Gripe Of The Day

Coupons

Seriously, where are all the good coupons these days?

I have one of those dorky coupon-sorter wallet-looking things, but it is mostly empty now. There used to be a lot of canned goods, dairy, personal items, paper and plastic products coupons in the Sunday newspaper; but, that has dropped off significantly over the past few years.

It is becoming less and less likely that I find usable coupons and this frustrates me. I have signed up with my favorite manufacturers' websites, but I only get coupons sent to me when I’ve complained about something!

Or, and I forget which brand it is, they want you to download their software to be able to print coupons from your computer. Well, I don't want their stupid software screwing up my computer! Grrr...

So what do I do....? What do you do?

My question to you is this:
Where are you signed up online to get coupons, and how happy are you with the service?

Summer Pasta Salad

This is a mayo-free pasta salad...I don't remember where I found the recipe, but it was while I searched for a "deli macaroni salad" (which I still didn't find what I was looking for!)

Summer Pasta Salad

2 c. elbow macaroni (I used tri-color rotini)
1 c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 t. salt
3 carrots, grated
handful of fresh peapods, chopped into bite-sized pieces

Cook the macaroni according to package instructions; strain and rinse with cold water. Place in a large serving bowl; add shredded carrot and peapods.

In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, salt, and vinegar. Add the evaporated milk; mix well. Pour over the macaroni, and stir...and stir....and stir.

Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight (it is better if it sets longer). Mix again with a big spoon before serving.

Useful Tools: Pastry Roller

Useful Tools: Pastry Roller

Use this to assist you with fitting crusts into pie and tart pans.

It is never easy to get a pie crust "just right," and I wouldn't blame you for buying a pre-made one at the grocery store. But if you have your heart set on making your own pie or tart crust, then it is nice to have one of these things handy when one end comes up a little short.

I have used it many times when making tarts, especially. For some reason the dough never wants to cooperate, and I end up with a tear somewhere, and I'm afraid to move the dough back out of the pan to try to make repairs. Enter my good friend the pastry roller...

Crust is a little shabby-looking, and not fitting right...

Use pastry roller to gently extend crust to sides where it is low...

Use your tart press/tamper to mold the crust to the fluted sides of the pan...

Add pie weights and pre-bake the crust before adding filling...

Baked crust is ready for filling...

I added my smoked salmon dip (with a few adjustments) to the crust and baked an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese...


This was a last-minute idea, and unfortunately, I packed it up and took it to our friends' house before I got a photo of the finished product. Took my camera with me, too, but it didn't work well sitting in my purse the whole time (i.e. I still forgot to take pics!). Sorry. :(

The smoked salmon spread changes were: 1/2 a package of cream cheese (it's all I had in the fridge); add 1/4 c. milk; add about 1 cup of shredded munster cheese. There was also just a tiny bit of sharp cheddar left in the fridge that I shredded into the salmon mixture, too. It turned out phenomenal.


IN STORES:
Kitchen Collection

ONLINE:
Chef's Catalog
Sur La Table
Kitchen Collection

Happy 4th Of July!!!

This poem always makes me think of the losses we've suffered throughout our history, and the brave soldiers who serve their country. I think we had to memorize it in 5th grade or so, and it left an impression on me. Please take the time to read it. Thanks.

Reference:
In Flanders Fields

random amusements

Strawberry Poundcake II

My second attempt was successful!

First of all, let me tell you that my niece loves Nestle's Strawberry Quick. You know, the stuff you put in milk to make it strawberry flavored? When she was little she'd always ask for "tink milk." Isn't that adorable?! So, this one is for Emily...I made her some Tink Poundcake...

Strawberry Poundcake

1 pkg. Betty Crocker pound cake mix
3/4 c. water
2 eggs
1/4 t. salt
2 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. Nestle Quick Strawberry powder
1 T. canola oil

Mix all ingredients with electric mixer; be certain to scrape down sides of bowl with spatula to completely incorporate the strawberry powder.

