Ranch Chicken and Roasted Spring Onions

This was a delicious combination!  I chose to grill the chicken on a gas grill and roast the onions in the oven, but you could probably put the chicken in the oven for 25-30 minutes (in a separate dish from the onions) and cook them the last half (-ish) of the onions' cooking time.

Ranch Chicken and Roasted Spring Onions

Roasted Spring Onions

Ingredients
6 medium bulb spring onions 
4 TBSP butter, softened
1 tsp dried dill (or 1 TBSP fresh dill)
1 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 375F.  If necessary, trim the tops of the onions so they fit in a baking dish.  Cut the onion bulbs in half.
Blend the butter and dill together in a small bowl.  Rub the butter mixture evenly over all of the onions.
Place the onions in the dish, alternating directions so they fit.
Roast in the oven for about 50 minutes or until very soft and beginning to caramelize.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with lemon juice.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Notes:  Smaller or larger onions can be used. Just adjust the time accordingly for smaller ones; and for the larger ones, cut them into quarters before roasting.

Ranch Chicken

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts (sliced horizontally into two thin fillets each)
1 TBSP Ranch seasoning mix (see recipe below)
1 TBSP olive oil

Directions
Brush olive oil lightly all over chicken
Sprinkle Ranch mix all over chicken

Grill at 450F for about 12 minutes each side until done.  

Ranch Seasoning Mix
2 TBSP dried parsley1-1/2 tsp dried dill2 tsp garlic powder2 tsp onion powder2 tsp dried onion flakes1 tsp black pepper1 tsp chives1 tsp salt
Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Pleated Mask Making Tutorial

Edited to add a link to this video on making bias tape without a tool.  If you want to make ties for your masks from the same or contrasting fabric, you can use this same method.  This will speed things up immensely and eliminate the burned fingers from trying to fold and press your strips of fabric into ties.

Now... onto the rest of the mask making instructions!

I know there are a lot of patterns and instructions out there for making pleated masks.  I have viewed a few but, as is my nature, I have a tendency to learn as I go.  So I took the basic idea and over time tweaked it to this super fast process.  If you can do it as a mini-production line, it will go even faster! That is, group your work so that you are completing only one or two steps at a time. When I sew the top and bottom seam for example, I don't even cut the thread but leave a few stitches and then bring in the next one.  When I'm all done sewing, I just clip the threads that are attaching them together.

I have made these using elastic (but I can't get any right now!), bias tape, and even made my own woven fabric ties.    This is a lot faster and allows for some stretch in the ties.  These can be tied around the head or each side can be tied together to make loops for over the ears.  With the softness of the knit, they are very comfortable!

Always use two different colors or prints of cotton or poly/cotton woven non-stretch material.  This allows the user to know which side they put toward their face.

For each mask, you will need:
Thread
Two 9" x 9" squares of fabric
2 each of 1" x 32" strips of jersey knit (for ties)


1. Cut two squares approximately 9" x 9" (a little less is okay too).  Place right sides together.

2. Stitch at the top and bottom.  Turn right side out and press.

3. Fold the square into thirds from top to bottom and press.

  

4.  Unfold and it will look like this:

5.  Next pinch the fold nearest the bottom.  The picture only shows one hand but use two hands, one at the left and one at the right.  Pinch and pull down slightly to make a pleat.  Move up to the next fold and repeat.  And repeat with the top fold.  

 

6.  Press really well!


7.  Stitch along the pleats to hold them in place.

8.  Find the center of your tie and place it on the edge of the fabric.  Stitch.  Fold it over the edge and stitch again.  (This step is for any kind of ties, whether the jersey knit or the fabric ties... here is a link to that video for fabric ties again!)

Finished!!