16 July 2012

A Taste of Yellow in Your Memory with Lemon Chicken, Garlic Creamed Corn and Baby Potatoes with Parsley and Lemon Butter

Lemon Chicken, Garlic Creamed Corn and Baby Potatoes 
with Parsley and Lemon Butter

There are many of us who have been writing for a while, long before Julie and Julia, long before Pinterest... gasp...even before Facebook. Some bloggers start with an enthusiasm that quickly wains, some blog for their friends and family, some blog for the sheer enjoyment, and some have achieved varying degrees of success. But how do you as a blogger measure success? Is it finally securing that cookbook deal? Is it those articles in high profile magazines? Is it thousands of followers? These are all perks of the food blogging community but not what we are about. I measure the success of a blogger by the number of lives they have touched, the awareness they have raised for pertinent issues, their ability to grab my attention with little effort.  I by no means put myself in these categories but we have all been touched by someone out there in the blogosphere that we have connected with. Yes we are food bloggers but we are not only passionate about food. One of the biggest perks is the connection that we have with each other in more ways than one.
Over the past month I am sure that many have heard our very own Barbara Harris of Winos and Foodies lost her battle to cancer. I was never lucky enough to travel to Australia and meet her in person, nor can I say that we connected on-line and became kindred spirits. And yet she is someone I would have liked to get to know because those who knew her say she was a courageous and loving soul. Even though she was faced with heart-wrenching adversity she still had time to encourage all those who crossed her path. 


For a number of years, she ran the Taste of Yellow event to coincide with Lance Armstrong’s LIVEstrong day, where bloggers from around the world would make a yellow dish to raise awareness for cancer. Through her blog we know she was kind,  funny, incredibly brave and inspirational in every way. These are Jeanne's words, not mine.


So today, as I have done over the years, I have joined a growing throng of bloggers who want to pay tribute to this courageous woman by creating a yellow dish in her honour. Today, July 16th, would have been her birthday. With her wit and her compassion Barbara touched many lives, offered encouragement and wrapped herself around our hearts.




Jeanne of Cooksister is hosting this months Monthly Mingle " A Taste of Yellow, a Tribute to Barbara Harris"  a monthly event from Meeta at What's for Lunch Honey?  You can read Jeanne's round-up of all the wonderful tributes and recipes here. For the event I created an entire meal around yellow foods starting with my favourite Ina Garten Lemon Chicken recipe. These tender breasts were accompanied  by two simple and yet flavour-packed dishes of garlic-infused creamed corn and baby potatoes sautéed with parsley lemon butter.  Both are quick and easy to prepare. Life is short so get out there and enjoy it. The inspiration for the meal came from the summer edition of Donna Hay's magazine which somehow seemed fitting since she is from down-under. 


Today as I passed a garden filled with the bright yellow faces of summer sunflowers I thought of you Barbara. Their cheerful faces reached for the heavens. Your memory is entwined with our lives and you will be sadly missed. To use Meeta's words, *There is a new star in the sky. May you shine brighter than all of them."




**Garlic Creamed Corn**
from Donna Hay Magazine, Summer 2012

1/2 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
4 cobs corn, kernels removed
1 cup heavy cream

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Add the corn and cream, bring to a boil and cook for 6-8 minutes or until thickened and reduced.




  • **Baby Potatoes with Parsley Lemon Butter**
  • from Epicurious 

  • 3 pounds mixed baby potatoes (such as white- and red-skinned)
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
  • 6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper


Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, 4 tablespoons parsley, lemon peel, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook until potatoes are heated through and beginning to brown, tossing often, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons parsley and serve.

The association of yellow with cancer support stems from the yellow armbands distributed so widely by the Livestrong Foundation,and here in Canada by the Spring Daffodil Campaign from the Canadian Cancer Society just two of many cancer charities you might want to make a donation to in Barbara’s honour. I am taking my cue from Jeanne and listing some of them here.
What do others have to say....

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison. Best Blogger Tips

31 comments:

  1. Yes Val I remember Barbara and I read about her. A really special and nice woman.
    Love this recipe!xx gloria

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  2. AnonymousJuly 15, 2012

    Love your comment about measuring blogging success through lives that are touched. It's easy to get swept up in the Facebook Likes, and Pinterest Pins, and Twitter Tweets, but I think you're absolutely right, making connections and the relationships that come out of that are really what it's all about.

