random amusements

Cactus and Calendula












Calendula is an edible variety of flower, which also supposedly has some medicinal values, although I just like to look at them. Especially the vivid orange ones. Pretty!

random amusements

Why is toast so good?

It's just a piece of bread that's been exposed to a heat source. Did you know there's a scientific term for this? It's called the Maillard reaction. (I think I may apply for a government grant to further study this principle. [humor])

But, seriously, what's about the only thing you want to eat when you have a cold? Tea and toast, right? Well, that's what I always want.

Or how about when you're stomach is a little upset, but you have a long day ahead of you, so you know you have to eat something...? Again: toast.

So, is toast, technically speaking, a comfort food?

What do you like to put on your toast? Butter, butter and jam, peanut butter, Nutella?

Ooh, I forgot to mention the magical properties of cinnamon toast!

Thumper likes toast with lots of butter. :) Casey likes toast with peanut butter. I like toast with....well, everything.

Ever smash up an avocado and put it on your toast? Or what about toast with smoked salmon and cream cheese?! Oooh, yum... Maybe just a simple Kraft cheese slice on your toast? Some sandwiches are better on toast; take the BLT, for example.

I guess that's all I have to say about toast for now, but please, keep toast in mind next time you are looking for a snack.


Oh, and let's not forget super heroes:

Lamb on the grill

Grilled Lamb with steamed veggies

Not really a recipe....just an idea and some photos...

Sorry about the over-exposure on the photo...damn sunlight!


Leftovers the next night, with some polenta fried in olive oil, with a dash of garlic salt and black pepper...

Polenta

One of Casey's favorite things from childhood: fried cornmeal "mush" with maple syrup.

Polenta

4 c. water
1 c. yellow corn meal
1 t. salt

1. Grease a loaf pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
2. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
3. Combine remaining cup of water with corn meal and salt; slowly pour into boiling water, stirring constantly.
4. Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally.
5. Cover and turn down heat; simmer 5 minutes.
   
6. Pour into prepared pan and cool in fridge until set.
7. Slice into 1/4-inch pieces and fry in butter until warmed through.
8. Serve with more butter and syrup, as you would pancakes.
   

Chicago Blackhawks = Stanley Cup Champions!!!!!

HAWKS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gripe Of The Day

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

I made this for the kids next door...they had some after dinner that night, then had it for breakfast the next morning, AND IT WAS GONE!!!

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

crust:
2 c. crushed pretzels
1/4 c. sugar
6 T. butter, melted

creamy layer:
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. whipping cream

jell-o layer:
2 c. boiling water
2 pkg. strawberry jell-o
1 1/2 c. cold water
1 qt. (4 c.) strawberries, sliced

Heat oven to 350°.

Mix pretzel crumbs, sugar and butter (I used my food processor). Press onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 10 min. Allow to cool completely.


With an electric mixer, blend cream cheese and sugar until smooth; beat in whipping cream. Spread over crust. Refrigerate.

Stir Jell-O with hot water until completely dissolved; stir in cold water. Refrigerate about 90 minutes or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves definite impression). Stir in strawberries. Spoon gently over the top of the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for about 3 hours, or until firm.

Mixed Berry Tart

Remember when I asked you guys what I should do with my puff pastry dough? Well, I made a decision, and this is what it turned into...

Mixed Berry Tart

1 puff pastry sheet, thawed
6 oz. fresh blackberries
6 oz. fresh raspberries
1/2 c. fresh blueberries
1 pkg. Jell-O cook & serve vanilla pudding
1 c. milk
2/3 c. half and half
1/4 t. almond extract

Rinse the berries well, and drain them...


Unfold the puff pastry dough and place it on a baking sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray...

Flatten it out a little using a pastry roller or a rolling pin; then fold the edges over to create a border crust. Poke the center with a fork to try to keep it from puffing up too much in the center where you're going to want to add the custard filling.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool on rack.

Meanwhile, make the vanilla pudding according to the package instructions (although, I used some half and half, and made it thicker). You can leave out the almond extract if you don't like it; otherwise, stir it in while you're cooking the pudding.

Spread the still hot pudding onto the baked crust and pile the berries on top. Serve warm or cool. Refrigerate leftovers.

random amusements

Hawks win another one at home


Marian Hossa and Ben Eager both scored in last night's game to give the Hawks their second win in this best of 7 Stanley Cup Finals series versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Hawks will now travel to Philly for games 3 and 4, and will need to avoid the defensive lapses that were scary for us fans in game 1.

To tell you the truth, I don't exactly know how to feel right now...I mean, I'm hopeful, and maybe you could say, "cautiously optimistic" about our chances, but to this point I have never seen our team play this well and get this far in the Play Offs, so I'm really not sure what I'm supposed to be doing/feeling/thinking under these circumstances. It's weird. Surreal. Unbelievable.

Oh, and the night before last I had a strange dream that Adam Burish was in my kitchen and I was going to make him some coffee. When I asked what kind he liked, he said, "I dunno; coffee is just coffee to me." I was appalled! I made some Lavazza and we sat out back on the patio and drank our coffee. (Please don't misinterpret that—I'm not a psycho-slut with a crush or anything! We were just drinking coffee, that's all. I would never be rude to the guy, honestly!)

random amusements

3 random thoughts...

#1
Tonight is game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals VS. the Flyers.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!


#2
If Thumper had a credit card, what do you think he'd buy me.....?


#3
Going to be working in the yard today, getting the garden planted.



Have a great day, everyone!

Casey's Birthday Cake

While I can totally appreciate the convenience of boxed cake mixes, I have to say that cakes made from scratch really ARE better.

Chocolate Malt Cake for Casey
(adapted from a Food & Wine recipe)

2 1/4 c. cake flour
3/4 c. flour
1 c. malted-milk powder
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 c. solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature
2 c. sugar
1 T. pure vanilla extract
2 c. ice water
4 large egg whites

Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter and flour three 8-inch cake pans.

In large bowl, whisk flours with malt powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.


Using electric mixer, beat the butter with shortening until creamy...

add sugar and vanilla and beat at medium until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Beat in dry ingredients in 3 batches at low speed, alternating with ice water, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.


Beat egg whites at medium-high speed until soft peaks form...


...fold egg whites into batter....


Divide batter between pans evenly.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert onto rack and let cool completely. (I didn't use parchment, and I didn't cool them on the racks; they did not stick to the pans much at all.)



Frosting:
4 squares (4 oz.) bittersweet chocolate
1 2/3 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter, softened

In glass bowl, heat chocolate and cream in the microwave, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted.

Stir in powdered sugar.

Place frosting bowl into another larger bowl filled with ice; stir until frosting cools.
Beat in butter with electric mixer.

Chill frosting in fridge (or freezer) until it sets up enough to spread.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY!!!!!!!