Silent Night, Pickle Chicken and Last Train Home
I had the loveliest of evenings last night. Got home to my boys and Leo wasn't coughing quite as much. Owen was in an alarmingly good mood which means he was louder than ever and kept collapsing to the ground and rolling around like a puppy.
We had warned Leo that we would be kicking him off the computer at 7:00 so we could watch Eric Brace and Peter Cooper on Stage It (don't worry---we're still working on a Spring house concert date for the guys). He acquiesced without too much grumbling so we settled in happily. Owen came and sat with us and the three of us giggled and sang along to the gorgeous Home For Christmas song by Last Train Home and I commented too many times as I am wont to do. Beautiful guys, beautiful voices, beautiful songs....
Ernie and I ate late because I can't get it together early enough some nights (read MANY nights). I wasn't sure what to make. I had a package of three huge chicken breasts so I took them out and perused the refrigerator. I found a jar of kosher dill pickles and peppers and wondered how it would taste with chicken.
I poured the pickles and all the brine over the chicken breasts, let it sit awhile and then added salt and pepper. I roasted them skin side up at 450 degrees for about 40 minutes. You know what? It was DAMNED good. Just a bit spicy and tangy...and the slightly browned chickeny pickles were great! I think next time I'd use a mixture of chicken pieces and let it marinate overnight but it really was quite delightful. I microwaved a couple of baby potatoes and sauteed some Swiss chard with garlic and olive oil and we were done. Granted we ate after 9:00 but what the hell....a delightful evening....
Today is my last day of work until after New Year's Day. My sympathies to all of you in retail and other jobs that don't give you time off this time of year. I have worked enough retail and Ernie did for years so we savor this break I get now.
I'm not going to hold my breath, the breath you used to take away from me....
freaking brilliant.
From the Red Beet Records site:
Eric stole that line, "life is short and talk is cheap, don't make promises you can't keep," from Mose Allison. Other than that, just a melancholy country shuffle, whose vocal ending is a tribute to the original lineup of the great D.C. area bluegrass band The Seldom Scene.
The winter wind is blowing
Where your hand should be
Running through my hair and
Holding on to me
I wish I hadn't called
It hurt to hear your voice
I got the time zones backwards
The line was full of noise
And you promised to be
Home for Christmas
Life is short and talk is cheap
So don't make promises you can't keep
You promised to be home for Christmas
I'm not going to hold my breath
The breath you used to take away from me
I read between the lines
Each and every one you fit
On the back of postcards
I could see were quickly written
Move from place to place
In the name of change
You say you're growing up
But look whose life got rearranged
And you promised to be
Home for Christmas
Life is short and talk is cheap
So don't make promises you can't keep
You promised to be home for Christmas
I'm not going to hold my breathe
The breath you used to take away from me