Thoroughly Modern Millie

A Chicken Soup Recipe

Yes, it does sound pretty good. Certainly worth a try. Now, will I find any parsnips?

Alta Marie's

Bakery and Soup Shop

Yes, it is located on the Planet Orland and right downtown. To the north of the old theater. We stopped for breakfast this morning and had the typical bacon, eggs and hash browns...with a muffin. This is a bakery, after all.

The shop is a real working bakery with just enough room for about 5 tables in the back, but it's also a wireless 'hot spot' and so I was able to get on-line with my Palm and read the Times and note that Alicia had posted something to my blog. All while I was enjoying breakfast! The eggs were done just right and the bacon was crisp and not soggy at all. The serving size was just right as well. Not so large that you were challenged to finish it, which is the trademark of the Kolesterol Kitchen, just down the street.

We were tempted by the Cinnamon French Toast, but it sounded a little richer than our diets allowed. Next time. And we need to come back and try the soups, for lunch.

Cookies!

I had a great chocolate chip/oatmeal cookie the other day while I was nibbling my way around my Middle daughter's kitchen. (I love doing that!) And I was told that the recipe came from the Pioneer Woman Cooks! blog.

(later) Well, I looked and I looked...no recipe. My daughter must have realized that I wouldn't find it and when we saw her yesterday, she had written it out and copied it for me.

Here it is...

• 1 cup Shortening (Yes...you could Crisco non transfat)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs - beaten
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 cups oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Cream the sugars and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Add the soda and salt to the flour and mix. Now add it to the sugar/shortening and mix.

Add the oatmeal and the nuts. (Of course the nuts are optional...but why not!)

According to my daughter, Pioneer Woman rolls the dough into a log (or logs) and chills.

Alicia didn't chill the dough and simply used the 'drop' method. Your choice.

(Oops! Almost forgot...350 oven and cook for 10 minutes.)

I REALLY deserve it...

It wasn’t long ago that I reported that I had failed in my attempt to win the Golden Ladle at the Federated Soup Cook-Off. My Sweet Potato Soup was simply OK. No pizzazz at all. Well, I’m ready for next years contest. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I were given the Golden Ladle in perpetuity for this one recipe.

For once I followed the recipe exactly. Almost. My herb garden has plenty of fresh Rosemary, but no fresh Basil at this time of year. I used dried. If that makes a difference, it’s slight.

The taste and the color were heavenly. Tomato soup with real tomatoes and real onions. Not that pink pureed stuff you might remember from childhood days. This is ‘Adult’ soup!

On Another Planet

Here's a review of the restaurant we chose to eat in last night. Pat N’ Larry’s Steak House in Willows. Now Willows isn’t on the Planet Orland, but it is in the same galaxy and looks very similar; perhaps smaller. And it really doesn’t have any better restaurants than Orland does…except, for one; Pat N’ Larry’s. Orland does have a steak house, but it’s crowded and noisy and the tables are far too small. Bah!

From the outside, Pat N’ Larry’s is… well, it’s ugly. That’s all there is to it. Even new paint wouldn’t help to correct the architectural failures of this building on the outskirts of town. You have to gather up some courage to enter and after that, it’s fine. And if you’re lucky, the sun will have set when you exit and you won’t notice anything till you get back in the car and turn on the lights.

The inside is spacious, clean, well lit and the tables are the right size. We were seated promptly and given menus. Yes, they had O’Doul’s to drink. That’s a plus. And they serve LAMB as well as beef. But we were there for beef and I chose a ‘regular’ sized New York while Laurae had the Filet. Salad, potatoes and vegetables come with the entrée. We had the Caesar salad and I chose the Garlic Mashed potatoes while Laurae had hers baked. The meat was cooked as ordered and was quite tasty. Well, not as good as I could have done it, but certainly sufficient for our evening out. The bill? $59 for the two of us. Not excessive, but not a cheap meal.

We arrived at 5:30 and found the restaurant to be pleasantly uncrowded. And by the time we left, business had picked up and about half the tables were taken. I also noted that most of the patrons were ‘regulars’, knowing one another and greeting the waitresses familiarly. And we will go again; I have to try the ‘Basque Lamb, only $18.95!

- one for the table

Desserts -

You may not want to hang around this page for long...far too enticing!

Philippe -

The Original -

Just a stone's throw from Union Station in Los Angeles and right at the edge of Chinatown. Good memories of eating lunch here with Mom and Dad.