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  3. Love the dish! Must say your story has really touched my heart. As a fairly new blogger, I'm not familiar with Barbara...may she rest in peace!

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  4. This is a beautiful and delicious meal, Val. :-) I love that you saw sunflowers and thought of Barbara. :-) The first time I met her in person she spoke of how much she loved the sunflower fields. :-)

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  5. A splendid dish and touching post! I'm sure Barbara would have loved it...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  6. What a thoughtful and lovely post today Val. I never had the pleasure of knowing Barbara. She sounds like a fabulous person and one someone I would have enjoyed very much.

    Love your creamed corn and parsley potato dish. It would make a fabulous vegetarian dinner.
    Sam

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  7. It was so sad to hear about Barbara's death but this tribute to her is really so sweet! And the yellow food all looks so good. Who knew yellow could be such a delicious color?

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  8. Val, a perfectly fitting and very touching tribute to Barbara. She was one of the most generous of bloggers and no matter how sick she felt, she always had the time to reach out to others.

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  9. A very touching tribute. Thank you for sharing such lovely dishes in Barbara's honor. She must have been quite the woman.

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  10. July 16th is my sister's birthday. Barbara had a Thermomix, and I have one. That is how we "knew" one another... more then - than now... and it is wonderful to see so many participate in this tribute. Cyber relationships are real.
    XO
    Valerie

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  11. What a lovely dish to honor Barbara with. I did not know her blog but now wish I did. I also agree with your measurement of blog success. I have become friends with several bloggers and that is why I blog. All those lovely connections. And generosity - which is why I come here. There's "a sharing" going on.

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  12. What a beautiful summer meal, Val. I hope to see fresh corn in our market this Saturday. Lovely post.

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  13. i LOVE real creamed corn. i stayed away for a long time because the canned stuff is so gross. :)

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  14. A great post Val - Barbara would have loved it. Lovely recipe too.

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  15. Beautiful Val! This is such touching tribute to Barbara.

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  16. That looks just like spring on a platter...so lovely.
    We could do with that here in the South now.
    Love your post and your blog.
    Shel

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  17. Now that is one tasty looking meal! I am liking all of the lemon in it!

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  18. A fantastic summer meal. I really love a good creamed corn recipe.

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  19. What a beautiful and delicious looking dinner!

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  20. A lovely tribute to Barbara, Val. Your presentation is spot on too. I was going to get some fresh corn at the store today and now I know exactly what I'm going to make with it.

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  21. Even I don't consider the popularity of blog by comments or followers if you have not touched the people you are writing for. I have stopped following blogs on google friend connect but that doesn't mean I don't want connections. But anyway that's another story.
    I didn't know Barbara's blog,I wish I had but her cause for the event was appreciable and I salute her for that.
    Its so nice of you to post this recipe in her tribute.

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  22. Val, I am sorry that I missed this event for tribute to one of our fellow friends and food bloggers. I was post surgery in recovery and would have loved to pay respect to her as well. But anyhow, knowing that corn is one of the staff of life, you selected the most perfect food to prepare for her honor -- her life! I truly agree that it is the simple, wonderful community that means the most to me throughout my entire blogging experience!

    Blessings and well wishes,
    Roz

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  23. What a great summer meal for A Taste of Yellow! Lovely tribute as well.

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  24. Love the fresh ingredients here, and a lovely tribute .I know she would enjoy wherever she is.She was a wonderful wonan and I will miss her

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  25. Really touching post Val. Love your writing!

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  26. Sadly I did not know Barbara but from all I have read, she must have been a wonderful woman. What a heart-felt post and delicious tribute to her memory.

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  27. What a beautiful tribute to Barbara - she touched so many lives without ever meeting many of us in person. And what a wonderful dish! I love how you thought of Barbara when you saw the sunflowers... Thanks so much for taking part in this special Monthly Mingle.

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  28. Beautiful post! Delicious-looking dish!

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  29. what a fantastic meal. it's exactly what i feel like for my sunday lunch.

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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