Easy Lunch
For something super fast
put a handful of baby spinach in your bowl
almost boil about 2 c water & remove from the heat
stir in a spoonful of your favorite miso paste
pour over spinach
October 13, 2008
September 30, 2008
Baked Chicken ~ For my honey
Dearest,
Baked chicken is quite possibly easier than pasta.
Here is how to bake a chicken. No frills.
Check that there isn't something stored in the oven already then turn on oven to 350deg F.
Find a roaster pan; there are several in the house of various sizes. The 9x9 "brownie" pan is good for most of the birds I buy. (Note for others out there: I usually buy small birds 3-4 lbs.) If you can't find it, the Corning Ware French White oval is good too. It is under the mixer.
Take one (unfrozen) chicken out of the grocery store wrapping over the sink (there will be water in the wrapper.)
If the bird is frozen * STOP * place chick chik back in fridge & make pasta.
Remove the paper baggie of "whatever-it-is" from the large hole. Put the gunk in a plastic baggie & put it in the meat drawer of the fridge.
While you're at the sink rinse off the bird ~ inside & out.
Take ONE paper towel and blot the bird after rinsing.
Salt, and pepper spices are kept right by the range. Salt and pepper the bird all over. Gently, Use maybe a spoonful of each of them. There is no correct exact amount.
Now, this is the tough part.
The breast of the bird is often considered the top. You can tell the breast side because the legs point up in the air on that side. OK?
Because it's not a party & we're not making a cookbook of amazing photos ~ cook the bird "upside" down.
Put the timer on for 80 minutes.
When the timer goes off, re-set it for 10 minutes and begin preparing your side dishes. Rice instructions are on the box. Frozen veg is a rinse in water in a large ramekin in the microwave.
When the timer goes off this time, very carefully, turn the bird over and cook for another 15 minutes.
Remove it from the over at that time. Take the bird out of the roasting pan and put it on the cutting board for 5 minutes before you try to cut it. It can sit longer if needed, just tent a piece of tin foil over it & shoo the cats away.
Keep rice covered; zap veggies for 2-3 minutes; I'll be home soon.
July 24, 2008
BabySitting the Garden
Another way I get the gardening fix ~ fresh fruits, veggies, herbs & a fantastic bouquet AND the reminder that I'm not cut out to be an outdoorsman/gardner/beach bunny ~ is to babysit my mom's garden. She has an acre jam packed with deliciousnessosity.
The big task is Watering ~ especially the containers. Picking is the other ~ thinning early fruit lets the later fruit get bigger. Lastly is checking that the bug & bird covers stay to cover the bushes and vines. For my couple hours of work I'll earn berries, tomatoes, squash, eggyplant, peppers ~ oh ~ all manner of produce.
Feeding "Princess" the 18 lb cat is also on the list. She is so lovely dovey when you open the can of food...but if you take too long to scoop she whips out the dreaded double paw claws of pain. I planned & escaped the prod, but was very sure to put on my long sleeves when it came time to return her to the basement.
July 18, 2008
Zesty Coconut Mango Chicken
Cooking at home really should be good for you. I hope that having fresh ingredients, whole grains, and the like are better than ordering out ~ but I know there are meals that I love, which are just a little too sweet, or fat, or salty ~ or something bad for you.
You can indulge once in a while. This is one of my indulgences.
July 08, 2008
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
Something a little unusual, but super yummy to bring to summertime cookouts and parties. Pink Lemonade cupcakes manage to be a sophisticated adult treat with out being too serious.
Recipe Guide
24 cupcakes. I like to use metal cup liners since I hate to clean up the muffin tins,
Cupcakes: make your favorite white cake ~ I made mine from scratch following Betty Crocker Basic White Chiffon recipe, but a box cake will do if that's more your style.
Add 1 (for mild) to 1.5 (for strong) tubs of dry Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade mix to the batter and mix well. I preferred the stronger batch myself.
(1 tub of CL mix makes 2 qts of liquid if you are using another brand.)
Bake as directed or just a tiny bit under if you're using the metal liners and cool completely.
Frosting:
at room temperature 8 oz of cream cheese and 1 stick butter
lots & lots of confectioners sugar (6+cups)
half a tub of Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade mix
blend cheese & butter, add lemonade mix & blend well
beat in confectioners sugar until you reach a nice texture / flavor
(OR purchase a tub of vanilla/white frosting & add lemonade)
zest from a lemon is a super finale.
What is your favorite summer party dish?
May 02, 2008
Ramen Etudes no.2
Ramen is a favorite of mine. Really. They can get a little dressed up quite a bit.
I'm lucky enough to live where there are a couple of Trader Joe's grocery stores. Their gyozas make a great addition to ramen. Hosin sauce is a sweetly dark, used in the classic Beef & Broccoli.
Ramen and Gyoza
1 pkg ramen noodles ~ any flavor is OK ~ including flavor packet
3-4 frozen gyozas ~ I like them to match the ramen; but it doesn't matter too much
generous tablespoon of hosin sauce
3 sliced spring onions
handful of cleaned spinach, baby spinach is OK too.
Use just enough water to cover the bottom of a sauce pan about 1 inch. (I almost never use the suggested water on the package. Never measure it.)
Boil water, add ramen brick, then gyozas
Stir in spoon of hosin, toss in onions.
If using regular spinach, add at 2 minutes; if baby at 2 1/2 minutes.
This one is nice on the cold or rainy day indoors.
April 02, 2008
Ramen Noodles
I met someone today who shivered at my Ramen noodle lunch. I've read online of some folks who can't stand it because they ate ONLY ramen in college...
As picky and snooty as I can be with food; I love ramen noodles. I, too, ate them quite often in school. But, I am learning that most folks never embellish this salty comfort food and just go neat! straight up! no mojo! how can this be? no wonder they burn out.
Ramen Etudes ~ simplicity
1 pkg ramen noodles ~ any 'flavor', including flavor
1 egg
some cabbage ~ napa or savoy preferred, but regular is OK
frozen peas
toasted seasame oil (spicy hot! yum)
Chinese 5 spice powder
pepper
water
shred or finely slice cabbage
run some warm water over your peas to defrost
break egg into a cup
add about 3~4 cups water to pan & bring to a boil
add ramen noodles to boiling water
after about 1 minute turn ramen brick over and gently pour egg over noodles
sprinkle egg & noodles with flavor pack
stir water to spin them around
spoon hot water over egg
after another minute
add in frozen peas & cabbage
spin, spin, spin
after one minute add spices & spin in water again
I drain off some broth and pour all into a bowl
August 18, 2007
swinging & swapping
The Boston Handmade team held a materials swap this past week. It was a great time, Kristin brought fabric (Understatement) Amy & Betsy brought jewelry display & beads, Jessica had an old printer, patterns, there was paper from Dawn, fur from Jennifer, all great stuff!
It was pretty cool to see folks get reinvigorated and interested in something you had no idea what you were going to do with...ever.
Having something new to you can be as inspirational as anything else...I had a great time and didn't actually come home with any MORE than I came with...