 50 years, Johnny Barnes stood at the roundabout at Trimingham Hill. He stood there waving cheerfully to the vast commuters who were going to work. He was wishing them well and wishing them a pleasant day on their jobs.

As a tribute, the good people of Bermuda erected a statue in his honor at the very spot where he stood and cast his well wishes on the commuters.  The people of Bermuda refer to him as “Mr. Happy Man.” A trip to Hamilton is not complete without a visit to the statue of Johnny Barnes. We believe this gives a spirit to the island and is a strong testimony to the people of Bermuda.

This day ended our splendid three days on this beautiful, picturesque island. There was so much to see on Bermuda. We have memories from King’s Wharf Dockyard to St. George with its delightful views along the way, Bermuda’s pastel homes and pink sand beaches, and Hamilton with its island tribute. It just overwhelms the senses.

Bermuda’s Pink Sand Beaches

The beautiful coral reef island of Bermuda is not only about its famous pink sand beaches. There is so much more. Bermuda’s interesting culture, architecture, and as perfect island paradise will provide lasting memories.

The Island of Bermuda is a must see if you are a traveler or a cruiser. There is so much more to write about. The island was so fascinating. I will continue my tales of our Bermuda cruise in later articles. Thanks for stopping by. Ja