Girls Gathering

Every year, the girls have a holiday get together. This year, my dearest, bestest friend ever, Aklet, was able to join in the festivities:

Anywho, our get together was a great success! Everyone came out (well, at least everyone that counts!) to the new abode to eat, drink and be merry! Kirky volunteered to make a dinner for us all - Cornish game hens with mushroom-artichoke stuffing - DeLiCiOuS!!



















We had some great fun doing our Chinese gift exchange this year. Some of our highlighted/stolen gifts exchanged included: a Barbie doll, a cute purse with some not so cute hemorrhoidal cream (for us aging folks), a robe

There was more exchanging (a.k.a. gift stealing) that in the past! Is it us getting feisty in our old age??

Needless to say, it was a great time, to be with great friends!

Love ya crazy b****es!!

Holiday Viddles

So, I have been doing a bit of cooking recently with some variations from the actual recipes and have been asked to share a couple. Enjoy your holidays!!

English Muffin Bread (My Nana's recipe!)

Several cups of four (about 5-7)

3 pkg. yeast

1 1/2 Tb. sugar

3 tsp. salt

3/8 tsp. baking soda

3 c. milk

3/4 c. water

1/2 c. yellow cornmeal

Grease 2 bread pan bottoms and sides. Sprinkle will with yellow cornmeal. Heat milk and water on stove (do not let boil). Mix the 3/4 c. flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Put the warmed liquids in the bowl with the dry mixture. Add enough more flour to make a stiff dough with the additional flour. Divide evenly into two pans. Wet the tops and sprinkle with more cornmeal. Let them rise in the oven with a pan of hot water underneath the bread. They will round up. Bake the bread at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes. The loaf should sound hollow when you tap on it, to tell you it is done.

*You can also make as muffins, but cook them less time. Cut them in half, and pop them in the toaster!

Artichoke Rice Cakes with Manchego or my version:

• 2 cans artichokes
• 2 oz butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 4 oz rice
• 2 cups hot chicken stock
• 2 oz grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 5 oz Asiago cheese, very finely diced
• 3-4 tablespoon fine corn meal
• olive oil, for frying
• salt and ground black pepper
• fresh flat leaf parsley, to garnish
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  

  Melt the butter in a pan and gently fry the chopped artichoke heart, onion and garlic for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the rice and cook for about 1 minute.

  Keeping the heat high, gradually add the stock, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked - this should take about 20 minutes. Season well, then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Leave to cool, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Then add the breadcrumbs and eggs to the cold mixture.

  Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the palm of one hand, flatten slightly, and place a few pieces of diced cheese in the centre. Shape the rice around the cheese to make a small ball. Flatten slightly, then roll in the corn meal, shaking off any excess. Repeat with the remaining mixture to make about 12 cakes.

  Shallow fry the rice cakes in hot olive oil for 4-5 minutes until they are crisp and golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot, garnished with flat leaf parsley.

Tuna and Goat Cheese Empanadillas*

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 5 tablespoons minced onion
• 6 oz canned tuna, packed in olive oil
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 3 oz pimento-stuffed olives, chopped
• 5 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
• 5 tablespoons capers, chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste.
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 16 oz puff pastry, defrosted if frozen

Preparation

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes or until softened. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Using a fork, mash the tuna with the onion, garlic, goat cheese, pimento-stuffed olives, pine nuts, capers, paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

On a floured surface, roll out the pastry to 1/8 inch thickness. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out as many dough circles as the dough will allow, rerolling the dough sheets if necessary. Cupping each dough round in your hand, spoon about 1 teaspoon of the filing into the center of each dough round, then brush the edges with a little water. fold the dough over the mixture to form a crescent. Pinch the edges of crescent to seal the dough closed. Use the back of a fork to further press the edges of the dough together.

* I had WAY more stuffing left after I made these. I would suggest cutting the recipe down at least in half

4 Minutes Spicy Garlic Shrimp

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed away from skin
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 24 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails in tact, ask for easy peels at your fish counter
• 2 teaspoons grill or steak seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Seasoning by McCormick) or coarse salt and pepper
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves, a handful

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, garlic, red pepper flakes and shrimp. Season with grill seasoning or salt and pepper and cook shrimp 3 minutes or until just pink. Toss with lemon zest, juice and chopped parsley. Remove shrimp to a serving platter leaving the garlic cloves in the pan.