Try it

I was working on the new storage shed at the Plant Barn the other day when Denise asked if I would like a little snack that Maria had fixed. Maria works next door at Chico Propagators and meals are often shared between the two businesses.

Denise returned with a plate of carrot slices, orange quarters, chips and a tasty combination of cottage cheese, salsa and sour cream!

Yes, I should have taken a picture.

Pepperoni Lasagna

From Chickens in the Road

No, I haven't tried it yet...but I will! Just give me a few days to get the leftovers out of the refrigerator.

Chickens

in the Road

More recipes! (Like I need them...)

The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever.

How did I get here? What am I doing? Seriously; I'm thinking of making this cake. I must be out of my mind!

A Face in the Crowd

1942 Shorpy

A tricky question...what's the average weight of the individuals in this crowd? Is this an early meeting of Weight Watchers?

A Movie

I thought I would get a head start on the movies and order a current one, one that hasn't been out that long, so I ordered 3:10 to Yuma. What a silly movie. Mr. Crowe is not a cowboy. He's an Australian. So he had to talk real slow to hide the accent. He doesn't even wear a real cowboy hat! I couldn't muster up any outrage...it was simply a waste of our time and I'm sure I will get over it.

The Pioneer Woman

Cooks!

What a great blog...I look every day at my RSS feeds, hoping that I will see a new one from her. And today I was rewarded. I don't know how you could read this all of the way to the end without wanting to race out and buy a dozen chicken legs...or, how about that Morton's Hot Salt? Something new?

Soup, beautiful soup!

Well, it wasn’t mine. The Soup Simmer-Off at the Federated church attracted about 13; or was it 14 contestants? And my Sweet Potato Surprise didn’t win. It was good; but presentation is everything and mine was very bland looking.

I started with a recipe that attracted me because of the colors it promised. Orange and red and purple… from the sweet potatoes. But I only found white sweet potatoes and they turned a sort of pale green upon being cooked.

Here’s the original recipe;

Sweet Potato Ginger Soup

Eating a rainbow of colors isn't so easy in the winter, but here is a

soup that is as sweet and pungent, as it is colorful. More accurately,

the soup will be as colorful as the sweet potatoes that you choose,

which come in an array whose colors include red, orange, purple,

yellow and white. With the added benefit of only 3 grams of fat per

serving, this soup is a winner for your health.

1 teaspoon ghee or olive oil

1 pinch red chili flakes

1 cup chopped leeks or onions

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon powdered ginger

2 tablespoons tamari or Bragg Liquid Aminos (I used soy sauce)

5 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 teaspoons coriander

1 teaspoon garam masala

6 cups vegetable stock (I had to use chicken stock)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the red chili

flakes, leeks, ginger, and aminos. Sauté for two or three minutes. Add the

sweet potatoes and sauté until they are well coated and begin to brown

slightly. Add the coriander and garam masala. Sauté another two minutes,

stirring frequently. Add the vegetable stock to cover the sweet potatoes

and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer until the sweet potatoes

are tender. Blend with a hand blender or food processor into a smooth

consistency, adding more stock as necessary. Reheat before serving and

garnish with the chopped cilantro. Serves 4.

I had to double the recipe, as we were supposed to make enough for 8-10 people. And then, the liquid seemed to overwhelm the potatoes, so I had to add…surprise! Yukon Gold Instant potatoes. Which were great for adding consistency and giving the color a slight boost into the less than nauseating range. And I had to strain the soup to remove the Coriander as some people (nameless) seemed to think soup should not contain ‘things’. But I had to do something with the flavor. Crystal! OK, all was well; a smooth soup with a great flavor but a mild green and boring look. Even our crock pot was boring! Now why didn’t I think to use yams and not sweet potatoes? That’s next time!

Good Reading!

No, I haven't stopped reading. I just haven't found much worthy of posting any comments about. Mysteries and thrillers, thrillers and mysteries. Bah!

But...then I did find one the other day that was a worthy read. The Driftless Area by Tom Drury. Short but very powerful. I went to bed with it firmly stuck in my head.

Here it is

Here's the meatloaf; a few days later. It slices perfectly!

Old Recipes

Laurae had to make dessert yesterday for the Merry Martha’s gathering at the church and she chose a recipe from deep within her archives. This was a recipe from our neighbor of 35+ years ago, when we lived in Newbury Park.

Here’s Karleen Griffin’s recipe for Fruit Cocktail Dessert.