Pour into two buttered & floured 8x4 loaf pans.

Bake at 350˚ for 33-40 minutes. Test center of cake with sharp knife for doneness. Cool completely before slicing.

Serve with fresh strawberries, strawberry glaze, whipped cream, or powdered sugar.

OPTION: If using Bundt pan, increase water to 1 cup; bake for 38-43 minutes.




Photos of process:







NOTE: strawberry cookies, strawberry brownies ("pinkies"?!), strawberry custard pie, and whatever else I can come up with is in the works...

Strawberry Poundcake FAIL

They say that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions....well, I just took a ride in the express lane!

This was supposed to be a nice surprise for someone I love, but it sorta exploded and made a mess. Luckily, I still have time to make another one as a replacement. But I'm out of eggs. Trip to the grocery store in my near future...

I'll post the photos of the mixing process along with the recipe after I get myself together, wipe away the tears, and go grocery shopping.



This really did almost make me cry!!!

Ham and Swiss Roulade for Dad

Dad's birthday brunch

Monday was my dad's birthday. I invited him over for brunch, and made the roulade recipe that I had been so pleased with when I tried it. For dad, I used a nice Polish ham and Swiss cheese. On the side, we had some sauteed mushrooms (sorry, no photos) and he even got a container with leftovers to take home with him. :)

He seemed happy, and we sat for a long time on the back patio, watched the birds, and chatted. I hope it was a nice day for him.

We have never really been close, and he's a hard person to get along with most of the time. But I just wanted to give him this one day where he felt like he was a special person.

I also gave him a bottle of wine that I know he likes, and I'm going to bake him some bread next week (Old World Rye, and Tomato-Basil). He's diabetic, so I didn't want to bake him a cake, although he loves cake...the bread will be less of a stress on his system, and he'll still enjoy it thoroughly, I'm sure.

Happy birthday, Dad.

Butterscotch Pie

I found this recipe in Amy's old green recipe file box.

Butterscotch Pie

1 c. brown sugar
3 T. white sugar
3 level T. flour
3 level T. corn starch
1 t. vanilla
1 c. boiling water
1/2 c. milk or cream
1/4 t. salt
2 egg yolks
1 heaping T. butter

In medium sauce pan, beat eggs and milk...


add flour, salt and corn starch; mix well...

...add butter; mix well.

Pour boiling water over sugars...


...blend to dissolve.

Add to sauce pan; cook over medium-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly.


Here's the pie shell I made:


And pre-baked:


Poured the custard into the pie shell and let it cool before putting it into the fridge to completely set...


Topped with whipped cream:


End result:



Written at the bottom of the page: From Anna Johnson (Alice's mother) sometime in the late 1920's.

(Amy's) NOTES: 2/21/1968 - Use a little less flour & corn starch. Use 3 eggs.



MY NOTES:
I thought this was going to need some tweaking, but I made it pretty much as-written, and it turned out fantastic. It totally tasted like butterscotch.

My initial thoughts were that I'd want to use hot milk rather than water, to make the pie creamy, but I trusted the recipe, and it was really good as-is. My only change was using half & half mixed in with the eggs; and I used 1 whole egg plus 2 yolks.

Everyone *loved* it, and one friend asked if he could have a second piece...

Gripe Of The Day

Bad Storm

Headed right for us...

Issued by The National Weather Service
Chicago, IL
12:30 pm CDT, Fri., Jun. 18, 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 342 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 18 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

LIVINGSTON

IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS

FORD IROQUOIS

IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS

BOONE DE KALB LA SALLE LEE OGLE WINNEBAGO

IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS

COOK DUPAGE GRUNDY KANE KANKAKEE KENDALL LAKE IL MCHENRY WILL

IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES

IN NORTHWEST INDIANA

BENTON JASPER LAKE NEWTON PORTER

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!