*No variations here! Thanks Rach!

Seriously, this next one is probably my favorite!!

Spinach with Chickpeas or with my variations:

• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 19-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 cup craisins/ chopped dates
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth

Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, thyme, oregano, cumin, salt and paprika. Using a fork, mash some of the chickpeas, then cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in craisins, dates and broth, scraping up any browned bits. Add chopped spinach and stir gently to combine. Remove from the heat and let stand 10 minutes.

Spicy Lamb Meatballs in Tomato Sauce or not lamb version

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound beef, 1/2 pound turkey
• 1 cup fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg white
• 1 cup minced onion, divided
• 6 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoesPreheat oven to 350°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

  Combine lamb, turkey, breadcrumbs, egg white, 1/2 cup onion, half the garlic, 2 tablespoons mint, coriander, cumin and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Gently mix to combine. Shape into 48 little meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

  Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes. Set aside.

  Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/2 cup onion and cook, stirring, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining garlic, wine, cayenne and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer over medium-low heat until the wine has reduced significantly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, return to a simmer, reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.

  Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons mint

10 Reasons To LMAO OR LYAO

I have been having serious trouble sleeping. Nightmares and everything!! GeeGee has been gone, and will be gone until the 19th :( He blames my irritability and nightmares on the fact that he is gone . . .

So, I got home today feeling a little tired and irritable. .to say the least. My phone rang, and I looked at the caller ID. It was this dang survey company calling for the 1k time (last night they called at 9pm after I had finally shut my eyes after several sleepless nights. .). I answered the phone and agreed to take their survey so they would stop calling me. They told me it would only take a couple of minutes. I told them they had TWO. On the third question, I failed the survey and was no longer a candidate. . .HAH! I "was not in my current job for more than 6 months". Take that (1)! I told them to take me off their list (mf's. . .!).


I carried on with my evening by starting to make some potato leek soup (very yummy might I add. . .), when I noticed my stove was no longer lit. It seemed as though my gas was out (2). . and I am not referring to my energy. After a little troubleshooting, I realized my fireplace was out, the burners were not lighting with my handy dandy lighter, and the oven was not preheating for the quiche I was about to prep for. My first thought was, GeeGee "didn't take care of the gas bill!!". . .. I called him up, and he couldn't remember the gas company we have an account with (3)!!! SOOOO - I went outside to read the propane tank in the sleet .. . .YES SLEET(4). . .and fell on my a** when I slipped down the stairs (5)!! I collected myself, and got the name of the company. Of course I have to call them in the morning to get this taken care of, OR they will charge their emergency fee(6). I called my girl, Aklet, to vent so that GeeGee didn't get to have all the fun. She suggested that I take the soup that I started to make, put it in a Tupperware as is, and save it until he gets home and serve it to him for dinner (7). . GREAT idea!! Instead, I cooled off, and decided to bring out the ole fryin' pan. . .It was in this frying pan that I continued to cook my soup (????). I put it in the blender to puree it up. . . Evidently, the soup was too hot and the blender was too full, so it spilled out ALL over the place in the kitchen AND burned my hand(8). . .yup, all over the computer. . .the Christmas cards on the counter, the floor, and ME... . (I know. . LOL. . and LOLA!!).


Anyway, this is what and how I had dinner tonight (9):

And now I am finishing that bottle of w(h)ine (10)!. . . .Now I am LMFAO!

Chef Pumpkin

GeeGee had off a good part of the day, and decided to chef it up in the kitchen. . .with a pumpkin:

First, there were pumpkin seeds - YUMMY

Then there was pie! Two of them. . . .SO GOOD!

Chef Pumpkin then made dinner that night too! We contiplated Pumpkin Chili, and then voted against it!!

LEO's RULE

Happy Birthday Mister Arroz!

. . .I am glad we could share your day with you!

Kirkie, the homemade carrot cake was AWESOME!

As for the kids that got to party with us, I feel bad what they are going to take home to tell their parent. . .wah, wah. . .

New Year's Resolutions

FIRST of all, I think I have made it clear that BLOGGING is not one of my resolutions (hence, the lack of posts in '09).

However, these are some of the changes I plan on implementing:

1. Getting out of ANY debt I may have, excluding my house and student loans (Unfortunately, my student loans will be with me for a LONG time) - GOAL date: March '09

2. Taking care of my health (Yes, this means going to the gym on a more regular basic AND spending more time DDing, not d-drinkin'!)