Mix together…1 egg, slightly beaten and 1 #10 can of Fruit Cocktail (use only 1/4 of the juice)

Now mix together the following and then add to the eggs and fruit.

1 cup flour

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

Almost last… place the mixture in a 9x13 pan, buttered.

Last, mix together ¾ cup of brown sugar and ½ cup of walnuts. Place this on top of the mixture and bake in a preheated 350 oven for 30-40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream topping.

As I was posting this recipe to the church blog, I decided to create a link to Newbury Park. And once again I was surprised to see what had become of the small community we once called home. Our first ‘home’. Apparently, once a place becomes popular or seems headed that way…we’re outta there!

Just an idea

When I decide to make a meatloaf I never remember to get the camera. I should have as it was quite photogenic.

And...my meatloaf recipes are very much open to your own interpretation. Add or subtract anything you like, you can rarely go wrong.

I started with 2.5# of ground turkey and added the following.

1/2 jar of Homade Chili Sauce
1 dozen baby carrots, sliced thin
1 cup of frozen peas
1 egg
1 Tbs Greek Seasoning
1 Tbs Black pepper, freshly ground
I cup of bread crumbs...any kind. (I used Panko, because that was what I had)
I small jar of Trader Joe Bruschetta
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/2 red onion, chopped

Put it all in a standard loaf pan and cook for an hour at 375.

It was beautiful! And tasty! In retrospect, I should have used a full jar of Homade Chili Sauce, but that was all I had. And maybe another splash of Worcestershire. Next time...

Pot Roast Update

Well, I did it and it was good...way good. But, if I were to take pictures, mine wouldn't look as good as the originals. And the spices should have been placed in a cheesecloth bag to avoid the rosemary leaves floating about in the gravy. Now I am waiting for her next pot roast recipe.

I should also include the fact that we used 'instant' mashed potatoes. If you can tell the difference between those and the real deal; more power to you! I used Paradise Valley Yukon Gold potatoes, from Winnemucca? Now I have been to Winnemucca before and I did not see anything resembling paradise, but hey! I could be wrong.

If you follow the link above and scroll down, you will see that Costco no longer stocks this product and that's a shame. I suppose I could drive to Paradise Valley?

2008:

The Year of the Pot Roast

Oh, man! I have to go to the store...now!

A sharing

a side of Volcanoes !

I was Google'ing for some images of Crystal Hot Sauce and ran across this image. Whoa! Made me wonder? How do you eat them? Carefully, I suppose.

But, back to Crystal Hot Sauce. Forget the Tabasco. Crystal is the 'bomb'. You get flavor with your heat, something that Tabasco can't do.

Winter Dinner

I made a pretty good dinner last night. I started with a pot large enough to handle the ingredients; a quart of beef stock, a cup of baby carrots, 4 red potatoes, quartered, ½ cup of mushrooms, 5 Johnsonville Bratwurst sausages, 1 tsp of minced garlic, 1 tsp of minced ginger, 1 Tbs of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp of Crystal red pepper sauce, 1/3 cup of chopped onions.

I began by heating the liquid ingredients, simmering them for about 15 minutes. Then I added the garlic, ginger, onions, carrots and potatoes and let them simmer for about 45 minutes. Then it was time to add the sausage (whole) and the mushrooms. Cook at low/medium for another 15-30 minutes, or until the carrots are like pasta; al dente and not limp. Serve in a shallow pasta bowl. Most excellent!

BOOKS

The Bestiary

I just finished this. Yes, it's a great read. If you love complex and rich language, this is one for you.

All About Charlie

I forgot to mention that I was reading the book, Charlie Siringo’s West: An Interpretive Biography. I finished it last night; a most fascinating book! And since it dealt with cowboy history in New Mexico, among other places, I found it even more interesting. New Mexico is one of my favorite places in the world. Yes, I would live there gladly. Charlie is remembered in Santa Fe with two three streets named after him. Siringo Court, Lane and Road.

KGO-AM 810

For Cookies!

OK, a good friend of ours, Lisa Johnson, has made it to the TOP 25! She will be baking her 100 cookies at the end of the week for the finals on Saturday.

