These are exciting times, my peeps.  Not always the best but definitely exciting.
D has just returned from a short but exciting trip to Copenhagen.  One of the groups that he is with, Kobo Town, opened a World Music Industry Festival called Womex.  All seems to have gone well and it looks like D is going to be on the road quite a bit next year.  All over the UK, Europe and the US... that's it so far but who knows.
My 'Sister-from-another-mother' is dealing with the recent and sudden loss of her own Mother.  She's far away in London and I can't be with her right now.
My BFF KT is impatiently dealing with recent health issues and I'm trying to be supportive and positive and not show her that I'm worried too.  I know everything is going to be all right but I want to KNOW that everything will be all right, if you know what I mean.


I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and would love to stay home all day and cook and clean, which sounds dumb.  There's an almost 'bury-your-head-in-the-sand' kind of quality about it for me.  I'm trying to keep focused and 'get-it-done' but I'll be honest, it catches up with me once in a while.  I had told myself that I was done my cooking and baking for the week when I made my Apple Sauce Cake and the Cabbage Stew.  Hell, even the cake was unplanned!  Then D took a chicken out of the freezer and there it was thawing on the counter.  I have learned a little in 15 or so years with D.  His intentions are great when it comes to cooking AND he's damn good at it too... not always so organised though.  So when the chicken came out, I kinda had a hunch that I'd be doing something with the chicken before it went bad and not him.  Now, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that I only left it in the fridge for two days before I got on it and just maybe he would've gotten to it on day 3 and there I would've been feeling all dumb...
It's done now.  I tried something kinda new, kinda with this Harissa Paste stuff that I picked up


and that I'd kinda been wondering about.  I threw it together rather than having time to really think it through.  I used too much cayenne and it's kinda hot but not overwhelmingly so but I'll adjust it for your recipe.  Generally though, I like it.  it's kinda exciting.  You'll notice though by way of the pics that I got kinda uninspired when it came to the grain.  I literally put some boiling water over some coucous and let it steam in a covered bowl for five min.  Ok... there it is!



Moroccan inspired Chicken.  Sorta.
serves 4 - 6

1 whole chicken, cut into about 8 or 9 pieces
1 med onion
1 1/2 med zucchini, cut into biggish chunks
2 cups button mushrooms, halved
4 cups chard, sliced or diced small
3 tbsp Harissa paste
3 cups broth
2 tbsp cumin
2 - 3 tbsp sugar or honey (I used honey)
2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp coriander
1 1/2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp turmeric
dash of salt and cayenne

Brown the chicken in a large, hot Dutch oven.  Use some good grease for this.  If the pot is hot enough then it won't stick.  Once it's browned and cooked a bit then take the pieces out and set aside.
Turn the heat down to med/low.  In the same pot, using the oil and everything, cook the veggies just until the onions are see through and wilted.  Add the chicken back in.  Add the broth, spices and honey/sugar, leaving the out cayenne.  Mix well and let it simmer for a good 40 minutes or so (even longer if you can).  Check the tastes and add cayenne dashes at a time - test after each addition just to make sure.

I think that if you had some dried apricots or something that might go nicely in this at the very end too.
Serve with rice or couscous.