SRC Reunion: Savoury Pull Apart Bread

So.
I haven't been here in a while.
I seem to say that a lot.  It's totally true, and a little embarrassing.  I work in a building right now where people actually say, "She's a food blogger,"  and I want to correct them and say I'm a lapsed one who still enjoys posting pictures of the new things I make to Instagram.  Just because I don't write doesn't mean I don't still make new things all the time.
When Sarah from the Secret Recipe Club proposed a reunion for the anniversary of the club, I asked if I could come out of retirement.  I'm so glad she said yes.  I'm also pretty sure retired sounds better than lapsed.
For those not familiar with the Secret Recipe Club, food bloggers were given another blog from the group (in secret), and the blogger than chooses a recipe and makes it.  Then everyone reveals who has who's blog at the same time.  It was a whole lot of fun, and I always enjoyed meeting new bloggers and trying different things.
For this round, I was assigned Tara's blog at Tara's Multicultural Table.  Tara is a married mother of 2 who is a former picky eater.  Her blog is filled with recipes from around the world.  She even had Canadian Butter Tarts...but they have pecans in them, which is sacrilege.  I am totally #TeamRaisin.  I considered Breakfasts, which included these Pumpkin Fantail Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Icing , and the Spinach Feta Wrap is totally up mine and J's alley.  I also considered a variety of cookies, but ultimately, I chose a carb to go with Sunday night chili.
In Secret Recipe Club, I made a lot of bread.  Like, when I didn't know what to make, I would choose a bread.  Once again, I chose a bread.  And it's so good.
I present to you now from Tara's Multicultural Table, Savoury Pull Apart Bread:

Goals for the Year, and a Quick Roast Chicken

So.
It's been a month since I posted.  Yikes.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I'm either late or early, depending how you look at it.
I fell into the busy excuse over Christmas as to why I wasn't posting, and then it became a habit to not post.  I've also been reading a ton and not really internetting as much (the horror!)
But J and I spent a quiet holiday here on the mountain, eating at home for almost 2 weeks straight.  I don't think we've ever really done that in a good long time!  We had Prime Rib for Christmas and Hot Wings for New Year's Eve, and had chili while watching football until our eyes fell out New Year's Day.  Then I went back to work.
J and I aren't big into resolutions (although I often make a few here around the blog), but we have made a commitment to eating better this year.  He would like to lose some weight, and I know that I could stand to do the same.  Not that either of us are into counting calories or following a program.  There's too much good food out there!
But eating more mindfully isn't a bad idea.  To that end, we've made a few adjustments to our diet, and J's pants are looser already.  That doesn't really change what will happen around here:  it's still comfort food, and the things that are showing up on our table.  But we've made a decision to switch to water as the usual drink of choice around here, and I've made the promise that I will cook fish more often, cook meatless weekly, and incorporate more fresh produce into meals.
Here's what to expect around here in 2016:

1. The Magazine Challenge rolls on, and we're in 2008 now.  I've updated the Magazine Challenge page to reflect this, and have posted the recipes for January/February.  We've found some new favourites through the past few years.  I hope to find more.  I also wonder what I will do with 5 years of Everyday Food when I'm done this.  I'm going to regain the space that they currently take up.
2. I've told J that I want to cook a meatless meal every week.  Meat is expensive, and we eat too much of it to my way of thinking.  He's not so sure, but I've been pinning and reading.  There should be some good things coming.
3. I promised that I will try and cook fish once a week.  I'm still not a fan, but I'll try.  We've had some tilapia recently with a pistachio crust that was really good.  I'm making the Blackened Tilapia recipe from this blog this week.  I'm trying.
4. Blog events!  The next upcoming one is #FreshTastyValentines in February.  It fits in perfectly with what we want to do food-wise.  

So there's the plans, in a nutshell.  But I promised a chicken.
J has eaten salads for a long time for lunch, but we're making them larger, and have been looking for protein that he can add, along with more vegetables (I still take soup for lunch.  I heart soup, especially in this weather).  He suggested a rotisserie chicken, but I refused to spend what the grocery stores were charging.  But when whole chickens went on sale this week, I told him I'd roast a chicken and we could use the meat for his salads, and freeze some for a casserole later, and then use the carcass to make broth.
I found a video on Facebook from Martha Stewart of how to roast the perfect chicken.  I followed it, and it's super easy.  My oven is a greasy mess right now, but I'll clean it when it cools.  The house, however, smells amazing.
I present to you now Quick Roast Chicken:

An Apology, and Next Steps

So.
I've not been here.  I've been present with family and friends for the holiday season.  Personally, I've taken a step back at work (J, my therapist and I all think this is a good thing) and so I've been packing up and moving my office to start the next adventure.  I've also been having fun with our new kitten, who is, in J's words, "a pistol".  While the other cat is still alpha, the kitten has given her a run for her money.  She's into everything, and we spend a great deal of time telling her no.  My mom fought the ongoing battle of keeping her away from people food while she was here for a few days.
That doesn't mean that I haven't been cooking!  I have a list of 12 things that are in different stages of blogging.  Fodder to start the new year, for sure.
Blog-wise, it's been busy.  I've been looking at my goals for next year.  More on that on January 1, with a new year comes new resolutions.  I've already signed up for another blogging event, and I've been thinking about what else I'd like to do in this upcoming year.
So here's to what's next!  Tomorrow, the annual Retrospective will take centre stage with things we loved from this past year.  So many good things, so little time!  Stay tuned....