Art Walk and Dinner

We had made a decision some time ago, that on those art walk evenings, we would try a new restaurant for dinner. Each time. Well, we missed a few months of the art walk and so last night it was time to try one that I had planned on visiting long before this. Priya’s is the name of the restaurant and they specialize in Northern and Southern Indian cuisine. The restaurant is located in one of those typical storefront locations that could be a restaurant this week or could be a bookstore next month. So much for ambiance. But…great food! We had never tried Indian food before and so the experience was a little unnerving; what is this and how do we eat it? It would be great if ethnic restaurants included a primer in their menu. But, with some experimenting, I figured it out and enjoyed the great tastes. It’s all about taste… and Indian food has such a rich variety of them. Little explosions in your mouth. I was little bit bummed that the Sharp’s NA beer, on the menu, wasn’t available and they had no substitute. Overall, a good experience and we will return.

Don't Ask

Alicia made it… and we devoured it. I didn’t ask for the calorie content and I don’t think it would be wise to know that fact. Just enjoy it.

1 four (4) pack of Buttermilk Biscuits

1 cup of sugar

1- ½ teaspoons of Cinnamon

1- ½ cubes of Butter

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1- ½ cups of Pecans, chopped roughly

Preheat oven to 350°

Using a 1 gallon sized Ziploc bag, add the sugar and the 1- ½ teaspoons of Cinnamon

Sprinkle a layer of chopped pecans into the Bundt pan

Using kitchen scissors, cut biscuits into quarters and place in gallon bag of mixed sugar and cinnamon. Shake to coat. Don’t add too many at a time, they will clump together and make the coating uneven.

Place cut and coated biscuits in the Bundt pan, adding pecans as you do this. Make sure your pecans are well distributed.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add sugar and remaining cinnamon. Mix well.

Pour this mixture over the biscuits.

Bake at 350° for 30 – 40 minutes.

More Books

I have been reading an interesting book and I finished it over the holiday, Open Me, by Sunshine O’Donnell. It’s her first book. The reviews you see on the Powell’s website are fairly close to my reality. An interesting book, but sometimes hard to follow. What I did find fascinating though, was the author’s bio with her interest in, “…creative writing, visual art, and quantum physics.”

Of course I had to find out if professional mourning is really illegal or was it just a fictional piece of the authors plot. I found it difficult to believe that it could be illegal; maybe tasteless, but I couldn’t imagine it being something you would go to jail for. I Googled all the possibilities but could find no definitive answer.

And while I was on the Powell’s website, I saw the other book I finished, Divisidero, by Michael Ondaatje. A very good book. But, I have to wonder… is the author interested in quantum physics?

Book Review...

I finished the book, Adopted Son, the story of the relationship between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. It’s certainly a good read and of course I learned a lot that had never been mentioned during those silly US History classes in high school.

A lot is said in history classes about how the French aided America in the fight against the British; but it was really just one French citizen who did most of the hard work, both in battle and behind the scenes. That was Lafayette. French generals were a dime a dozen back then and all were shown the way back to France when they attempted to bully their way into the fight. Except for Lafayette.

Yes, it was a quirky relationship. Washington had no children and Lafayette had no father. And they bonded as if they had truly become related by blood. They wrote to one another frequently and spoke of their love and great respect.

But, at the end, the book gave me some surprises. Lafayette had returned to France just in time for the French Revolution and he had picked the wrong side to be on. Short story; he is thrown into prison in Austria where the new French government wants him to stay. His son, George Washington Lafayette, is sent to America to keep him safe. (Yes, our GW is the godfather of young George)

At this time you might think it’s time to send in the Marines and rescue Lafayette. But no, it’s politically incorrect. In fact, our GW is advised to not meet with or associate with his godson, young George. And he doesn’t. He sends him letters professing his deep love for young George, but telling him he can’t really meet with him right now.

Finally, Adrienne, the wife of the Marquis demands to be allowed to live in prison with her husband and she joins him, with their two daughters. Soon, the whole world knows of the fate of this brave family and is appalled. Does this get the Marines into action? No. Though, to GW’s credit, he writes a personal letter to the Austrian Emperor, asking for Lafayette’s release. Denied.

It’s not until Napoleon defeats the Austrians that Lafayette is released with his family. But he is told he cannot return to France. Young George, after a short stay (Finally!) with his godfather, leaves to find his family. We’re talking about a young boy (15), crossing the ocean and searching Europe. Successfully.

The story continues on to chronicle the last days of both men. All very interesting.

Personal view; George Washington should have been ashamed of himself. I certainly hope so!

The Last King of Scotland

It's quite a movie. But I had a feeling it would be, based on my small knowledge of the plot. A movie about Idi Amin? No good can come from that! Or so I thought. Yes, it was disturbing and the 'hero' wasn't a hero after all.