3. Find satisfaction in my job (The job market is WAY to bad to do any career changes!)

4. Having my dear, sweet, loving boyfriend cook for me (and NO, ordering and paying for takeout does not count!!)

5. Get rid of JUNK, and half used things or unused things(EX: I just painted my bathroom with vertical stripes with left over paint from my kitchen, main bathroom, and bedroom - HEY! It may look FUNKY, but I got rid of SEVERAL paint cans lurking around in my attic)

Hog Heaven - REALLY

NOTE: The following may contain graphic content, especially if you are sensitive to the killing and eating of animals.

I was fortunate enough to be asked by Red, to attend a family Pig Roast (fortunate meaning, she thought that I was appropriate enough to bring around her family). Our adventure started Friday on our drive to KEEENNNTUUCCCKKYYYY!! Once we arrived (10 hours later), I was able to witness the process of a pig roast. Red's mom was the director of the activities:


1st was the killing of the pig - ONE shot to the head (well, it was suppose to be one. . it took four)

2nd was the beheading of the pig (I bet you are thankful that there are no pictures at this point). This was done with nothing but a pocket knife (The small knife allows for minimal error. You want to be sure not to cut any of the inside system.)

3rd was the draining of the blood

4th was the scrapping of the hair - This was done with boiling water and knives










5th was the gutting (at least at GeeGee's lamb roast, we didn't have to do ANY of this)
This was done by hanging the pig from the Kuboto, and letting farmer Fred take care of business (he gave us a VERY descriptive summary of how he "kept all the system parts together" in order to not "pollute" the meat - I actually did NOT witness this part)

6th Next, they rinsed out the pig, and stuffed it with fresh herbs, pears, and onions
This is when the girls opted for a photo!!














AWAY from the PIG

7th Now, it was time for the pig to be sewed back up. . . .

and time for me to get another adult beverage!

8th The pig was now ready to be wrapped in chicken wire, and put on the handmade smoker (Thanks Dave, for the perfected design!!)

9th After TWELVE sleepless hours of keeping the smoker at 250 degrees (of course, this sleepless was NOT referring to me. . .), the pig was ready to be removed from the smoker and prepared for EATING

10th THIS is pulling pork

11th This is EATING pork (yes, I did. . . )
And yes, THEY did. . . .

The pig roast was held in a large field (ONE of the many fields on this farm). The hosts had also acquired a bluegrass band (and later, a Karaoke machine). Red and I helped conduct the games:

HIGHLIGHTS -

balloon toss: the winners carried around their balloon the rest of the evening (I am not sure which one of the cousins got to actually take the balloon home)

three legged race: I got to witness children dragging their partners across the grass

wheel barrel race: Red laughing her butt off while trying to keep up with the kids!

Although I am in the dog house for being a party pooper (I did not hang as long as I usually do. . . ), I feel like I have experienced something that not everyone gets to experience authenically.

Special Notes: bring LOTS of cold medicine for road trips in which you are not driving,
experience is knowledge, don't take TOO much cold medicine when you arrive to
where you are visiting, seeing what you are eating isn't really that bad, understanding
someone else's family dynamics is always complicated, cute guys with cowboy

hats don't always end up being cool

My list. . . .

So, it has one heck of a week already! I worked a crazy weekend at Buddy's, while dad slaved at my house. . .

Seeing that is has rained the past few days, I figured I would allow him to do extras inside. Here was was on the list indoors: garbage disposal

Here are the things he has completed: garbage disposal (with only minimal water on the floor), hitting on all my friends, greased up door (for smoother closing), no ice, easy closing refrigerator (yes, this means no one is going to get knocked out anymore with the door opening), mud on my carpet, a mailbox that will stay fastened to my house, figured out my spotlight problem, a French door off my bedroom with built in blinds (that is right. . .no dusting. . . )!

Next is the deck and patio! I am very excited about getting my backyard together to enjoy my grill more. . .

On that note, I will say that GeeGee stepped it up on the grill tonight! We enjoyed some pork ribs (which I do not normally eat OR enjoy), some rocking potatoes (with all kinds of spices), and corn. He did a fabulous job. . . so, now if I can just make sure he keeps it up on the grill at dinner time, I can enjoy a fabulous martini on my deck at happy hour. . .