Always Accessorize

Wow.  That's all.  I don't know what to tell you about first.  The salad or the chicken.  First I should explain my absence.  I haven't blogged for a few days, but that's ok, right?  I know it's not.  I thought maybe I should save my posts for the really great moments in the kitchen.  We have had a few nights (in a row) of "regular meals", good, but not GREAT.  Not always blog worthy.  One night was leftovers, one night was Pep's pork sausage and homemade mac-n-cheese, another night was grilled pork chops.  All good meals, for sure-but not superiffic.  Tonight was another story.  I went to St. Cloud for the day with Chloe and Sophia.  I was suppose to pick up a whole chicken at St. Joe Meat Market, because they have nice Amish free-range chickens there.  Well, I got caught up in things and got to the Meat Market at 5:12, and of course they close at 5:00.  Home I go, empty handed.  Scott and I ran down to the local grocery store and picked up some chicken leg quarters.  Yes, they were not hormone free, nor were they range, but better than chicken nuggets, in a pinch.  I seasoned them up with some Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and some Tuscan seasoning we purchased at TJ Maxx (love that store) a few weeks back.  Maybe it was the seasoning, maybe it was the superb grilling on my Scotties part, or maybe it was simply a Saturday night family meal, but whatever it was, it was GREAT.  Charcoal grilled to perfection, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.  Yummy.  Now, for the next part.  I made a nice salad with romaine lettuce, carrots, red pepper, an apple, strawberries and Vidalia onions.  I made a dressing to go with it.  Oh yeah, baby.  Dressing.  I scored a sweet jar of black raspberry preserves at TJ Maxx (love that store), while shopping today.  These preserves came in a French canning jar, I'm not sure if I bought it for the preserves or the jar-it's a toss up.  Most people get a nice belt or a new purse, not me.  I accessorize in the kitchen.  Nothing looks better on a pretty salad than a delicious dressing made from black raspberry preserves.  Now that's accessorizing.  Red wine vinegar, black raspberry preserves, a few turns of fresh cracked pepper and olive oil.  Whisk until it thickens up, and you've got yourself some magic.  I knew it would be tasty, I knew the kids would love it, I just didn't know how much.  The preserves are a burgundy/black color and it stained the onions and apples beautifully.  The whole salad had a rich, lovely color that made you want to lap it up.  Actually, all it took was one taste.  Wow, really good.  So three cheers for TJ Maxx, for supplying the accessories that made the meal, and by the way-did I mention, I love that store.