I can't help but wonder how they were able to film such a story? How can Ugandans stand to relive those times, even for a part in a movie?

This movie had me sitting up and paying attention...give it 4 stars. But I'm going to wait awhile before I watch anything similar. I think I need a comedy.

Everything?

We watched a great little movie last night. One that I would recommend. Everything is Illuminated. It’s going to take some thought on your part, as it’s not a mindless action movie. No car wrecks. No sex. Violence? Yes, but you don’t see it. You simply know it happened. There’s even comedy; a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. Some questions are never answered in the movie, but that’s OK. You know it ended as it should. Illuminated.

ps. Great music!

Lists and More

I ran across a 'new' old book. The Book of Lists #2. As a hauler of books from the Chico Library to the Orland Friend's of the Library, I have a chance to pick through the books and take what I want to read. (Yes, I will return it...) As anyone who knows me can attest; this is my kind of book!

Movie Time

We watched Enemy of the State the other night, an older movie (1998) that was obviously released about 9 years too early. It was a good movie, although the director must have left the cutting room a few times for a cup of coffee and while he was gone, some vandals must have spliced in some idiotic scenes that should have been left on the floor. Those had me scratching my head. 'Hunh? Whatdidhesay?'

I can imagine that if I had watched this movie when it first came out, I would have been incredulous concerning the technology that they were displaying. But now? Yes, some of it is now very much real. Real enough to be scary.

The Prestige

We watched this the other night and you will get two different reviews from us. I loved it and Laurae didn't like it at all.

"At the dawn of the 20th century, rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are desperate to reveal each other's secrets. Obsessed by the escalating competition, the two illusionists begin to perform increasingly risky tricks -- which soon turn deadly. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie also star in this taut psychological thriller from director Christopher Nolan."

I must admit that at the end, I wasn't really sure of who was who anymore? But it was still a great movie!

I must also note that the movie plays fast and loose with history and the story of Tesla. Tesla was a genius but he wasn't able to duplicate matter.

Thai Basil

We have decided to vary our dining experiences and not get stuck in a food rut. So when we were downtown yesterday, we stopped short of Smokin' Mo's barbecue place and went in to Thai Basil instead. It was 11:30 and we were the only ones in the restaurant. Nice atmosphere of course... it was quiet!

I ordered the signature dish of rice (Jasmine) and stir fried vegetables. (Medium heat) Laurae had a chicken, rice and salad.

All in all, a good experience. The food was tasty and the service was quick. Lunch will cost about $8-$9 and that's reasonable enough.

And we finished just in time, as the place was beginning to fill up as we left.

I Scream for Ice Cream

I have had most of my coffee now; maybe one more cup before I call it quits for the morning. I was awake at 3 and my mind was quite active, even at that early hour and without any caffeine. I wonder what would happen if I were to stop drinking coffee? I may not need it and it would certainly save money if I gave it up. How much good would it do for my health? How about tea? Now there’s something to think about. The caffeine levels for tea are almost non-existent. But first I would have to get past the headaches that come with caffeine withdrawals.

I really do need to start thinking ‘healthy’ and losing the daily caffeine fix would be a good start. And eating better is another thing that needs to be done. We have been thinking about going back to the old days. The days of yore when lunch was dinner, or was it supper? Anyway, the bigger meal was at noon and a light meal was provided for the evening. We could do that.

Eating right is important; especially after yesterday, when we had a normal lunch and then had ice cream for dinner. Only ice cream. We were contestants in the annual Ice Cream Crank-Off at the church and I submitted two entries in my quest for the Golden Dipper (Or Scooper) award. My first entry was the winner; the Orange Marmalade Ice Cream, followed by a second place win for my Boysenberry Chocolate Ice Cream. I was on a roll. But seeing that there were only two contestants, it really wasn’t that hard. Especially as I was the only contestant using cream in my recipes. Heavy cream.

If you want to make this ice cream, use your favorite heavy cream vanilla recipe and make sure you scald the cream. Once the mix is chilled, add at least 8 ounces of King Kelly Orange marmalade. I also created a red/yellow blend of food coloring to give it an orange look. Do the usual mixing in your ice cream maker and then be sure to put it aside in the freezer to ripen for a day before you do any tasting. It will be worth the wait.

The award? I would have shown you the photo but the trophy couldn’t be found in time. Maybe later.

Kiwi's

I picked up The Bone People, by Keri Hulme when I was at the library. It’s good reading; she definitely has a gift for the use of ‘words’… some made up. But great words none the less. See her blog.

She writes of the South Island, a place I’ve never been but would love to visit. If only it wasn’t so darn far away! I can’t even imagine sitting in an airplane for over 8 hours… and to get to the South Island would require at least 16 miserable hours. Perhaps a cruise ship? Okay, Holland America cruise lines can get us to Auckland for about $8,000. That's a cabin with a terrace...

The Painted Veil

We watched a recommended movie last night; The Painted Veil. All in all, a very good movie. Sure, the story was predictable, but the acting was great and that made a lightweight story into a heavyweight. I particularly liked Naomi Watts and the unknown actor who played the role of the British diplomat stuck in the backwater village where the action takes place. Of course the scenery was fantastic; all ‘authentically’ filmed in China.

Who is this with Naomi?

It's Over...or is it?

We watched Kill Bill Volume II last night. Absolutely funny! No, it was not ha-ha funny. More of a nervous kind of funny. Like, I shouldn’t be laughing at this, but I am…why? Ok, funny or not, it was entertaining in a campy sort of way. And I can’t help but wonder if there won’t be a sequel? Is Bill really dead?

And, (below) remember what happened after this shot? Whoa! And the last time you saw these toes? Gross!

Whoa!

Well...that was certainly violent! We watched Kill Bill, Part I, last night. Strange...but after about 30 minutes I was no longer startled by the blood and the language and (Please forgive me!) I began to enjoy the movie. But why? Satire? Parody? Film Noire?

Maybe I will know the answer after we watch ...Part II, due on Friday.

A Good Woman

And a great movie. This was thoroughly enjoyable...maybe not believable; but who cares as long as you're having a good time. Scarlett Johanssen and Helen Hunt are standouts.

Read Rotten Tomatoes for a different view...

Directions

Shubert's Ice Cream & Candy

Now you know where it is and how to get there. And when you arrive, order a Brown Cow. The very best ice cream and root beer, blended and blended some more...until it's one delicious flavor. Not a root beer float; that's two flavors...this is one!

Now go outside and sit on the bench and watch the world go by, slowly.

Now playing...not!

I looked in the paper to see if Sicko was playing locally but with no success. We’re going to have to wait awhile. So we watched a Netflix movie instead; The Bridge to Terabithia. Do not watch this movie! It will make you cry…and smile. Seriously, a very good movie. And starring people you never heard of. That's always the sign of a good movie.

The Egg and I

Eggs (omelette's) and I don't get along. I've always had a tough time with them and so when I saw this omelette maker I had to buy it. It's just the right size for one fancy omelette.

I used 3 jumbo eggs from TJ's the first time and that was a mistake. There was barely enough room to get the salsa casera into it.

So here's the deal...2 jumbo eggs beaten with 1/4 cup of half & half/milk. Pour into omelette maker and cook over medium heat (with top open) for about 2 minutes. Spoon in half a can of salsa casera and close the top; cook for another minute before flipping the omelette maker onto the other side. Let it cook for another 4 or 5 minutes, checking ocassionaly by flipping back over and opening the cover. When done...the omelette jiggles, but only in the center where the salsa resides...flip onto a plate and enjoy!

Of course you can add any darn thing you want to your omelette...let your conscience be your guide.

In my cupboard...

Like most Californians, I have to have tortillas in the house. I simply cannot imagine being without them. And the other day I ran across a ‘new’ tortilla from Tia Rosa, the giant among the tortilla makers. They are called Tia Rosa Caseras Flour Tortillas; and they are quite good. A different texture and thinner. You would swear they are handmade…

Funny!

I can't imagine seven (7) pans of these rolls?

Oh, yes I can!

Ya gotta be kidding!

A movie we rented the other night; Secondhand Lions “In 1960s Texas, timid teenager Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is forced to spend the summer with his rich and eccentric great-uncles (Michael Caine and Robert Duvall) on their farm. Over time, he learns about their mysterious and dangerous pasts. Emmanuelle Vaugier plays an Arabian sultan's daughter with whom Duvall's character fell in love years ago. Kyra Sedgwick and Nicky Katt co-star.”

An amazing movie! It’s amazing that they gave them the money to make it. But, I had to give it 3 stars, only because I got a chuckle out of it now and then. And part of the comedy was watching Michael Caine trying to decide when to use his Texas accent. Sometimes he had it…sometimes he didn’t. The movie is certainly flawed, as the script seems to have been improvised on the spot; as they filmed. Robert Duvall was good despite the poor dialogue. Now that I think about it, I should go back and give it just two stars.

Dining

Spicing things up

OK, to be truthful. we haven't been to the restaurant...yet. But we did meet Mr. Tandon at the Wednesday Farmer's Market. He's a trip! After about 5 minutes we had feasted on half a dozen samples all while he talked non-stop about what he was going to give you next. Next? I had just finished breakfast an hour ago and here I was chowing down on garlic curry chips and humus. Plus his spinach naan. All great tastes!

More Bars

Apparently I missed an obvious bar when I was writing about making lemon, lime and orange bars. The Texas Pink grapefruit bar! This month's issue of Cook's Country has a recipe for them. I'll let you know...

Limey!

I made some Lime Bars yesterday. I used the Lemon Bar recipe that has worked so well for me and used limes instead of lemons. (Duh!) They are good! But, if I were to do it again, I might try Key Limes. The limes I bought at the store had no juice to speak of and I had to use a ½ cup of store bought lime juice. Also, I used the zest of 3 limes and 4 drops of green food coloring. I could have used 3 drops and had a better effect.

Next up on the list of Lemon Bar innovations will be the Orange Bar; naturally. Maybe 2 drops of red food coloring and 1 drop of yellow?

Oops...almost gone!

Here's the photo I promised...but it looks like someone ate most of the bars?

And I should tell you that I used 2 drops of yellow food coloring in the lemon/sugar/flour mixture.

The original recipe from Erin (I thought I had already posted it but can't find it...so here it is again)

Lemon Bars 1 ½ cubes of butter softened 2 C. flour ½ C. powdered sugar Mix and press into bottom of pan (9 x 13) Bake at 350 for 15 -20 min, It should start to turn light golden color While this bakes: Beat 4 eggs and add to it (I use Jumbo eggs) ½ C fresh lemon juice Zest from one lemon (I use the zest from 2 lemons) 2 C. sugar ¼ C. flour Pour over hot crust and bake again for another 20 min. or until set (the middle shouldn’t jiggle)
It only took 16 minutes in my oven, so watch it carefully.

Lemons

I should report that the lemon bars turned out great! Not too dry and not too “wet”. They were just the perfect thickness. Now I want to try a lime bar. Or would those be too sour? A berry bar? Photos to follow...

You gotta see it...

Yes, it has far too much profanity in it (which really underscores the dysfunctionality of this family)...but it's funny! I loved it!

Little Miss Sunshine

Pretty Food

Kitty sent this; "this site has some great looking recipes. All from blogs.................... http://www.tastespotting.com/ "

If you're like me, looking at some food is almost as good as tasting it. Beautiful pictures.

Feeling

We watched the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith and his (real) son. OK, first; it’s a great movie! You should watch it if you haven’t already done so. Second; it’s a very painful movie to watch. At least I found it to be. As an INFP, I can’t help but identify with the characters when they are played well by competent actors. At some points in the movie I had to get up and leave the room for a moment or two; just to get my emotions in check. That’s the F and P side of my personality type. But this isn’t about me…it’s a little bit about Will Smith, a favorite actor of mine and it’s all about the story itself; a too true story of one man and a boy becoming homeless and how easily it happens and how few people care if it should happen to you. I was particularly struck by the scenes filmed at Glide Memorial church; a haven for Will and his son. And that’s the truth! And afterwards, I had only questions; why do we allow things like this to happen? In one of the wealthiest nations in the world? Why aren’t there more safety nets for those with ‘bad luck’? Why do we allow the mentally ill to wander the streets without anyone to care for them? Why don’t we care?

Sorry, no photo

I was a little bit late with the St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage. We had it last night and it was great. I did it a little different than last year, slow cooking the flat brisket for about 4 hours and the cabbage for 30 minutes. I began with a 4 pound flat with very little fat on it. I put it in the slow cooker and added enough beef broth to cover it. I also added the spice packet that came with the brisket. First I brought it to a boil and then reduced it to a simmer for the next 4 hours. As soon as the brisket was fork tender, I removed it and covered it with foil, placing it in the microwave to rest and stay warm. Now it was time for the cabbage. I quartered one head of cabbage and trimmed the hard center out of two quarters. Those I placed in the liquid remaining in the slow cooker and brought it up to a boil again. 20, or 30 minutes at the most, and it’s done. Watch the cabbage carefully and remove it if it’s starting to come apart. You want it to be slightly firm and not floating around the pot in pieces. Now you can remove the brisket from the microwave and slice it. I put the slices right down the middle of the plate and placed the cabbage quarters on each side of the slices. Looked good. You will have to trust me, I forgot to take a picture of it.

And what is it with corned beef and cabbage that makes me want to speak with an Irish accent? Is there something in that aroma that fills the kitchen?

Schwarzenegger

Calls Rush 'Irrelevant'

Our acting governor has finally made sense! Mr. Limbaugh is an entertainer only. His views on anything should be suspect. By the way, entertaining is never to be confused with rocket science...they are completely different. Rocket science requires brains.

But, what's Prada?

We watched the movie, The Devil Wears Prada last night. I can tell you that I wasn’t tempted to snooze during this movie. Fascinating! Because of my personality type, INFP, I was on edge and tense for the whole movie. That was because the acting was so good; so believable, that I was drawn right into the conflicting emotions of the characters. Here is a rare case where the book was poor but the movie was great. And all due to acting skills.

A Great Moral Play?

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we watched the film, Waking Ned Devine. What a fun movie! It might be worthy of watching one more time as the Irish accents were a bit thick and sometimes difficult to understand. Not that the film suffered, no, not at all. It was understandable even when the words weren’t. Maybe I can find it on-sale somewhere?

At the movies

We took the time to watch a very long movie last night; but it was worth it. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Mr. Depp was brilliant as usual and the movie, though long, was delightful! When’s the next one? The ending of this epic made it clear that there was another movie to be made.

I must admit that the special effects are a big draw for me…even more than the acting or the story. I love CG! And I only saw one scene where the effects were less than seamless. There is a scene where a run-away water wheel is revolving its way through the jungle and suddenly the effects were obviously wrong…to my eye.

Nice

There I was...on the LUEM42 website, reading all about software and links. Then I saw a link for recipes. On a geek site? Of course I had to follow it and here it is.

Sounds Good!

Speaking of Tia Rosa Tortilla Bread...(made by Bimbo Bakery, the second largest tortilla maker in the US. #1 in Mexico. Also the baker of Orowheat breads) here's a recipe I found while Google'ing "Tia Rosa Tortilla Bread"

Added pictures

Here's the 4 pictures that didn't make it into the last post...did I forget to mention the mushrooms? Yep. Put mushrooms in if you like them. I do.
Onions and garlic, cooked and waiting.

Almost
Now we're ready

Lamb Stew

Made a good lamb stew tonight. Started with about a pound of lamb stew meat from Raley's, 4 red potatoes, one small yellow onion, some carrots, 4 cloves of garlic and a little bit of green Bell pepper for additional color color.

I cooked the onion and garlic (minced) in the pan with a little olive oil until the onions were soft and golden before setting them aside. Then I cooked the stew meat for about ten minutes in the same pan.
I had a 6x8 dish and I layered 1/2 of the potatoes and carrots on the bottom (carrots were sliced in half, lengthwise)

before adding the lamb and the onion/garlic mixture on top of that.

Then a final layer of potatoes and carrots before adding the 'secret' ingredient...turkey stock, 2 cups. We found these at Raley's for .99 cents each... Turkey broth is more intense than chicken broth, but hard to find. We took the last 4 cartons from the store.

Then I garnished it with the Bell peppers before putting it in a 350 oven for almost 2 hours. I covered the dish with foil for the last 30 minutes.

Spices? Yes! I added fresh ground pepper at each layer and then a liberal shake of Greek seasoning over the top.

It was quite good. Obviously you can add anything you like to a stew like this and it will still be great. I might have used less turkey stock...there was a lot of liquid left in the dish. Maybe 1-1/2 cups instead of 2. And I used red potatoes, you might like another variety. Celery would have been good.

I would have included a few more pictures...but Blogger limited me to 5.

Tuna Burgers re-visited

First you need some tortilla bread, like this...

Good looking bread!

Mix the 2 cans of tuna (drained) with the ingredients of your choice. I used 1 egg, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 2 tbs of tomato paste, pickle relish, 2 tbs mayonaise, assorted spices - your choice. Be creative and add anything you like to this recipe. I've never made it the same way twice.

Form the mixture into patties that will fit within a tortilla bread folded in half and cook for about 5 minutes on each side. My two cans of tuna made 4 patties.

When cooked; place the tuna burger between a folded piece of tortilla bread (warmed) and add the usual condiments, onion, lettuce, tomato, etc.